The Minneapolis outfit Hippo Campus make a triumphant return to the UK.

The clock shows 6 pm which means it’s at least three hours until the band’s set time, yet the queue to the venue goes way beyond and down the street. Hippo Campus‘ have had quite a year so far after all. With their successful UK leg a few months back and the release of debut full-length, landmark, they quickly have transitioned into true indie dreamboats. Their extensively and ever growing following is best to prove it.

The excitement is real as I hear a guy in the first row screaming his lungs out with “I love you so much!” a couple of times before the guys even emerge on stage. Dark purple lights set up the ambience perfectly as blissful melodies start to flow across the room.

Since seeing the band at their last London show one thing is certain that Hippo Campus have evolved maturely, mastering their skills in a live arrangement. As we soak in their sun-drenched soundscape, way it goes and western kids conjure a melodic appeal led by effervescent guitars that build up to proper singalong moments.

Antithetical in a way, their entire catalogue evokes an exquisite and mature juxtaposition of heaviness on semantic level alongside sonic ethereality. They boldly manifest social awareness as well as self-assurance, and don’t stray away from taking on the subjects such as death and human existence. Nostalgia quickly transforms into an euphoric feeling as their vigorous spirit hails from every tune.

With a dose of refreshing tone, the band’s older material shines bright. Sophie So brings forth the upbeat drum patterns whilst  Suicide Saturday strikes with a catchy chant sequence, the kind you simply can’t resist. “London sing with me”, vocalist Jake Luppen says before diving into the title track of 2015’s Bashful Creatures EP.

With a few lines in-between songs, like “Yeah, fuck Trump” and Happy Birthday to their tour manager, and “This  is fucking amazing”, the set falls smooth and polished, with the audience loving every second of it. Carefree and buoyant nature of simple season takes us back instantly to those recent summery days and long nights, with Jake’s brilliant falsetto moments, whereas tuesday gets a gorgeous visual aesthetics as the colourful lights cover the entire KOKO swirling around and playing with the disco ball.

A sublime guitar-laid version of the piano-driven monsoon elicits a grandiose impression, founded on the high importance of lyrical content, whilst South hits you next with its dynamic flare. What’s more, Hippo Campus eagerly present their new material taken from warm glow EP, surprisingly released last month.

“This one is about one particular sport. It’s one of my favourites”, we hear as brisk rhythmics devise a typical Hippo Campus danceable twist on their offering baseball. More complex and diverse, traveler leads to a poignant crescendo, serving us some unexpected melancholic vibes.

They have grown in a way but stayed true to their roots at the same time. A combination of ecstatic attitude and solemnity, effortlessly achieved on their musical endeavours. Life is about having fun and buttercup beautifully champions that as the supporting act Marsicans join Hippo Campus on stage.

Loud singalongs echo throughout the venue, one quick pause and they’re back to round things off with Violet, a quintessence of their signature rolling tempo within abundant melodies.

Seems like everywhere they go, Hippo Campus leave their ‘landmarks’ behind, injecting that happy weightless spark into our lives. And that’s what you expect from a great live experience.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka