By Justin Smulison
High Spirits is a hard rock group based in Chicago, Illinois, which produces some of the most positively charged music in the genre. All songs are written by mastermind Chris “Professor” Black, who also performs all the instruments in the studio.
In the last 10 years, High Spirits has released some of the most dynamic LPs of their discography – Motivator!, Hard To Stop, and Safe On The Other Side – all of which are available from High Roller Records. Each one marks a progression that brings us to the present: Motivator! encapsulates the band’s rise in popularity and success on the road; Hard To Stop was released during the height of the pandemic and coincidentally explores feelings of isolation and challenging relationships, laced with many glimmers of hope; Safe seems to mark a new chapter, where what may have been ailing Black is now in the rearview. Additionally, his voice seems to get lower and a bit stronger with each album.
On stage, Chris takes the mic to engage directly with the audience and leaves the music to a very able quartet whose playing is so precise, one wonders if backing tracks are used (Spoiler Alert: They are not). They have played in clubs and also at such festivals as Party-San Open Air in Germany, Heavy Metal Thunder in the Czech Republic, Pyrenean Warriors Open Air in France, and Hell’s Heroes in Texas. I had the pleasure of seeing High Spirits live during one of their few performances of 2025 and, as you will see in this interview, had a fantastic time in the front row, while the quintet held their own as part of a showcase of rock and metal bands of all kinds.
While touring the U.S. might be fraught with roadblocks, High Spirits has plenty of green lights across the Atlantic, as two weeks’ worth of shows are coming up, beginning Sept. 20 and running through Oct. 3. The band will also be joined by Lady Beast on many dates.
Chris and I talk about the musical evolution of High Spirits, how a personnel change led to newly energized live performances and why cities like Newcastle, UK and Hamburg, Germany have become adoptive second homes for these Chicagoan rockers. We also talk about some of my favorite songs and a special one that always makes the day of my 8-year-old son.
Song clips: “Lonely Nights,” “In the Moonlight,” “There Will Be Magic,” “Thank You.”
High Spirits:
https://www.hrrecords.de/Home_2
https://www.facebook.com/highenergyrock
https://highspiritsmetal.bandcamp.com/merch
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgYBLt90gBiVqSpc9P6rmEA
High Spirits – Live on the Other Side Tour 2025
- 20 Sep – Hamburg DE – Metal Forces
- 23 Sep – Barcelona ES – Sala WOLF
- 24 Sep – Marseille FR – Le Molotov
- 25 Sep – Gries DE – Sportheim TuS
- 26 Sep – Deinze BE – Elpee
- 27 Sep – Newcastle UK – Cluny 2
- 28 Sep – Breda NL – Sound Dog *
- 30 Sep – Oldenburg DE – MTS Records *
- 01 Oct – Kassel DE – Goldgrube *
- 02 Oct – Leipzig DE – Black Label Pub
- 03 Oct – Würzburg DE – KIT Rising
- 04 Oct – Münster DE – Sputnikhalle
* with LADY BEAST
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