SASAMI Strikes Denver With Ferocious Sounds and Soft Edges
- Dakota S.
- May 18
- 3 min read
Updated: May 30
On May 15, 2025, Denver’s small and intimate Larimer Lounge pulsed with electric energy as concert goers gathered to witness SASAMI live on her Blood On The Silver Screen US Tour in the Mile High City. With her signature blend of grungy metal, ethereal synths, and introspective lyrics, SASAMI delivered a cathartic performance that simultaneously turned the venue into both a mosh pit and a loving meditation space.
Warming up the crowd for the night was opener, Moodkiller. With an artist blend of experimental pop, performance art, and raw energy, they instantly captured their audience. With tracks like “Abracadabra.” Moodkiller’s set felt like a sonic rollercoaster bouncing between industrial noise and hyperpop melodies. Their set was bold and perfectly set the crowd’s expectation for headliner, SASAMI.
From the moment she took to the stage in her unique coquette-meets-metal-core outfit, SASAMI commanded the crowd’s attention. Opening the show with songs like “Honeycrash,” she immediately set the tone for the evening, melding heavy guitar riffs with haunting melodies that pulled the audience in. The crowd was a mix of loyal fans and curious newcomers, but both responded with headbanging, dancing, and applause. As she began to perform “Need It To Work,” she called for the crowd to open up the mosh pit, to which people attempted to mosh around in the tiny room, creating wholesome and harmless chaos.
SASAMI’s setlist flowed seamlessly from industrial, gritty tracks to dream-pop, melancholic tunes. Tracks like “I'll Be Gone” and her French horn interlude showcased the artist’s vocal and emotional range as well as her musical talent. Between songs, SASAMI cracked jokes and shared stories with the audience, genuinely making the atmosphere feel more casual and personal as if everyone were friends just hanging out. She referred to Denver locals as hippies and said she loved playing in places like Denver because she gets to see the “white worm” dance moves come out, referring to how people dance in a wormlike fashion, and would occasionally poke fun at this throughout the night.
SASAMI asked the crowd, “Do you guys know Avril Lavigne?” and was greeted with roars of confirmation that they knew who the iconic 2000s pop-punk singer was. SASAMI went on to explain that she learned an Avril Lavigne cover while she had been in Canada, and proceeded to perform the cover of “Anything But Ordinary,” which fans sang along to and swayed as SASAMI emotionally poured herself into the lyrics.
In preparation for her next song, SASAMI told the crowd to close their eyes and “pretend we’re on a desert road... and we’re in an old saloon, and there’s a cowgirl on stage…and she’s Asian.” The crowd laughed at her silly joke as she began to play the opening chords to her song, “Just Be Friends.” The twangy guitar and lonesome melody painted the western-tinged dreamscape the crowd envisioned as they swayed gently to the ballad.
By the end of the night, SASAMI had fully transformed the small lounge with both her music and her presence. Her nonconforming artistry made her show compelling and inviting to all kinds of fans. For Denver fans, this was a night full of musical rage, tenderness, and euphoria. SASAMI created a space where contradictions harmoniously existed.
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Edited by Martina Yee
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