The Spin
Prabir & the Substitutes, Bombadil, Umbrella Tree, The Protomen, MotherFather
Finally, bodies packed in even tighter in anticipation of the evening’s main attraction. Umbrella Tree took their places and wasted no time launching into their bohemian bookworm pop and accompanying stage show. Representing the group’s more eccentric, angular side, singer/guitarist/bassist Zachary Gresham towered overhead, stumbling about the stage in an awkwardly calculated state of unbalance, stopping regularly in front of the microphone to deliver a high pitched howl/croon. Anchoring the other end of the spectrum is the much shorter and infinitely adorable Jillian Franklin, who gracefully tinkled the keys and called and responded with a gentle and warbling sweetness. Combined, they created an alternately kooky and somber world that can often be as disturbing as it is soothing.
Dork-rock
Sold-out shows are nothing new for Nashville’s sole Mega Man rock opera tribute band The Protomen. Nearly all of their hometown performances so far (including their first show) have reached full capacity. But while the crowds haven’t gotten any smaller, the increasingly unrestrained zeal of their fans is becoming more and more visible. The band’s recent tours have obviously been paying off, as several diehards were overheard at their appearance Saturday night at The End boasting about having driven great distances to be in attendance. Solidifying their cult appeal even more, a few of the more motivated disciples arrived dressed in full costume as their favorite character from the video game series. The evening kicked off with a revamped MotherFather debuting a set of spanking new material. Surfing the second-wave post-punk modern-rock revival, the band nailed the era’s air of gloom and doom perfectly. Singer/guitarist James Farmer’s voice often resembles that of deceased crooner Jeff Buckley if he were somehow sitting in with early-’80s Siouxsie and the Banshees. A white curtain was then draped across the front of the stage while The Protomen’s pseudo-robotic personnel assembled their gear, and electronica wiz Matthew Pusti set up shop on the floor. By the time Pusti grabbed the mic to introduce himself as Makeup and Vanity Set, the room was a tightly packed mass of eager ears who crowded in even closer at his request. The ski mask-clad Pusti began by leading the crowd in a series of warmup stretches, then proceed to offer dance instructions while his aggressively fierce and futuristic beats blared overhead.
Alternating between fits of hyperactivity and calculated knob twiddling, Pusti was joined by several other masked men there to offer additional choreography. Imaginary Baseball League’s Ryan Rayborn sat in for an intense 30-second finale on a set of live drums. Fans grew restless inside crowding closer and closer to the stage, while many disappointed attendees outside were turned away once the venue had officially sold out. Marching through the front door in a single-file procession, The Protomen banged handheld drums in unison as they made their way to the front. From behind the crowd, a lone trumpeter announced the band’s arrival just before the curtain dropped and The Protomen commenced with Act I of their infamous rock opera. Fists were pumped with irrepressible fervor as the band’s six core members (painted in silver) bombarded their adoring public with layer upon layer of guitars and synths. Just off stage were half a dozen auxiliary members contributing additional vocals, violin, trumpet, keyboards and overall moral support. The band debuted a few new numbers from the unfinished Act II and added completely unironic renditions of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” the obvious but appropriate “Mr. Roboto,” a rousing medley of Pat Benetar’s “Invincible” and Danzig’s “Mother.” If The Protomen keep up this kind of hoopla much longer, we just might be forced to stop calling them a novelty act.The Spin holiday wish list 2007 (cont. from last week):2. New JEFF EP.
3. Prozac and a good lay for all those cranky Cream commenters out there.
To be continued...
