A Reflection on 2025
- Max Hentosh
- 25 minutes ago
- 7 min read
This past year can only be described as the best possible start to our journey.
FEBRUARY
The year began with a bang with our first (public*) show at none other than the famous Columbus venue Dirty Dungaree with some incredible local acts including Totally Destroyed, RK Maroon, and BDot Jeff. The energy was vivacious, the turnout full, and clothes clean. One year prior, we were basement dwellars (not to be confused with the chaotically impulsive Cellar Dwellar) working and writing the first songs that would soon become the Quiet Words EP. Unsurprisingly, our cover of Sports by the Viagra Boys which has since become a staple in our live show, was an absolute crowd killer, including the first "Max Adventure," a little mid-song trip to the bar while still playing through!
Just look at how cute we were, not even remotely aware of all the amazing things in store for this year.
*Prior to 2025, our gigging experience included a Halloween and New Year's house shows with our friends and family.
You could have seen this picture on our instagram!      Â
MARCH - MAY
With an incredible first show locked in, we knew having recordings to point our fans to was a must. We took three months to practice, track, and begin mixing our first EP, with songs like Deeper and Equanimity being written in the studio! A little fun fact about Deeper - Daryl and Max played both synth parts live together as a second take with no structure or chord progressions in place. That track is about as original and authentic as you can get! Nick and Max then added the sprinkles of delight to finish it out, but the initial idea was pure stream of consciousness. JUNE
WOW. What a MONTH. If Dirty's was our first show, the back half of June housed shows 2-5. Starting with an opening slot for the touring band Rags and Riches with local legends KODA, Rumba Cafe bumped and thumped. We treated this as the kick off of our first tour, the HELL IS SURREAL tour (posters are still available!), which lead to...
wait for it...
wait for it.............
no. way.
BACK TO BACK FESTIVAL SHOWS!?
By some pure mix of luck and hard work, we were invited to play the BOZO stage at COMFEST (that's the BIG stage). I think we played to at least 200 people enjoying the green, not to mention the countless other hundreds that were bopping around the area. As our third show, my god did that check some boxes for us. But we are not a group to rest on our laurels, especially when those laurels are just about to drop.
We high-tailed it to Dayton that night and played a gig with Salvadore Ross, Dayton's mind-blowingly psychedelic act that seems to live and breathe vibe and tone, at Cosmic Joe's Atomic Lounge. This one pulled a few friends out of the woodwork that reside in the area! We were tired, we were fulfilled, we had such a weird show, stacked in rows of two up their long stage, but do not take that as anything but a a shining appreciation of an interesting setup. DSTRESSR finds comfort in the uncomfortable and embracing that is part of the human condition.
We all slept really well that night...
in CINCINNATI.
BOOM. Max wanted one thing for his birthday, and that was to play some LIVE MUSIC. Sure, we just played two shows the day prior. But that's not his birthday, today is, and what better way to celebrate but to open the entire Say It Louder fest on the Sanctuary Stage of the Southgate House Revival, a venue near and dear to Max's heart having played their numerous times during his undergrad years, and seeing some groundbreaking shows that opened up the musical world to him.
Not all was great though, Jess's car did get broken into that night, however nothing was stolen and everyone was safe. Though Max did have to ride back to Columbus next to the garbage bag taped over the window on the highway which was by all accounts, very loud.
JULY - AUGUST
While enjoying the come-down post tour, Max wrangled the group to shoot this promotional video to apply for the Music Columbus 'Better Together' Incubator program a five-month, weekly intensive designed to support artist development and long-term career growth for emerging Columbus musicians.
Some (we assume) truly lovely people understood what we were doing and they... they let us in! Things just kept working out for us. Throughout the program, artists engaged in structured workshops, mentorship, and hands-on sessions focused on both the creative and business sides of music. Topics included branding, live performance strategy, marketing, release planning, and sustainable career practices. The incubator emphasized goal setting, accountability, and practical growth, giving participants the tools to refine their artistic vision while strengthening their professional foundations.
