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==Concepts and Themes==
==Concepts and Themes==
The Protomen's work is inspired by early [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]]'' games.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} This franchise has an existing storyline featured in the games, manga, and anime; however, The Protomen have concocted a dark and dystopian version of the game's underlying world. The group has stated they intend to make a three-part story. Two of the parts are complete. The third is currently in outline form.
The Protomen's work is inspired by early [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]]'' games.<ref>http://www.mtsusidelines.com/2.3129/how-the-protomen-kidnapped-and-forced-me-to-ride-around-murfreesboro-blindfolded-for-20-minutes-just-for-a-one-on-one-interview-1.314331</ref> This franchise has an existing storyline featured in the games, manga, and anime; however, The Protomen have concocted a dark and dystopian version of the game's underlying world. The group has stated they intend to make a three-part story. Two of the parts are complete. The third is currently in outline form.


===Act I (The Protomen)===
===Act I (The Protomen)===

Revision as of 23:34, 21 August 2010

The Protomen

The Protomen is an American rock band best known for composing original concept albums based on the popular video game series Mega Man.[1] Their costumes and general stage presence has been compared to that of Daft Punk.[citation needed] The Protomen have achieved a cult following[2] thanks, in part, to frequent mentions in popular video game web sites as well as a dedicated fan base.

History

Little is known about the Protomen, other than the band is based in Nashville, Tennessee.[3]. Their stage names are largely references to pop culture films, song titles, and fictional characters. The group refer to themselves as storytellers, creating a "rock and roll fable";[4] they are not characters in their stories.

The band is composed mostly of MTSU recording program graduates, and first came to be so they could meet class deadlines and the need to record for [their] grades.[5] Their first live performance was in April 2004.[6] Most of the band had graduated and moved to Nashville by 2005.[citation needed]

In a 2009 interview, lead vocalist Panther stated, "We basically gathered up all of our good friends from the local rock bands of Murfreesboro, tied ourselves together, and tried to walk. And somehow it worked. At the time, we noticed a void in rock and roll. A hole that could only really be filled with grown men and women painting up like robots and playing some fierce and furious rock music based on a 1980's video game. We were fairly certain no one else was going to fill that hole. But, by god, it's filled now. You can thank us later."[7]

The band has strong ties to the Murfreesboro and Nashville independent music scene, and some members are integrated into several bands simultaneously.

Concepts and Themes

The Protomen's work is inspired by early NES Mega Man games.[8] This franchise has an existing storyline featured in the games, manga, and anime; however, The Protomen have concocted a dark and dystopian version of the game's underlying world. The group has stated they intend to make a three-part story. Two of the parts are complete. The third is currently in outline form.

Act I (The Protomen)

In Act I, the band's first album, Dr. Wily is represented as an Orwellian ruler over a dystopic City, full of humans who are too cowed to stand up to his control. Dr. Light creates a "perfect man, an unbeatable machine", Protoman, to fight to free the City, but Protoman is destroyed by the overwhelming power of Wily's armies. Defeated and despairing, Dr. Light then creates a second son, Megaman, who he attempts to dissuade from battle. Megaman runs away from home, confronts his brother in an apocalyptic concluding battle, and finally turns his back on the city, having convinced himself "there are no heroes left in man". The album has been described by the band as "the sound of the end of the world" and straddles the line between chiptune and hard rock, with heavier focus on distorted 8-bit synthesizers and electronic instrumentation.

Group member Commander has stated that Act I "was made specifically to go against everything our recording teachers and fellow students were trying to feed us about making everything sound pristine and 'perfect.'"[9]. The album was recorded over two years in various Murfreesboro studios, using analog rather than digital production techniques.[10]. Due Vendetta, the group's first recorded track, was completed in April 2003. The album was produced by Protomen member Heath Who Hath No Name.

