I had never listened to High Pop before, but they were playing at Capetown along with Two Humans, The Guru, Setsuna, and Black Churches, so I got to catch these CT natives and check them out. I was very curious as to what they were going to sound like; I had heard good things about them, but considering the diverse nature of the show, I really had no idea what to expect.
High Pop’s sound can only really be described as fuzzy punk lo-fi, very floaty and dreamy but loud and quite strange. However, I found them to be really fun to listen to. They played fast and it was exhilarating and energetic and raw. They have a real classic punk feel, which really appealed to me. They captured the feeling of 80s punk without being cheesy or cliche or lame.
My favorite part of their set was their cover of “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”. It fit so well with their sound, and made them absolutely memorable. I loved how natural it was for them to transition into it, from their own original work into a classic with no stumbling and they absolutely did The Ramones justice, which isn’t an easy thing.
Listening to their music on their bandcamp is a surrealistic experience. Listening to “Hip Hip Hooray”, there’s a feeling of bliss because the psychedelic feel is warm and doesn’t push it too far. It’s just strange and funky enough to set these guys apart from any other CT band, but also makes them a good band to just jam out to with friends. I’m so so proud to say these guys are from my state, and they’re absolutely worth a listen.
