The Messthetics is an instrumental trio formed by former Fugazi members bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty with guitarist Anthony Pirog.

"[2] Lally had been living in Rome[3] and upon returning to Washington, D.C., he hooked back up with Canty and played him some of his solo work.

[3] Canty suggested Pirog join them[3] as he had previously been impressed by him.

[4] When the three started jamming they clicked as a band and Pirog invited the other two to be his rhythm section for a project with John Zorn's Tzadik Records.

[4] The band's first album, eponymously entitled The Messthetics, was released by Dischord in 2018.