Poppy (Moriah Rose Pereira) performs at the Fillmore in San Francisco on March 11, 2025. Photos: Alana Lopez.

SAN FRANCISCO — A little more Poppy could be the answer to a divided world.

The enigmatic metalcore/pop vocalist drew a diverse crowd to the sold-out opening night of her They’re All Around Us Tour at the Fillmore. From the WWE fans to the goths, the LGBTQ community, metal-heads and everyone in between, the artist born Moriah Rose Pereira performed to her largest Bay Area headlining show to date. With a Grammy nomination with Knocked Loose to late-night TV appearances under her belt, she’s been a real ambassador bridging heavy music to a mainstream audience.

Poppy looked the part of a star on Tuesday night. Sure, the unusual quirks and non-sequiturs are still there, but her set showcased her clean vocals, stage presence and her newfound screaming prowess. Chants of “Poppy” filled the theater as a countdown clock appeared on a back curtain as the singer emerged with her three-member band to open with the fiery “have you had enough?” Wearing a red outfit that that giving “The Black Parade,” “Sgt. Pepper” and “Alice In Wonderland” vibes, she was charismatic throughout the show. The band members, who stood on raised white circular platforms, were masked. Poppy had her own larger platform to the side.

Poppy (Moriah Rose Pereira) performs at the Fillmore in San Francisco on March 11, 2025.

“Hello San Francisco, you all look beautiful tonight,” she said.

A curtained keyhole allowed her yo quickly leave and return to the stage between songs. While she was gone, a doll that resembled her would appear from behind the curtain to chat with the audience. Other times, Poppy would appear as a projection on the curtain.

The early part of set was fueled with industrial-tinged rockers like “BLOODMONEY” and “Sit/Stay,” as well as blistering Bad Omens collab “V.A.N.” The majority of the material was drawn from Poppy’s latest album Negative Spaces, with four tracks seeing their live debut in San Francisco. Tracks like “the cost of giving up” and the electronica “crystalized” got the crowd moving and singing along.

Poppy’s screaming delivery has become on of the featured attractions of her set. Ferocious tracks like “the center’s falling out” brimmed with intensity, a trio of mosh pits breaking out as she growled. They merged into one large pit as Poppy divided the crowd in half for a “wall of death” (the first of the night). In the second half of the performance, she got to her older material, donning a mask for “Scary Mask” and leading the crowd for fan favorite “I Disagree.”

Not only were the heavy songs memorable, but so were poppier ones like “push go” and “vital” that made the performance diverse. It wasn’t all one thing. The musicians played a tight set, with moments to solo. Former Bring Me the Horizon keyboardist Jordan Fish has been joining the band on and off as of late but was not at the Fillmore.

“I want to see a fast pit,” Poppy announced ahead of bouncy rocker “Bite Your Teeth,” the crowd obliging with a running spin cycle on the floor. She closed out her main set with the subdued “surviving on defiance.” The virtual Poppy then returned during the encore break, whipping the crowd back up into a frenzy.

Poppy return to conclude the show with searing scream-laden “They’re All Around Us” and the anthemic “new way out.” As fans filed to the exits, her disembodied voice wished them well over the venue’s speakers.

Chinese American Bear performs at the Fillmore in San Francisco on March 11, 2025.

Poppy’s choice of opening act was as unsuspecting as the singer’s own identity. Far from the realm of hard rock or metalcore, Seattle-based Chinese American Bear is one of three acts that will open shows on this tour. The trio plays “mando-pop,” a style that incorporates pop and jazz. There was a clear feeling-out period for attendees hearing this unusual pairing, the band eventually winning many over.

Vocalist Anne Tong grew up in China before moving to America, penning songs about her upbringing. One song featured a Chinese-language chorus with shouted phrases. Songs like “Take Me To Beijing” effectively told Tong’s story. At one point, Tong tossed boba plushies into the crowd. Guitarist Bryce Barsten commending the crowd for spontaneously coming up with its own rhythmic clapping pattern that synced up with a song. From songs about making dumplings to having a strict Chinese mom, Chinese American Bear brought a distinct perspective.

Follow writer Mike DeWald at mikedewald.bsky.social.