Hayley Kiyoko• w/ Emmy Meli and Katherine Li• May 9, 2023• The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Tomo Crestani
Hayley Kiyoko is a new type of artist that seems to be growing rapidly. Hayley has gained popularity not only for her talent when it comes to her music but also for being a trailblazer in the way she expresses her sexuality. She uses her platform to spread support to those struggling with their own sexual orientation. Although I haven’t personally had to deal with these struggles, I talked to a few people at the show who were claiming Hayley is a big reason they are able to get through each day. It was really cool to see an artist make music that helps people be more comfortable in their own skin. The Depot was able to host Hayley on her current “PANORAMA” tour with two supporting acts following her on this adventure. Emmy Meli and Katherine Li were the two supporting artists that opened for Hayley.
Katherine Li
Although I hadn’t heard of the two opening artists, I was pleasantly surprised when Katherine Li took the stage. Katherine was an incredible performer who brought the crowd energy where it needed to be ready for the night. It is really impressive to see an artist have good engagement with the music when the crowd most likely hasn’t heard any of the songs. She balanced out her music possibly not being known as well by adding a cover into her set. I can’t recall the exact song that was played, but I recognized the song and actually knew the chorus very well. So if Katherine is reading this, hopefully, she can reach out and let us know what song she covered. Katherine ended her set with a lot of passion and started the night out perfectly.
The Depot was an incredible venue for this tour. They handled the event perfectly. I was really impressed with how smooth the artist transitions were in between sets. It isn’t easy to have three separate artists perform. I also was impressed with the professional way the show flowed throughout the night. They always make sure everyone has the best night possible.
Emmy Meli
After Katherine killed her set, Emmy Meli took the stage. I was enjoying her entire set and really liked all of her songs, when she began playing a song I actually had heard on social media so many times. It was really cool to hear the viral anthem “I am woman”. Although I hadn’t ever heard of Emmy prior to her show, I actually ended up knowing her most popular song. It was an incredibly powerful performance from start to finish, however, her last song that I just mentioned was another level of power. The entire venue was screaming the song at the top of their lungs. I was really impressed with how much passion and energy Emmy was able to bring to the performance.
One funny moment at the beginning of Emmy’s set was when her ear monitors fell out and she couldn’t hear herself anymore. Usually, artists will try to play it off and fix the issue without the crowd noticing. Emmy actually stopped for a second and had her drummer put them back in for her. She also was talking about how she wanted to hear herself so that the crowd can have a good time and enjoy the show more. It was cool to see the honesty with the crowd. It made the small equipment malfunction a nonissue.
Hayley Kiyoko
Finally as the night came to an end, Hayley Kiyoko took the stage. Hayley is an amazing vocalist and performer. Her music is also very catchy and easy to listen to. The overall performance was a perfect combination of calm and entertaining. She has a cool and calm way of performing that makes it look effortless. I really enjoyed the way she seemed to care for her fans. She has a very genuine way of connecting with the crowd from the stage. You feel like you are on stage with her. I am not sure how to describe it. I would recommend you just find the opportunity to see her live to see what I am saying.
This is actually my second time seeing Hayley in Utah, as she opened for Lauv in Ogden, Utah last year. I enjoyed her set so much last time, I was very excited to shoot this concert where she got her own headline tour. She brought the same energy even though she was now the headliner. She kept the same intimate feeling with the crowd. I was impressed by how she translated her set without making it seem like she was too cool to be genuine with the crowd. She stayed very true to herself.
Overall I would highly recommend the “PANORAMA” tour. All three artists involved in this part of the tour were very fun to watch. I did notice that Hayley will have three other artists switch into the opening sets throughout her tour. But from the artists that were in Salt Lake City, I can recommend you find them and listen. The Depot is also a venue I always recommend. I have yet to have a concert there I didn’t enjoy. Hayley Kiyoko will now finish off her tour and hopefully come back soon. As I said before, it is a really cool artist to see perform because of the way she connects with the crowd.
