1. “I Am Loved” by The Losers 2. Have a Good Weekend 3. Better Now 4. From: Wait 5. To: Wonder 6. “Based on a True Story” (Not Actual Events) 7. Things Happen 8. …from Farmington to Middlebelt 9. My Masterpiece
Big Mess is a project born from the enduring friendship of musicians who have been playing together on and off since 2008. The band is composed of high school friends Scott Allen, Rob Carden, Pat Carden, and Mike Carden, with Scott’s dad Brad joining on in 2024, making Big Mess a tight-knit group that thrives on their shared history and musical chemistry. Known for their seamless collaboration, the band handles every aspect of their music themselves, from recording to engineering, creating a truly self-contained musical experience.
While Scott Robert Allen is best known for his work in Thunderbirds Are Now!, a band that brought Detroit’s experimental rock scene to the world stage, Big Mess showcases a different side of his musical evolution. Moving beyond the genre-defying sounds of his solo project Scoffs, where he honed intricate arrangements and sincere vocals, Big Mess blends all these influences into a cohesive sound. Their music echoes the experimental folk rock pop traditions of Buffalo Springfield, the Beach Boys, Wilco, and Damon Albarn, with songs that range from the bombastic to the intimately stripped-down.
Their third album, “...From Sheldon Hall to Wonderland Mall,” released worldwide on September 3rd, 2024, through Underflow Records, is a tongue-in-cheek homage to their hometown of Livonia, Michigan. The album’s nine tracks explore themes of art, music, love, and loss, all with a distinctive flair that balances humor with heartfelt emotion. Big Mess invites listeners to journey through urban decay, nostalgic suburbs, and quirky adventures, offering a sound that is both hilariously humble and deeply sincere, reminiscent of the spirit of Harry Nilsson.
