15 Years, a Few New Parts, and One Heck of a Summer

Well, here we are. Another season in the books, 15 years of The Messengers, and apparently we've reached the age where our winter plans involve less vacationing and more surgical procedures.

That's right. Three out of four Messengers are heading into surgery during our winter downtime. Some repairs are minor, some come with a longer recovery, but we're optimistic that by spring we'll be back together, slightly more bionic, and possibly held together with titanium and questionable judgment.

Emily, for example, has discovered that gardening is apparently an extreme sport. Who knew growing tomatoes and zucchini could result in an injury worthy of an elite athlete? Apparently, there's a fine line between harvesting vegetables and needing an orthopedic surgeon. The garden was wildly successful. Her ankle? Not so much.

Mark, meanwhile, continues his transformation into a fully bionic human. At this point, we're not sure there's much original equipment left. New knees, wrists, and now more upgrades? We're starting to wonder if he comes with a warranty. Or Bluetooth.

And Andrew? He's getting some work done on his finger, which means he'll presumably be playing even faster when we return. Because apparently that's what we needed. Faster guitar solos. Great.

And then there's Suzanne. After surviving her own medical drama earlier this year (a broken toe), she's officially healed and has somehow managed to avoid going under the knife this winter. That makes her the last fully functioning Messenger standing. Lucky her! She'll be busy helping nurse the rest of us back to health, squeezing in caregiving duties between trips to the theater and opera. Because nothing says rock-and-roll like orthopedic recovery, Broadway, and a little Puccini. We're just hoping she doesn't start charging us for her services.

But What a Summer!

Seriously. You guys showed UP this year.

We had some absolutely epic shows, including the Chicago Botanic Garden, where the temperature felt like approximately 110 degrees. We're pretty sure we lost a few pounds just standing on stage, but that didn't stop you from packing the place and dancing your way through the heat. We're still not sure how you did it, but we loved every sweaty minute.

The Wisconsin State Fair continues to be one of our favorite stops every year. There's just something about the crowds, the energy, the food, and the general Wisconsin enthusiasm that makes it a highlight of our summer.

And the parties in the parks? So. Much. Fun.

Mother Nature definitely had other plans for us this season. Between the excessive rain, rescheduled shows, and last-minute calendar juggling, we spent a surprising amount of time staring at weather radar. But we made it work, and more importantly, you kept showing up. At the rescheduled gigs, the festivals, the parks, and everywhere in between.

That means more to us than you probably realize.

One More Before We Hit the Repair Shop

Our last scheduled show for a while is this Friday at Carol's Pub in Chicago!

If you've been meaning to catch us, this is your chance. Come out, grab a drink, sing along, dance a little, and help us close out our 15th year with a bang. Preferably not the kind that requires another orthopedic appointment.

After that, we'll be taking a little winter break to heal, recharge, and hopefully avoid any new injuries. Emily may need to stick to indoor plants. Mark should probably avoid metal detectors. And Andrew will be busy getting those fingers ready for another round.

15 Years. Still Going Strong. Mostly.

It's pretty wild to think that our first show was back in October 2011. Fifteen years, countless gigs, a whole lot of miles, plenty of laughs, and more than a few stories we probably shouldn't put in writing.

We've been lucky enough to play some incredible places, meet amazing people, and make friendships that go well beyond the stage.

And through it all, you've been there.

Whether you've followed us since the beginning, stumbled across us at a festival, or somehow ended up dancing in front of our stage with a beer in your hand, thank you.

You are the reason we keep doing this. Even when our bodies occasionally suggest otherwise.

So come see us Friday at Carol's Pub, help us wrap up one heck of a season, and then give us a few months to get everyone put back together.

Same Messengers. Same questionable sense of humor. A few replacement parts.

See you Friday, and we'll see you on the other side of surgery season! 🤘

The Messengers 🎸🥁🎤