Beloved Chicago pop-punk band MEST have maintained a blue-collar work ethic established when the band was formed in Blue Island, Illinois. MEST began with Tony Lovato, his brother Steve, and cousin Matt in this small, working-class town on Chicago’s Southside. It provided the inspiration that Tony leveraged to build a dedicated following in the local punk rock scene.

MEST continues to earn fans through their grassroots approach and looks forward to performing their energetic live shows worldwide. The future looks promising as they prepare to release new music and hit the road again. Looking ahead, MEST plans to release three new LPs, the first of which, Youth, came out in June 2024, with the next coming in 2025.

“The majority of Youth was written in the hills of Los Angeles where I recorded our early records. The drives to the studio were about an hour and 20 minutes long. A lot inspiration was found on those drives. I listened to all the records that I grew up on, which brought back memories. It would put me in another state of mind,” explains Lavoto. “I would get random flashbacks seeing spots I hadn’t seen in years. But as much as I love all the memories and stories of the past, I’m not one to think that the best days are over. I’m creating new core memories and living my life now, so that in 20 years I’ll look back fondly. These songs are a cheers to the past with a here’s to the future. Honestly, it feels like we’re just getting started!”

The Journey of MEST: From Humble Beginnings to Pop Punk Icons

Formation and Early Years – Formed in 1995 in Blue Island, Illinois, MEST began with Tony Lovato, his brother Steve, and cousin Matt. This small, working-class town on Chicago’s Southside provided the blue-collar work ethic that Tony leveraged to build a dedicated following in the Chicago punk rock scene. By 1998, MEST had released several demos and a full-length record, catching the attention of John Feldmann from Goldfinger, who secured them a demo deal with Maverick Records. A week after submitting their recordings, Maverick signed them to a multi-record deal, with four album releases from 2000 to 2005; two going gold in Japan.

Rise to Fame – MEST appeared on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Last Call with Carson Daly, toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and headlined the Warped Tour in 2003 and 2005. However, in 2006, they announced their breakup and embarked on the farewell tour, “So Long and Thanks For The Booze.”

Challenges and Resilience – Post-breakup, Tony moved to Los Angeles, facing a challenging period of loneliness and financial instability. Reflecting on his journey, Tony recalled his grandfather’s advice: “If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.” This mantra led him to write and record new music, resulting in two acoustic records and the LP “NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED” (2012). Despite the hardships, Tony continued touring, reaching new audiences in Australia and Mexico.

New Beginnings – In 2013, Tony’s life took a new turn with the impending birth of his son, London, in 2014. Inspired by fatherhood, he wrote “Don’t Worry Son,” which reignited his passion for music. By 2018, MEST was back in the studio with Cameron Webb, initially signing with Cyber Trax but later deciding to self-release their new record through a successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over $54,000.

Recent Years and Future Plans – MEST released their seventh album, ‘Masquerade,’ in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. They toured extensively in 2019 with Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, and Millencolin. Looking ahead, MEST plans to release three new LPs, the first of which, Youth, came out in June 2024. The next release will come in 2025.