Act II (Act II - The Father of Death)

For the band's second album the group, working with Meatloaf producer Alan Shacklock, devised a prequel storyline to Act I. The second act details the rise of Albert Wily to power, the rivalry between himself and Thomas Light, and the tragic events which brought the City under Wily's control. The band states that Act II was designed to sound cleaner, reflecting a time "before the bomb dropped". Accordingly, the second album reflects a much broader range of musical styles and more lyrical instrumentation, embracing references from Ennio Morricone to Bruce Springsteen to Shacklock's own Babe Ruth. The album was mastered by Richard Dodd, a Grammy-winning recording engineer.

Musical Style and Influences

The group has cited the influence of "artists like Syd Mead, films like Eddie and the Cruisers and Streets of Fire, books like 1984 and Atlas Shrugged...those are the pretty obvious ones you can pull out of Acts I and II. But what you might not realize is that we own every Ernest movie ever made. And we watch them all the time." [11]. Apart from previously mentioned, the band also draws inspiration from other diverse sources, including Sergio Leone's films and the song The Mexican and musical groups Styx, Toto, Queen and Alabama.

The band also performs a variety of 80's cover songs along very specific themes in live performances, usually related to the band's preferred motifs of heroism, struggle, and self-determination.

Critical reception

The response to the band's output has been largely positive, with praise from Wired[12], Blogcritic[13], Nintendo Power magazine [14], and others. Destructoid said of Act II, "You're doing yourself a horrible disservice if you haven't listened to their music yet."[15]

Major festivals and convention appearances

The Protomen have performed at a number of conventions, festivals and showcases throughout their career.

In 2007, the Protomen played at Capcom's booth at San Diego Comic Con by Capcom's invitation. In 2009, the group competed for and won the right to perform at the Bonnaroo music festival[16], defeating several other Nashville bands. They played two shows at CMJ Music Marathon in October of the same year. In 2010, the Protomen took part in the SXSW music festival[17], the mega-gaming convention PAX East, and are currently booked to appear for PAX 2010 in Seattle. The Protomen have also performed at Nerdapalooza in both 2009 and 2010.

Discography

Full length

Singles

  • "Father of Death" / "No Easy Way Out" - 2008 - Limited 7" Vinyl
  • "Light Up the Night"

Downloads

References

2009-10 Electronic Press Kit at Sonicbids

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.mtsusidelines.com/2.3129/how-the-protomen-kidnapped-and-forced-me-to-ride-around-murfreesboro-blindfolded-for-20-minutes-just-for-a-one-on-one-interview-1.314331
  2. ^ http://www.therockvine.com/blogs/VIDEO_GAME_REVIEW_GAMING_ROCK_VOLUME_1_THE_PROTOMEN.html
  3. ^ http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2006/02/16/Entertainment/All-About.The.Protomen-1615497.shtml
  4. ^ http://nerdyshow.com/?p=1335
  5. ^ http://www.mtsusidelines.com/2.3129/how-the-protomen-kidnapped-and-forced-me-to-ride-around-murfreesboro-blindfolded-for-20-minutes-just-for-a-one-on-one-interview-1.314331
  6. ^ http://twitter.com/murphy_weller/status/1595626605
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ http://www.mtsusidelines.com/2.3129/how-the-protomen-kidnapped-and-forced-me-to-ride-around-murfreesboro-blindfolded-for-20-minutes-just-for-a-one-on-one-interview-1.314331
  9. ^ http://www.catchynamenews.com/2010/06/09/on-video-game-cover-bands/#comments
  10. ^ http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_nashville_skyline_86/
  11. ^ http://www.joystickdivision.com/2009/10/interview_protomen_mega_man_rock_opera.php 2009 interview
  12. ^ http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2008/11/geekdad-hiptrax/
  13. ^ http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-the-protomen-act-ii/
  14. ^ http://www.protomen.com/comm/viewtopic.php?p=33570&sid=bb717aba0f800e455851b1e2a73d960b
  15. ^ http://www.destructoid.com/the-protomen-return-with-the-father-of-death--148297.phtml
  16. ^ http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538749
  17. ^ http://my.sxsw.com/events/eid/11445
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