The band wraps up their UK headline tour with a sold out show in London.

It is a Wednesday night when a long queue of people can be spotted alongside the canal in Camden. All are waiting impatiently for Dingwalls to finally be opened. There is a slight delay on the door (more like an hour delay) but that doesn’t discourage the Hippo Campus‘ fans. Quite the opposite.

Tonight is one of those sweaty not-enough-air-to-breathe kind of shows. The first rows totally squeezed in as close to the stage as possible (myself included) whilst the folks in the back are just casually chilling not quite sure what to expect. The Minnesota four-piece doesn’t come over here too often after all.

Shortly, the lights dim and we are being welcome to ‘Ye Olde Hippo Campus Country Fayre’. Well, that’s what it says on top of the band’s setlist anyway. I must admit, it does sound quite promising. Will there be any surprises?

The prolonged compelling notes of the intro poems, taken from Hippo Campus‘ forthcoming debut album landmark, build up the anticipation as the four figures slowly emerge out of the blue light on stage. Frontman Jake Luppen‘s soothing falsetto vocals join in, creating an ethereal atmosphere and setting up the appeal.

The mood changes as fast as the tempo changes when the following track Souls kick off the crowd. Even for such a young band the tune gives a blast-from-the-past kinda feel. One of the fans favourites, Suicide Saturday, is being played next what only amplifies the impression.

“Yo London! Welcome to Dingwalls” – we hear from Jake. Clearly the band is feeling like they own the place, and judging by the crowd’s reception it’s hard to blame them for it.

There is something antithetical about Hippo Campus‘ music. These four lads show an extreme level of maturity. You don’t find soppy poppy love songs in their repertoire and that’s what gives their music a refreshing tone. They boldly manifest their social awareness, self-assurance and don’t stray away from taking on the subjects such as death. They use the chords to discuss remaining true to yourself while mocking social media behaviours. Oh but there’s more of course. The vast nostalgia and existential issues might seem a bit overwhelming at times but these guys know exactly what they’re doing.

All that heaviness is masterfully juxtaposed with the sun-soaked guitars and melodic vocals. The bright infectious sonics fill almost every track of theirs. Let’s take the band’s latest single, way it goes. Infused with sunny vibes the sparking guitars, courtesy of Nathan Stocker, and Whistler Allen‘s resilient drums form a vigorous spirit, the kind that inhabits your body for a while. Despite the intensity on a semantic level, the tune is a proper euphoric banger.

Hippo Campus showcase their debut EP, Bashful Creatures, in full tonight. From sharing some throwback vibes in Little Grace to dedicating Sophie So to a friend in Glasgow, to spinning the title track which punches you in the face with its careless attitude and vile honesty. After Opportunistic however, we get a short speech on ‘moshing responsibility’ because “That was fucking amazing. Is everyone in the first row okay?”.

It is fair to say that the crowd naturally picks up the upbeat essence of their songs. The singalongs start to echo louder and louder as the crowd actions start to get crazier. It doesn’t take long for the band to appreciate it when frontman says: “Yo that pit was dope” after spinning Dollar Bill, and asks: “Who’s seen us before?”.

A few hands shoot in the air but quickly it becomes obvious that the majority of the audience has shown up here tonight to check out this American outfit. Of course, the fans can’t wait to hear new material from the guys.

epitaph is a beautifully layered mellow harmony which jumps straight into the buoyant simple season, and whether you like it or not, this track will make your hips totally lose it to Zach Sutton‘s groovy bass lines.

“It’s been a while since we played in this country. Both our nations have made quite similar decisions recently. This song goes to the white duchebag”, having said that the band serves western kids reflecting on modern society once more.

A guitar-laid version of the piano-driven monsoon falls as one of the most outstanding tracks at tonight’s show. Presented to a silent audience, as requested by the band, the sublime tune shapes the foundations for vocalist’s idiosyncratic vocals to unravel again. It is a remarkable moment indeed. “Thanks for being quiet”, he says.

As much as everyone is enjoying themselves, the ending of the show is fast approaching. At this point the energy is quite contagious and you simply are being drawn into the mosh pit, even if your intentions were completely different.

As the blissful South and dynamic Violet round off tonight’s set we are being left with a sense of craving for more, and a feeling of lack of the oxygen looking at a couple of devoted moshers.

The unmissable charm and the catchiness alongside the lyrical significance of their tunes undoubtedly make Hippo Campus stand out in the modern soundscape. I am pretty sure they are yet to surprise us a few times. The band is about to release their debut album after all.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka