I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: July 9, 2026] LANDMVRKS

When Poppy announced this show, I managed to get a ticket for $20 off, which was great.  I hadn’t realized that this would be my third time seeing her in less than a year and a half.

I didn’t care about the opening act, Thousand Below, a post-hardcore band from San Diego.  I mean, I’m kind of done with post-hardcore at this point.  They do have interesting vocals, but I didn’t really care if I saw them.

After a stressful day, in which my wife bore the brunt of the tasks, I wasn’t sure if I should go out, but she was going to chill, so I went, but left a little later than usual.  And, as happens when I’m not in a hurry, I made it to the Fillmore in plenty of time.

There was no line, so I assumed I’d saunter up near the front and listen to the two openers before enjoying Poppy.

Well, I walked in and it was PACKED.  I couldn’t believe so many people wanted to see Thousand Below.  I found an okay spot and then lights dimmed and a guy ran on stage and as they started, it was clearly LANDMVRKS.  Evidently Thousand Below went on at 7.  Oops.

The stage had two large cubes with video screens on them.  The image for LANDMVRKS was their name and a collection of statues.  Music sounded from backstage and then Florent Salfati ran out on stage wearing an Eminem shirt and rapping in French!  His flow was fast (although I think French might lend itself to fast rapping).  And then the rest of the band came out and they played a blast of a chord and they were off.

LANDMVRKS are from Marseille and have been around since 2014 (first album 2016).  Their later albums are heavier and have some rap elements and serious growling.

The three guys on stage were so mobile, they were almost exhausting.  I’m not sure which guitarist was which, but whether it was Nicolas Exposito (a founding member) or Paul Cordebard (joined in 2017) he kicked really high, ran in place and was always in motion.  He also had a great low growl and surprisingly good harmony vocals when needed.  Bassist Rudy Purkart was similarly active, going back and forth around the stage and singing too.  And Kévin D’Agostino on drums was a beast, but he was tucked in between the boxes and was kind of hard to see, but his drumming was fast and intense.

They had a really heavy sound, but they also had some very pretty moments as well.   I was really impressed with Salfati’s voice which was at times really lovely and delicate and could also descend into a crazy guttural growl.   I couldn’t detect an accent in his voice at all.  Even when he spoke to us (saying how excited they were to be in the U.S.), his accent was barely noticeable.

There was a guy in front of me who was clearly a huge fan.  He knew the beats and filmed the whole thing.

Even though there was some seriously heavy stuff (Creature), A Line in the Dust had a big friendly arm-waving chorus.  And I think someone else sang lead vocals for some of the song.

I was also a little amused that even though their accents were fine, I still couldn’t understand the growled vocals.  Was the second song really called Death?  “I feel like death,” yes, indeed. The only way I figured out the song was called Sulfur was because it was the only two syllable title that fit.  I’m also not sure what “we’re drowning in sulfur” means, but who cares.

After La valse du temps, everyone left the stage for a moment except for one of the guitarists, I assume Exposito.  HE  stood front and center and strummed the opening guitar part of Lost in a Wave for a minute or so before the band came back out.  This song really showcased the impressive vocal harmonies that the band has.

I really enjoyed the stopping and starting of Blood Red.  In addition to a catchy chorus, Salfati rapped in French faster and faster with the song building impressively and then cutting out before blasting back in.  Then after some heavy chords and more fast rapping the song slowed to a delicate ending.  It worked perfectly live.

They ended with Self-Made Black Hole, which is, I think, their biggest single.  I don’t know specifically why this song was bigger than the others, but it totally destroyed live.  The quiet parts are really distinctive and reminds you what a nice voice Salfati has, when he’s not growling so impressively.

I really enjoyed them a a lot and would absolutely see them again.  I considered stopping for merch, but the show ended pretty early and I was excited to get home.

1. Creature ♠
2. Death £*
3. A Line in the Dust ♠
4. Sulfur ♠
5. La valse du temps ♠
6. Lost in a Wave £
7. Rainfall £
8. Blood Red ♠
9. Self-Made Black Hole £*

♠ The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been (2025)
£* Lost in the Waves The Complete Edition (2021)
£ Lost in the Waves