Poppy at Summit | March 17, 2025
Photos by Alana Lopez
Poppy graced the stage at Summit Music Hall on Tuesday, creating a mosh pit frenzy at the cozy venue. Dripping in charisma, she stepped out in a bright red, militaristic mini dress and garters with her long, jet-black hair left loose and flowing.
Poppy was an enigmatic delight, interchanging between delicate riffs and powerful screamo, leaving the audience in a chokehold for more. Heads were thrashing at a tempo that threatened definite whiplash the next morning, and several people crowd surfed above the packed mosh pit. Poppy brought out something primal in people, but it was a welcome cathartic release.
Exploring universal truths, Poppy’s genre blending sound includes elements of pop, industrial, rock and metal. Her songs included thought-provoking lyrics, which flashed across a projector screen behind her throughout the show.
At one point, the words, “VIOLENCE AGAINST NATURE” repeatedly flash across the curtains behind Poppy during her song V.A.N, featuring Bad Omens. The song tackles existential issues from a dystopian lens, narrating the story of an A.I. gone rogue. Told from the A.I.'s perspective, the song includes the lyrics, “Initiated operation of your own extermination,” warning people about the self-imposed destruction they face at the cost of destroying nature, simply for the sake of innovation.
True to Poppy’s enigmatic nature, the performance also included theatrical intermissions with a hint of humor. During brief points between songs, Poppy would disappear and be replaced by her doll alter ego. Appearing from a small curtain off to the side of the stage, the small “Poppy” doll would appear and speak to audience members in a soft spoken, teasing voice, serving as a transition between songs.
Overall the performance was tied together well, taking audience members on an emotional rollercoaster of existentialism and quirky theatrical whims. It’s a rare occurrence for an artist to master the art of melding together genres and emotions so effortlessly the way that Poppy does, and her performance at the Mile High City was no exception.
Words-Juli Yanai
