(Artist Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines   

Highly Suspect is a rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They formed in 2009 and began by playing cover songs in local bars. At first, they covered bands like Sublime and Pink Floyd. But they had bigger dreams and serious talent. Eventually, they packed up and moved to Brooklyn, New York, to chase those dreams. That’s where they began writing their own music, pouring their emotions into gritty, intense songs that didn’t sound like anything else on the radio. The current band members are Johnny Stevens (Vocals), Rich Meyer (Bass), Ryan Meyer (Drums), Matt Kofos (Guitar), and Mark Schwartz (Keyboard). The band started as a three-piece (Stevens and the Meyer twins) and added extra members later to expand their sound.

Highly Suspect released their first album in 2015 titled Mister Asylum. This album has 10 songs on it that include "Lost," "Lydia," "Mom," "Bloodfeather," "Vanity," and "Claudland." This album was emotional, full of pain, anger, and honesty. It got them nominated for a Grammy, which is a huge deal for a band that started in bars. They released their next album titled The Boy Who Died Wolf in 2016. This album has 11 tracks on it that includes "My Name Is Human," "Little One," "For Billy," "Postres," "Send Me An Angel," "Chicago," and "Wolf." This album produced their most successful song, “My Name Is Human,” which hit #1 on rock radio charts.

In 2022, the band released their album titled The Midnight Demon Club. This album has 12 songs on it that include "The Sound," "Natural Born Killer," "Caught On Fire," "Wild Eyed Son," "Cool Kids," and "Love Like This." A different direction, but the band later admitted they weren’t completely happy with how it turned out. Highly Suspect released their latest album titled As Above, So Below in 2024. This album has 11 tacks on it that include "Suicide Machine," "The Blue-Eyed Devil," "Mexico," "Plastic Boxes," "The Reset," and "Then Mickey 2." This album focuses on recording songs more “live” in the studio, with less polish and fewer backing tracks, making it sound closer to their concerts.

Highly Suspect’s music is mostly alternative rock with touches of blues rock, garage rock, and grunge. Their sound mixes heavy guitar riffs, emotional vocals, and sometimes synthesizers. Lyrically, they often write about love, heartbreak, addiction, mental health, and personal struggles. They have a strong fan base, often referred to as MCID (My Crew Is Dope). Not every album has been equally popular. The Midnight Demon Club didn’t do as well on the charts, but their newest release (As Above, So Below) has been better received and is seen as a “return to form.”

Their live shows are a big part of their reputation, and they’re focusing more on making albums that match the raw energy of their concerts. The “Lydia” music video was filmed underwater in one take. Their fan community is proudly called MCID, the same as their 2019 album title. Their fan community is proudly called MCID, the same as their 2019 album title.

Highly Suspect’s journey shows a band willing to take risks and evolve. From bar gigs in Cape Cod to Grammy nominations and sold-out shows, they’ve built a career on real energy, emotional honesty, and a loyal fan base. While not every experiment has landed, their newest album suggests they’re finding their balance again between experimenting and sticking to what made people love them in the first place.

That will do it for this report on Highly Suspect. In closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Until next time... Rock on friends🤘

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