For an elder millennial there are few reasons to venture out past the ungodly hour of 8:00 p.m., but one of those reasons made an appearance at the iconic Neptune Theater Friday night. In celebration of her critically acclaimed album Negative Spaces, Seattle hosted day 3 of Poppy’s They’re All Around Us tour, delivering an explosive performance that had the sold-out venue buzzing with energy and borderline chaos.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd roared, Poppy kicked things off with the first track off of Negative Spaces. This immediately set the tone for a night of unrelenting mosh pits and head-banging fury. Watching Poppy take the stage was awe-inspiring. The blend of her commanding stage presence, guttural screams, and clean vocals mesmerized the entire audience, leaving us all completely captivated by the sheer power of her performance. Throwbacks to Concrete and Scary Mask further threw the crowd into chaos, with a mini “wall of death” forming in the already packed floor of the venue.
Witnessing her transition into metal over the years has felt less like a simple shift and more like a natural, thrilling evolution. She has fearlessly embraced the chaos of the metal world, while simultaneously holding onto her signature sugary pop melodies showing fans and critics alike that her versatility is endless. It’s clear now that Poppy has rightfully earned her title as a genre bender. No longer tethered to one sound, her music is an eclectic mix of influences and styles, each new album a revelation that constantly shifts the boundaries of what we expect from her. Negative Spaces is a culmination of this evolution—its metal-laced sound finding a perfect home in the live setting where Poppy can fully express her transformation.
As the night came to a close, the energy of the crowd seemed to only grow. The chants of ‘Poppy, Poppy’ echoed through the venue and brought her back for an encore that once again transported us from the chaos and concerns of our world. Seeing Poppy live serves as a reminder that music is constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and that sometimes, you just have to stay up past your bedtime to see something truly special.
POPPY
Photo by Alana Lopez
Review by Jose Pardillo | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!