I experienced Ego Death at Hayley Williams' European Tour

Hayley Williams proved that after 22 years (and counting), she’s still setting the standard for stage presence.

As someone who missed out on Hayley Williams’ Petals For Armor tour due to the pandemic, and a diehard Paramore fan since I first heard Riot! on my iPod Shuffle in 2007, there was absolutely no way I was missing out on the chance to experience the Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Tour. Perhaps the most stressed I’ve ever been buying tickets in recent years, with the shows being hosted in intimate 2,500-capacity venues despite huge demand. I ended up booking for the Copenhagen date, planning an entire trip solely around the event.

Hayley Williams on stage at Poolen, Copenhagen

Surrounded by groups of people in full Hayley Williams fashion, sporting various shades of bright neon hair, we found a spot a few rows from the front of Poolen wherehouse and enjoyed Water From Your Eyes as the support act. Despite a lost voice, they still put on a strong show. The crowd was already buzzing, but even more so when Björk’s Army of Me started playing just minutes before Hayley’s set. It created such an electric atmosphere, completely hyping the room before the main event.

Hayley was incredible. It’s rare to see an artist so completely in their body while performing. Every dance move, vocal riff and shout felt authentic and completely in the moment, resulting in a truly unmatched stage presence. Vocally, she was magnetic and somehow effortless, belting a cover of Nina Simone’s Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and the intro to SZA’s Love Galore between tracks, paying homage to the inspirations behind True Believer and Good Ol’ Days respectively.

It stands to reason that such a deeply personal record would resonate with fans on such a personal level, and it was evident that the authenticity paid off. In Hayley’s words, "Tonight is whatever you want it to be. Whether you need to scream, or dance... or cry. Tonight is the night," and almost all of us indulged in all three.

The setlist moved effortlessly from cathartic group scream-alongs into slow, emotional moments, and hearing the album in full, while watching Hayley move between guitar, piano and MIDI pad, served as a reminder of why live shows are so special to so many of us. The intimate venue created such a unique sense of community, but selfishly, I also can't wait to see her selling out arenas later this year.

Whether it was the minimal set design washed in warm lighting, or the original Paramore four-piece acting as her band for the tour, there was a real sense of nostalgia and togetherness in the room, as if nowhere beyond those four walls existed while Hayley owned the stage.

Deeply authentic, incredibly moving, and the coolest frontwoman to ever do it. From start to finish, Hayley Williams never disappoints.