Photo Cred: Mest Official Site

“Best concert of my life” – I have never spoken or written these words and now they describe absolute fact. For those who have read my MXPX concert review, or even prior posts where I speak of those who influenced my passion for music, know that I am the biggest fan of the band Mest. This past Friday I attended my tenth or so concert of theirs and honestly think of it as a life event considering my experience.

Tony Lovato of Mest at The Glasshouse in Pamona 2012

Mest Memories

I must admit that throughout my day-of-concert routines and rituals, I honestly feared that I wouldn’t have that familiar electrifying feeling as I’ve always had at such events. I was worried that I’ve grown up too much since the early days when their music helped me survive my youthful trials, or that given my devotion to seeing them every time they came to town that this one wouldn’t surprise me. I soon realized though that this is natural, that the band actually went through a similar experience in their own past.

In 2006, when I was a sophomore in college, I went to what I thought would be my last Mest concert when the band split up to pursue families and other life priorities. The send-off tour was titled “So Long and Thanx for the Booze.” I remember waiting outside the venue, Soma, to say my goodbyes and was stoked when original drummer Nick Gigler signed my ticket. I still have the artifact to this day.

Flash Forward to Present Day

We arrived at the House of Blues in Anaheim just in time to hear the second runner up, Revel Revive, finish their set, their sounds muffled as they passed through the walls and over the voices lingering on the outside bar deck. My boyfriend who isn’t naturally drawn to the punk genre, turned to me as I sipped my Guinness and commented on a guy’s shirt across the bar that read “CREATE MUSIC.” I agreed that it was pretty rad but didn’t catch the guy’s face since he turned slightly – I realized later that it was the latest bassist for Mest.

After our beers we headed downstairs to check out Assuming We Survive, the last opening band for the show. They were pretty good, I could tell even before lead singer Adrian Estrella had mentioned that he grew up listening to the headliner we were all there for – he was a fan just like us. This isn’t just because he rocked a Mest shirt, but his on stage presence and energy seemed to be modeled after Tony Lovato. Estrella had a great voice, and broke into screamo moments but kept the songs balanced with just the right amount of each. Check them out. Those familiar with the genre will notice they opened for many of the greats including Motley Crue, Bad Religion, and the Vandals. Nice resume if you ask me.

My starstruck face with Tony Lovato

On my way back down the stairs after a brief breather, I bumped into Tony Lovato, the lead singer of Mest and the only original member of the group. I don’t want to say I was star struck, although maybe I was, my excitement was not one of a little girl standing next to her biggest crush, but the raw emotion of appreciation for all of this artist’s talent. I told him I’ve been to countless concerts and he said he remembered me (I actually believe him). He was kind enough to take this picture with me and even though I look slightly ridiculous, I don’t care, at that point in the evening I couldn’t stop smiling. I thought it was the highlight of the night even before they took the stage.

The Setlist

The opening song “Long Days Long Nights” brought me back to high school. The set list touched upon all the favorites from nearly every record besides their first, Mo Money Mo Problems, and included “Hotel Room,” “Drawing Board,” and “Mother’s Prayer” – which Tony dedicated to a local Orange County girl who passed away recently and her family. The band even played their secret song “Movin On” off the 2001 album Destination Unknown. I was pretty excited about that track since it was the first time they have ever performed the song in a live show. I reveled at a few moments when Tony glanced my way while signing and pointed straight at me, just making the night that much more amazing.

Mest played two new songs from their recent album, Not What You Expected, “Almost” and “Radio (Something to Believe).” The first of the two opened with beats much faster and harder than any song I could remember from their past, but knowing their history and latest members it makes sense. After learning more about guitar/bassist Mike Longworth, although I recognized him from Kisses For Kings, I also realized he was part of the metal band Prong. I actually still love metal when in the mood, and I think he brought his own background to the new sound, helping Mest to continue moving forward.

Incase you haven’t seen it. Mest video for Radio “something to believe” off their new record!! http://t.co/etn5utyrJU RT PLZ!!

— Tony Lovato (@TonyLovato) January 24, 2014

Inspiration and Diving In

When Tony began to write music again after a time of personal struggle he said, “As an artist you have to constantly evolve and if you don’t then you will become stagnant. It was impossible to write the same kind of record as I did in 2002, because I’m just not in the same place in my life.”  I mentioned before I was worried I had grown up too much to have the same feeling I had in the past, but instead I came to find that its okay to get older while appreciating my past. This is what I love most about the band – they always portray or inspire the truth.

The main set ended with memories of “Jaded” followed by the two-song encore of “Rooftops” and finally “Cadillac,” which topped off why this experience was the best concert of my life. Tony stood above on stage telling his devoted fans that “he talked to the staff” who said as long as we take care of each other we can rock out the way we do best. So he invited us on stage. I was one of the first to join Tony as we sang along to the familiar lyrics, “With the top down seat back rollin’ in my Cadillac. Self control knowing right from wrong is what I lack…” Then he told us to get in there, to jump into a sea of people and trust that they’ll be there to catch you. It took me a whole half second to consider and then take the leap that I only envied others of doing at concerts in the past. My first crowd surfing experience was a success! My adrenalin spiked and I was on cloud 19 for the rest of the night.

At that I was the happiest fan on the planet, even as I try my best to express it in writing, words cannot do the experience justice. All my years of watching my favorite band from below and hearing Tony, his brother and old crew through my stereo, I was now a part of their memories. Even if its not to the same degree they gave me, I was honored to be part of that. So I leave you as I tend to do with lyrics that only speak the truth, “I’m jaded, stupid and reckless. Not sorry, and I’ll never regret. These years spent, so faded and reckless, Not sorry, and I’ll never regret these years. I’ll never regret these years…”