The Messthetics were formed by Fugazi members Brendan Canty and Joe Lally alongside guitarist Anthony Pirog. Blending post-rock, jazz and more into a heady brew, the trio enlisted the talents of saxophonist James Brandon Lewis for their latest album on the venerable Impulse! imprint. UMFM PD Michael Elves speaks to Pirog about having a sound that allows them to play a diverse range of festivals, why they moved beyond recording as a trio and many more topics in advance of their appearance at Big Blue at Night during the 2024 Winnipeg Folk Festival.