Since releasing their eponymous debut album in October 2025, HighSchool has only continued to grow in well deserved popularity. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, the band’s musical style translates well to the English crowd. HighSchool relocated to London in 2021, after realising that there was the opportunity to grow here in England. This did in fact happen, the last time HighSchool were in Bristol they were the support act for popular indie-rock band Wunderhorse. They have returned to the city as a stop on their world-tour, only a year and a half since those Wunderhorse days.
As I walk into the dark, smoky room towards the back of the Exchange, I am immediately hit by the audience’s age range. Spanning from fellow university students to older men in greying band tee-shirts, this is a testament to the band. Their blend of older, Strokes-style melodies and lyricism with modern synth piano is epitomised in their multigenerational audience.
Arriving onto the stage, the band are received well. They open their hour long set with single ‘Only A Dream’, a lively song that sets the tone of the gig going forward. This song is arguably more ‘poppy’ than much of their oeuvre, the rapid drumbeats are complimented by strong piano chords that guide the melody. The frontman, Rory Trobbiani, offers Bristol a welcome, and then jokingly states that he needs to try the city’s ‘local delicacy’ – a cider. This drink immediately materialises in front of him as an audience member holds up her pint. There is an intimate and light-hearted feel to this interaction, which informs the entire performance.
Songs from their self-titled debut such as ‘149’ and ‘Dipped’ are played, interspersed with singles and EP tracks. The intense rocky guitar and moody vocals are contrasted by the soft piano chords that are played throughout, creating a lively but dream-like atmosphere. This is further heightened by the deep blue stage lights and smoke machines. It’s nice to hear Trobbiani’s strong Australian accent bleed through in some of the lyrics, adding an interesting depth to his vocals.
As the set continues, I find myself experiencing a vague sense of deja-vu. My friend, who’s also in attendance, feels this too; having never listened to the band prior to the gig, he is certain he has heard each song before. This is arguably due to the heavy influences from bands such as the Strokes and Surf Curse that HighSchool draw upon. Additionally, their conventionally ‘drowned out vocals’ perhaps don’t particularly lend themselves to the live format. The guitar, drums and piano dominate the set, and to an uninformed listener, it merely seems like ‘the speakers are too loud,’ or that the music isn’t mixed properly. This is arguably a slight drawback to HighSchool’s performance.
The band’s penultimate song is a new, unreleased track entitled ‘Red-Label.’ After a few false starts, the band launches into a lively track dominated by a rapid drumbeat.The audience’s energy is heightened, perhaps due to the anticipation created by the false starts, and the song is received with cheers and a quasi mosh-pit. Finally, HighSchool’s most popular track is played: ‘New York, Paris and London.’ The energy of the crowd continues into this song. This energy took a while to arrive, however by the end of the set the crowd seems fully invested. Rather abruptly, the song ends, the band thanks the audience and walks of the stage. This is followed by the typical chants of ‘one more song.’ These chants don’t continue for as long as usual, as the band emerge again after only a few seconds. Their final song is a cover of ‘My Pal’ by God, a fellow Australian band. Their sound lends itself well to this cover, and as the music tapers out, I’m left with the feeling that this was their best song of the night.
Once again, the Exchange has hosted a lively, entertaining event. I’m excited to return for whatever bands they host in the future. HighSchool’s set was enjoyable, but perhaps what stuck with me the most was the drummers ‘quote’ that I somewhat jokingly asked for. He merely offered the line ‘the first time a man receives flowers isusually at his funeral.’ What he meant by this, and why he said it, I’m still debating.
Freya Grimley
