We’ve all been to concerts where the audience ignored the opening artist, sometimes even turning their backs on the stage while waiting for the headliner to begin. But when twenty-year-old Olivia Knight (who fans know as poutyface) kicked off the show, the crowd was tuned in to every lyric she delivered. This was not the kind of lineup that felt contractual – poutyface’s appearance on this tour was a clear indicator of a perfectly curated lineup.
Known for songs you might scream alone in your bedroom, poutyface warmed up the crowd with an anthemic setlist. Though only a 30 minute opening set, it held the power of a headline performance–the energy of the room made that clear.
The night began with a dark room filled with excited faces. The floor was packed, and the balcony lined with fans of all ages. The room lit up and the beginning notes of poutyface’s biggest hit, “DEATHWISH,” rang out from the stage. Following with tracks like “Pretty Boy,” “HEY NEIGHBOR,” and “Cherry Picking,” the opening band brought the room to a roar.
While performing her last song, “Rag Doll,” Knight requested that the crowd hold up their flashlights to help play out the rest of their set. Amidst the ethereal moment, the sound was unexpectedly cut, leaving just the pitter patter of a distant drum kit to fill the room – but not for long. The crowd carried the unreleased track to a strong finish, shouting the lyrics back at the stage as they continued to play, possibly unaware that they were no longer being heard.
Even with their feed cut, the room was still buzzing with melody. No one was going to stop poutyface from igniting the night. For a band with less than 15 shows under their belt, this was an objectively incredible performance.
Poutyface helped close out the Life On Mars tour, which came to an end just after this show on March 19 in Phoenix, Arizona. Stay up to date with poutyface at whoispoutyface.com or listen on Apple Music and Spotify.
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