CHICAGO — The guys of Hippo Campus have stopped by Chicago three times in less than a year. They’ve been on a constant tour cycle that we’re sure fans are more than delighted with. I myself am most definitely pleased.
Opening with “Poems,” the subtle “la la la’s” sung beautifully by Jake Luppen set the show up for an alluring performance. Switching to the more lively “Suicide Saturday” the energy of the Vic Theatre felt much stronger than that of an arena. Newest member DeCarlo Jackson added another impressive layer to the band’s instrumentals with his roaring trumpet’s various solos. Luppen, Continuing to showcase his eloquent vocal talents, was later joined by guitarist Nathan Stocker on “South.” Their voices melded into the perfect duet.
Another memorable moment was the opening beats to “Way It Goes.” Besides being the band’s most famous song, it’s also their most lyrically charismatic. “A 90’s soul with Doc Martens on a step, a step away from crying.” Which sort of describes the majority of their fanbase. However, they are not ones to leave out the emotions people feel. “Degenerate, counter-culture, crying socialist. Hip-to-lazed crazed abstractionists. We’re weird, but Lord knows we’re trying.” Being in their early 20s, the guys of Hippo Campus are only just leaving behind their adolescence and can write songs from a more reflective point of view.
Their final song “Violet,” which is one that fans particularly are fond of, showcases the duality of talents presented by each member of Hippo Campus. The ending bit sung by drummer Whistler Allen is even more magical heard live than on their 2015 ep “South.” This song is reminiscent of youthful attempts of wanting to “start riots” and just wanting to break free. Hippo Campus is a band to keep on one’s radar. With a large and rather loyal fan base, these guys are most definitely going to crack the industry.
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Photos & Writing by: Jennifer Machuca | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not! | All Rights Reserved |
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