[REMINDER] Catch The Protomen w/ The Dead Deads, Makeup And Vanity Set, & Born Empty | Saturday, Dec. 31 @ Exit/In

New Year’s Eve is nearly here, and given the general consensus on how terrible this year has been, 2017 can’t arrive soon enough. Still, though, Dec. 31 is a chance to bid the year farewell and turn an eye towards in the future in most celebratory way possible, and here in Nashville, there’s no better way than catching some live music. Continuing their tradition of hosting great local bands every New Year’s Eve, Exit/In this year has a stacked lineup of The Protomen, The Dead Deads, Makeup and Vanity Set, and Born Empty. A diverse and talented bill, all known for their incredible live shows, it’s the perfect hang for someone looking for something a bit more intimate, local, and with plenty of rock and roll punch. Tickets are still available here, but they might not last, so grab yours now and read on for more about the lineup!

THE PROTOMEN

What started as a retro operatic rock outfit dedicated to composing concept albums loosely based on the Mega Man video game series (yes, really), Nashville/Murfreesboro rockers The Protomen have evolved to become something so much bigger. One of the best live acts in Music City, bar none, the band have, over the past decade, diverted course to release things like an incredible tribute to Queen, among others, and an unbelievably well-curated covers album called The Cover Up. Their latest effort, Act III, returned the group to their original, operatic motif for the first time in a number of years, and should have you especially excited for their live show, especially since they’re also prepping to release the long awaited short film based on their music. In character and in costume, The Protomen always deliver one of the most unforgettable, ’80s tinged, nerd friendly rock shows around, and you should absolutely never miss a chance to see them.

THE DEAD DEADS

Made up of a pair of siblings and three childhood friends, The Dead Deads have, over the last few years, become an important fixture in the local musical landscape, and seem poised to break out to broader national prominence at any moment. Combining a metal and punk-tinged blend of high energy grunge rock, and donning X’s and stage names that all end in “Dead’ (a la the Ramones), the gals have shared the stage with big names like Halestorm, Motorhead, and Bush, while still finding time to play hometown shows at a pretty regular clip. Their debut full-length, Rainbeau, dropped in 2014, and their latest, this year’s For Your Obliteration, finds the group reaching broader, more kickass sonic heights. They’re a live force to be reckoned with, and a great compliment to The Protomen for one wild NYE party.

MAKEUP AND VANITY SET

Local electronic artist Makeup and Vanity Set got his start years ago opening for an early Protomen show, and proceeded to join their first tour, making his inclusion on this show, despite being the biggest stylistic oddball, a no-brainer. With releases as diverse as the new score for a game, Brigador, and a horror-influenced trilogy called Charles Park, MAVS has for many years been one of the most prolific and skilled underground electro/experimental/syth artists in Music City. His live shows are somewhat intermittent, so this should be an extra special addition to an already stacked bill!

BORN EMPTY

Nearly a decade ago, when they began drumming up buzz and touring the nation, Born Empty seemed poised to become a breakout Nashville act. Seemingly just a few years ahead of their time, however, the group enjoyed a cult following, but never the widespread attention their genre-bending sound and insane live show rightfully deserved. After years of peddling their alt/punk/choatic art pop, the band largely stepped back from performing, though stayed ideologically and personally linked as a unit. Four years in the making, BE emerged with a stellar new effort, The Leaf, earlier this year, and have steadily returned to performing since. If you missed them the first time around, it’s time to get caught up; these dudes are the real deal!

The Protomen, The Dead Deads, Makeup and Vanity Set, and Born Empty will perform Saturday, Dec. 31 at Exit/In. The show is 18+, begins at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $20.