Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist George Galactic bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons to acts such as The Band CAMINO, The Maine, and The Struts, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by Galactic the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy. Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright slice of anthemic indie rock.
Michael’s amiable yet commanding presence on stage arose from years of experience paired with diligent study. He began performing with bands at age 14, accumulating ample experience under stage lights while still a teenager. Later, while pursuing his degree in Visual Communication at Kent State University, McFarland spent countless hours studying performance footage from any source he could find, from classic rock acts to modern pop stars. When it comes to songwriting, McFarland shows the same attention to his craft, which in 2022 earned him the Nashville Songwriters Association’s recognition as “One to Watch”. “I listen to a lot of music I don’t necessarily like,” says McFarland, “because I want to understand why the songs connect with their audience.”
George’s journey behind the drums was one of discovery and reinvention. Starting at the age of 10, he honed his craft in churches for several years before stepping away from the kit. A return to drumming in 2014 reignited his passion, but it was the transformative two years between 2020 and 2022 that truly defined his sound. During this period, George refined his skills in solitude, crafting a style rooted in groove, energy, and emotional expression. Entering the Cleveland music scene in 2022, he joined MESSMAKER in 2024, where his dynamic rhythms have become an essential piece of the band’s identity.
A lifetime of attentiveness and continued learning has taught McFarland how to use MESSMAKER’s lyrics to tug at your emotions and leave you feeling like you’ve found a kindred spirit. When joined by George on drums and samples, those songs expand effortlessly to fill concert halls. Whether you see MESSMAKER perform in a basement or a stadium, you can expect the lights, sounds, and raw energy of a world-class rock show.
