Franchise is a guy who makes fun, powerful and creative noises with a cute orange drumset. He does this because he loves playing music and watching music and listening to music.
"The mental acrobatics required, in conjunction with the dexterity to work the instrument... it just astounds me. And god, their drummer. Good lord! Maybe if you hang out in tiny clubs downtown or old-school rock clubs on the west side, you'd be unimpressed. But in my personal experiences, he is the best drummer in Los Angeles." -- Classical Geek Theatre
"Chris Meszler's hermetic, super-precision time locks his far-reaching bandmates together with a metronomic efficiency. Lucky for us, Meszler is as emotional he is note-y." -- DRUM! Magazine August 2009
"'In-A-Gadda-Devito' kicks off the album with a weird combination of (as paradoxical as it surely seems) finesse and roughness: the crazy, frantic twists that the track assumes right from the starting point are immaculately driven on the wings of the impossible rhythmic developments delivered by the drummer...Once this momentary climax is over, it doesn't take long before the turn for an incendiary drum solo arrives. Chris Meszler is absolutely terrific." -- Cesar Inca, Prog Archives
"Yet the artists gravitate towards a climactically driven sequence of events, marked by swirling and tumultuous movements, and amplified by Chris Meszler's monstrously polyrhythmic drum solo." -- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
DISCOGRAPHY
2009 Upsilon Acrux/Honey, Ride Me A Goat split (Kitchen Dweller Records)
2009 Upsilon Acrux - Radian Futura (Cuneiform Records)
2008 Bad Dudes - Europe 7" (Altin Village Records)
UPCOMING SHOWS
The following shows will be done as part of either
* - UPSILON ACRUX, or
^ - THE SINGERS:
12/19/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ the family room
01/10/2008 * long beach, ca @ alex's bar (w/ oso, littlest viking)
01/14/2008 * los angeles, ca @ bootleg theatre (w/ creeple)
01/16/2008 * san diego, ca @ casbah (w/ creeple)
PAST SHOWS
Countries: 12 / States: 27 (and D.C.)
The following shows were done as part of UPSILON ACRUX:
10/29/2008 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ superbas, grandpire, these people here) 10/09/2009 cork, ireland @ quad (w/ adebisi shank)
10/08/2009 dublin, ireland @ lower deck (w/ bats, slurps)
10/07/2009 leeds, united kingdom @ brudenell's (w/ laze, that fucking tank, cowtown)
10/06/2009 london, united kingdom @ barden's bar (w/ laze, honey ride me a goat
10/04/2009 worchester, united kingdom @ firefly (w/ laze, theo)
10/03/2009 liverpool, united kingdom @ kazimier (w/ a.p.a.t.t, shield your eyes, the laze, iron crease, honey ride me a goat)
10/02/2009 nottingham, united kingdom @ chameleon (w/ laze, these monsters, talons, tallships)
10/01/2009 chatham, united kingdom @ the tap & tin (w/ laze, honey ride me a goat)
09/30/2009 paris, république française @ le rigoletto (w/ blakfish)
09/29/2009 lille, république française @ l'ara (w/ oui mais non)
09/27/2009 barcelona, reino de españa @ be good (w/ kayo dot)
09/26/2009 lyon, république française @ le periscope (w/ ukandanz)
09/25/2009 milano, italia @ the bloom (w/ pocket chestnut)
09/23/2009 roma, italia @ sinister noise (w/ o mon dieu)
09/22/2009 torino, italia @ united club (w/ io monade stanca)
09/20/2009 strasbourg, république française @ le molodoi (w/ casse brique)
09/18/2009 maastricht, koninkrijk der nederlanden @ landboewbelang (w/ xhohx, gone bald)
09/17/2009 rotterdam, koninkrijk der nederlanden @ poortgebouw (w/ julie le rousse, sleeps in oysters, los siquicos litoraleños)
