The Messthetics (Photo by Antonia Tricarico)
The Messthetics — the instrumental trio formed by former Fugazi members bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty with guitarist Anthony Pirog — perform at the Black Cat on Saturday, March 18, on a bill with Quasi and James Brandon Lewis with special guests Bat Fangs.
In 2018, the trio released its self-titled debut album, which included nine songs recorded at Canty’s studio space, via Dischord. The Messthetics hit the road and spent much of the following year on tour, performing upwards of 200 shows across the USA, Europe, and Asia.
Their second full-length album, Anthropocosmic Nest arrived in fall of 2019. It’s the work of a more experienced band, whose dialog as a performing unit has necessarily focused and intensified. It’s the loudest the trio has ever been and also the quietest. Their most tuneful set of compositions and also their weirdest.
Stream Anthropocosmic Nest by The Messthetics on Bandcamp:
Bands can be dangerous when their members have accrued enough mileage to see their chops season into something like musical wisdom. When that understanding has the rare opportunity to percolate through a collaborative environment founded in love and anchored in gratitude, well, then shit can get rather intense. Anthony Pirog writes difficult music because original music usually is. Yet the ideas that he feeds through the Messthetics, are embraced by the Canty-Lally time machine, not just with precision and nuance, but with soul, joy, and groove. These last three are, indeed, the big guns in this spiritual war that music must become in the post-Trump era.
The Messthetics’ performances have a lift and buoyancy that reflect back into the audience the love and gratitude at the foundation of this trio’s journey.
The Messthetics
Quasi
James Brandon Lewis
W/ Bat Fangs
Black Cat
Saturday, March 18
Doors @ 7pm
$20/$22
All ages