Arenas. Some bands thrive, and some barely survive playing them. With every seat filled in the cavernous The O2, the Greenwich venue is a daunting space for anyone, but Evanescence manage to conquer every single bit of it.
Evanescence – Poppy – K.Flay
The O2, London – 13 September 2026
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Robert Sutton
Certainly, here is a huge show with a big production as scorching flames, moving platforms, confetti cannons, dazzling lights and a vast video screen bring the spectacle to life.
But Evanescence have a secret ingredient, and it is one that makes them unbeatable.
In amongst the sound and fury, there is a quiet, human heart that connects with every single person. As Amy Lee sits at her piano, her extraordinary voice ringing out across the vast space, the emotion quietly touches everyone from those pressed against the barrier at the front to all the way back to the very highest seat at the rear of the place.
It is at those moments you can hear a pin drop, and that connection, soul to soul, goes beyond the most dazzling show that could be conceived.
Whilst these moments are truly extraordinary, this is a rock gig, and there is more than enough of a visceral thrill to sate everyone’s palate.
The sight of Will Hunt assaulting his drums as Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord tear out riffs while hunched over at the front of the stage and bass player Emma Anzai throws shapes, Lee stood on the extended catwalk as she twirls and prowls, ticks all the boxes of sheer rock ‘n’ roll adrenaline rushes.
The sound is huge too, and opener Sanctuary explodes, the riffs heavy and the sense of dynamics lifting the song even further, the whole a heady and transcendent experience.
The band are rightly proud of this new album, and the titular track is just the first of the complete run-through of all twelve of its tracks tonight, Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough and Afterlife building and building as this run continues to kick things off.
The visuals are stunning, the screen’s images of ruined churches, broken glass and giant hanging birds giving the whole a cinematic and 3D effect as the band play beneath the spotlights and neon loops.
Going Under receives a huge reception, digging back to breakthrough debut Fallen. Lithium, and Like You are very welcome are additions to the set, Lee declaring that it has been twenty years since sophomore The Open Door was released, the time seemingly gone by in a flash to all there.
A powerful run-through of Fight Like A Girl saw the band joined by opener K.Flay, and the additional vocals by Anzai added yet more gorgeous harmonies and girl power to the mix throughout the night, the latest member of the band showing just how well she has fitted in.
Moments of heartbreak punctuated the big rock moments, and Forever Without You could have made angels weep. Lee’s piano playing and jaw-dropping vocal performance were something that will stay long in the memory.
Each song was greeted like an old friend, but rarely more so than Bring Me To Life, the audience filling in the male vocal riffs on the number as all around absolutely threw themselves into the number.
A definite high, certainly, but the band were far from finished, as Imaginary and Better Without You could have flattened city blocks, and they were only just gaining speed, foot to the floor.
Joined by Poppy and Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante, the live debut of all three lead vocalists performing End Of You was another huge moment, but it was My Immortal that became the highest peak of the night.
With Lee playing piano in front of a huge white banner, this was the evening at its most intimate, as every voice sang every word, the chorus hitting harder than ever and Lee pouring her all into the lyrics. When the rest of the band kicked in at the end, the effect was dizzying, and these four and a half minutes were the closest communion of all, one of those magical moments when artist and audience truly joined as one.
On this form, no one can touch them, and their ability to hold the biggest audiences rapt should see them headlining the biggest of festivals with ease.
Twenty-three years after their debut was released, Evanescence are one of the best bands in the world, and this show at The O2 proved it, every single person filing out of the arena a little lighter and the world a better place.
K.Flay
Earlier in the evening, K.Flay showed exactly why they have been so feted amongst critics and fans alike since emerging on the scene in 2003. Those intervening years have seen her release five albums and a move from her hip hop origins to more of a rock sound, her current style a modern take on grunge but retaining some of those earlier influences.
Numbers like Ants and Blood In The Cut bristle with a deep groove and spiky vocals, the heaviness of the guitars giving everything a nice edge that is irresistible and points to many more nights playing arenas.
Wonderfully quirky and unique in their approach, K.Flay are definitely ones to watch.
Poppy
Following her, Poppy had already hugely impressed UK audiences earlier in the year with her set on the main stage at Download, and the evening continued to ride the wave of popularity she has worked hard to get.
Visually, she is a striking figure, her ultra-cool pop princess garb juxtaposed with the band’s masks and her ability to flip from sweet, clean vocals to guttural roars. It is certainly effective and there is certainly a swagger and steely determination that shows a real sense of self-worth and fire, the material fulfilling all the promise.
Each number has a huge hook and have you had enough? and Bruised Sky are prime slabs that blend the heavy and the light in perfect balance. Scary Mask sounds like something that former touring partners BABYMETAL would have created, and the superior pop Metal of vital shows her perfect grasp of this unholy but natural alliance.
Slipping in a cover of Bad Omens classic V.A.N. saw a circle pit break out and by following this with the gorgeous If We’re Following The Light and a punishing new way out shows that Poppy can do anything she sets her mind to.
Three incredible bands, one night to remember and a whole lot of girl power. Magnificent.
They didn’t play all the tracks from Sanctuary as they left out How Do I Heal, which is one of my favourites.
An epic night and it was a privilege to be there.
Can we do this every year?.