Katseye Co-op Live review: ‘A dazzling and flawlessly crafted performance’

The Wildworld Tour, which marks the six-piece’s first-ever world tour, was plagued with disruption in the lead-up to the run following Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza’s hiatuses, trimming the group down to a four-piece. However, Yoonchae Jeung, Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini and Megan Skiendiel, who suffered a sprained ankle while rehearsing for the run, have done an impeccable job of holding down the fort in the absence of their bandmates.

The four members were required to take on extra responsibility with vocal distribution and were required to quickly relearn spacing, line changes, and partner-based stunts when it came to the choreography aspect of their performances, underlining their dedication and commitment to putting on this run of shows. The adjustments served as the latest obstacles the group has had to overcome in its journey thus far.

Ever since the journey began in 2023. the six members have been defying the odds. They successfully beat out 120,000 applicants to appear on the reality competition show ‘The Debut: Dream Academy’, overcame fierce competition from another 14 contestants on the aforementioned show and were required to adapt to intense and rigorous K-Pop-style training to prepare them for life in Katseye. Knowing the adversity Katseye has overcome, it makes selling out the largest indoor arena in Europe and becoming the first all-female group to headline the state-of-the-art venue on their first-ever world tour even more impressive.

It’s also a testament to the strength in numbers that they’ve built within their fanbase, commonly referred to as “Eyekons”, and they made their presence known on Sunday night. The 23,500-strong audience exploded with screams before the performance even began, as the group played several music videos and a dark and edgy video package of the members exploring a gritty, deserted building to match the aesthetic of the ‘Wild’ era, so much so that by the time the four members arrived on stage for the Brazilian funk of ‘Hootie Frutti', the noise was at fever pitch.

“Your energy is incredible. Can you keep this up?” Skiendiel asked, as if the audience needed any invitation. ‘Mean Girls’ felt quite relaxed, almost conversational, as the four-piece sat down with their ten-strong troupe of backing dancers on a downed scissor-lift platform. The lead-up to ‘Gabriela’ saw Avanzini invite a fan to the front of the stage, subsequently naming her the “Gabriela for the night” after executing the choreography, and was followed by a flawless dance solo from Avanzini, complete with aerial splits.

‘Pinky Up’ was punchy yet hypnotic and saw a bit of techno ad-libbing as Skiendiel jumped behind turntables, adding a unique spin on the track before breaking off into her own dance solo at the end, showcasing the rigorous training that they underwent and mastered. Act two was preceded by a second video package, highlighting the group being pursued by security and getting their mugshots taken, with Laforteza’s appearance emphatically cheered by the 23,500 in attendance.

‘Tonight I Might’ highlighted that Avanzini, Skiendiel, Jeung and Raj are formidable vocalists, as well as formidable dancers, making them complete performers. ‘Time Lapse’ saw the four-piece exit the stage to greet fans and perform while walking past the audience, stopping to sign autographs and receive bracelets from endearing fans, which were accepted with genuine gratitude, showing that even in a large-scale arena, Katseye are capable of making the environment feel intimate and connected. ‘Unloveu’ was proudly introduced by Raj as “the first Katseye song made by somebody in Katseye" before sitting down at a piano to perform the stripped-back piano ballad in a lights-out moment inside the Co-op Live.

‘Bel Air’ featured an elaborate dance solo from Jeung, which included six backing dancers, before a spell-binding 'M.I.A.' raised the roof of the venue. The four-piece brought the set to a close with the defiant, tongue-in-cheek swagger of ‘ICONIC By Mistake’ and the celebratory victory lap of ‘Gnarly’. It was a triumphant ending for a four-piece, who have routinely overcome obstacles, individually and collectively, to reach this stage. While the performance at the Co-op Live might have been the final date of their UK and Ireland run this year, it’s almost certainly the start of something truly phenomenal.