Jonathan Mess is an American musician and painter born in Sacramento, California. He is best known as the unclean vocalist for the post-hardcore bands Dance Gavin Dance and Secret Band.
He helped amalgamate Dance Gavin Dance in 2005 and has since recorded every studio album with the band, with the exception of their third studio album Happiness (2009), through Rise Records. He also helped form Secret Band and has released one self-titled EP and one self-titled studio album through Blue Swan Records. As a solo musician, he independently released his debut studio album, Defying Gravity, in September 2012. Mess is also well known for his homemade paintings he sells at concerts and online.
Jon Mess began his musical career as the screaming vocalist in the post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance in 2005. With the band, they signed to Rise Records and released their debut studio extended play (EP), Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean, on November 14, 2006. The band released their full-length debut studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain, on May 15, 2007. The following year, vocalist Jonny Craig and guitarist Sean O'Sullivan departed from the band and were subsequently replaced by vocalist Kurt Travis and guitarist Zachary Garren (of Strawberry Girls), later releasing their sophomore studio album, Dance Gavin Dance, on August 19, 2008. Due to obtaining Lyme's disease and other unconfirmed health issues, Mess dismissed himself from the tour in support of Dance Gavin Dance to seek improvement. Dance Gavin Dance wrote and recorded their third studio album, Happiness, with guitarist Will Swan pursuing both guitar parts and screaming vocals. The album was later released on June 9, 2009 and was praised for its funk rock and experimental rock sound.
Jon Mess, along with original vocalist Jonny Craig and bass guitarist Eric Lodge, rejoined the band in the middle of 2010 and began writing and recording their fourth studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain II (a sequel to the band's debut studio album Downtown Battle Mountain) which was later released on March 8, 2011. In support of the album, the band toured with other bands such as Just Like Vinyl, In Fear And Faith, and Iwrestledabearonce as well touring on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour. The band also toured in Europe performing Downtown Battle Mountain in its entirety in one night and Downtown Battle Mountain II in its entirety in the second night. Conflict occurred once again in the band, resulting in the second departure of Jonny Craig, who was later replaced by Tilian Pearson.
On October 8, 2013, the band released their fifth studio album, Acceptance Speech, through Rise Records which charted at No. 42 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums chart. They followed up the album with their sixth studio album, Instant Gratification, which was released on April 14, 2015.
On February 12, 2015, the band released the lead single, "On the Run". The second single, "We Own the Night", was released on March 12, 2015. The music video for "We Own the Night" was uploaded to the official Rise Records YouTube channel on May 7, 2015. On April 2, the band premiered the music video for the song "Stroke God, Millionaire".
On July 27, 2016, the band announced their seventh studio album, Mothership, with a scheduled release date of October 7, 2016. The lead single, "Chucky Vs. the Giant Tortoise", was released on August 18, 2016. The music video for "Betrayed By The Game" was released on September 16, 2016, and the music video for "Young Robot" was released on September 27, 2016.
On March 23, 2018, the band announced their eighth studio album, Artificial Selection. The band released the lead single off the album, "Midnight Crusade", on April 4, 2018, accompanied with its music video. On May 3, 2018, the band released the song "Son of Robot". They released the song "Care", accompanied by a music video, on May 24, 2018. "Count Bassy" and its music video were released three days prior to the album on June 5, 2018.
On February 21, 2020, the band announced that their ninth studio album, Afterburner, would be released on April 24, 2020. The lead single, "Prisoner", was released on the same day along with its music video. Another single, "Strawberry's Wake", was released on March 12, 2020, along with its music video. The music video for the single "Lyrics Lie" was released on April 9, 2020. The single "Three Wishes" was released on April 16, 2020, along with its music video. The video features fan submissions based on the theme of "clean".
On March 24, 2022, the band released "Synergy", featuring Rob Damiani of English rock band Don Broco, as the lead single from their tenth studio album, Jackpot Juicer. Early reviews for the album were very positive, with BoolinTunes referring to it as the band's 'most electrifying, consistent and varied release.'
On May 8, 2025, the band announced their next full-length album, Pantheon, alongside the release of the single "Midnight at McGuffy's". A second single, entitled "All The Way Down", released on May 22, 2025. Two additional singles, "Trap Door" and "Space Cow Initiation Ritual", released on July 9, 2025, and August 13, 2025. Pantheon released on September 12, 2025, marking their longest gap between albums to date. The album was their first full-length to feature Andrew Wells as the lead clean vocalist.
Whilst touring in support of Dance Gavin Dance's fourth studio album Downtown Battle Mountain II (2011), members Will Swan, Eric Lodge, Matt Mingus, and Jon Mess formed the band Secret Band. The band released their self-titled EP album on June 3, 2014. They released their debut full-length studio album, SECRETBAND LP, on July 31, 2014. The band is signed to Swan's independent record label Blue Swan Records.
As a solo musician, Jon Mess wrote and recorded his debut studio album Defying Gravity throughout early 2012. The album was independently released on September 13, 2012 through Bandcamp. It was recorded at Mess' apartment in Sacramento, California and was released for fans to donate $1.00 to go towards his rent and recording studio. The album was reportedly recorded in "freestyle" and with many lyrics being difficult to decypher.
Jon Mess' lyrical style has been known to be difficult to decypher and hard to understand. Mess has only pursued screaming vocals for his bands Secret Band and Dance Gavin Dance and has pursued rap-inspired vocals while recording his solo studio album, Defying Gravity (2012).