SASAMI at Larimer Lounge | May 15, 2025
Photo — Juli Yanai (@jbelle.photo)
Sasami played for an intimate crowd at the Larimer Lounge this past Thursday to promote her latest album, “Blood on the Silver Screen.” The pop album, which features thirteen tracks and features friend and collaborator Clairo, further cements Sasami’s status as a multifaceted artist.
From the beginning of the night, anticipation was high. People slowly made their way into the dimly lit venue, and whispers could be heard among the crowd.
Speaking to a man in the crowd wearing a Sasami t-shirt, he shared, “I’ve seen her several times, and each time is different. One minute it’s heavy metal, and the next minute she’s pulling out a French horn.”
Hearing that statement alone set the tone for what was coming, and Sasami didn’t disappoint. Stepping out on the stage wearing knee-high, patent leather boots that could slay the house down, she made a grand entrance as “Le Mort De L’enfant” by Hikaru Hayashi played. Striding to the mic in a theatrical manner, she took a moment to soak it in before diving straight into a performance of her song, “Figure It Out.”
The slower, metal-inspired pop ballad is akin to Sasami’s other tracks about navigating relationships in the modern dating scene. The song talks about the feeling of really wanting to be with someone and make things work but also being mature enough to understand that the road can change course.
After “Figure It Out,” Sasami went on to play a couple of her other songs, including “Honeycrash” and “I’ll Be Gone,” before taking a moment to greet the crowd.
“Denver, what’s up? How are we?” Sasami shouted out to the crowd. And after engaging in some playful banter, she went on to introduce her drummer, Diego, and took a moment to share her appreciation for the drums. “There’s just something about the drums. When I hear a double kickback, it gets me in this feral energy,” Sasami shared, before yelling, “Diego, do a double kickback!”
Diego then proceeded to pound out the drums and cheers could be heard throughout the crowd. Somewhere in the room, somebody yelled out, “It tickles the clit!” Without missing a beat, Sasami joked back, “Diego, please tickle more clits,” making the crowd erupt in laughter.
The rest of the night followed a similar cadence, with Sasami masterfully navigating various instruments and setting the mood while making playful jabs at the crowd.
Midway through the show, Sasami took a brief intermission while Diego went off on the drums, and when she returned, she completely switched up the vibe, picking up a French horn. Leaving the crowd taken aback, Sasami took everyone on an instrumentally diverse journey by playing a French horn solo, which evolved into a transition to her next song.
The beautiful melody of the French horn was sharply interjected by the drums, cutting into a more industrial-style pop song. The shocking transition introduced a lively energy mid-show, refreshing the entire mood of the set.
Later on during the show, Sasami went on to talk about the “white worm” dance and ask if there were any hippies in the crowd, saying, “I feel like the people who come out to my shows aren’t necessarily the deadhead type, but they’re out there.”
Sasami's playful interactions continued, and she went on to talk more about being in the Mile High City.
“Worms, weed, and pits! It’s a great life!” Sasami declared, before she launched into an acoustic cover of an Avril Lavigne song. The performance was a sharp departure from her other songs, but Sasami's vocals really took center stage.
After wowing the crowd with her stripped-down cover, she transitioned to a song from her latest album titled, “In Love With a Memory.”
Staying true to her humor and setting the scene for the song, she invited the crowd to sing, sharing, “I want you to pretend there’s a cowboy on stage, and she’s Asian and just got her heart broken. And if you want to sing with her, I’m sure that would make her feel mighty good.”
The sultry, yearning pop song drew the crowd in. Sasami stood in her power, long hair flowing as she shredded on an electric guitar while singing lyrics reminiscing about being on the open road while the sun kissed her skin.
For her last song of the night, Sasami returned with yet another joke. “I don’t believe in encores; I feel like it’s a weird adult peekaboo, so this is truly our last song. You better fucking dance with me, Denver!” And without losing a beat, she ended the evening on a high note with the upbeat breakup ballad, “Slugger.”
As a whole, Sasami’s show at Larimer Lounge was lively, engaging, and enigmatic. Her sensual, commanding presence easily drew the crowd in and had them dancing or looking in awe as she performed. And not only is she a classically trained master of various instruments, but she’s also an effortless comedian between songs. Sasami is the whole package, and witnessing her perform in such an intimate venue was a gift for everyone present.
