augies-ears-blog

[augies-ears-blog]

Hippo Campus Winter Tour 2/16 at the Vic

Hippo Campus recently toured for their album Landmark and put on shows across the country (including a show in Vancouver, British Columbia) with support from Sure Sure. I have been a big fan of Hippo Campus and their music for quite some time. Against my own intention, I went in to this show with high expectations, and they definitely were surpassed. The opening band started their set around an hour after doors. The crowd was undisturbed, many carried on regular conversation throughout the set. Despite this, Sure Sure put on a wonderful show and carried an upbeat stage presence. In contrast, Hippo Campus created quite a stir. As soon as the lights dimmed to signal the start of their set, the venue was plagued with the shrieks and yells of teen fans.

Before the concert, a few of my friends and I decided to snag a spot in line. By around six o’clock, the line wrapped around the Vic and down the block. The cold bit at the faces of friendly fans as we waited for the bloodbath to begin.

The show itself was quite wonderful. I held a steady spot in the middle of the pit closest to the stage. For those who have never experienced a Hippo Campus pit, I have two words to describe the people in it: very eager. Throughout the show I was hit with elbows and ponytails, and at one point a girl was pushing me so far forward I was standing at an angle (around a seventy degree angle from the ground for reference). Fortunately, that is the only complaint I truly have about the show itself. Unfortunately, that is to be expected with concerts like this.

Hippo Campus created a calm yet energetic atmosphere that night at the Vic. They presented themselves in a simple way with casual clothes and colored lighting that allowed their music to stand on its own. It was a smart choice since they have the talent to entertain without theatrics. In addition, the setlist was compiled beautifully. It consisted of an array of bangers (such as Violet) to calmer bops (e.g. baseball) to classic jams (does Buttercup ring a bell?). Those who went on this tour also were graced with a couple newer songs, rumoured to be called “No Pomegranates” and “Joy”. There are videos of the new songs on youtube courtesy of a few fans.

Overall, the experience was unforgettable. The show was beautifully executed and it was evident that the boys loved performing. The passion and the joy shared between fans and band that night was truly unique and I hope to be seeing more of them in the future.

Check out Hippo Campus’ website here: hippocampusband.com

Check out Sure Sure’s website here: suresuremusic.com

[augies-ears-blog]

Quick Little Intro

Hey! I'm Augie. I'm a highschool student with a soft spot for concerts. I've decided to put my limited experience to some use. I will be posting reviews of live shows I have seen, reviews of bands, reviews of venues, and hopefully I can reach a point where I can post interviews! Feel free to submit some bands for me to check out in my ask box. I'll get to writing soon. Stay tuned.