The Messthetics

Formed in Washington, D.C., The Messthetics bring together Joe Lally and Brendan Canty, the rhythm section of Fugazi, with guitarist Anthony Pirog in a trio that emerged in 2016 out of shared playing sessions after Lally returned to the US capital. The Messthetics initially developed instrumental music situated between post-hardcore, art punk, experimental rock, jazz fusion and progressive rock, with compositions driven by rhythmic tension, shifts in dynamics and a prominent role for improvisation. Rooted in Washington’s independent scene while also operating in contexts closer to jazz, the band released a self-titled debut in 2018 on Dischord, followed by Anthropocosmic Nest in 2019, which extended this intersection of punk energy, harmonic freedom and more sinuous writing. The trio’s trajectory then moved toward a more explicit dialogue with contemporary jazz, notably with the 2024 album The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, recorded with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. Across these stages, The Messthetics retain an identity founded on the interaction between the three musicians, between the discipline inherited from D.C. rock and an open approach to form.