By Stephen Higgins
Staff Writer
With a roar of applause, Minnesota-based band, Hippo Campus, took the stage of the Higher Ground Ballroom on Feb. 13. They played a mix of slow and fast-paced songs, putting their passion and poise on full display.
The energetic indie pop band, Sure Sure, opened the show to an audience of almost 400. Warming up the crowd with their infectious rhythm and audience interactions, the four-piece band made up of two guitars, a bass, a trumpet, and drums, made way for the main act after a short set of songs from their 2018 self-titled album.
Jake Luppen, lead vocalist of Hippo Campus, plays guitar on Feb. 13 at Higher Ground’s ballroom in South Burlington, Vt.
Once Hippo Campus took the stage, they were focused on dynamic vocals, guitar riffs, and the occasional head banger, the crowd belted out the lyrics sung by lead singer, Jake Luppen. The band’s performance peaked as they played crowd favorites like “Way It Goes” and “baseball.” An overwhelming roar for an encore filled the room after the band played their last song. The boys came back to end the concert with an impassioned performance of the beloved tune, “Violet.” Their rapidly growing popularity has allowed them to sell out venues across the country as they tour their 2017 debut album, “Landmark.”