Mest, also-ran, and The 12/21 - Winnipeg, MB

After thirty years of carving their name into pop-punk and punk history, Mest finally made their long-awaited debut in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, delivering an electric set on July 2, 2025, at the Park Theatre. With support from local favourites The 12/21 and also-ran, the night was a full-circle moment for longtime fans and a discovery session for a new generation raised on playlists but craving the raw, melodic angst of the early 2000s.

The 12/21. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

The night kicked off with the semi-local all-brother pop-punk band The 12/21, who were originally from Manila, Philippines, and are now a Winnipeg-based staple with more polished pop-punk sensibilities and a clear knack for crowd engagement. The band's energy shift in the room was palpable, and they delivered a performance of a lifetime. They blended anthemic choruses with quick-witted banter, igniting the audience to dance and jump along, and sing-alongs from the get-go. With infectious melodies, tight instrumentation, and a solid local following, The 12/21 proved themselves more than ready to share the stage with legends.

also-ran. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Next up on the Park Theatre stage was the band also-ran, a Winnipeg-based outfit whose blend of emotionally charged lyrics and fuzzed-out guitar riffs sat somewhere between grunge revival and punk catharsis. Their set opened with the brooding “When” before diving into “Numb the Pain” and the standout “I Don’t Know Who I Am,” each track dripping with self-awareness and vulnerability. By the time they closed with the disarmingly catchy “Cool,” it was clear this band knew how to marry personal trauma with punk hooks. Fans of Citizen or early Basement would’ve found a lot to love here.

Mest. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

The room was buzzing with anticipation by the time Mest hit the stage. For many, this night was decades in the making—a nostalgic pilgrimage to a band that helped define the soundtracks of their youth. From the first chords of “Rooftops,” the Park Theatre turned into a sea of raised fists and cathartic yells. Frontman Tony Lovato looked genuinely moved, acknowledging more than once how surreal it felt to finally be in Winnipeg after three decades.

Mest tore through a fifteen-song setlist that spanned their extensive catalogue. “Long Days Long Nights,” “Fuct Up Kid,” and “Hotel Room” hit with as much vigour as they did in the early 2000s, and deep cuts like “Was It Worth It” and “Barely Hanging On” catered to the diehards. A surprise inclusion was their cover of Modern English's “I Melt With You,” which was originally included in the OST of the movie classic Not Another Teen Movie, which added a fun, unexpected layer to the set.

There was a special weight to songs like “2000 Miles” and “Living Dead”, where Lovato’s voice cracked slightly with emotion, reminding the crowd of the real-life heartbreaks and scars behind the melodies. But the encore-worthy trio of “Hate You Sober,” “Drawing Board,” and the timeless “Cadillac” sent the night out on an adrenaline high. The crowd belted every lyric like it was still 2003.

More than just a nostalgic trip, Mest’s first-ever Winnipeg show was a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of pop-punk. Their authenticity and rawness, coupled with the support of two stellar local acts, made July 2 a night to remember for everyone in attendance. Winnipeg waited 30 years—and Mest more than delivered.