The Hi-Tops Release Show with In Search Of Sasquatch and Free The Cynics

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder*)

It’s often rare I find myself leaving the house to go for shows, and as a music journalist that may be the biggest sin one could commit. However, after being invited to The Hi-Tops’ album release show for their debut studio album Lips, Hips & Counterfeits, I knew it was a show I couldn’t miss. Playing at the Blox Arts Centre alongside The Hi-Tops were Calgary rock powerhouses of Free The Cynics and In Search of Sasquatch.

Starting the night was In Search of Sasquatch, a four-piece that truly brings the essence of 2000s indie rock to Calgary. This band is genuinely the lovechild of Cage The Elephant and The Wombats. Every time I see them, I feel like they build a sense of community at every show. Their crowd interactions are always positive and that's one of my favourite parts of every show I go to. Playing tracks off of their 2023 debut album, Prismatic, they kicked off their set by playing “8:58.” I thought it would’ve been iconic for them to play “8:58” at 8:58pm, but shows never start on time and that ask alone would be impossible. Hopefully the band are reading this and think it’s a good idea too!

Though not a lot of people knew the lyrics to their songs, front man Shane Andrews knows how to get the crowd engaged. He had the crowd singing the “Yeah! Yeah!” During “Stoned At The Midway” which has to be one of my favourite tracks from their release, and hearing it live is always an incredible experience. In Search Of Sasquatch are one of my favourite local bands, so the entire night I was just jamming to tracks I usually have playing in my headphones all day, every day. In Search of Sasquatch truly built the energy for the upcoming bands to come.

Following In Search of Sasquatch was Free The Cynics. In all honesty, I was not familiar with Free The Cynics discography prior to attending the show, but I was extremely impressed. Free The Cynics has this special chaos that can only be achieved by Rich Paxton, their Scottish frontman. I wish I discovered Free The Cynics sooner, an eclectic mesh between UK post-punk, and indie rock, with hints of blues and jazz interweaved throughout. I enjoyed Rich Paxton’s storytelling in between songs as he talked about how he had friends visiting from Scotland in the crowd. They watched Scotland play their Euros match (which they sadly lost) before attending the show and how they had been drinking all day. My favourite tracks that they played were “Neon Ballroom” and “Dollarama Prima Donna”, those two have been in my playlist rotation ever since that show. Though, I do find myself also circling back to Free The Cynics’ 2023 release, Bloodlines. Free The Cynics are a great band to see live because they have a chaotic energy that spreads like a wildfire. They continued the energy that In Search Of Sasquatch developed and the crowd were ready for The Hi-Tops.

When you get finance & business majors and ex-athletes going down the music pipeline, you get The Hi-Tops, which explains the differing aesthetics and high energy that the entire band radiates. Playing tracks off of their debut release, Lips, Hips & Counterfeits the crowd sang along to tracks such as “Easy” or my personal favourite off of the release “Waking Up.” Although the release was quite fresh, frontman Kole Halvorson knows how to get a crowd going (shoutout his ex-hockey background). The Hi-Tops have the energy of an entire hockey arena during a playoff game whenever they hit the stage and its exhilarating.

This was also The Hi-Tops’ first show with their recent trade acquisitions of drummer Carter Bews and guitarist Evan Lowe, making this once four-piece band into a basketball team with their court as the stage. For some bands, playing their first-ever show with new members, it can get disorganized and extremely messy but with the additions of Carter and Evan, they meshed seamlessly into the band that it was not a problem. Luke Lepine and his orange guitar ripped through the night, while bassist Chandler Billinghurst held the fort down with some incredible bass playing. Those two may have been on opposite sides of the stage but that did not matter. The Hi-Tops have this gift individually and collectively of walking into whatever venue and making the stage their arena. It doesn't matter who they play with or where they play, they all know how to keep their shows high-energy and hype. Whether it’s Luke Lepine or Evan Lowe ripping the guitar or Carter Bews hitting the drums like it’s the last show he’ll ever play. Their passion for music leaves a lasting impression and it shows. Maybe this was the show I needed to see to influence me to leave my house more.

The Hi-Tops Release Show with In Search Of Sasquatch and Free The Cynics

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