Band To Know: Hippo Campus... Not the Brain

When I excitedly rant to my friends about one of my favorite bands Hippo Campus, I am met with confused stares.  "Wait, hippocampus... Like the part in the brain?"  Precisely.  Hippo Campus' Bashful Creatures EP published on November 18, 2014 was the band's first release.  And an impressive one at that.

This young and sophisticated quartet made up of 18-to-20-year-olds attending the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis halla halla) proves that even with less experience under your belt, you can be successful on the music scene.  A difficult task that they have met with confidence.  Having attended their gig on December 27th at the intimate Triple Rock Social Club, all four band members played as if they had been touring together for ten years. The Bashful Creatures EP features the enthusiastic, familiar voice of lead singer Jake Luppen backed by funky riffs played by guitarist Nathan Stocker.  Other band members include the peculiar drummer Whistler Allen who sports a man bun (!!!) and the adorable, more soft-spoken Zach Sutton on bass. The crisp lyrics and positive energy from the band can be compared to the likes of well-known indie groups such as Vampire Weekend, Foster the People and Grouplove. (Although, don't tell them that. They don't like being compared. Shh.)

Zach Sutton (left), Whistler Allen (center) & Jake Luppen (right) doin their thang

Lead singer Jake Luppen @ the Triple Rock Social Club

Each song on their EP release could have been a single on its own, each with its own depth of thought and refinement.  Songs such as "Little Grace" and "Suicide Saturday" have recognizable and intoxicating melodies, but are far far far from being compared to modern pop ballads.  A particular personal favorite from the EP would be "Bashful Creatures" which happily rounds out the end to the EP, leaving me wanting more than the six songs to listen to. Ugh. Even with repeating these same six released songs, I still have not grown tired of these songs, listening to them in my car. 

 

Luppen's enthusiasm is impeccable and organic

I'm so excited to see what the future holds for these young artists.  The group has been tweeting cryptic messages like "we have some new stuff on the way for you guys... real soon" that are driving me absolutely insane.  The Halocline is going to be the band's first album, without a set release date.  Although it seems to be quite soon. And I couldn't be more excited.  I am hoping to see more contrast in song pacing than in the Bashful Creatures EP, my only critique of the EP is that all six songs are about the same tempo with the same style.  Hearing Luppen's voice in a slower ballad like their single "South" that wasn't released on the EP?  Yes, pleeeeeease.  Hippo Campus is touring with The Mowgli's and FENCES this spring, taking a semester off college to travel the United States.  People are just going to eat them up.  Just wait.

This band encompasses a rare sense of familiarity about themselves the first time you listen to their music.  I feel like I've been listening to them for years even though I have only been listening since November. That's the funny thing about these guys.  Joking around on the Triple Rock Social Club stage as if they perform there routinely, giving each other nicknames and asking for song suggestions makes me feel like I know them quite personally.  Also, every band photo ever taken of them is freaking swiggity-cool.

Band: Hippo Campus
Discography: Bashful Creatures EP, The Halocline (2015, to be released)
Notable songs: Little Grace & Bashful Creatures
Band Members: Jake Luppen (lead singer), Nathan Stocker (guitar), Whistler Allen (drums) & Zach Sutton (bass)
http://thehalocline.bandcamp.com/