Saturday, January 12, 2008

Tonight: The Protomen and Wax Fang conquer Nashville.

Tonight marks the union of two bands I've had the delight of seeing at separate times, now coming together in a pile of dancing limbs and robot masks in a show that promises to be a stunner. 


The Protomen played a month or so ago to a sold-out crowd at The End, bringing performance rock at its best to a crowd of thumping fists and homemade rocket guns.  The Protomen play urgent, gritty rock operas about Mega Man (there's the Wikipedia page for you non-gamers) ripe with synthesizers and sound effects.   Their commitment to their art is enough to get you soaked in it as well--but it's not just the theatricality that makes Protomen worth seeing.  Their music is damn good as well, hugely energizing, darkly captivating.

Wax Fang are equally epic, but with an added playfulness that's all their own.  Out of Louisville, Kentucky, Wax Fang play Nashville enough to call themselves Nashvillians, with a contagious energy and an infectious exuberance.  They've got their own batch of found instruments and costumes, including a pair of gardening shears that provides the critical soundbite on "The Doctor Will See You Now" and, at times, a masked, caped, near-motionless villain whose only purpose seems to remind their audience: you, too, are being watched.  

So don't miss the show tonight, at The Mercy Lounge, starting at 9pm with local lovelys The Velcro Stars kicking things off.  It's only seven bucks (SO cheap for The Mercy) and it's 18+ (don't try to get in with a fake, the door guys there are nearly mind-readers and they'll take it up) with Wax Fang up second and The Protomen rounding off the night.  There's a solid chance it'll sell out (or at least be packed), so get there on time and plan to park on one of the side streets if you don't want to shell out a little extra cash for a spot in the lot.  See you there?

The Protomen, "Hope Rides Alone"

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