Tom Messina Band to make debut
It's not quite Bob Dylan plugging in at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, but the musical direction of Beacon resident Tom Messina, who will introduce his newly formed band at Industrial Arts Brewing Co. on Saturday (April 4), represents a more radical and rollicking turnabout.
Messina will headline Selwyn's Day, three acts assembled by Selwyn Camper, director of operations at The Selwyn Sound Co., based in Newburgh. Camper started off selling vinyl records and DJing, but is branching into other ventures, including a record label and publishing company.
He is also booking acts and foresees Saturday's gig as the first in an annual gathering "to create community around a mutual love for music and beer." Camper also hosts Monday vinyl nights at Industrial Arts, encouraging people to bring in their own discs for a spin.
Messina moved to Beacon five years ago and is shedding his sonic skin. Past recordings leaned on acoustic guitar, understated bass and limited percussion. The song "Greyfox" exudes a breezy Brazilian groove, and after whistling a few bars, he follows with a chill nylon-string guitar solo.
"Hallmark" is another laid-back track with an unplugged sound and folksy vocals, which is why the screaming electric-guitar riff and power chord that opens his latest single, "Nothing Left to Lose," hits like a gut punch.
"I was a hired gun for years doing cover tunes," he says. "Now it's time to dial up the energy and explore my own sound."

The new track channels punky '90s power pop. On the surface, it's a hook-filled rocker, but a peek under the hood reveals a complex structure and roller-coaster dynamics. The last 30 seconds morph into a metal-style breakdown, ending with an unexpected melodic guitar riff.
"I'm getting back to my roots with the guitar-driven emo stuff that I first fell in love with," Messina says. "I like experimenting with forms of songs and adding harmonic complexity. I studied jazz, listened to the jam bands and played in a Frank Zappa cover band in college, so my influences are all over the place."
"Nothing Left to Lose" began as an acoustic sketch 10 years ago and blossomed into an angst-ridden track with a big sound, achieved in part by recording the guitars multiple times and layering the takes.
Stuttering stops and starts keep the listener interested and suggest that the band — with John Haring (drums), Joe Mulhaupt (bass) and Cold Spring native Dan Ruiz (guitar) — is developing a tight bond.
When Messina began tossing out what he calls "throwaway lyrics" for new material, he called collaborator Justin Babbino and said, "I'm phoning in these lines, please help me."
He sings about boiling blood, reaching a breaking point and the difficulties of growing old, which "ain't easy," given he's 28. Juxtaposing the edgy and energetic new single with the Dylanesque acoustic guitar and vocal sketch, "This Place Ain't What It Used to Be," signals how far his sound has veered over the years.
The "place" in the older song is metaphoric, he says. "It might apply to my musical direction — or it could be about Beacon."
Industrial Arts Brewing is located at 511 Fishkill Ave. in Beacon. The music begins at 7 p.m.; Waylen Roche and Justin Cole will also perform. Tickets are $15 at dub.sh/selwyn-day or at the door.

Together for the First Time