Hayley Williams Kicks Off Solo Tour With 8 Live Debuts on Opening Night

Hayley Williams opened her solo tour, The Hayley Williams Show, on September 3 (Thursday) at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Paramore frontwoman drew from all three of her solo albums across a 25-song set (per NME), including eight songs never before performed live, plus a cover of Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

What happened at the opening show

The setlist leaned heavily on her latest album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, released last year, with three of its tracks closing out the encore. Opener "Just a Lover," from her 2021 solo album FLOWERS for VASES / descansos, got its live premiere. "Simmer" marked Williams' first solo performance of the song since 2020, woven together with a snippet of Portishead's "Wandering Star." "Dead Horse" and "Pure Love" were performed in front of an audience for the first time, while "Crystal Clear" got its first-ever solo performance.

Before the final song, Williams told the crowd to "be safe, take care of yourself," urging fans to look out for one another, followed by a pointed remark aimed at Donald Trump. Clips from the show have circulated on social media since.

Full setlist

1. "Just a Lover" (live debut)
2. "Over Yet" (live debut)
3. "Simmer" (with a snippet of Portishead's "Wandering Star"; first solo performance since 2020)
4. "Creepin'" (live debut)
5. "Ice in My OJ"
6. "Kill Me"
7. "Hard"
8. "My Friend" (live debut)
9. "Leave It Alone"
10. "Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris"
11. "True Believer"
12. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Nina Simone cover)
13. "Cinnamon" (live debut)
14. "Dead Horse" (first performed in front of an audience)
15. "Pure Love" (first performed in front of an audience)
16. "Crystal Clear" (first solo performance)
17. "Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party"
18. "Glum"
19. "Disappearing Man"
20. "Dream Girl in Shibuya"
21. "Good Ol' Days"
22. "Just a Lover (Reprise)"

Encore

1. "Mirtazapine"
2. "Brotherly Hate"
3. "Parachute"

Album and what's next

Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party first appeared last July under the working title Ego via a limited release on Williams' official site, before being formally titled and released the following month. NME gave it a five-star review, with critic Ali Shutler calling it "a bold choose-your-own-adventure" and "brilliant, swaggering new chapter."

Earlier this month, Williams announced UK and European solo tour dates for next summer, including Glasgow's OVO Hydro and London's Alexandra Palace. Full dates and ticket information are available via the official announcement.