The Messthetics

The Messthetics sound like a conversation between three people who have nothing left to prove but everything left to explore. It is music built on a foundation of granite, provided by the legendary Fugazi rhythm section, topped with guitar work that oscillates between shimmering beauty and jagged, feedback-drenched chaos. There is a physical weight to the sound that feels like a live performance happening three feet in front of you.

What makes them distinctive is the lack of pretension in their complexity. While many instrumental acts lean into sterile technicality, this trio retains a raw, basement-show grit. Anthony Pirog's guitar doesn't just play notes; it textures the air with loops, swells, and sudden bursts of noise, while Lally and Canty provide a groove that is both flexible and unbreakable. It is 'jazz' in its improvisational spirit, but 'punk' in its skeletal, no-nonsense delivery.

Start with their self-titled debut to hear the core chemistry of the trio. If you want something more expansive and collaborative, their 2024 record with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis pushes their sound into a fiery, spiritual jazz territory that highlights their ability to adapt to a fourth melodic voice without losing their signature rhythmic drive.