Live review: Poppyshow at Exeter Cavern
Ryan Gerrett, International Editor, reviews Poppyshow at his Exeter Cavern gig.
The art of the performance is key to Poppyshow and they do it expertly. On Monday the 26th of September, I went to Exeter’s Cavern to witness The Issues alongside their warm-up acts: James Sebastian and Poppyshow. However, with the high-energy performances offered by the “warm-up” acts, it got me thinking: these guys are just as deserving of their own reviews. So that’s exactly what I set out to do!
At the start of my trip to Cavern, I bumped into an old friend from my first year. After not recognising me due to my lazy attempt at facial hair, we chatted and she explained how she was there to see a local band whom she’d been a fan of for some time. This piqued my interest in Poppyshow immediately…
Jacob Horton, Greg Kerti, James Fielden and Will Squier make up Poppyshow. Homegrown here in Exeter, this trash-rock band features graduates from the Exeter Academy of Music and Sound like Jacob, lead vocals, and Greg, bass and backing vocals. Tonight Jacob also had to take on a bit more guitar due to the absence of Will as lead guitarist. Drums are in the more-than-capable hands of James.
Before their set, I spoke to James and Greg about what’s important to them as a band and who are their influences. Straight off the bat: performance is the most important thing. For Poppyshow, “it’s all about making the moment”. Nothing can get in the way of ensuring that their audiences walk away remembering, not just their music, but them as an act too. I saw this first-hand as Jacob emerged from the crowd whilst shredding his wirelessly connected guitar. Later, I was told the lead vocalist had actually jumped into the crowd from the stage! I’ll blame the fact I didn’t see this on my disorientingly close proximity to the speaker…
Straight off the bat: performance is the most important thing. For Poppyshow, “it’s all about making the moment”
Nevertheless, who could forget a band that claims Nirvana, The Beatles and Girls Aloud among their influences? Again, according to Greg and Jacob, these acts don’t just specialise in music to stick in the mind, but memorable performances.
With a set list filled with original work, this band offered a showcase of their talent as songwriters and musicians, much to the delight of the audience at Cavern. For anyone who didn’t happen to be at the performance on Monday, don’t fret as their songs are available on Spotify including their biggest hits like “sick and tired” and “skin”. Audiences also witnessed “Unscrewed”, the music video of which is on YouTube now. They told me that their real aim in what they do is to be able to give their recordings all the energy of their live performances, whether they’re playing to two people or two thousand.
Overall, the brief but shining review given by my friend at the start of the night proved totally accurate and Poppyshow isn’t an act to be missed lightly. If you want to see them, which I’d highly recommend, they’ll be back playing in Exeter at the Cavern on the 30th of October.
To keep up to date with any new gigs, follow the band on Instagram @poppyshowband.
