The heat was unbearable to begin with. I hope this is the only time I open with that for any article. What is going on Indy? It is so humid outside I barely could cover this event without crushing a beer in between sets. To be fair, I am sure I could have worn something less dark and drank more water, but that is not why you are here.

From the moment I parked my car, strapped my camera gear and walked towards the stage the air was already thick thick with anticipation, and smells of Chik-Fil-A – a heady mix of the worst humidity, fried chicken, and the vibe of a young people gathered across Holiday Park for the next date of Rock The Ruins (sponsored the the best Forty5). Rock the Ruins, a testament to the city's industrial past turned open-air concert venue, throbbed with the promise of an unforgettable evening with two bands I actually regret not knowing before going. I knew both bands were set to play Lollapalooza next weekend, but for at least tonight, it was about experiencing the raw, untamed energy both bands in a more relaxed setting.

First to grace the 317 on the stage was the band called Friko, a local band out of Chicago outfitted with a sound as audacious as their hometown's crazy commute. Friko pushed their way through their set with dance-floor worthy grooves and introspective lyrics, a perfect soundtrack for losing yourself under the twinkling tapestry of stars. Their energy was a contagious wildfire, igniting the crowd – a mix of devoted locals and curious newcomers – into a swaying, singing mass. Friko was a testament to the untamed creative spirit that thrives in the Hoosier State. It was a good first act for an amazing night.

As the final notes of Friko's set faded, the air crackled with an electric anticipation as they left the stage and more and more people had arrived to see the headliner. Before the Hippo Campus came on stage an event coordinator stopped and handed me and another photogrpaher a beer, which was the first time I have ever been to anywhere and got handed a free beer. I thought to myself that if this is how the Campus rolls then I am ready for a show. Tonight's headliners, Hippo Campus, were about to take the stage when I chugged the last of my IPA and began shooting. This Minnesota-born group wasn't your typical indie band churning out manufactured anthems. No, Hippo Campus was a sonic soundscape, a vibrant tapestry woven from shimmering guitars, infectious melodies, and frontman Jake Luppen's vocals, raw with wide-eyed earnestness. Their music was pure, unadulterated joy – the kind that compels you to throw your arms in the air, forget your inhibitions, and sing along at the top of your lungs beneath the watchful gaze of the moon.

And that's precisely what transpired. As Hippo Campus launched into their set, the crowd erupted. Bodies became a unified mass, swaying in joyous abandon. Voices, a cacophony of pure, unadulterated enthusiasm, echoed through the ruins. Songs like "Buttercup" and "Suicide Saturday" morphed into anthems, belted out with a fervor that only a hometown crowd can muster. In this open-air cathedral, Hippo Campus wasn't just performing – they were weaving a shared experience, a tapestry of uninhibited revelry under the watchful gaze of the Indiana sky.

Leaving Rock the Ruins that night, there was a lingering sense of euphoria. We weren't just leaving another Rock The Ruins event, but; we were exiting a portal into a future brimming with possibilities. Here, in the heart of Indiana, Friko and Hippo Campus delivered a masterclass in genre-bending innovation, a testament to the state's ever-evolving musical landscape. This is the raw, untamed energy that we love to cover – unearthing hidden gems and celebrating the visceral power of live music, right here in our own backyard. Keep your ears to the ground, Indiana, the next wave of live magic is already brewing, and its most likely presented by Forty5