The Protomen at Eastside Bowl, 4/27/2024
For some, Capcom’s Mega Man video game franchise is a fond memory — side-scrolling 8-bit fun that might have been a brief diversion or even sparked their passion for gaming. For long-running Nashville rock outfit The Protomen, the games have served as the foundation for an original, ongoing rock opera based on their characters, a massive multimedia storytelling endeavor that’s spanned more than two decades.
Over the last quarter of 2025, the group trickled out tracks from the long-awaited third and final installment of this story. (While far from the only thing they’ve released in the meantime, it’s the follow-up to Act II: The Father of Death, released in 2009.) After becoming the most-preordered title of 2025 on Bandcamp, Act III: This City Made Us landed in full on Jan. 9.
The story in Act III follows Dr. Light — the aforementioned “father of death” who developed the robot army commanded by his traitorous, despotic onetime research partner Dr. Wily — as he tries to make things right again in the world. In order to get the whole story spelled out, you’ll want to pick up a physical copy of the album, in which you’ll find the libretto.
But even if you don’t know or care about the story, it’s an impressive listen. Especially for a ’90s kid like myself, the Protos have concocted a perfect sonic blend for telling a story in a future dystopia. They draw on elements like the hard-charging metal of peak Maiden, the proggy theatricality of Styx or Journey at their best and the icy glimmer of Vangelis’ Blade Runner soundtrack. And sure enough, there’s a guest appearance by Tim Cappello, a longtime member of the late, great Tina Turner’s band who may be best known as the absurdly buff sax player in The Lost Boys.
In a few months, you’ll be able to experience the whole saga in the flesh, with all the bells, whistles, costumes, props, projection and more. The Protomen are set to play the three records June 18 through 20 at Marathon Music Works in chronological order. If you need a refresh on the lore, that’s that’s the prequel Act II on the opening night, followed by the band’s self-titled debut aka Act I, then Act III to close out the run. A VIP presale has already sold out the three-night passes, but tickets to each night — June 18, June 19 and June 20 — will go on sale to the general public Friday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. Central. Keep an eye on The Protomen’s Instagram profile for updates.
