Photo Credit: Chapman Baehler
Words: Caitlin Mellors

A cross-generational showcase of alternative rock, where post-genre energy met the theatrics of industrial metal and symphonic goth royalty. Leeds was truly spoilt this Tuesday.

Opening the show was LA singer K.Flay, and what an opener to have. She set the bar so incredibly high as she brought with her that magnetism, that effortless charm she carries that means you can’t help but stop and listen. The way in which she combined her alternative style into a genre-bending mix of pop, rock, and hip hop with her visceral punk energy made the huge arena feel more like an intimate venue. Even with that first technical glitch, K.Flay kept her cool, letting the sound crew do their thing to get the gig up and running again so when she came back onstage minutes later, she was able to do her thing and do it well. 

K.Flay’s set was packed full of chaotic energy, idiosyncratic dance moves, and an infectious bounce that had the early crowds primed and ready for more. We were treated to a stellar setlist that included the unreleased song ‘Rabbit Hole’ as well as the instantly recognisable hit ‘High Enough’ which had the crowd hyped up and singing along. Closing the bill was her new single ‘Ants’ that has a chorus you can’t help but bang your head to. When K.Flay left the stage the crowd was thoroughly warmed up.

By the time the lights dimmed for Poppy to take the stage, people were buzzing with anticipation. The crowd chanted for Poppy and she did not disappoint. She stepped out of the darkness looking ethereal in a white dress and hit the crowd with ‘the cost of giving up’ before donning a striking prop mask for the opening of ‘Scary Mask’. The crowd interaction was minimal, where traditional frontwomen lean into hyping up with words, Poppy let her insane vocals and heavy riffs do the talking. There was the occasional comment from the enigmatic singer – “Hey Leeds, can you dance?” or when she called for a circle pit or a wall of death, but apart from that, Poppy kept it all about the music which is in keeping with her public persona. But when she did ask for something, she got it. While the Yorkshire crowds didn’t let us down with the never ending mosh pits and a fair few crowd surfers, when Poppy called for a wall of death during her last song ‘new way out’, she got one. The arena was a powder keg and Poppy provided the spark.  

As the headliners approached, you could feel the atmosphere shift inside the arena dramatically. Fog rolled across the stage, down the slopes of the elaborate set up, setting the scene perfectly for Evanescence. Decades into a successful career, Amy Lee continues to impress crowds with her commanding stage presence and her insane vocals. For the first night of the UK leg of the Sanctuary tour, the entire band were on a whole other level. The scale of the production wholly matched the majesty of the performance, with three moving risers that elevated the drummer and the guitarists throughout the night, all topped off with some striking pyrotechnics. 

They started off strong playing some fan favourites from the new album, Sanctuary, including ‘Afterlife’ then transitioned beautifully into early 2000’s classic ‘Going Under’. There was a slight reprieve from the heavy riffs as a grand piano rose from the stage floor for Lee to give us an intimate two song break with ‘Lithium’ and ‘Like You’. 

When you think the night can’t get any better ‘Bring Me to Life’ starts to play and the entire arena collectively loses their minds (me included). There aren’t enough words to describe just how insane the performance was. Lee’s vocals paired with those familiar riffs, the crowd’s energy with the surfers and the pits, topped off with an explosion of fire and confetti. It was perfectly Evanescence. 

The guest appearances were particularly epic. K.Flay returned to the stage to join Lee in performing their punchy collab ‘Fight Like a Girl’. The standout moment was when thecrowd started cheering so loudly as Poppy came back out towards the end of the set to perform the new collaborative single from the minds of Poppy herself, Lee, and Courtney LaPlante – ‘End of You’. 

Then we get to the penultimate song ‘My Immortal’. Lee is back on that grand piano and we all start singing like it’s an assembly in Primary School. The entire room was lit up with phone lights, that could be mistaken for a glowing sea with the thousands of voices all singing back to Lee like a siren’s song. It was a truly magical moment.

Evanescence delivered an outstanding night, and they have proved that they are not all nostalgia. With their sixth album out, they show no signs of stopping, and as a lifelong fan I am looking forward to what comes next.