MESSER means “knife” in German, and the Dallas, Texas band expects to cut a memorable swath through the Rock world in 2018, starting with new single & video for “Make This Life“. The song is off to a fast start @ Active Rock Radio with SiriusXM Octane “Test Drive” rotation and an early add @ Music Choice Rock, Spotify’s Rock Hard Playlist, Amazon Music’s Fresh Rock Playlist; Google Play Music’s Today’s Heavy Rock Radio, Slacker Radio’s New Rock Now channel and 39 more Active Rock adds in the first 4 weeks. “Make This Life” is available everywhere for streaming and download. They are supporting the release initially with a tour of Texas. Dates with RED start in March.
The band’s cutting edge modern rock sound was born through serendipitous connections in the thriving Deep Ellum music scene of Dallas, an area that has given rise to iconic Hard Rock and Metal bands like Pantera, Drowning Pool, Hell Yeah, and King’s X. Dereak knew he wanted to pursue singing as a career while in High School in Iowa and started honing his chops with local bands. After high school he moved to Dallas to pursue his music career professionally. His first contact was with Dallas native Javier, who was making a name for himself playing in Jagermeister sponsored bands Mudflap and Pimpadelic. The two bonded at a show and became the genesis of Messer. While looking for a place to get his hair cut, Dereak walked into Maddox’s Hair salon on a whim. The two struck up a conversation about music and another connection was made. Kenny was traveling from his home in Canada to an audition in Phoenix when his car broke down in Dallas. He ended up staying in town and found success playing with the band Strangleweed, who made an appearance on the nationally televised Courtroom show “Eye for an Eye”. That caught the attention of the members of Messer, and Kenny became part of the family. Donnie was playing in various Dallas bands and gaining attention as an award-winning Tattoo artist. Maddox would play Donnie tracks the band was working on and in turn, Donnie would play music he was recording at his own home studio. As Messer continued to develop as a band, they knew they wanted to add an additional guitar player, and they all agreed that Donnie was a great fit. The lineup for Messer was solidified.
The band grew their fan base locally, and began to branch out regionally and nationally, opening for notable bands such as Sick Puppies, Candlebox, Hinder, Vince Neil, Black Stone Cherry, Lynch Mob, Drowning Pool, Local H, Trapt, Metallica, Dokken, Scott Stapp Of Creed, Avenged Sevenfold, and Buck Cherry. It was on one of these tours that the band caught the attention of Los Angeles based writer/producer, Chad Gendason. The band felt an immediate comradery with Chad and a lasting bond was made. Messer started writing with Chad, and their first collaboration became “Simple Man”. Fan favorite “Whiskey” soon followed and the songs started to flow into what would eventually become their self-titled debut album “Messer“, which will be released on 4/20/18 on Maddpants Records. The album was mixed by Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed) and mastered by Tom Baker (Papa Roach, David Bowie, Motley Crue).
The band’s desire for creative expression and to touch as many lives as possible is what drives them forward. 2018 is shaping up to be the year that Messer cuts through the noise and clutter of the Rock world and makes it mark.
Check out our interview with Maddox Messer about the release of their upcoming self titled album Messer, and up coming tour with Red and Lacey Strum
Messer is:
Dereak Messer, Lead Vocals
Donnie Deville, Guitar/Vocals
Javier Contreras, Guitar/Vocals
Kenn Youngar, Drums/Vocals
Maddox Messer, Bass/ Vocals
Catch Messer on the road this spring:
Red / Lacey Sturm / Righteous Vendetta/Messer Tour Dates
March 1 – Columbus, Ohio @ Skully’s
March 2 – Traverse City, Mich. @ Ground Zero
March 3 – Flint, Mich. @ The Machine Shop
March 4 – Bloomington, Ill. @ The Castle Theatre
March 6 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Varsity Theater
March 8 – Des Moines, Iowa @ Wooly’s
March 9 – Lincoln, Neb. @ Bourbon Theatre
March 12 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ The Complex
March 16 – Eugene, Ore. @ McDonald Theatre
March 17 – Portland, Ore. @ Hawthorne Theatre
March 18 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neumos
March 20 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Ace of Spades
March 22 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
March 25 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Regent
March 30 – Tempe, Ariz. @ Marquee Theatre
April 3 – Lubbock, Texas @ Jake’s Backroom
April 4 – San Antonio, Texas @ The Rock Box
April 10 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Tower Theatre
April 12 – Sauget, Ill. @ Pop’s
April 13 – Memphis, Tenn. @ New Daisy Theatre
April 14 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Top Golf
April 20 – Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena
April 21 – Orlando, Fla. @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
April 22 – Charleston, S.C. @ Ladson Exchange Fairgrounds
