Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in musical architect Michael McFarland’s refreshing take on indie rock. Garnering comparisons ranging from modern rock acts such as Weezer and Bastille to classic singer-songwriters such as Paul Simon and Elton John, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever. Performing live-looping acrobatics as a one-man rock show, or backed by his four-piece band The Mess Makers, the Cleveland, Ohio-based performer 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, McFarland’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.