MEST Storms North: Chicago Punk Legends Finally Give Canada What We’ve Been Waiting For
After 15 years, the underrated heroes who soundtracked your teenage rebellion are crossing the border for eight cities of pure nostalgic chaos
Remember burning your own punk mix CDs in the early 2000s? Amidst the pop-punk crowd like Good Charlotte and Sum 41, one track felt different — MEST’s “Jaded (These Years).” While radio spun the polished hits, anyone in the know knew these Chicago underdogs had something real.
Now—finally—the band is coming back to Canada after more than a decade. From July 2–14, 2025, MEST will hit eight cities across the country in a tour produced by World Alternative Music. It’s been too long.
The Underground Heroes
MEST occupied a unique space in the early 2000s pop-punk landscape – respected by those in the know, but somehow never achieving the mainstream saturation of their contemporaries. While the spotlight focused elsewhere, Tony Lovato and crew were quietly crafting songs with genuine emotional depth and suburban authenticity that resonated far beyond chart positions.
Their 2003 self-titled album reached #64 on the Billboard 200 – respectable numbers that only told part of the story. The real impact was happening in packed club shows and fervent Warped Tour crowds, where MEST’s honest songwriting and tight performances built a devoted following that understood what made them special.
These were the songs that soundtracked late-night drives and bedroom walls covered in band posters. MEST wasn’t chasing trends; they were creating the soundtrack for kids who felt everything too deeply and needed music that matched that intensity.
Still Dangerous After All These Years
After disbanding in 2006 and a brief 2008 reunion, the original quartet reconvened in 2018 to record Masquerade. Today’s touring lineup rolls with Tony Lovato at the helm—but now includes Gary Foster (drums), Bob Amendola (bass) and Devin Parker (lead guitar), bringing fresh energy to classic songs.
Their latest album, Youth, dropped June 20, 2024. Its standout collaboration, “When We Were Young” featuring Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup, proves that MEST hasn’t lost the spark. This isn’t some nostalgia cash-in—it’s a band firing on all cylinders.
“We wanted to go with that cleaner, old-school sounding MEST records,” Lovato recently explained. Translation: they’re giving you exactly what you’ve been missing without trying to reinvent the wheel.
Your Chance to Finally Understand
If you’re one of the Canadians who grew up hearing mix-CD nostalgia about Chicago’s Metro or Detroit’s St. Andrew’s Hall, this is your moment. MEST delivers suburban punk that’s messy, emotional, and unapologetically sincere. When Tony sings “jaded, stupid and reckless,” he isn’t faking it—and when they hit that driving punk rhythm, it’s the same fierce punch it was decades ago.
This is punk rock that doesn’t apologize for its emotions or hide behind irony. For the uninitiated – and there are plenty of you, thanks to MEST’s unfairly low profile north of the border – this tour is your introduction to one of pop-punk’s most genuine voices. While algorithms serve up watered-down versions of early 2000s punk, MEST offers the real thing: songs that were born in suburban bedrooms and honed in clubs where the beer was cheap and the sound system barely worked.
Don’t Sleep on This One, Canada
This isn’t just a tour—it’s a statement. For longtime fans, it’s the vindication you’ve been waiting for. For newcomers, it’s an education in what real pop-punk sounds like when it comes from the heart instead of a marketing meeting.
Eight cities. Fifteen years overdue. Don’t sleep on this one.
Tour Dates
Winnipeg – July 2, 2025 at Park Theatre
In association with LT Production and Krazz Tech & Events
Vancouver – July 4, 2025 at The Pearl
In association with Tsikenstarr Production
Edmonton – July 5, 2025 at Midway Music Hall
In association with LT Production
Calgary – July 6, 2025 at Commonwealth Bar & Stage
In association with LT Production
Montreal – July 10, 2025 at Le Ministere
In association with WAM Productions and Bubblegam
Toronto – July 12, 2025 at Lees Palace
In association with WAM Production and Basement Sessions
Tickets available at https://linktr.ee/WAMProductions2024
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