(Artist Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines  

The Messenger Birds’ story starts in Detroit, a city with a long history of loud, gritty rock music. Two kids, Parker Bengry and Chris Williams, tarted playing music together while they were still in high school. They didn’t just jam casually; they stuck with it, learning how each other played and slowly building a sound that felt natural to them. Years later, around 2014, that partnership officially became a band called The Messenger Birds.

From the beginning, the band was just the two of them. Parker handled guitar and most of the lead vocals, while Chris played drums and added vocals of his own. Even though they were only a duo, they never wanted to sound small. Instead, they worked hard to make their music feel loud, heavy, and full—like something coming from a much bigger band. That became one of their trademarks.

Their music pulled from blues, garage rock, alternative rock, and noisy experimental sounds. It was real and rough around the edges, but still catchy and thoughtful. The Messenger Birds weren’t just making noise for the sake of it, they were writing songs about what it feels like to live in modern times. Their lyrics often touched on anxiety, politics, media overload, conspiracy thinking, isolation, and the strange humor that comes from trying to survive it all. Sometimes the songs were dark, sometimes sarcastic, and sometimes both at once.

As they released early singles and EPs, people started to take notice. One of their early songs, “Phantom Limb,” helped them gain traction online and brought new listeners to their music. Around the same time, they became known for their live shows. When people saw them on stage, they were often surprised, two people making that much sound, energy, and chaos. Their performances were loud, intense, and physical, and word spread that The Messenger Birds were a band you had to see live.

In 2020, they released a full-length album titled Everything Has to Fall Apart Eventually. The album reflected a feeling many people recognized, things breaking down, personally and socially. It helped solidify their identity as a band that wasn’t afraid to confront uncomfortable ideas while still delivering powerful rock songs.

A few years later, in 2022, they followed up with another album called Tragic Comedy. This record leaned even further into the strange contradiction of modern life, how things can feel terrifying and absurd at the same time. The songs reflected the isolation, confusion, and irony of the pandemic era, all wrapped in heavy riffs and sharp lyrics. Critics and fans alike saw it as a step forward, both musically and emotionally.

The Messenger Birds didn’t slow down after that. They continued releasing singles and experimenting with their sound. By 2025, they released an EP with the intentionally tongue-in-cheek title GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ALBUM IT’S ALL A BLUR. The name alone showed their sense of humor and self-awareness, poking fun at the music industry while still delivering serious, hard-hitting music.

Throughout the years, the band stayed true to their roots. They kept a DIY mindset, stayed closely connected to Detroit’s rock scene, and focused on making music that felt honest rather than polished for mainstream appeal. Whether recording in the studio or tearing through a live set at a festival or small venue, their goal stayed the same: make something real, loud, and meaningful.

Today, The Messenger Birds stand as a strong example of how far dedication and chemistry can take two people. With no extra band members to hide behind, everything they do is exposed, every lyric, every drum hit, every guitar riff. And that’s exactly how they like it.

That will do it for this report on The Messenger Birds Thank you for reading!! In closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Until next time... Rock on friends🤘

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