Chris Mess has a sound rooted in original-era glam rock ‘n’ roll, indie, and power pop. There’s a smattering of drama, absurdity, and vocal craziness a la Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, The Sweet, and Cheap Trick, with a through line to neo glam icons such as The Darkness and The Struts. The band also sidles up to the bar alongside current New Wave of Classic Rock acts. Chris Mess has received airplay on indie radio worldwide, including Radio Free Brooklyn, Seattle’s KEXP, Steve Vincent’s Mystery City on Scotland Rocks Radio, Dandy’s Stardust Dive, and others.
About the 2024 Glitter EP:
The Glitter EP is a neon-lit, nuanced, and layered rock ‘n’ roll creation, mixing original era glam rock influences, with hard rock flavors from the 70’s and 80’s through to today. Vintage instruments and musical quotes weave in and around contemporary song craft and soundscapes. While some songs serve fresh takes on universal themes, others celebrate the rock ‘n’ roll life, all up. As is the Chris Mess way, all songs are infused with dive-bar-sized shots of rock ‘n’ roll elation…and humour. Consume irresponsibly, at ridiculous volume levels! Also, don’t miss the fantastical music video for the first single, “Dandy’s”: https://youtu.be/XcC0rx3hXQI?si=DPCHypxzF2qHs6FA
Chris Niccoli sings, writes the songs, and fronts the band; Stephen Page plays bass; Andy Olson plays drums. And these recordings debut dynamic new guitarist Abel Ames, who has played widely around the Pacific Northwest, including a stint with vocalist Pamela Moore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Moore). The EP was mastered by Ed Brooks (https://www.resonantmastering.com/), a Seattle music scene veteran with engineering credits including Pearl Jam, Fleet Foxes, and Caspian. The EP was recorded, mixed, and produced by Brandon Busch, whose diverse credits include production work with Lee “Low Rider” Oskar, a founding member of 1970’s superstars War.
Glitter EP, song by song:
- Aurora: A character sketch about Seattle’s infamous “blade”, Aurora Avenue North. Working girls…traffic…darkness…hope.
- Dandy’s: Dandy’s kicks off with a Marc Bolan T. Rex groove then shoots into the stardust with references to the glam era, with a neon-lit 2024 shimmer. How many references do you hear? The song celebrates rock ‘n’ roll life and glitter-infused afterhours vibes…a favorite bar, a radio station, a state of mind…all of those things. Dandy’s is the first single and music video from the “Glitter” EP.
- Glitter: A heavy-hearted glam rocker shouts deep into the diamond dust, sinking in the quicksand: ‘I only cry in Glitter…’
- Rock & Roll Disgrace: You’re a rock ‘n’ roll star, yeah. You are. An electrified salute to The Sweet. This song is favorite deep cut and the closer for many Chris Mess live sets.
- Anger Cocktail: Anger is an energy…John Lydon had that part right.