The Good Mess - Jaxon's Local Shots Artist of the Month

The cracked sound of your favorite vinyl. The smell of skunked beer and cigarettes. A basement destroyed from the night before. The melodic poetry the night produced. Amps still buzzing and cymbals still crashing in your ears. A Good Mess. Tired. Still drunk. Dirty. But hungry for more. The Good Mess.

The band that would become The Good Mess began in 2012 with Tim Mellor and Mario LaForgia. Back then, there was no name, no producers, and no one listening. There were only late nights at Tim’s writing, recording, re-writing, re-recording, rinse and repeat. It was rock and roll in a South Philly row home, Saturday after Saturday, with a catalogue of over 50 songs in personal concert for Tim’s wife, the dogs, and his neighbors.

In 2014, it changed. It went from “no one” to “everyone,” and The Good Mess was born. Now joined by Josh Rovinsky and Mike Skierski, The Good Mess released their debut EP, “Smoke Like Ghosts,” in 2015. Recorded out of Grammy award-winning Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA, it was an instant hit. Their first single, “Mother Mary,” and others gained notoriety with airplay on Philly’s premier rock station, 93.3 WMMR, as their Local Shot Artist of the Month.

Their second release, “New History,” would follow shortly after in 2017 as joint product of Studio 4 and producer Will Yip. The band’s catalogue of live songs continued to grow. But this was far from the end.
Their self-titled LP, released July 19, 2019, wrestles with a wide variety of emotions and topics: with lyrics underlining a theme of hope, betterment, and a desire for self-fulfillment. It’s The Good Mess’ response to society, addiction, love and hate. Through sickness and in health. Through triumph and defeat. To moving on to the next day.