09/16/2009 københavn, kongeriget danmark @ klub adorno (w/ nightpass)
09/15/2009 potsdam, bundesrepublik deutschland @ kuze
09/14/2009 hamburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ astra stube
09/13/2009 mainz, bundesrepublik deutschland @ haus mainusch (w/ ufo vs. reisenwelle)
09/12/2009 kutná hora, ceská republika @ kutná hora
09/11/2009 dresden, bundesrepublik detuschland @ az conni (w/ osis krull)
09/10/2009 würzburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ cairo (w/ obstacles)
08/02/2009 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ nü sensae, random cuts, ancestors)
07/31/2009 los angeles, ca @ eagle rock center for the arts (w/ horse the band, all leather)
07/25/2009 san diego, ca @ ruby room (w/ flattbush, the binges)
06/21/2009 chicago, il @ ronny's (w/ neosho, dylan posa & 3 cheers for a dead man)
06/20/2009 cleveland, oh @ now that's class (w/ clan of the cavebear, megachurch)
06/19/2009 ithaca, ny @ community center for arts & music (w/ clan of the cavebear, why the wires, 1000 year plan)
06/18/2009 new york, ny @ death by audio (w/ stats, clan of the cavebear)
06/17/2009 new york, ny @ cake shop (w/ animal, multitudes)
06/16/2009 philadelphia, pa @ international water house (w/ bear is driving, make a rising, big ocean)
06/15/2009 baltimore, md @ talking head (w/ microkingdom, we used to be family, twins, sweaty aura)
06/14/2009 asheville, nc @ new french bar (w/ ahleuchatistas)
06/13/2009 carbondale, il @ booby's (w/ ahleuchatistas, new ledge band)
06/12/2009 st. louis, mo @ lemp arts (w/ peter brötzmann, ahleuchatistas, yowie)
06/11/2009 norman, ok @ the deli (w/ traindodge)
06/05/2009 costa mesa, ca @ evocal (w/ howl, sprawl out)
06/04/2009 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ polar goldie cats, howl, peter kolovos)
The following shows were done as part of either
* - UPSILON ACRUX, or
^ - BAD DUDES:
12/06/2008 ^ darmstadt, bundesrepublik deutschland @ oetinger villa (w/ rollergirls, ufo vs. reisenwelle)
12/05/2008 ^ trier, bundesrepublik deutschland @ ex-haus
12/04/2008 ^ freiburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ kts
12/03/2008 ^ nürnburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ k4
12/01/2008 ^ faenza, italia @ clandestino
11/29/2008 ^ reggio nell'emilia, italia @ acquarius
11/28/2008 ^ soliera, italia @ dude
11/27/2008 ^ frosinone, italia @ cantina mediterraneo
11/26/2008 ^ rome, italia @ init
11/24/2008 ^ wien, republik österreich @ arena wien (w/ hawnay troof, death sentence: panda)
11/23/2008 ^ praha, ceská republika @ rock cafe (w/ okkervil river)
11/22/2008 ^ leipzig, bundesrepublik deutschland @ schuppen - stö 16
11/21/2008 ^ dresden, bundesrepublik deutschland @ az conni (w/ jonny futuro)
11/20/2008 ^ berlin, bundesrepublik deutschland @ scholokaden (w/ show is the rainbow)
11/19/2008 ^ kassel, bundesrepublik deutschland @ klub a.r.m. (w/ show is the rainbow, anavan)
11/18/2008 ^ würzburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ cairo (w/ show is the rainbow)
11/17/2008 ^ hamburg, bundesrepublik deutschland @ astra strube (w/ show is the rainbow)
10/16/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ chinese stars, bipolar bear)
10/11/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ mae shi)
10/04/2008 * eagle rock, ca @ eagle rock music festival
09/15/2008 ^ highland park, ca @ mr. t's bowl (w/ daniel brummel)
08/26/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ casy & brian, lucky dragons, hecuba, laco$te)
08/18/2008 * san diego, ca @ zombie lounge (w/ Zs)
08/16/2008 * los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ Zs)
