Most know Poppy for the strange internet character she grew on YouTube in 2014, but for those not paying attention; Poppy has since become the pinnacle of what it means to be an hardcore.
A single step into the packed Toronto venue and a quick visual sweep, any unassuming attendees would have no ability to pin point the night’s musical lineup. The evening’s musical journey, progressing seamlessly from openers Pom Pom Squad to the powerhouse performance of PVRIS, offered a dynamic and eclectic showcase of female-led rock music, setting the stage for the grand theatrics of the main act. The vibrating audience holds no apparent exclusivity to any single aesthetic or genre but remains united in one common belief; in a godless world there is still, Poppy.
As the lights go out, and in between deafening screams, a faceless figure also known as “Voice,” leads a call to worship,
“POPPY, OUR GOD.
OUR SHINING LIGHT.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER
AND FOR THAT WE ARE SO GRATEFUL
WE HOPE THAT OUR WITNESSSES TONIGHT HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING
FULL OF LOVE, CANDY, FASHION, MUSIC, DANCING, SCREAMING, SINGING, CATS,
AND WORSHIP
WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME
POPPY”
When Poppy graces the stage for the final night of her headlining tour, she is a ball of pure energy with no indication of stopping. Leading into her hit “BLOODMONEY,” Poppy begs us to question what we believe when no one is watching. Poppy growls over charged metal guitar choruses sandwiched between bubblegum laced verses all while challenging the audience to imagine a reality where the divide between seething anger and the innocence of girlhood isn’t as far-reaching as it may seem. She effortlessly exhibits the realms of aggression and vulnerability, forcing us to confront the complexities of our own emotions and societal expectations.
The live show, like her music, heavily relates thematically to technology, the inner workings of fame and the industry, and what it means to exist in a digital world. As she stands illuminated against the backdrop of LED visuals, the constant, beat-synchronized flickering serves to underscore the paradoxical nature of modern society – emphasizing the contradiction between a numbing and overstimulating effect of living in a society dominated by public, digital realm. A distance is kept between the audience and Poppy as she primarily works the crowd through prerecorded dialogs between Voice and Poppy. The interactions not only amplifiy the mysterious aura surrounding Poppy, but also blurs the lines between reality and the carefully constructed persona she presents while challenging the audience to consider the layers of artistry and curation that underlie the public personas of artists in the digital age. Before closing the show, Poppy is beckoned back onstage by Voice as she “searches” for her microphone for the appropriately named track, “My Microphone,” then returns to the adoring disciples in the audience.
As the best artists do, Poppy returned for an encore to appease the chanting crowd with a cover from the female-led rock band, Kittie’s, “Spit” and her song “Concrete” from her junior album, I Disagree. In the heart of the crowd, general admission transformed into a full mosh pit or what the internet might call a “girl pit,” a testament to the inclusivity and empowering ethos of female rock. The contrast of violent thrashing, whipping hair, and smiling faces wihtin the pit perfectly sums up the message of a Poppy show – within life’s pain, we can find a cathartic release in reclaiming our inner strength and preserving our sanity in a threatening world.
This show easily shot to the top of my list as a favorite for the year, leaving the show with a face full of hair, a hoarse voice, and the rush of adrenaline from screaming subconscious anger into an unanimous crowd.
