Two female music icons, Halestorm and Lindsey Stirling, united to bring the Neverest Duality Tour to Sioux City, Iowa. It’s rare that Sioux City sees a rock show of this caliber these days, and you could tell the fans were fired up to see these ladies take the stage on October 1st at Tyson Events Center.
It takes a rare level of musicianship to carry the energy of a metal band with cello-driven music, but Apocalyptica started the evening with a one of a kind performance. Their opening set was a set worthy of a headliner. Their unique blend of rock and orchestral sounds set the tone for a dynamic evening.
While I was expecting more originals, the band has been touring in support of their new release, "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2," so the entire set featured their renditions of Metallica classics, each delivered with their signature intensity. The band spoke on how difficult it is to create such powerful covers of these songs without reinventing the wheel.
They stopped towards the end of the set and spoke to the audience about the album, and told them to come out again because “You never know what we'll play next time you see us because we are Apocalyptica and we play whatever the fuck we want!”
A highlight of the night was their cover of "Nothing Else Matters." The band slowed down and played a classic-sounding version of the song. The cellos carried the song while the crowd’s voices filled the arena, singing along. It was a pretty special moment to watch the band and audience come together as one to perform the song.
Genre-defying violinist Lindsey Stirling was next on the docket. Stirling got her start on America’s Got Talent back in 2010, and has since become a household name around the world, and for good reason. I was excited for her set as somehow I’d never managed to catch over the years.
She was backed by an incredible band, including guitarist Jason Richardson, known for his work with Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, and All That Remains. Richardson himself is a legend in this industry and I’m starting to wonder who he doesn’t play with. Richardson and Stirling played off each other all night. It was a one-of-a-kind show, not just musically, but also physical performance-wise with theatrical costumes and choreographed dancing.
I’m not sure what was more impressive about her show, the music performance half or the gymnastics half. Stirling has an incredible ability to keep up with choreographed dancers' constantly jumping, spinning, and bending over backwards while still masterfully playing her instrument.
They played a wide range of covers ranging from "Sandstorm" (which Stirling said is her favorite song in the world), "Blue(daba Dee)", "Devil Went Down to Georgia", and my personal favorite, "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin.
Her performance felt like the perfect transition between Apocalyptica and Halestorm, keeping the orchestral style of the show thus far moving while also stepping energy up a notch to transition to the night's final act.
Last, but far from least, Grammy-winning Halestorm absolutely tore up the stage, as they always do. Halestorm is a longtime fan-favorite in Sioux City. Over the years, the band has played around Sioux City numerous times at venues like the Hard Rock and the Orpheum Theater, and the city had long been excited about their return.
The band wasted no time. As soon as the kabuki dropped from the ceiling, Halestorm immediately ripped into familiar favorites "I Miss the Misery" and "Love Bits." Between the band’s explosive energy, the smoke, and the confetti, the first two songs alone felt like a finale more than a start to a set. Their setlist included staples like "I Get Off," as well as new material from their latest release, "Everest," which dropped this past August.
Halfway through the show, they slow things down for a while. A baby Grand piano was rolled out, and Lizzy took the stage solo. She told the story of the band's formation, spoke on the state of the world sucking right now, but also the importance of never giving up and lifting each other up along the way, setting the stage for their ballad, "Like a Woman Can", which showcased her raw emotion and vocal power.
I’ve personally seen Halestorm at least 8 times over the years, including a memorable 2010 show where they opened for Alice Cooper and Godsmack. Even back then, a young Lizzy, who was still embracing her Goth/scene style, was already a force of nature on stage. Every performance since has managed to outdo the last, and this night was no exception. Lizzy’s voice remains one of the most powerful in modern rock, with few in the industry able to compete.
The show delivered a diverse lineup of talent, sounds, and genres, from Apocalyptica’s cello-driven metal to Lindsey Stirling’s genre-bending violin and Halestorm’s high energy rock performance. Each act brought its own energy and emotion, leaving Sioux City fans with a night to remember.
