The moniker chosen by this New Jersey quintet has little to do with any admiration for the legal system. Instead the phrase points toward the slang sense of “high” and the convenient initials THC, signaling the members’ enthusiasm for cannabis. Their own official biography states the connection outright in its opening lines, while their MySpace page is filled with equally unsubtle allusions to smoking. As a result the group is unlikely to receive invitations to any straight-edge gatherings. In 2005 lead guitarist Lou Cuello, bassist Kyle “Shell” Shellhammer, and drummer Danny Carvell—all veterans of several unsuccessful metal projects—posted a Craigslist notice seeking a vocalist interested in forming a more pop-oriented band. John Brown, who goes by J.B., responded and brought along his friend Mike Matranga to handle rhythm guitar. After signing with the independent imprint I Surrender, the High Court issued its first full-length effort, Puppet Strings, during summer 2007; the record was preceded by the single “2 Much Love for 1 Woman,” a broad homage to a ménage à trois that clearly echoed Fall Out Boy’s style.
