MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Mansfield music scene will welcome one of its own on Monday, February 2 when Jonathan Hape stops in to perform at Relax, It’s Just Coffee in downtown Mansfield. The show is his second stop on his “Color Wounds” tour, which will take him all over Ohio, along with a stop in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.
The tour is his first after a two-year hiatus. He’s excited to come to his hometown where he remembers many fellow musicians and friends starting their career. While not touring on his own for two years, he has been busy.
The 30-year-old Mansfield native has released 10 albums since 2008 as a solo artist, but that doesn’t include his other music projects. He is the frontman for Columbus rock band Room & Board, drums for Mansfield alternative math rock indie band Narrow/Arrow, plays bass for Columbus Christian rock band Safekept, and also plays drums for Columbus pop rock band Montauk Trash.
In October 2014, Hape and longtime friend Nicholas Rowe founded a studio they named National Audio Preservation Society.
Music has been a longtime passion for Hape.
“I really started wanting to do music in second grade, and then I got serious about it in sixth grade,” said Hape. Looking back, Hape noticed how much his music style and taste has changed since then. “I’m not inspired by emotionalism, I think I used to be.”
He said Mansfield is the place he likes to play. Growing up, he remembers being part of the music scene and loving being a part of it, so coming back is special. Hape is also hopeful for the music scene in Mansfield.
“I’ll always come back through Mansfield, it’s where I like to play. It’s actually been bringing a lot of people in from other cities recently, so the scene is growing. It’s pretty rad,” said Hape.
In his new album “Color Wounds” Hape describes hope in “Is Mine Fault?”
“We can all reason within ourselves to find goodness. I don’t think life is hopeless, it all leads to a goal,” said Hape. Additionally, he said the audience at his show on Monday can expect new things from him. He described his show as being more dramatic and dynamic.
Hape also said he will bring a friend with him on the “Color Wounds” tour. Adam Glass, a writer and performance artist from Troy, Ohio will be joining Hape during the tour. The two have worked together before with spoken word albums and cover bands. Glass will likely have improvised talks during the show.
Relax, It’s Just Coffee hosts Room & Board, Wreckloose, and Author on Friday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. On Monday, February 2 they host Jonathan Hape, American Opera, and Belmont also at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 at the door.
For a listen to Hape’s “Is Mine Fault” and his other solo songs, visit his Bandcamp page. He is also on Facebook.
