As the California sun beats mercilessly down on day two of Aftershock, the buzz around Poppy’s midday set is undeniable. The field is packed thirty minutes before she hits the stage, with security hurling full bottles of water into the sweat-drenched crowd as we wait for a performance that promises to be both fierce and festive. Poppy doesn’t disappoint.
Opening with the venomous BLOODMONEY, she immediately sets the tone: sharp, intense, and defiantly resistant to classification. This is, of course, one of her strengths; the ability to meld metal, pop, and electronica into something both fragile and fearsome is on full display. Her vocals are crisp, cutting through the distortion with a mix of shrieks, purrs, and croons that feel effortless while her band stand back on the sparse stage to give Poppy room to prowl. The crowd, packed tightly across the sun-drenched field, are in the palm of her hand.
