Highly popular Alternative Rock band Highly Suspect will be giving Greater Cincinnati fans two chances to catch them on tour this winter.
The group is slated to play back-to-back nights at Covington’s Madison Theater in February.
Tickets for the Feb. 13 show (sponsored by local radio station’s WEBN and The Project) and Feb. 14 concert (presented by 96 Rock) are $38 and go on sale Friday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. via ticketmaster.com.
The band’s Northern Kentucky visit is one of only two “two-night stands” on their 2019-2020 tour so far. The other is in Boston (in the musicians’ home state).
Tomorrow also sees the release of MCID, Highly Suspect’s anticipated follow-up to 2016’s The Boy Who Died Wolf. Last week the group released “Canals,” the fiery latest single from MCID.
Highly Suspect was formed as a cover band in Cape Cod, Massachusets a decade ago by twin brothers Rich and Ryan Meyer and singer/guitarist Johnny Stevens. Eventually moving to New York City, the musicians showed their talents as songwriters on several self-released EPs, which showcased their developing mix of genres (which has variously included elements of Hard Rock, Blues, AltRock, Reggae, Pop and, particularly of late, Hip Hop).
The trio (now a quartet with the more recent addition of Matt Kofos on guitars and synths) was the first Rock band signed to the Atlantic Records-distributed label 300 Entertainment, which was founded by a collective of industry vets and boasts a roster that includes Migos, Megan Thee Stallion and Young Thug (with whom the group has recently collaborated on the single “Tokyo Ghoul“). Highly Suspect’s album debut, 2015’s Mister Asylum, netted them a Best Rock Album Grammy nomination; the album’s hit single, “Lydia,” was also nominated for a Grammy.
Highly Suspect has never shied away from expressing their opinions on social and political issues. When they appeared on Conan O’Brien’s TBS show in early 2016, before they started their song, Stevens addressed the home viewers: ““What’s up America? Anybody but Trump, please.” And the new “Canals” includes lines like, “Like how can you stomach the shit that they do/Just ask Pussy Riot what those girls went through.”
The new album also deals with more personal subjects.
“The album centers around themes of self-loathing, substance abuse, image issues, addressing my past and changing my future,” Stevens told Rolling Stone, “with a sprinkle of anti-Trump, false social media worship, heartbreak and hope.”
It was just announced today that Highly Suspect’s “16” (also from MCID) hit No. 1 on the Rock Radio chart. It’s the first guitar-less song to top the chart in 30 years, according to a press release.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 12, 2019.