MANSFIELD — This is why Mansfield Music Fest (MMF) exists:
“This is an art and we do this outta love for our craft and the music of what brings us all together; it’s all outta generosity and love,” Mansfield rapper and MMF performer Kench said after his set.
“It’s not to flex or brag about the wrong stuff or glorify what we’ve been through, like none of that. It’s to tell our story and show that there’s other, other ways out. It’s better ways out.”
The humanities shock was on full display Saturday, Day 2 of MMF–revealing outfits and corpse facepaint, various genres of live music with so many different instruments and electronic accompaniments washing over the brain, overhead lights oscillating back and forth matching your attention span, smells of open-yet-humid Ohio outdoors set against the super green bald runs of Snow Trails Ski Resort.
The annual auditory ear bath started in 2008 and this year Day 2 centered around metal headliners Exhorder and Eyehategod from New Orleans, hip hop artists 740s Finest, Flames OhGod, VaunDoom and Thuh Koz, and the varying rock acts of Holy Mountain, Ultra-Lite and Oddepoxy.
A massive benefit of a festival with over 45 acts is that you can sample some surprising talent that wasn’t on your radar. Which was the case for anyone new that witnessed Fleshpile.
In the press room after Fleshpile played, Richland Source Head of Product Zac Hiser and I sat down with the band:
Fests were also how some bands were brought into this world, with first live shows and newly configured band mates. This was the case with Oiun (pronounced, “when”) on the Kirsch Properties (KP) Stage, where Open Mic Podcast host and former bassist for the now-broken-up Divebomb, Tom Hirst, made that transition.
Bassists are the great observers from their all-seeing side seat, so it’s interesting what insight they implement when they become the “frontman.”
For Hirst, it meant power and fun, personified by the headless 7-string green bass guitar.
Fleshpile, Oiun and Samarra on the KP death metal stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
The day officially began at the Richland Source (RS) Stage at 3 p.m., nestled at the base of Snow Trails’ biggest run, Mt. Mansfield. The gray, tarp-covered stage faced the old barn-converted-to-a-ski lodge structure and the indie jam band Mod Lit kicked off the day.
When Mod Lit was deep into a cut and breakdown, you may have wondered if there was a need for the song to ever end.
From the sod in front of the stage, up the metal staircase behind it, across the wood patio and inside the ski lodge, to the Incognito Stage (IS) for Jody Odom Jr.
Odom Jr.’s group played a 2024 fast funk style, a hybrid of Pharrell and Bruno Mars.
Odom was wearing a dark beret, a la Andre 3000 in the year 2000, and he gave a shout out to all the legends in the crowd, as so many local Mansfield rappers were dispersed, leaning on the bar lining the lodge wall, on the dance floor in front of the elevated platform or out on the deck chimneying the air.
Hip hop artist Kench was next up inside the lodge, backed by the super talented producer A.P. The Kidd.
After their 3:30 p.m. set, under (pun intended) cloud cover, I sat with those two at a picnic table on the porch patio to chat about the song, “The Chronicles” and the Mansfield scene overall.
“I just wanted to speak something real, like that I go through, about the struggles of coming up. Like you see, ravioli straight up out of the can, playin’ my hand, that I’m dealt with,” Kench said.
“So that was like me opening up and letting people know, it’s OK that we all go through ****, but like you come out winning it at the end.”
Lyrics are only one part of the process, and A.P. offset the rest.
“I seen the vision that Bro has. So we just really sat down and we really put in the groundwork to actually like really manifest it and bring it out to what everybody loves to hear,” AP said.
Jody Odom Jr., Kench, A.P. The Kidd and more on the Incognito hip hop stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
Overcast provided some sweat space at 3:40 p.m. as I Told You was trying to push through under the backdrop of Mt. Mansfield, given that their drummer couldn’t make it and they had tech issues. If you’re searching for super emotional somewhat serious slow almost classic-rock ballads, check them out and specifically the cut, “The Glow.”
Hardcore heads Samarra were blasting it out on the KP stage with frontman in a Phoenix Suns jersey as AGB Darklight were flowing inside the lodge. “I’m boss made” is a good song to listen to right before you have to talk to someone who ranks above you but that is also beneath you.
