During a picture-perfect summer evening, San Diego music lovers, both young and…seasoned, were treated to a magical double headliner, that was a celebration to the spirit, eyes and ears!
On a late night in August, San Diego’s premiere large concert venue, Mattress Firm Amphitheater, played host to today’s hottest young dancer/violin virtuoso, Lindsey Stirling and the mythical, early millennium, (goth?), (alternative?), (metal?), truly a genre within their own right, Evanescence!
In 2018, following a performance on heels of Miss Lindsey Stirling, is not an easy victory, but in their very recognizable, classic fashion, Evanescence does it with grace, style and power!
Lead singer and pianist, Amy Lee, continues to prove that like a fine wine, Evanescence just gets better over time! Stepping out into quiet shadows, to an almost sold out crowd, the always dazzling, Amy Lee, a surreal site in a luminescent gown, surrounded by band members and a full orchestra, immediately lit up the stage and the audience. The all American, visual and resounding powerhouse is once again gracing music fans with an all-American tour.
So enveloped in this sparkling evening of music, light, energy and flair, I was on sensory overload and (completely) forgot I was there “on assignment”…so while I can’t give you a set list, nor can I tell you which iconic songs they played at what time or who did what during their set, I can tell you, that I have attended hundreds and hundreds of music events in recent years and this double headliner of Lindsey Stirling and Evanescence resulted in more than 4 hours of never-ending musical goosebumps and me being markedly pensive at the curtain call, because it meant this spellbinding night was coming to an end.
Hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Evanescence, broke into the indie artist scene in 1995, founded by Amy Lee and guitarist, Ben Moody. Their first full length, two-time Grammy award winning album, “Fallen”, was released in 2003. Over the next couple of years, the band released the live album, “Anywhere but Home”, (2004), along with a second studio release, “The Open Door”, (2006).
Band lineup changes in early years resulted in a performance hiatus in 2007, but the band brought it back together in 2009 and released their third studio album, “Evanescence”, in 2011.
Evanescence resumed touring in 2012 but at the end of the one-year tour, they returned to hiatus. In 2015, a second emergence was on the horizon, albeit minus new material, as Amy had been working on a solo project. However, in 2016, they took themselves back out on the road, and we are so very happy they did, and on November 10, 2017, they did release new material in their fourth album entitled, “Synthesis”. This fourth album reflects how the band has grown and changed over the years.
Synthesis is a collection of new material, orchestrated compositions and instrumentals, symphonic overtures, and re-releases of classic Evanescence including a remix of “Bring Me to Life”, that, in my humble opinion, is even more powerful than its original. The consensus is that it is a “stripped down” version of the original that was released in 2002 and can be found on their “Fallen” album. Personally, I am not part of that consensus. I feel the remix maintains the same energy and effectiveness as its original; in a contrasting manner.
Current tour-mate, Lindsey Stirling, performs on the new release, “Hi-Lo”, and the matching video is just stunning.
Amy’s notable, haunting vocals, are as recognizable as ever, but the album really steps out of the box with, new release, “Imperfection”, and the result is both familiar yet an all new dynamic from what we expect from Evanescence. Concert goers are charmed by this modest evolution on their current “Hi-Lo” tour. Complete with a full orchestra, and the captivating, dancing violinist, Lindsey Stirling, this double-headlining, all American feast, is undoubtedly an experience that will leave you wanting.
From my 10th row, center seat, I looked over a very electric crowd. This was a performance that brought forth several generations of music lovers. Maybe the younger fans came for Lindsey Stirling. I did. Maybe the older ones came for Evanescence. I did. The solitary thing I was sure of, this magical, mystical, spectacle, of power, light, song, music and message, created Evanescence fans out of Lindsey Stirling fans, and Lindsey Stirling fans out of Evanescence fans! As the power dimmed, and the stage faded to black, we all left the amphitheater a little more enlightened, a little more educated, a little more enchanted, and hungry for a lot more of both!
Please find my dedicated article to Lindsey Stirling’s performance in our November ’18 issue.
You can keep up with Evanescence’s tour schedule and breaking news on their website: http://www.evanescence.com/
Band and artist profiles can be found on most social media platforms and their music can be found and purchased on reputable music sites.
Evanescence is:
Amy Lee – lead vocals, keyboards, harp, production
Tim McCord – bass guitar
Will Hunt – drums
Troy McLawhorn – lead guitar
Jen Majura – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
By: Siege/BackStage360
Images by: Billy Esquibel / BackStage360