02/08/25 @ Empire Live, Albany

“It was the kind of performance that left you standing there, awestruck and filled with a sense of loss, but also gratitude, knowing you had just experienced something rare and extraordinary.”

The night air was crisp and cold, and a winter storm was on its way, but that didn’t stop fans from packing into Empire Live for an unforgettable night. The headliner? Hippo Campus, performing in Albany for the eighth show of the North American leg of their 32-date Flood Tour.

Supporting their highly-anticipated fourth full-length album, Flood, the tour showcases a record that has received widespread acclaim for its relatable subject matter, catchy production, seamless delivery, and experimental style. While the album marks a departure from the band’s signature sounds of Landmark and Bambi, the shift is far from disappointing.

Opening up the show was Mei Semones, an alternative J-pop artist with jazz influences, backed by an incredible band featuring keys, guitars, bass, violin, and cello. Semones and her band delivered an insanely mesmerizing set. Incredible musicality, on-stage chemistry, and undeniable passion. Each song was a dynamic journey, seamlessly shifting between soft, mellow sections with delicate vocals and explosive bursts of high-energy sound.

The contrast was striking, with gentle melodies and hushed singing suddenly giving way to powerful, punchy instrumentation and soaring vocals, delivered in both English and Japanese. The band’s ability to transition from intimate quiet moments into electrifying, fast-paced jam sessions was nothing short of captivating, and their infectious energy spread through the crowd like wildfire.

The band was almost whimsical in their approach, playing with different keys and time signatures, letting their jazz influences shine through as they pushed the boundaries of their genre-bending sound. Tracks like 'Tegami' and 'Kodoku' perfectly showcased their signature sound and undeniable talent. As their set wrapped up, Mei Semones announced that their debut album, Animaru, is set to be released on May 2nd, 2025.

When the lights dimmed once again, the crowd roared. In the darkness, the silhouettes of the Hippo Campus members appeared, and it was only a matter of time before the show began.

Lead singer Jake Luppen’s voice sliced through the crowd’s anticipatory whispers like a knife through butter with his opening lyrics: ‘Chopping block, quick knife in the back now,’ accompanied by the smooth opening notes from Nathan Stocker’s guitar. Whistler Allen’s crisp drums soon joined in as the first verse continued, followed by Zach Sutton’s funky bass.

DeCarlo Jackson was a fan favorite, adding depth to every song with his incredibly skillful use of the trumpet, infusing the music with passion and energy. His contributions were met with loud cheers and incredible fanfare from the crowd, adding a fantastic layer to the show.

“Tooth Fairy” was the perfect opener, introducing each band member one by one and giving them their moment to shine. They smoothly transitioned into “Paranoid,” a standout track from Flood. Both songs were impossibly infectious, and the entire crowd was on their feet, moving with the rhythm. From the first beat, it was clear this would be a night of incredible music, high energy, and nonstop fun.

Following these two high-energy tracks, the lights shifted to a beautiful mix of pink, blue, and purple, and the vibe transformed from a fast-paced dance party into a dreamy soundscape. It felt as though the crowd was transported into a weightless freefall through cotton candy skies, especially during “Ride or Die,” “Doubt,” and “Sex Tape.”

“Yippie Ki Yay” was a crowd favorite, with Luppen inviting everyone to sing along with the deeply introspective lyrics: ‘Followed a mirage to a dried-up stream, when I heard it like a voice from the sand and the wind.’

The band then shifted to their most popular song to date, “Buttercup,” to give the crowd one more punchy sing-along before they shifted into a more mellow section of the night.

“Fuck yeah, Albany, you all are amazing – the best crowd yet,” Luppen addressed the crowd with a wide smile on his face.

The transition into the slower songs was seamless and it came at a perfect point in the show. The excitement had been high, but this shift allowed the band and the audience a chance to connect in a more intimate space.

Songs like “Where to Now,” “Slipping Away,” and “Corduroy,” gave Hippo Campus a chance to share the most vulnerable parts of themselves with the crowd. The emotion poured into these tracks was not only evident but deeply inspiring. It was clear they resonated deeply with many in the audience, as they sang their hearts out and swayed gently to the beats.

Then came my personal favorite moment of the night. The lights shifted to a dark blue, casting a mellow atmosphere over the crowd. Luppen sang the opening notes of the hauntingly beautiful “Think it Over,” his voice dripping with longing and passion. I was completely captivated by the raw emotion in his delivery.

The song took over the whole room as if the entire crowd shared a quiet understanding. It didn’t matter how long anyone had been a fan of Hippo Campus, or if they were even familiar with the band at all; the lyrics created an unspoken connection that transcended the music itself. It was truly beautiful and one of my favorite concert moments to date.

“Bang Bang” was another personal favorite. The song brought me back to that weightless freefall feeling I experienced at the start of the night, giving me a sense of freedom with a touch of nostalgia. It transported me to a place where I lost all control over my body, where doing what felt natural meant putting on my dancing shoes and hitting a little two-step. Looking around, I could tell I wasn’t alone; everyone was moving, and everyone was feeling it. This song was a ton of fun.

As the band left the stage, Albany wasn’t ready for the night to end. “One more song! One more song!” echoed through the venue, and sure enough, after that hopeful chant of anticipation, Hippo Campus made their way onto the stage for one final round.

As the opening notes of “Poems” began to play, the energy in the room shifted. It was clear from the first strums of the guitar that we were about to witness something special. This wasn’t just any encore – it was the perfect conclusion to a night that had already taken us through so many highs and lows.

The song’s slow, delicate start felt intimate, with Luppen’s voice soft and vulnerable, allowing every note to resonate deeply. It felt like a moment of calm before the storm.

And then, as the chorus hit, everything exploded. The layers of sound came together in a wave, with guitars, drums, synths, and Luppen’s soaring vocals filling the air, creating a sense of controlled chaos that was beautiful to witness. By the bridge, the sound began to soften, almost as if we were being submerged underwater, the music muffled but building tension. The anticipation in the room grew, as the song slowly built toward its final moments.

When that moment finally arrived, it was as if all the tension in the room was released at once. Everything exploded into light, sound, movement, and joy. It was pure magic, the kind of moment that you know you’ll remember long after the concert is over.

This song seamlessly transitioned into “Interlude,” which, despite having no lyrics, carried such a powerful emotional weight. “Interlude” was more than just a closing track; it was a final, almost sacred offering to the audience. Even without words, the song spoke volumes and the instruments fused together in a passionate crescendo. The energy was infectious, the band was pouring everything they had into this final moment as if to say, “Remember us, and carry this with you.”

It was a call to hold onto the magic of the night, a reminder that, even though the concert had ended, the bond created between the music, the band, and the audience could never truly fade. The beauty of it was almost too much to take in all at once. It was the kind of performance that left you standing there, awestruck and filled with a sense of loss, but also gratitude, knowing you had just experienced something rare and extraordinary.

With waves goodbye, Hippo Campus left the stage, and as the lights slowly faded to black, the echoes of the music lingered, like a dream you never wanted to wake up from. It was clear to everyone in the room: Hippo Campus can do it all effortlessly. They take you from high highs where you’re jumping and dancing, to lower lows where you’re swaying along, deeply resonating with the lyrics, all without losing the integrity or energy of the show they’re putting on.

But they delivered more than just a show. They created a moment in time, a perfect memory that would stay with the audience forever.

Even as the cold storm embraced everyone outside, no one could shake the feeling that the night had been something extraordinary, a rare glimpse into the magic of live music, where time and space dissolve, leaving only the music, the connection, and the unforgettable feeling of being completely alive.