The Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis: May 4, 2026 Tubby’s (Kingston, NY)

Picture courtesy of Nico11104

The Messthetics are, in theory, a jazz band.  The center of the band consists of Joe Lally on Bass and Brendan Courtney on drums. I’m not going to lean too heavily into the whole Fugazi thing; that’s on you to already know, but I will say that any rhythm section that has operated together for 40 years is serious shit. Rounding out the band, a quintet in this incantation, are Anthony Pirog on guitar and James Brandon Lewis on Sax, both capable of simultaneously summoning Angels and Demons on every note. So while this is, in theory, a jazz band, in reality, it is an absolute monster musical force that you can not avoid.

After some brief housekeeping by Brendan, the set started with “Deface The Currency,” the title track on their new LP (Impulse), where this band’s terrifying force and precision is immediately put on display. Over the course of the evening, we were treated to all the songs from Deface The Currency and several from their previous outing with Lewis, 2024’s aptly titled The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis.

This was not a show that lacked for highlights, but if I had to point out a couple, I’d point out the transition out of “Asthenia” and its build into “Fourth Wall”. By the time Pirog’s guitar solo started, it seemed very plausible that Tubby’s tiny live room might explode. The energy in the room hit genuine nuclear meltdown levels when we were treated with the second face-melting version of Sonny Sharrock’s “Many Manions” of the night.  Two bands, two versions of “Many Mansions.” JFC!

I recorded this from the usual spot in the back with the Schoeps MK22s and an excellent board feed from Tubby’s house engineer, Wil.  The sound quality is excellent.  Play loud!

Download and stream from the live music archive:

The Messthetics
2026-05-04
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil Wright, for the board patch!

Recorded and produced by kliked for nyctaper.com

1. Intro
2. Deface The Currency
3. That Thing
4. 30 Years of Knowing
5. Gestations
6. Emergence
7. Boatly
8. Rules Of The Game
9. Asthenia > Fourth Wall
10. Universal Security
11. Clutch
12. Serpent Tongue (Slight Return)
13. Banter
14. L’Orso
15. Many Mansions *

*Sonny Sharrock

Joe Lally: Bass
Brendan Canty: Drums
Anthony Pirog: Guitars
James Brandon Lewis: Tenor Sax

Support this excellent artist!
https://themessthetics.bandcamp.com/album/deface-the-currency

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Tags: James Brandon Lewis, kliked, Schopes, soundboard, The Messthetics