Mest
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | October 1995 |
| Founder | Tony Lovato, Matt Lovato |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Mest is a rock group from the United States, originally formed by lead singer and guitarist Tony Lovato, bassist Matt Lovato, drummer Nick Gigler, and guitarist Jeremiah Rangel. After disbanding in 2006 following over a decade of activity, the band briefly came back together in 2008 for what was billed as a "final tour." Tony Lovato released the album Not What You Expected in 2013, and the original members reunited again in 2018 to produce the album Masquerade.
History
Mest was established in October 1995 by cousins Matt and Tony Lovato. In 1998, Jeremiah Rangel joined as guitarist, taking over from Tony’s brother Steve Lovato. Nick Gigler became the group's drummer in 1997.
The band independently released Mo' Money, Mo' 40z in 1998. Their first album on Maverick Records, Wasting Time, was released in July 2000, followed by Destination Unknown in 2001. In 2002, they supported Goldfinger on tour and released the DVD The Show Must Go Off! in January 2003. Later that year, their self-titled album featured the track Jaded (These Years) with guest vocals from Benji Madden of Good Charlotte.
A 2005 tour alongside Social Distortion was cut short when Gigler underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Their last album before initially disbanding, Photographs, came out on October 18, 2005.
In January 2006, Mest declared their breakup after completing a U.S. tour supported by Allister and Scary Kids Scaring Kids, which ran from late January through early March.
The band reunited for a performance at Anaheim’s House of Blues on April 17, 2008; however, Nick Gigler, Jeremiah Rangel, and Matt Lovato did not participate. Subsequently, Tony Lovato reassembled Mest for a month-long tour later that year featuring Chris Wilson (Good Charlotte) and Steve Lovato (Room One Eleven), as Matt and Jeremiah were reportedly engaged with other projects.
During spring 2012, Mest toured Europe with Mike Longworth and Richie Gonzales before embarking on a U.S. tour alongside Escape the Fate and Attack Attack.
Their album Not What You Expected launched in September 2013 as a complimentary download, including contributions from Gonzales and Longworth. Mest also appeared on the Warped Tour 2013 and self-released the album Broken Down in 2014.
On October 25, 2018, Mest announced they had signed with Cyber Trax Records—owned by El Hefe of NOFX—and revealed plans for a new record featuring the original lineup. The single "Masquerade" was unveiled in July 2019 alongside news of an upcoming Cameron Webb-produced album slated for release that autumn.
The full album Masquerade was officially released on January 17, 2020.
On April 12, 2024, Mest debuted "When We Were Young," featuring Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup, while also announcing their album Youth, which was released on June 21, 2024.
Room One Eleven
Steve Lovato ("Locust") created Room One Eleven along with former Mest lighting technician Phil Cirullo ("Swylla") and hip hop artist Damien Ringo. Based out of Chicago’s Southside neighborhood, their debut record Tears Dry Slow was released in March 2008.
Kisses for Kings
Tony Lovato formed Kisses for Kings with Mike Longworth and Richie Gonzales. The group performed on the Warped Tour in 2007 and toured during July 2009 with Hollywood Undead, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and The Sleeping on the "Taking Care of Business Tour" (TCB Tour). Their debut EP was launched on May 1, 2010, at Anaheim’s House of Blues.
The Twilight and the Sound
On October 27, 2008, Matt and Jeremiah unveiled their new musical endeavor, The Twilight and the Sound, through Mest's MySpace platform.
London Falling
Following his time with Mest, Tony Lovato's second venture released an EP along with the track "Nightmare," which features Ronnie Ficarro, formerly the bassist for Falling In Reverse.
The Get Go
In January 2007, Nick Gigler established The Get Go in Chicago, assembling a lineup that includes Scott Murphy from Allister on bass and vocals, Kyle Lewis handling guitar and vocals, Chris Messer of Showoff as vocalist, and Nate Thruman on guitar and vocals.
The A-Gang
The Detroit-based group The A-Gang features Nick Gigler on drums alongside Rich Tschirhart, who previously played bass for the Suicide Machines.
Members
- Current
- Tony Lovato – lead vocals and rhythm guitar (1995–present)
- Gary Foster – drums (2020–present)
- Bob Amendola – bass (2023–present)
- Devin Parker – lead guitar (2023–present)
- Former
- Casey Artus – bass (2020–2023)
- Matt Lovato – bass (1995–2006, 2015–2020)
- Nick Gigler – drums (1995–2006, 2015–2020)
- Jeremiah Rangel – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals (1998–2006, 2015–2020)
- Chris Wilson – drums (2008)
- Steve Lovato – guitar, bass (1995–1998, 2008–2012)
- Richie Gonzales – drums (2010–2015)
- Mike Longworth – lead guitar, studio bass (2010–2015)
- Brandon Stewart – bass (2013–2015)
- Timeline
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</timeline>
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Highest chart rankings | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Heat | |||
| 1996 | DAT,DAT! UH OH | – | – | Independent release |
| 1998 | Mo' Money, Mo' 40z | — | — | Independent release |
| 2000 | Wasting Time | — | — | Maverick Records |
| 2001 | Destination Unknown | — | 12 | Maverick Records |
| 2003 | Mest | 64 | — | Maverick Records |
| 2005 | Photographs | 116 | — | Maverick Records |
| 2013 | Not What You Expected | — | — | Daiki Sound |
| 2020 | Masquerade | — | — | Dead End Records |
| 2024 | Youth | — | — | Dead End Records |
Acoustic albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Broken Down | Independent release |
| 2017 | Broken Down 2 | Independent release |
Singles
- "Drawing Board" featured on Wasting Time
- "Cadillac" featured on Destination Unknown
- "Mother's Prayer" featured on Destination Unknown
- "Jaded (These Years)" featured on Mest – Reached No. 88 in Australia
- "Rooftops" featured on Mest
- "Take Me Away (Cried Out to Heaven)" featured on Photographs
- "Kiss Me, Kill Me" featured on Photographs
- "Almost" featured on Not What You Expected
- "Radio (Something To Believe)" featured on Not What You Expected
- "Masquerade" featured on Masquerade
- "The Upside Down" featured on Masquerade
- "I Am Right Here" featured on Masquerade
- "Dead End Street" featured on Masquerade
- "Don't Worry Son" featured on Masquerade
- "When We Were Young (ft. Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup)" featured on Youth
- "Hate You Sober (ft. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills)" featured on Youth
Music videos
| Year | Song title | Director name |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "What's the Dillio?" | Nathan Cox |
| 2001 | "Cadillac" | Marcos Siega |
| 2003 | "Jaded (These Years)" | Steven Murashige |
| 2005 | "Take Me Away (Cried Out to Heaven)" | Brian Lazzaro |
| 2012 | "Almost" | Jeff Janke |
| 2013 | "Radio (Something to Believe)" | |
| 2024 | "When We Were Young (Ft. Jaret Reddick)" | Alex Ochoa |
Videography appearances
- The Show Must Go Off! DVD (2003)
- Vans Warped Tour DVD (2003)
- Seven Deadly Sins DVD (2005)