Every genre of Hollywood movie needs their soundtrack to feature a Raven Starr song. Being chased? Starr song for that. Tied up, in love, at a funeral or a wedding, there’s a techno house beat vocal overlay melody for that — and Ohioans driving on I-71, there’s a song for that called, “I-71.”
Starr’s performance came with a pentagram outfit, extended black under the eyes and vaping mid song.
Mod Lit, Raven Starr and I Told You on the RS indie stage. 📸: Zac Hiser & Rob Stroul
Note: sound engineers did an amazing job trying to keep everyone on schedule, balanced backfeeds and random blasting and sorted out both pristine and garage-worn equipment, hardly a hiccup was heard.
In pulling more acts from around Ohio, the D.A.D. collective was a group of progressive rappers that came together for a common love of the art and performance, or as their tag goes, “Where dreams become a fun reality.”
4:40 p.m. “He’s got a brain bleed and he’s still playing,” Under Substance lead guitarist and vocalist Tyler Knipp said of his fellow band member that was beyond committed to playing MMF.
Last month, when I was at 14,000 feet trying to get to the top of Long’s Peak, I had “Tired of Life” playing on repeat in my head. Perfect climbing soundtrack: “I can feel my face contemplating all the drugs I take,” is the opening lyrics to the song.
Mansfield rapper and brother of Knipp, Devy Kay, hopped on for a duet.
A quick rainfall made the name of Hurricane Ditka more fitting as the the part punk, part emo, part Dismemberment Plan three-piece band serenaded the saturated and those not made of sugar and thus not afraid to melt.
Under Substance & Hans Condor on the KP stage; Hurricane Ditka, Dogs Run Free & Holy Coast on the RS stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
The giant glass frontage behind the KP stage reflected back the crowd that had gathered for Hans Condor.
Hans Condor, from Nashville, Tennessee, was a band that if you combined Gallagher with The Murder City Devils along with a little lighter punk you’d get Condor. They had Jack Black from School of Rock-like energy and stole the show when their front man went into the crowd and got a little child to play the guitar during the closing song.
Quick hits:
Check out Joe Pesh who’s “Straight outta Mansfield,” classic rap vibe and imposing stage presence was a great addition to the fest.
Dogs Run Free is both a good indie borderline math rock fractal flow band and, because of the way Free dresses, looked like a JD Vance cover band. (No offense)
Free asked for more guitar in the monitor and I made a sarcastic comment in the crowd that bands always ask the sound people for that.
“They [sound engineers] should know by now!” Oddepoxy guitarist Orie Rush jokingly said in response.
Holy Coast followed Dogs on the RS stage as the hue of dusk began its approach.
Lots of smooth R&B acts on the lodge stage, including Amari Moore and B. Suave, which with a name like that, how could you not feel of sense of calm and chill while listening.
NewEraCam always had some group of attractive people at the front of the stage when he performed, as they were mainly entranced by the better-than Post Malone emo rap variation that’s soothes the night hours.
Rapper Sempel joined Cam on stage and there were some pretty amazing duos at the Incognito hip hop stage throughout the night.
B. Suave, Joe Pesh, NewEraCam and Amari Moore on the Incognito stage.
📸: Zac Hiser & Rob Stroul
Yet to come on that stage was VaunDoom and Henry Rich and Jamison and Tika Milteer of Thuh Koz.
Jamison and Tika were the executive producers of hip hop talent recruitment for the fest and when I spoke with them after another banging amazing performance, it was all about bringing the talent together, and they being beyond happy to help the scene overall.
Fest founder Austin Moore was trying his best to relax and enjoy himself, but when I ran into him there was just too much still to do — the host never gets to relax. We appreciate the work you do so we can party!
Same sentiments go out to the Jake and Jillian Henry, who have elevated the overall fest scene and brought in an elite metal and hardcore lineup.
The showcase continued, with the large glass panes behind the KP stage, as Limb from Limb and the songs themselves made you want to put the act of “tearing” through yourself and others.
Dissected was up at 7:50 p.m. on KP and their aggression was personified by the shaved and heavily tattooed head of the bulging, screaming singer, who is probably the nicest yet most intimidating person at the fest.
Limb from Limb & Dissected on the KP Stage; Indoor Model & Holy Mountain on the RS stage.
