Cousins Tony and Matt Lovato grew up across the street from each other in the Blue Island section of the south side of Chicago and began playing together at seven, borrowing instruments from Tony’s father, with Tony picking up guitar and singing and Matt playing bass. In high school, they hooked up with guitarist Jeremiah Rangel and drummer Nick Gigler. Tony came up with the band name Mest while looking at a case of Milwaukee’s Best beer.

Playing in local Chicago punk clubs, the group self-released their debut album, Mo’ Money, Mo’ 40’z. They got their first real break when Tony wrote to Goldfinger lead singer John Feldmann and got a response. After listening to a demo tape, Feldmann agreed to let Mest open for Goldfinger, got them a record deal with Maverick, and produced their major-label debut, Wasting Time, which was released in July 2000. A year later, Mest returned with a cameo-filled (Young MC, Save Ferris’ Monique Powell) spiky-punk second album entitled Destination Unknown. A self-titled third album, which included a cameo from Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden, appeared in June 2003.

A lengthy stretch of Warped Tour dates followed, which led to exhaustion for Mest and back surgery for Tony Lovato in particular. But the band soldiered on, and in autumn 2005 they released their fourth effort for Maverick, Photographs. After ten years together, Mest called it quits in early 2006. They went out on an appropriately titled final tour, So Long and Thanx for the Booze, that February alongside Allisterand Scary Kids Scaring Kids. A brief reunion a few years later set the stage for the band to get back together, and they toured as well as releasing the 2013 album Not What You Expected. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi

The arc of August Premier’s career perfectly depicts life and the peaks and valleys associated with our finite time spent together. AP started out emotionally driven and wildly ambitious with their debut indie release, “Balloons…Everything’s Okay”. Through unguided dedication, AP eventually climbed the industry ladder and secured a spot on the quasi-major Fueled By Ramen Records. The move eventually led to their sophomore release “Fireworks and Alcohol”, which was an incredibly polished but somewhat hollow milestone that was tarnished by an anticlimactic conclusion to their arduous journey to popularity. The similarities between life and the goals we strive for are never more evident then at this very moment in AP’s experience. That’s because what we all eventually learn is that the celebration should never be about reaching the pinnacle of your career or the apex of your life. The joy should be discovered in the journey to get to the summit. As is the rule of thumb, what goes up must come down. The ensuing descent and subsequent valley led to the disbanding of AP. Throughout the better part of the next decade the various members established several side projects, which led to an increase in maturity, musical skill and most of all, life experience. As is the way with life, there was a slow and steady climb back up the proverbial mountain. Now instead of the haphazard attempt to ascend to the top of the musical game. AP has resurfaced with the intention of concentrating on maintaining a slow and steady ascent while staying focused on the path that is most important. The path of contentedness with the idea that they will enjoy the moment more than the climax. Because as we’ll all slowly come to realize with time and experience, life’s about friends, family and the support of those around us. Not the places our success takes us. It doesn’t matter why AP fell from their lofty perch, but what I do know is you can’t be happy without experiencing what the miserable side of life has to offer.

The south side of Chicago is pretty rough, especially Blue Island. It reeks of drunks, gun powder, crime, exhaust, and weed. For the sake of not confusing the reader, Chicago pedigrees NIGHTCAP wouldn’t have it any other way. When not making runs to Miska’s Liquor Emporium and the infamous Harold’s Chicken Shack, these Blue Island locals are sawing through their set all over the Midwest.