08/13/2008 * echo park, ca @ echo (w/ locust, qui, halloween swim team)
08/01/2008 * los angeles, ca @ cafe mariposa (w/ yukon, grandpire, littlest viking, japandi)
07/25/2008 ^ long beach, ca @ house show (w/ halloween swim team, 60 watt kid)
07/19/2008 * los angeles, ca @ sixth street warehouse
07/17/2008 * los angeles, ca @ smell (john coltrane tribute)
07/12/2008 ^ silverlake, ca @ spaceland (w/ RTX)
06/21/2008 * highland park, ca @ some park (sun ra tribute)
06/20/2008 * hollywood, ca @ knitting factory (w/ dysrhythmia, ninja academy)
06/06/2008 * echo park, ca @ cafe mariposa (w/ howl, ninja academy)
05/24/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ japanther, pharmacy, bipolar bear)
05/22/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ cpc gangbangs)
05/11/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ mute socialite, howl, polar goldie cats)
05/05/2008 ^ hot springs, ar @ exchange (w/ foot village, church of the snake)
05/04/2008 ^ st. louis, mo @ lemp arts center (w/ foot village)
05/03/2008 ^ chicago, il @ ronny's (w/ crush kill destroy, fuckface unstoppable)
05/02/2008 ^ columbus, oh @ carabar (w/ deerhead)
05/01/2008 ^ new york, ny @ union docs (w/ ssspecters, boyfriends)
04/30/2008 ^ new york, ny @ death by audio (w/ animal, drunk driver)
04/29/2008 ^ baltimore, md @ talking head (w/ mr. moccasin, baby venom)
04/28/2008 ^ philadelphia, pa @ danger danger house (w/ bear is driving, black ladies)
04/27/2008 ^ greenville, nc @ spazzatorium
04/26/2008 ^ charlotte, nc @ ritter house (w/ calibi yau)
04/25/2008 ^ athens, ga @ caledonia lounge (w/ cinemechanica, ho-ag)
04/24/2008 ^ atlanta, ga @ drunken unicorns (w/ cinemechanica, ho-ag)
04/23/2008 ^ new orleans, la @ circle bar
04/22/2008 ^ lafayette, la @ 528 lafayette st. (w/ prison school)
04/21/2008 ^ austin, tx @ mohawk
04/20/2008 ^ las cruces, nm @ radshack
04/19/2008 ^ claremont, ca @ kohoutek festival (w/ akron/family, health)
04/18/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ pehrspace (w/ we vs. the shark, valley arena)
04/11/2008 ^ san diego, ca @ zombie lounge
03/21/2008 ^ hollywood, ca @ knitting factory (w/ RTX, mae shi, foot village)
03/16/2008 * san diego, ca @ tower bar (w/ extra life)
03/15/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ cafe mariposa (w/ extra life, grandpire)
03/06/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ monotonix, anavan)
02/23/2008 ^ mexicali, mexÃco @ velouria (w/lipstick terror, anavan)
02/22/2008 ^ los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ pharmacy, lipstick terror, anavan)
The following shows were done as part of UPSILON ACRUX, unless otherwise noted:
01/29/2008 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ little women, polar goldie cats)
01/27/2008 los angeles, ca @ spaceland (w/ bobb bruno, howl)
01/20/2008 los angeles, ca @ spaceland (w/ bipolar bear)
01/13/2008 los angeles, ca @ spaceland (w/ bad dudes, mae shi, littlest viking)
01/04/2008 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ carla bozulich+nels cline, bad dudes, bipolar bear, peter kolovos)
12/02/2007 hollywood, ca @ knitting factory (w/ locust, sleeping people, yip yip)
12/01/2007 corona, ca @ showcase theatre (w/ locust, sleeping people, yip yip)
11/17/2007 kalamazoo, mi @ state theatre (w/ mission of burma)
10/20/2007 chicago, il @ ronny's (w/ child abuse)
10/19/2007 columbus, oh @ cafe bourbon st. (w/ child abuse, muscle puzzle)
10/18/2007 annandale-on-hudson, ny @ bard college (w/ ruins, Aa, child abuse)
10/17/2007 boston, ma @ the ark (w/ gowns)
10/16/2007 boston, ma @ great scott (w/ twin)
10/14/2007 baltimore, md @ load of fun gallery (w/ twin)
