I saw Electric Callboy here a few years ago, and I enjoyed this year’s show at Brooklyn Paramount far more. Hands down, that venue makes you feel immersed in the energy of the performance, even from the balcony. At Pier 17, I just don’t get that same feeling. Funny enough, I felt the same way about Poppy. I enjoyed seeing her at Brooklyn Paramount more than I did here.
This time, I decided to try out the Patrón Patio, a double-decker premium space that gives you a clearer view of the stage. Unfortunately, we didn’t time it right because by the time we got there, all the seats upstairs were taken. I probably would have had a better view from up there, but we still managed to snag a table in the middle and ended up just chilling there for the entire show.
Patio access is an add-on to your general admission ticket, and yes, it’s a little pricey. But it still doesn’t come close to what I pay for arena tours. You also get a free Patrón cocktail, which I completely forgot about because I don’t really care about drinking. I just wanted a section where we could actually see the stage better.
Danny came back with a margarita and the souvenir glass bottle it came in. I told him not to get crazy, but he insisted it wasn’t strong because it was free. LMAO.
Speaking of drunk, there was a girl with her presumed partner who was already wobbling around before Poppy. Danny and I observed this train wreck from the comfort of our little table, safely separated from any crackheads.
I just don’t understand how you can get that drunk before Poppy even comes on. I also don’t understand getting so drunk and incoherent that you probably won’t even remember the concert. Maybe I’m a snob, but I hate overly drunk people at shows who seemingly can’t hold their liquor. Like, why even bother? Go to a bar and get drunk. It would probably save you money.
It reminds me of the middle-aged women at Korn shows who are so embarrassingly wasted.
The opening act was Thousand Below, a post-hardcore band from San Diego. I’m not particularly familiar with them, but I thought they were great live.
Would I listen to them on my own? I'm not sure. There’s just not enough punch for me. I don’t mind melodic metal, but I like it to be countered by harder moments. I need that yin and yang. I tend not to connect with bands that lean too heavily toward one side or the other. Give me both.
Next up was Landmvrks. I’d actually heard of them before, but I’d never crossed paths with them live.
They’re a metalcore band from France who mix elements of metal, punk, and hip-hop, and they were probably more my speed. I thought they were great. I can even hear a little Chester Bennington in Florent’s vocals.
I know my assessment of the opening bands probably sounds a little meh, but that’s really just because they’re bands I don’t listen to, and neither one sparked the particular chemical explosion in my brain that some bands do.
Apparently, though, a lot of people are going to Poppy shows just as much for Landmvrks, and honestly? I can see why. Their energy is off the charts!
Finally, Poppy!
She came out looking flawless as always. I’m truly obsessed with her. I love the contrast of Poppy coming out in a dainty outfit while screaming her ass off through each song. I adore that her band wears scary masks (you get it?) onstage, and that one of her guitarists is a girlie. I thought Poppy sounded and performed great live. But again, I couldn’t shake that feeling that something was missing. The indoor venue experience really does make a difference for me.
Interestingly, she didn’t play many of her older songs. The set leaned heavily toward Negative Spaces, which I’m certainly not complaining about because it’s one of my favorite Poppy albums. But I also have quite a bit of love for her older discography, which is partly why I go see her live in the first place.
She also played a good number of songs from her newer album, Empty Hands, which she released on my birthday earlier this year.
The only older songs she played were “Scary Mask” and “Concrete,” both of which I absolutely adore. I’m sad she didn’t play more from I Disagree or even the song “I Disagree” itself!
I really hope she isn’t moving completely away from the pop/metal mashup that originally drew me to her. I appreciate that her last two albums have become more metal-focused, and it’s been really cool hearing her unclean vocals evolve with each record. But girl, I still really love the songs from I Disagree! I also still haven’t heard anything from Zig live, which is something I’d love to experience someday.
We got to hear “V.A.N.” again, at least for me. I saw Bad Omens perform it earlier this year, so now I’ve heard both sides of the collaboration. Sigh. Just never together.
That’s another European tour lineup I envy to no mercy: Bad Omens and Poppy together. I would absolutely lose my mind.
And while we’re talking collaborations, it would have been so cool to hear “From Me to u,” her song with BABYMETAL. Maybe someday.
She did play “Negative Spaces” and “The Eat the Hate,” which I think are sleeper hits from the last two albums. I was especially grateful to hear “If We’re Following the Light” and, above all, “Halo.”
Those two songs have been helping me get through the loss of my brother. It’s like she knew I needed to hear it live, and it almost made me teary-eyed.
Unfortunately, I think “Guardian” and “Public Domain” were skipped because of the strict 10 p.m. curfew at the Pier 17 rooftop. On one hand, I appreciate the early ending because I’m old and can get home pretty quickly from Lower Manhattan. On the other hand, it does make me wonder how they managed to fit the set into such a tight time slot in the first place without excluding songs from the setlist. I want the full experience always.
Still, despite the awful summer humidity that refused to let up throughout the night, I’m glad I ended my concert season with Poppy.
She’s been getting me through one of the toughest periods of my life. Losing my brother has changed my life in ways I’m still learning to navigate, and music has given me these little moments where I can breathe, feel everything, and let my emotions run free.
So while Pier 17 may not have given me the immersive concert experience I wanted, Poppy herself gave me exactly what I needed.
Setlist
1. Have You Had Enough?
2. The Cost of Giving Up
3. Concrete
4. Bruised Sky
5. Scary Mask
6. Crystallized
7. Vital
8. Negative Spaces
9. Eat the Hate
10. The Center’s Falling Out
11. Time Will Tell
12. V.A.N.
13. If We’re Following the Light
Encore:
14. Halo
15. New Way Out
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