Mississippi Studios Presents
James Brandon Lewis Trio / The Messthetics
February 26, 2023
9:00 PM
Doors Open: 8:00 PM
Doors Open: 8:00 PM
James Brandon Lewis Trio
James’ compositions are at once the sole realizations of his own “living music” concepts, the aura of actually “seeing” the music as it is conjured and gifted from the composer’s mind, spirit, and body, as well as being defined to a profound degree by the interaction of players James finds himself compatriot to. The JBL Trio on Eye Of I is James on tenor, cellist Christopher Hoffman and percussionist Max Jaffe—augmented on two tracks by the guest appearance of cornetist Kirk Knuffke, and joined on a third by Anthony Pirog, Brendan Canty. and Joe Lally of The Messthetics—players who have been on the scene, and who are obviously in the mix for JBL as these serious soul serenaders are not afraid to dig in hard to the dynamics being proffered, always allowing a sophistication to present a sentient, sometimes placid (with youngblood rambunction, underlying and playful) groove, a groove dealing with intellect as natural guidance—music reflecting the masters and finding its own communitarian grace.
— Thurston Moore, 2022 London
The Messthetics
The last time drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally were in a band together, they were the rhythmic architects for Fugazi, an organization whose decade and a half of disciplined progressivism provided a necessary bridge between the zenith of late-punk expression and everything alternative in rock that followed. In 2016, the two were enlisted by guitarist Anthony Pirog in a conspiracy to subvert and reimagine the power trio, bringing fully into the 21st Century a form that may have reached near perfection with Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys on the very first day of the 1970s.
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 initial concept was to mix noise/improv guitar with dance grooves – a kind of apocalyptic dance party where the beat keeps you moving, but the guitarist relentlessly terrorizes you. Their performances and this debut recording have a lift and buoyancy that reflect back into the audience the love and gratitude at the foundation of this trio’s journey.
— Dr. Thomas Stanley (aka Bushmeat Sound)
Please note, when selecting the Print at Home or Mobile Delivery method, you will not have access to view your tickets until 14 days prior to the performance.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
MOSTLY STANDING / LIMITED BALCONY SEATING
THIS EVENT IS 21+
VALID US OR CANADA ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. GUESTS TRAVELING FROM OUTSIDE US/CA MUST PRESENT A VALID PASSPORT.
James’ compositions are at once the sole realizations of his own “living music” concepts, the aura of actually “seeing” the music as it is conjured and gifted from the composer’s mind, spirit, and body, as well as being defined to a profound degree by the interaction of players James finds himself compatriot to. The JBL Trio on Eye Of I is James on tenor, cellist Christopher Hoffman and percussionist Max Jaffe—augmented on two tracks by the guest appearance of cornetist Kirk Knuffke, and joined on a third by Anthony Pirog, Brendan Canty. and Joe Lally of The Messthetics—players who have been on the scene, and who are obviously in the mix for JBL as these serious soul serenaders are not afraid to dig in hard to the dynamics being proffered, always allowing a sophistication to present a sentient, sometimes placid (with youngblood rambunction, underlying and playful) groove, a groove dealing with intellect as natural guidance—music reflecting the masters and finding its own communitarian grace.
— Thurston Moore, 2022 London
The Messthetics
The last time drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally were in a band together, they were the rhythmic architects for Fugazi, an organization whose decade and a half of disciplined progressivism provided a necessary bridge between the zenith of late-punk expression and everything alternative in rock that followed. In 2016, the two were enlisted by guitarist Anthony Pirog in a conspiracy to subvert and reimagine the power trio, bringing fully into the 21st Century a form that may have reached near perfection with Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys on the very first day of the 1970s.
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 initial concept was to mix noise/improv guitar with dance grooves – a kind of apocalyptic dance party where the beat keeps you moving, but the guitarist relentlessly terrorizes you. Their performances and this debut recording have a lift and buoyancy that reflect back into the audience the love and gratitude at the foundation of this trio’s journey.
— Dr. Thomas Stanley (aka Bushmeat Sound)
Please note, when selecting the Print at Home or Mobile Delivery method, you will not have access to view your tickets until 14 days prior to the performance.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
MOSTLY STANDING / LIMITED BALCONY SEATING
THIS EVENT IS 21+
VALID US OR CANADA ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. GUESTS TRAVELING FROM OUTSIDE US/CA MUST PRESENT A VALID PASSPORT.
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