10/13/2007 washington, dc @ velvet lounge (w/ twin)
10/12/2007 new york, ny @ silent barn (w/ animal)
10/11/2007 new york, ny @ cake shop (w/ child abuse, extra life)
10/10/2007 new york, ny @ rock star bar
10/09/2007 philadelphia, pa @ mbn studios (w/ cheer-accident, uz jsme doma, make a rising)
10/08/2007 new york, ny @ cake shop (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/07/2007 wilmington, de @ mojo 13 (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident, make a rising)
10/06/2007 baltimore, md @ orion sound (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/05/2007 asheville, nc @ static age (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/04/2007 newport, ky @ southgate house (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/03/2007 madison, wi @ nottingham co-op (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/02/2007 chicago, il @ ronny's (w/ time of orchids, cheer-accident)
10/01/2007 st. louis, mo @ lemp arts (w/ time of orchids)
09/30/2007 lincoln, nb @ box awesome (w/ time of orchids)
09/29/2007 denver, co @ lion's lair (w/ time of orchids)
09/28/2007 phoenix, az @ modified arts (w/ time of orchids)
09/27/2007 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ time of orchids, littlest viking)
09/26/2007 glendale, ca @ scene (w/ time of orchids)
09/02/2007 oakland, ca @ 21 grand (w/ weasel walter, peter kolovos)
09/01/2007 davis, ca @ delta of venus (w/ polar goldie cats, peter kolovos)
08/31/2007 san francisco, ca @ hemlock tavern (w/ experimental dental school, polar goldie cats, peter kolovos)
08/25/2007 los angeles, ca @ the echo (fuck yeah fest w/ explosion, busdriver, mae shi, times new viking)
08/02/2007 los angeles, ca @ the echo (w/ marnie stern, abe vigoda)
07/22/2007 santa monica, ca @ bergamot station (as part of backing band for Raymond Pettibon)
07/13/2007 san diego, ca @ kensington club (w/ sleeping people, ahleuchatistas)
07/12/2007 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ sleeping people, ahleuchatistas, littlest viking)
07/08/2007 los angeles, ca @ the echo
06/25/2007 los angeles, ca @ pehrspace (w/ health, mae shi, abe vigoda)
06/19/2007 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ mick barr)
06/15/2007 los angeles, ca @ smell (w/ silver daggers, bobb bruno, peter kolovos)
The following shows were done as part of ODDISEA:
04/07/2007 los angeles, ca @ the gig
02/25/2007 los angeles, ca @ the gig
01/31/2007 west hollywood, ca @ cat club
01/07/2007 los angeles, ca @ the joint
12/30/2006 pasadena, ca @ old towne pub
11/11/2006 pasadena, ca @ old towne pub
10/04/2006 hollywood, ca @ boardner's (as part of MILANOV)
The following shows were done as part of TREPHINE:
06/10/2006 york, pa @ farm fest 2
05/28/2006 youngstown, oh @ nyabinghi (emissions from the monolith festival 8 w/ boris, sunn o, weedeater, rwake)
11/18/2005 baltimore, md @ talking head (w/ weedeater, dactyl)
10/23/2005 baltimore, md @ ottobar (w/ alabama thunderpussy)
10/13/2005 youngstown, oh @ nyabinghi (w/ meth and goats)
10/12/2005 columbus, oh @ high five (w/ mouth of the architect)
10/11/2005 cincinnati, oh @ sudsy malone's
10/10/2005 kent, oh @ fat jimmys (w/ mouth of the architect)
10/09/2005 chicago, il @ the note (w/ minsk)
10/08/2005 detroit, mi @ corktown (w/ kayo dot)
10/07/2005 milwaukee, wi @ points east pub
10/06/2005 des moines, ia @ house of bricks
10/05/2005 cedar falls, ia @ reverb
10/04/2005 iowa city, ia @ gabes oasis (w/ darsombra)
10/03/2005 omaha, nb @ o'leavers (w/ members of the press, darsombra)
10/01/2005 denver, co @ larimer lounge
09/30/2005 salt lake city, ut @ todd's (w/ darsombra)
