A meeting of the minds between respected members of Washington, D.C.’s experimental music and punk rock communities, the Messthetics are an instrumental trio who combine soaring, visionary guitar work with one of the tightest and most powerful rhythm sections in rock. The Messthetics feature bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty, members of the iconic punk/indie band Fugazi , marking their first collaboration since the band went on extended hiatus in 2002. Rounding out the trio is guitarist Anthony Pirog , an artist steeped in jazz who is also a major figure on Washington, D.C.’s experimental music scene, as well as working with the groups Janel & Anthony (featuring cellist Janel Leppin ), Skysaw (who also include Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin ), and New Electric . The trio came together in 2017, rehearsing and recording material at Canty’s practice space, and they began playing out late that year. In March 2018, the Messthetics released their self-titled debut album, primarily drawn from their practice space recordings and cut live without overdubs. The LP was released via the well-respected D.C. independent imprint Dischord Records , and a U.S. tour followed in April. In September 2019, the trio brought out a second album, Anthropocosmic Nest. Like the debut, it was cut at the group’s practice space, but having been written and recorded after extensive live performances, it revealed a more seasoned interplay between the musicians, as well as a more muscular attack on the uptempo tracks.

James Brandon Lewis is a New York-based jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His instrumental voice marries the emotional power of gospel and the grit and groove of blues and R&B to the modal and vanguard influences of Albert Ayler and John Coltrane , and Sonny Rollins ‘ expressive melodic and tonal discipline. Moments, his 2010 debut, was followed by two outings for Sony Masterworks ‘ revived OKeh imprint: Divine Travels in 2014 and the widely celebrated Days of Freeman the following year. After working American stages and clubs, he toured European and Asian festivals. Radiant Imprints, a duo outing with drummer Chad Taylor , appeared in 2018 and was followed by the quintet offering An UnRuly Manifesto a year later. In 2021, after he was selected as the “Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist” in the Downbeat International Critics Poll, Lewis issued The Jesup Wagon, his debut for Tao Forms .