Our cohort included all of these INCREDIBLE Columbus acts:
By the end of the program, we emerged with greater clarity of identity and momentum—equipped with strategies, industry insight, and solid connections within the Columbus music community. Oh, and we got to play a KILLER show with all of them at none other than A&R Bar.
(But more on that later...)
SEPTEMBER
Columbus L.E.G.E.N.D. Hawa kicked off September with the first annual She Shreds at Rambling House. We were so fortunate to join her and Kids of the Cinema, fronted by Hope Selah, our new friend (and one of the Music Columbus hot shots!) We followed this up with a legendary show at Spacebar with Touring artists A Day Without Love and Lex Lunar, both of whom played and sang their hearts out. City Sidestep also jumped on the bill and they laid it DOWN with some hot pop-punk energy that fit the mood just right.
This year was flying by at this point. Maybe we could catch our breath for a few.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
We laid low for the few months, focusing on recording for our upcoming release 'Loud Thoughts' and another super secret third release hidden deep in the atmosphere. We had our photoshoot with Dan Mitchell of Mitchell Multimedia. (you can check out the behind the scenes here!)
DECEMBER
The end of 2025 was upon us. We were deep in the midst of recording TWO EP's, meeting with the Incubator Program weekly, and now preparing for two shows. We can't lie, the burnout was starting to come on a little strong. Thankfully, each member of our band knows that our friendship and relationships come first, and we bear-hugged our way through this chaotic (yet still delightful) month.
The first week, Jess and Max were featured on 90.5 WCBEÂ as a part of promotion for VERGEFEST. They had an awesome time hanging with Mike Foley and talking music, the meaning of being, and how great Jess is at singing first thing in the morning!
Alright....
CAN WE PLEASE TELL YOU ABOUT HOW INCREDIBLE VERGEFEST 2025 WAS?!!?!?!
Up until this point, we hadn't had a set that was less than a half hour. Vergefest was a challeng to select our best catalogue to fit in about 20 minutes of stage time. The set: Delve, Malignant, Redshift, Something Else, Slingshot. For so many to be introduced to us in that way, meant the world. The musical journey we mapped out for the audience was chef's kiss. Getting to share the stage with our entire cohort, the audience of music community members, mentors, and musicians really made us feel all warm and fuzzy, a perfect intro to the holiday season. [It also needs to be included that Max agreed to play for Lizze is Trying that same night, which he says was
"stressful but unbelievably worth it."]
HUGE SHOUT OUT to Amy Holihan, Olivia Stefanoff, and again, Hope Selah (and Tom Krouse!) for their hard work throughout the Incubator Program.
We had one last show on the books for the year, December 20th, back down in Dayton. We're really learning to love it there. Had some great food, Max got to enjoy model trains at the venue [Oregon Express, its train themed!] and we reconnected with old friends and new. Bad Humors came down from New York to join us and Dayton local favorites Mayliner. It was the end of an amazing year, we let loose, enjoyed each other, and you best believe there was a killer brunch the morning after.
All in all, I think we were really successful in everything we set out to do. We played three festivals our first year active, played with more incredible artists than we can count on all twelve of our hands (ok that's an exaggeration, but there were a LOT) but most of all, we started building a community.
This project never had a chance remaining a solo mind-child, being able to do this with five other super talented, intelligent, patient, loving individuals has taken DSTRESSR beyond what I ever could have hoped for. Also the support we have gotten from friends, family, loved ones, and a few new fans that just like what we do has made this year more than what we could have dreamed of, what I could have dreamed of. I think its safe to speak on behalf of all of us that we are truly grateful for the experiences we have gotten to share this past year and cherish everyone that has supported us in all that we do. We have a lot of music in the works, we have a lot of goals and ambitions, and we have a lot of reflection still to do. Until we meet again, much love.
-written by Max Hentosh.