Poppy Rocks Chicago’s House of Blues

^{Article by Jessica Martens}

Poppy packed Chicago’s House of Blues with a sold out show on March 21. This was the seventh stop on Poppy’s “They’re All Around Us Tour,” named after the third track on her 2024 album Negative Spaces. 

Kumo 99 got the night started as the opening act. The EDM duo, composed of Ami Komai and Nate Donmoyer debuted in 2020 in Los Angeles. The pair’s electronic tunes come with a hint of hardcore and were perfect for getting the crowd energized. Strobe lights flashed as audience members danced to the blaring bass. A highlight of the supporting set was the performance of track “Dopamine Chase” from their 2023 album Headplate. By the end of the opening act, the venue was packed wall to wall with concert-goers. 

Poppy’s performance was theatrical in all the best ways. It all began with the large screen behind the stage began a five-minute countdown to her entrance. As the final ten seconds ticked away, the crowd chanted every number. At zero, the screen lit up with a doll-like animated character, representing Poppy. This digital Poppy spoke to the audience in her signature, sweet voice. She asked the audience questions ranging from simple ones like “why are you here?” to existential pondering like “is any of this real?” Questions like these were interwoven into on-screen visuals throughout Poppy’s entire set. 

After the on-screen visit from the digital Poppy, Poppy herself took the stage in a black and white outfit and rocking long, straight black hair that flowed as she roamed the stage. Poppy kicked off her set with the track “have you had enough?,” continuing her questioning of the audience. A few tracks later, she performed her song with rock band Bad Omens, “V.A.N.,” which was a crowd favorite and highlight of the set. 

Between songs, Poppy disappeared behind a black curtain, allowing for more audio tracks to play like that of the set’s opening. She also allowed time for suspense building and audience interaction between songs, which always makes a show special. Throughout the set, she encouraged the headbangers and called out those on the outskirts of the mosh pits. 

Seeing Poppy live now was especially fun as someone also familiar with her early work. Over the years, Poppy’s sound and aesthetic have taken fresh forms. Everything she does has been captivating, and her transition into metal music feels right. Poppy showed off her fitting vocal abilities as she belted and screamed on tracks like “Scary Mask,” and “the center’s falling out,” dominating the room. After performing the song “surviving on defiance,” Poppy disappeared from the stage leaving the crowd hungry for more before returning for an encore of tracks “they’re all around us,” and “new way out,” to close out the night. 

Poppy’s North American “They’re All Around Us Tour,” will continue across the United States through April 23 before heading off for a show in Warsaw, Poland on June 2. 

Stream Poppy’s latest album Negative Spaceshere.