Washington, DC · instrumental rock · jazz-punk

The Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis

1 upcoming festival

Fugazi's rhythm section plus guitar wizard Anthony Pirog, joined by saxophone titan James Brandon Lewis — post-hardcore muscle meets free-jazz flight.

The Messthetics are a Washington, DC instrumental trio made up of bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty, the rhythm section of Fugazi, with guitarist Anthony Pirog. Their records for Dischord combine the tightly wound rhythmic sense of DC post-hardcore with Pirog's jazz and experimental background, moving between riff-driven pieces and freer, effects-heavy playing.

For this collaboration they are joined by tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, a prolific figure in contemporary jazz known for a full, hard-blown tone and for projects that draw on gospel, funk and free improvisation. The quartet released an album together on Impulse! in 2024, with Lewis's horn taking the lead voice over the trio's rhythms.

instrumental rockjazz-punk