By: Chris McLafferty
MSMFest is ready to invade Indiana this weekend for a 3 day musical volcano, exploding cross genre enjoyment all over Morristown Community Park. For the 6th year hundreds (maybe thousands?? I can’t count people while I’m dancing my ass off) will unite at the epicenter for a non-stop party that will be sure to dull your next month in comparison. 127 bands! 15 states! I’m not sure I can handle all this… I’m pumped as shit to find out though!
I’m assuming, maybe wrongly, that majority of the fans will be coming from Indiana. Indiana makes up 72 of the 127 bands on the bill and hopefully most of the fans attending have already scoured their local venues to see them in action. That in mind, I decided to do a quick piece on each of the traveling bands to give you just a little more info than you already knew to get you prepared, though can you ever really be, for what’s coming for you. It’s important to remember some of these bands are traveling close to a 1,000 miles to be here and it’s imperative to show these bands just as much, if not more, love to keep this fest expanding. The festival talent spans across genre and state lines to be an absolute complete event.
With 50 bands, it’s near impossible to give each the full amount of detail needed so I did what I thought was best. I took a random song of theirs and put a quick blurb to it. If it sounds like something you enjoy I implore you to dig further, listen to their full album and make sure to check them out this weekend.
We’ll order them by State, Band Name-City-MSMFest Genre Listing. Ready?
Connecticut
Connecticut-Emo/Rock N Roll
Hints of 90’s alt trickle in smooth moving chill cords with impacting vocals taking a hold up top. “There’s Nothing You Can Tell Me”
Georgia
Atlanta-Rock N Roll
A haunting upbeat, at times body moving blend child of Bullet for My Valentine, Chiodos and The Used but with more originality than this sentence is letting off. This is going to be a treat to see live. “Casanova (C’est La Vie)”
Atlanta-Acoustic
Don’t know if anyone else hears it but there’s a nice Irish foundation to his voice and like McDonald’s I’m loving it. “Tired Eyes”
Illinois
Rockford-Screamo/Post Hardcore
Quick, furious Stop-N-Gos flow into dancing licks of beauty that create PTSD flashbacks of early stripped Underoath “Constant Changing”
Chicago-Emo/Indie
Melodic emo that will get the crowd swaying “Get Weird”
Adam Engers
Chicago-Acoustic
Unfortunately I couldn’t find any music of Adam.
Chicago-Screamo
A moving pulsing tapper that grows bigger with a horn section that is greatly refreshing “If You Need a Place to Stay”
Chicago-Metal
Not sure if I following this right but L Mounts seems to be a multi-faceted maker. There seems to be a beat heavy Gauze Children that will rile you up but who knows what this set will bring. Be prepared but even that won’t suffice as L. Mounts brings more than you can imagine.
Chicago-Hop Hop
A futuristic catchy trip that’s going to be a can’t miss crowd pleaser. Movement won’t be optional. “Bolo Yo Tho”
Chicago-Punk
Hammering vocals over fireworked guitar play “Rusted Still”
Chicago-Rock N Roll
Dirty fuzzed rock ripping below a layer of can’t put your finger on constantly moving, constantly impressing vocals. “Liars”
Kansas
Kansas City-Emo
A Ying Yang vocal attack over a simmering acoustic sway. “Let’s Make An Honest Statement About tumblr”
Kentucky
Louisville-Rock N Roll/Indie
I love strings meshed in and Approaching the Unreal locks me in from the start with a beautiful draw of Hobbit lore that crescendos into the final battle. “Hear Me”
Louisville-Indie/Punk
An at times heavy progressed alt that bares it all for a pounding impressive finale that will stick with you. “The Sorrow”
Somerset-Emo
A hop scotching trip through the barrels of a screaming 
gun. “Birch”
Somerset-Emo
Emotion bleeds through the screams as the sound sets the pace, none more noticeable than the little extra surprise waiting beyond the last turn. “Pushups”
Louisiana
New Orleans-Emo
Experimental rock that truly takes you from A to B without muddling AB. They play Saturday at 4 and perfectly fit the beautiful mid-day, sun embrace on your face, festival encounter. “Magma Stoddard”
Ex-Breathers / Ovlov / Gnarwhal / Woozy Split by Woozy
Michigan
Kalamazoo-Emo
It lies somewhere in the middle of brashly introspective and funky energetic until it cuts the cord to a fiery finish. “Don’t Speak No Jive”
New Jersey
Blairstown-Ska
Don’t let the ska billing fool you, they’re so much more than what meets the genre. They’ve got the song writing and guitar skills that will bring back memories of early Four Year Strong. “I Aim to Misbehave”
New Brunswick-Acoustic
A journey -esque track that stops to enjoy the scenery “”Bobsy-Die”
New York
Buffalo-Emo/Indie/Punk
Quick foot tapping energy breathes while a daring bass line quakes below. “Dusty Sings the Blues”
Buffalo-Hardcore
Fast and brutal, reminiscent of early Metallica aged like a fine Every Time I Die. The head blows come constantly impactful. Rips into you and tears you limb by limb. “Black Widow”
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dOk7UmrJNI[/youtube]Rochester-Emo/Indie/Punk
The fretboard gets a workout in this lovely expressional piece that holds nothing behind. “Let the Cold In”
Binghamton-Punk/Alt/Rock/Pop
Poppy uplifting rock will give you the goofy smiles. “Memento”
Ohio
