The Protomen - Mercy Lounge
Monday night I went to see some old friends perform at Mercy Lounge for BMI’s weekly 8 off 8th Showcase. They’ve done the showcase before but this night was special: everyone in the venue got to vote on their favorite band and the winner gets a slot at Bonnaroo 2009.
Needless to say the competition is pretty fierce, including local favorites How I Became the Bomb and Autovaughn. The crowd was pumped up and loving a free mini-show from some of the best bands in town. It was a brilliant show, all-in-all….
…but I have to say, the Protomen just destroyed it. They have tightened up a lot since I last worked with them and delivered a solid (albeit short) performance. Their cramped-stage antics and incredibly epic songwriting just works for a venue like this; the place just went nuts and fell right in line, chanting and fist-pumping along to each song.
They energized the crowd like no one else could that night: flooded in smoke machine bursts and flashing light, the Protomen turned video game schtick into an epic saga of the battle of good versus evil, and the crowd ate it right up.
Anyway, I guess that’s all to say I’m darned proud of these boys; the new songs gave me chills and I can’t wait for their new album to wrap up. Check out their insanely brilliant (Flash monstrosity) website and be sure to listen to a song or two.
It feels like after years of writing, rehearsing, playing (music and video games), touring, and just being their weird selves, things are finally starting to click. It was no surprise when I got an ecstatic IM from Commander Hawk (pictured above in sunglasses and bandana), who simply said “WE WINNED!!!!”
Yes Commander. You winned. Can’t wait to see them at Bonnaroo.
I’ve had the pleasure to work with the Protomen on several songs, tracking, editing, mixing and making loud noises onto analog tape… it was all a blast. Check out the first track I helped them on, Hope Rides Alone:
The Protomen - “Hope Rides Alone”
OK, so looking around on Flickr, these guys have amassed some amazing photos on the road. Check it out:
