Hippo Campus Floods Portland

Words and photos by Paige Fulkerson

While Hippo Campus isn’t as recognized as other popular artists in the genre like Wallows, Djo and Declan McKenna, they absolutely should be. Hippo Campus’s indie/rock music is so distinguishable compared to many of the other indie/rock albums coming out recently. Despite releasing hit singles since 2015, Hippo Campus might be one of the most underrated bands of our generation and their Flood Tour Spring 2025 is proof of this.

Only two dates into the tour the band headlined Portland’s Roseland Theater two nights in a row and they rocked the shit out of Portland. Their synth pop rock translates phenomenally into their live performances with no back tracks in sight. 

The band of six stunned with Jake Luppen on lead vocals and guitar, Nathan Stocker on lead guitar and vocals, Zach Sutton on bass and vocals, Whistler Allen on drums and vocals, DeCarlo Jackson on trumpet and percussion and Samuel Calvo on keyboard. As you can imagine with four band members on vocals, the music is harmonious. 

For many of their earlier songs, Luppen rocks an auto tuned mic and while autotune is often looked down upon, it only makes sense with Hippo Campus’s discography. Luppen live tunes the mic output and the distortion on their synth pop music makes for a dancing crowd.

Luppen proves his vocal talent by mostly singing without the autotune mic. Often, as you thought there was a backtrack of Luppen singing, it was just Stocker and Sutton leading the vocals as Luppen jammed on his guitar. 

Sutton for one is a phenomenal bass player singing all of the lyrics to the songs whether that was in the microphone or not. His and Stocker’s solos go even harder in person than on the recorded albums. 

 Hippo Campus opened the second night in Portland with early fan favorites: “Poems,” “Violet,” “Suicide Saturday” and “Bambi.” Following was “Madman” and “Paranoid” from their newest album Flood. 

While touring for the 2024 release of Flood the band played many of their older songs ranging from 2015 to 2022, although skipping their 2023 EP Wasteland.

As the setlist progressed to “Sex Tape” and “Tooth Fairy” every person from the balcony to the stage was dripping with sweat. Although not sold out, the theater was packed with dancing and sweaty fans with the band not short of sweat either. 

The band slowed it down with “Everything At Once” before speeding it back up again with “Bang Bang” and “Buttercup.” 

They ended the show with “Boys” and “South” as the encore and fans waited at the barricade for guitar picks and set lists. 

This is your reminder that not only have Hippo Campus been rocking the indie/rock and pop genre since 2015 but they’re also one of the most underrated yet most unique bands of the mid 2000’s. 

Their Spring Tour will continue for the month of May and whether you’re familiar with their music or not you’re bound to dance and have a good time.