Home » Jazz Articles » In Pictures » The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis Electrify the Bo...
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis Electrify the Bowery Ballroom
The Messthetics
band / ensemble / orchestra
James Brandon Lewis
saxophone, tenorb.1983
Anthony Pirog
guitar, electricb.1980
Joe Lally
bass
Brendan Canty
drums
Marc Ribot
guitarb.1954
Ceramic Dog
band / ensemble / orchestraThe group performed the entire album, albeit not in its original sequence. They opened with a scorching rendition of "Convergence," a high-octane hard rock instrumental infused with elements of free jazz. Other highlights include, "Fourth Wall" which is based around a simple 80s-informed riff with the band totally locked in. "The Time is the Place" has a great groove with JBL playing the melody which transitions into a bit of an avant-skronk guitar freakout before returning to the slower paced groove and melodic theme. "Railroad Tracks Home" is close to a straight blues. The 100-minute set also included a searing performance of "Fear Not" which appears on JBL's album Eye of I (2023), a track which features the Messthetics. JBL is a phenomenal soloist, and he unleashed a barrage of electrifying solos throughout the performance. He would sometimes tradeoff with Pirog an excellent soloist in his own right. Pirog is a sonic explorer well versed in jazz and rock. Regardless of how far he ventured in his solos, they were consistently in service of the song. The songs were never merely a vehicle for the soloists. All the songs are credited to the four band members. Lally and Canty form an excellent "rhythm section." I was captivated by Lally's distinctive bass playing, often highlighted by his adept use of a pick. He can lock in a solid groove on the bass and also play lead guitar-style riffs. The four of them play with remarkable synergy. It was truly an exhilarating experience.
Wendy Eisenberg
guitar
Tags
In Pictures
James Brandon Lewis
Dave Kaufman
United States
New York
New York City
Messthetics
Bowery Ballroom
Anthony Pirog
Joe Lally
Brendan Canty
Marc Ribot
Ceramic Dog
Wendy Eisenberg
Steve Gunn
Comments
About James Brandon Lewis
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
PREVIOUS / NEXT
James Brandon Lewis Concerts
Sep
27
Sat
Ingardens Festival
First Street Green Cultural ParkNew York, NY
Sep
28
Sun
Ingardens Festival
First Street Green Cultural ParkNew York, NY
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
New York City
Concert Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses
| More...
Showcase
Featured
Darwin AI: Surivior Choice
By Alex Otey buy
Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful
By Antonio Adolfo buy
Giveaway
Playlist
Premium
Weekly newsletter
Get more of a good thing
Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes your local jazz events calendar.
New York City
Concert Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...Showcase
Buy Now
Featured
Darwin AI: Surivior Choice
By Alex Otey buy
Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful
By Antonio Adolfo buyGiveaway
