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As the California sun beats mercilessly down on day two of Aftershock, the buzz around Poppy’s midday set is undeniable. The field is packed thirty minutes before she hits the stage, with security hurling full bottles of water into the sweat-drenched crowd as we wait for a performance that promises to be both fierce and festive. Poppy doesn’t disappoint.

Opening with the venomous BLOODMONEY, she immediately sets the tone: sharp, intense, and defiantly resistant to classification. This is, of course, one of her strengths; the ability to meld metal, pop, and electronica into something both fragile and fearsome is on full display. Her vocals are crisp, cutting through the distortion with a mix of shrieks, purrs, and croons that feel effortless while her band stand back on the sparse stage to give Poppy room to prowl. The crowd, packed tightly across the sun-drenched field, are in the palm of her hand.

She opts out of any between-song banter, although with a thirty-minute set, she can be forgiven for maximizing her time. The seamless flow between tracks is hypnotic, especially as she shifts from the Prodigy-sized Sit/Stay to the soaring title track of 2020’s I Disagree.

The band are dialled in, laying down punchy grooves while Poppy commands the stage, alternating between cool detachment and fiery intensity. By the time she closes with the hard-hitting duo of her massive new track new way out and closer Concrete, the message is clear: this is Poppy’s coronation and the mesmerised crowd gathered for this moment backs that up in a very big way.

Poppy’s very presence on this stage underscores the remarkable genre diversity Aftershock offers across its four days. Her fearless blending of metal, pop, and electronic elements not only earns her a rightful place here but also serves as a bridge for fans of all styles — whether they’re here for the thrash icons, hardcore heroes, or alt-rock mainstays — reminding us that the boundaries of heavy music are gloriously fluid and ever-expanding.

Poppy on the cover of Metal Hammer — (Image credit: Future (Jen Rosenstein))

Poppy Aftershock 2024 setlist

BLOODMONEY
V.A.N.
Sit / Stay
I Disagree
Bite Your Teeth
Anything Like Me
New Way Out
Concrete

Hailing from San Diego, California, Joe Daly is an award-winning music journalist with over thirty years experience. Since 2010, Joe has been a regular contributor for Metal Hammer, penning cover features, news stories, album reviews and other content. Joe also writes for Classic Rock, Bass Player, Men’s Health and Outburn magazines. He has served as Music Editor for several online outlets and he has been a contributor for SPIN, the BBC and a frequent guest on several podcasts. When he’s not serenading his neighbours with black metal, Joe enjoys playing hockey, beating on his bass and fawning over his dogs.