Cincy-Rock N Roll
The rock dance party that’s going to be so full of movement, it erodes a hole in the park, but literally no one notices as it continues till the lava sparkles add festive lighting illuminating a party so epic it makes the Matrix Reloaded Zion party scene look like a homeschooled no-touching prom. “Fashion Police”
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1o19In5JvE[/youtube]Ashtabula-Acoustic/Hardcore
A band that rips through genres by the second. The turns are always a surprise as they get the most out of every member. This is going to be a unique exciting show. Beautiful winds carry the vocals over an ever changing knowledgeable sound. “Ode to Bulu/Flight Lessons”
Cincy-Acoustic
Mood setting relaxing reflection air waves. “Little Casino”
Cleveland-Emo/Indie/Punk
A jam you and your friends sing along while driving around the city late at night. Then the jam that brings to life all those memories when you’re no longer in close proximity and your lives have separated your daily interactions. “I Was Once an Extrovert”
Cbus-Alt/Punk/Rock N Roll
A ridiculously beautiful piece of enjoyment. A true highlight. “Better Than This”
Cincy-Screamo
Explosively introspective. “Drought”
Cincy-Pop
An infectious fun beach cruising Pulp Fiction jam. A tonal jam off vs Automagik should be a memory not soon forgot. Get your dancing shoes on, this one is going to get wild. We’re all going to be lucky little fuckers for experiencing this. “Lucky”
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdVivkIubtU[/youtube]Columbus-Hardcore
The music your parents were afraid you would listen to. Dark, haunting and with serious hell raising vocals, the breakdowns should create the pits of legends and leave you feeling unsafe. “Murder of Crows”
Randy Proctor
Cincy-Acoustic
Unfortunately there is no music to preview 🙁 
Cbus-Emo
Chanting shouts break melodic Sunday strolls with the top down and the air flowing through your cares. “Ambulette”
Cbus-Hardcore
Jarring screams panic above surprisingly smooth sailing waters below. “3239 Smiley Rd.”
Marysville-Alt/Rock/Pop/Punk
More on them at the bottom. This is an absolute can’t miss. They bring so much joy, excitement, energy and power to every show, half of them literally throw up after each set and it’s a Christmas Miracle if drummer Mike St. Laurent doesn’t leave the drums bloody and broken.
Cbus-Screamo
Never underestimate the levels an unique instrument can add to your repertoire. Vowel never uses the violin as a crutch instead creating an oil and water padding that moves you melodically while beating you via harsh screams. “Icicles”
Oklahoma
Enid-Emo/Indie/Punk
Structurally similar to Hawthorne Heights, Fossil Youth seems to delve a little further into their music to find very interesting moving parts. “Wick”
Pennsylvania
Pitt-Screamo
An animosity life fight portrayed in your ears. “Knocking on a Door That Opens Towards You”
Pitt-Screamo/Rock N Roll
Rough edged attitude stomping leading into a gutsy variant pure rock n roll adventure. “Totally Caveman”
Pittsburgh-Punk
A sing along emotional rock anthem. “Good Enough”
Tennessee
Knoxville-Rock N Roll/Indie
Explorative guitars keep this tune thumping while chanting shouts put the exclamation on a gorgeous view. “Time Spent Spending Apart”
Nashville-Emo/Indie
A ballet tip toeing on the stars.”Maybe You Love Me. Maybe You Floridon’t”
Virgina
Harrisonburg-Hardcore
Badass fury, vocally, lyrically. A force “Tom Bombadil”
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfMrzgaXIdE[/youtube]
To Kill A Monster:
Yesterday To Kill A Monster announced this would be one of their final shows with drummer Mike St. Laurent in a statement on Facebook.
This is a very sad as this could be one of their final shows. To Kill A Monster has brought so much hospitality to the music scene and is the very reason I was brought into all the MSMFest excitement. Their black book of friend 
bands is limitless as all they ever care about is the music and friendship. This weekend will be extremely special as they’ve long called Indiana their 2nd home, even hosting an album release show here late last year. They’re an incredibly talent band that fits into every show you could ever throw…trust me, I’ve done it. Always up for anything and always willing to give it their all to give you their fans a unique, special limited edition experience, customizing every show and never fearful of going in a new experience. If this is one of their last shows, I’m not sure I’ll be too sad. I’ll remember every great moment I spent at the house shows or late night video games with them and The Day After. They’ll always be the soundtrack to my enjoyment, whether they continue to make music or whether they’ve decided that life is full of exciting new opportunities and they want to fulfill new voids they’re exploring as we move further down the timeline of life. There’s new ways to enjoy yourself, not that way gutter mind, and no one should be afraid to take the new risk. I just hope they show the same bravery they do in their future life obstacles as they did as a band. Fearless, creative and full of humanity. If To Kill A Monster has taught us anything it’s that no matter what we face, no matter what is thrown at us, no matter how bleak the outcome looks to be, we’re going through…and we’re doing this our way!
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