Live: HIPPO CAMPUS // The Garage, London
Three years on, indie outfit Hippo Campus make a triumphant return to London, conquering a sold-out show at The Garage.
It’s as if Hippo Campus have brought summer with them, not only in sound but also in sun. The clear sky, an optimistic indication of warmer days ahead, could not be more fitting for the Minnesota five-piece’s return, this time with a new album under their belt. Their third record, LP3, was four years in the making and every bit worth the wait.
Having drawn comparison to the works of Vampire Weekend with LP3, they kick off tonight’s set with 2 Young 2 Die, which immediately brings the mind to VW’s Diane Young with their parallel themes of mortality and youth. All but one of LP3‘s tracks get airtime tonight – from a bubbly Bang Bang to the bouncy Ride or Die through to Listerine, which frontman Jake Luppen brazenly dedicates to “anyone existentially fucked up”. Boys, Luppen explains, is about “kissing boys, kissing girls, kissing goddamn anything in between” as he sends line after line through a transformer-plugged mic to recreate the autotune effect heard across the record. Album closer Understand highlights not only the band’s vocal prowess in their harmonies, but also spectacular solos from guitarist Nathan Stocker and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson.
Peppered in with the new offerings are some of the old favourites, such as South and Baseball. “I feel very lucky right now,” come the words from Jake, a sentiment echoed by the fervent audience as monsoon provides a brief respite from the jangly chords and the zippy synths. The serenity is short-lived, however, as the familiar opening of way it goes elicits a chorus of cheers and is brought to life by Jackson’s solo of the bridge. Where to Now off their 2021 EP Good Dog, Bad Dream could have fooled us into thinking a completely different band is on stage as it ditches any hint of pop and strays darker with its punchy basslines and soaring riffs.
Chants of “one more song” fill the room as the band step off the stage – the yearning for an encore that is inevitable anyway is almost tangible. Of course, the night would not be complete without Bambi, seamlessly transitioning into buttercup in their signature finish. The faint humming of buttercup‘s chorus is heard amongst the crowd shuffling out the door, bodies covered in sweat, hands filled with merch, and minds overflowing with the memories of an unforgettable Monday night.
Photos: Abigail Shii