09/28/2005 tacoma, wa @ hell's kitchen
09/27/2005 portland, or @ sabala's
09/25/2005 san francisco, ca @ onsix gallery (w/ wetnurse)
09/24/2005 oakland, ca @ lobot gallery (w/ darsombra, wetnurse)
09/23/2005 north hollywood, ca @ studio s
09/21/2005 hollywood, ca @ knitting factory
09/19/2005 hemet, ca @ wheelhouse (w/ darsombra)
09/18/2005 phoenix, az @ modified arts
09/17/2005 albuquerque, nm @ atomic cantina
09/16/2005 amarillo, tx @ the pod
09/15/2005 oklahoma city, ok @ conservatory (w/ totimoshi)
09/14/2005 dallas, tx @ red blood club
09/13/2005 austin, tx @ room 710
09/12/2005 little rock, ar @ downtown music (w/ darsombra)
09/10/2005 lafayette, la @ club sin
09/09/2005 tallahassee, fl @ beta bar (w/ soilent green)
09/08/2005 orlando, fl @ back booth
09/07/2005 savannah, ga @ jinx (w/ darsombra)
09/06/2005 atlanta, ga @ drunken unicorn
09/05/2005 athens, ga @ 40 watt
09/04/2005 charlotte, nc @ milestone
09/03/2005 wilmington, nc @ soapbox (w/ weedeater)
09/01/2005 washington, dc @ DC9
08/31/2005 baltimore, md @ talking head (w/ misery index, dactyl)
08/20/2005 frostburg, md @ duncan's bar and grill
08/13/2005 york, pa @ farm fest (w/ dark water transit)
08/09/2005 baltimore, md @ sidebar tavern (w/ stinking lizaveta)
07/28/2005 baltimore, md @ ottobar (w/ pelican, big business, panthers)
05/20/2005 baltimore, md @ ottobar (w/ jucifer, dark water transit)
05/04/2005 washington, dc @ warehouse next door (w/ psychic paramount)
04/14/2005 baltimore, md @ sidebar tavern (w/ weedeater, rwake)
spring-2004 tucson, az @ 7 black cats (as part of OSTRICH THEATRE)
spring-2004 sierra vista, az @ some park (as part of LUCKY NOSTALGIA)
The following shows were done as part of GOOD LIKE PAIN:
05/24/2003 los angeles, ca @ the joint
05/16/2003 tucson, az @ skrappys (w/ gatsby's american dream, rocky volotalo)
05/11/2003 tucson, az @ club congress
05/09/2003 tucson, az @ zia records pantano (w/ etiquette)
04/19/2003 tucson, az @ guidos
04/17/2003 tucson, az @ skrappys
04/04/2003 tucson, az @ zia records oracle (w/ etiquette)
03/30/2003 tucson, az @ skrappys (w/ kite-eating tree)
03/21/2003 tucson, az @ zia records oracle (w/ son atlas)
02/28/2003 tucson, az @ skrappys (w/ son atlas)
02/08/2003 tucson, az @ jefferson commons
11/17/2002 tucson, az @ skrappys (w/ son atlas, etiquette)
11/04/2002 tucson, az @ university of arizona
11/03/2002 tucson, az @ club congress
11/02/2002 tucson, az @ skrappys (w/ son atlas)
10/04/2002 tucson, az @ stingrays
09/20/2002 tucson, az @ gameworks (w/ etiquette)
09/18/2002 tucson, az @ 7 black cats
08/31/2002 tucson, az @ 7 black cats
06/20/2002 tucson, az @ 7 black cats
05/11/2002 tucson, az @ tucson community cable
05/03/2002 tucson, az @ la cima middle school
04/13/2002 tucson, az @ 7 black cats
02/21/2002 tucson, az @ muse (w/ finch)
01/26/2002 tucson, az @ muse (w/ limbeck)
12/08/2001 tucson, az @ the rock
12/06/2001 tucson, az @ carbonbase gallery
11/13/2001 tucson, az @ skrappys
The following shows were done as part of THE INVITATION:
summer-2001 tucson, az @ university of arizona (w/ quadratics)
spring-2001 tucson, az @ some art gallery
The following shows were done as part of DEADPOOL:
winter-2000 churchville, md @ tattoo parlor
spring-2000 edgewood, md @ house party
autumn-1999 abingdon, md @ VFW (w/ torn apart, xlooking forwardx)
The following shows were done as part of TAILGATERS:
spring-1999 edgewood, md @ house party
fall-1998 abingdon, md @ house party
The following shows were done as part of Aaron Huth's band:
spring-1997 bel air, md @ house party
fall-1997 northern baltimore county, md @ house party