📸: Zac Hiser & Rob Stroul
I could feel the tendons in my knee walking down the steps to catch Indoor Model, a super unassuming solo artist that reminded me of early Ann Beretta. He’s playing Newsroom After Hours next month and I’m gonna show up like a fan boy for Ethan Kershner.
It was getting foggy and jumpy at the hip hop stage in the lodge as Devy Kay was working the crowd that seemed to adore him. Devy has cadence and is extremely likable, I mean, stars with a lot of mass attract the most planets, and human beings orbit him at his shows.
8:15 p.m., as the full moon was starting on it’s elliptical just below the horizon, Holy Mountain took Midwestern emo, sprinkled in flow and then let it go. Check out “Anthony Green Eyes” when you’re just starting a drive and have shades on and a drink and for once you don’t have anything negative to say about yourself. Too specific?
It was a similar feeling to when I saw Modest Mouse in the early 2000s, a band on the brink of whatever indie or confessional route they want.
The lead singer had a good mic tilt when he sang. It’s those little things we’ll never forget from a live show.
One super important thing to note, as Tika’s long nails were gripping the mic during Thuh Koz’s set, is how important the man behind them is to the entire day.
“I was trying to think of an analogy for you, you’ve been back there DJ-ing all day, non stop, you’re covered in sweat; we can’t have this without you,” I said to DJ Dro Jack. “It would be like wine without the alcohol in it.”
“Haha ya, like, just grape juice? Which is fine but not refined,” Dro Jack said.
Walking Wounded played some classic death metal and with every vocalist, I can’t stress enough, in pure dad voice, how important cardio is. ‘Cus singing and screaming are like running laps, and how you gonna get to the end without gasping if you haven’t been training?
Walking Wounded & Hanging Fortress on the KP stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
When some hip hop historian talks about MMF, they may label VaunDoom as the the best flow master of his era. The set was spectacular as expected, boosted by Henry Rich, which if you don’t know the “hopefully hopefully” song, then how do you even drive with the windows down?
From Philadelphia, Ultra-Lite had a message that would encapsulate the set: “See you in hell, first rounds on me!” But really the band didn’t mean it, as later in the set it was, “This song is about acceptance, anyone that wakes up sad I’m right there with you.”
More death metal with Hanging Fortress, and the best way to describe the act is when it slows down, you get vortex-ed in and your body instinctively enters the pit for when it speeds back up.
“This one’s called Stout” and everyone crashed together among the bubbling gurgle of the vocals.
There were two hip-hop acts remaining, 740s Finest, with the song “Blessing,” that talks about how we hate ourselves and pressure and facing things and trying to love without liking yourself. “Stuck” worth a listen as well.
Pure energy and dancing and so many people on the stage for Flames OhGod, the rap group that makes it impossible to not throw your hands up and sway.
Devy Kay, Thuh Koz, VaunDoom & Flames OhGod on the Incognito stage.
📸: Zac Hiser & Rob Stroul
The sun’s glare off the moon illuminated the festival goers on the ski slope hills, awaiting Oddepoxy.
Earlier in the afternoon, Oddepoxy drummer and general amicable genius Lee McIntosh was debating whether or not to crack a beer.
“Yes, you can start drinking this early,” Hiser said.
“No, I tried that last year for Halloween and it didn’t work out,” McIntosh said.
But what he was really debating was whether the world was ready for the new variation of Oddepoxy, with electric violin, a keyboardist and a freakin’ saxophone!
Oddepoxy keeps inventing and experimenting and with new candy flavors and the audience got to be the the taste testers at Wonka’s factory.
Now beyond math rock or indie or any of these destinations, it’s like when GNR added pianos and came up with November Rain and Estranged.
Ultra-Lite & Oddepoxy on the RS stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
If someone is curious about the genre of metal, have them listen to Exhorder, who co-headlined the hardcore side of the event.
They will see what a metal guitar solo is to sound like, what Judas Priest vocals would be like if Rob didn’t sing so high and so 80s.
The dewy grass turned muddier, littered with fest debris of arm bands and empty cans, butts and roaches as Eyehategod made its way from the Big Easy to Ohio.
Double stacked speakers on each side and smiles and songs blasted the venue to its conclusion, where once again everyone who was there had something to feel for at least another year.
Exhorder & Eyehategod on the KP stage. 📸: Zac Hiser
