Live Review: Evanescence

                                                                                Photography: Ken Leanfore

30 March 2012

by Poppy Reid

Thursday March 29
Sydney Entertainment Centre

Tulle fairy skirts, ill-fitted corsets and band tees from 2007 were the accepted garb at last night’s Evanescence concert. Bringing together those who have remained keen and loyal since 2005 and those intent on some indulgent high school nostalgia, Amy Lee and her new, but stagnant players; guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Terry Balsamo, bassist Tim McCord and drummer Will Hunt took the stage.

Drawing predominantly from their eponymous third album, Lee burst onstage in a hyper-coloured tutu and black boots, opening with first single What You Want and swiftly following with Going Under, a track for the early fans.

Three songs in and she switched mics at the keyboard; through 180º hair flicks and fist pumps mimicked by minions, Lee told her tale about the afterlife for new track The Other Side.

:: View all the live shots from the night here.

The grand piano was of course expected to make an appearance, but as Lee sat onstage solo for the first half of My Heart Is Broken, any fans doubtful she could encompass the emotion she offered with My Immortal in 2003 were eating their proverbial hats before the full band joined onstage.

“We played this for the first time in five years yesterday,” said Lee before Sweet Sacrifice, and although she may have seemed out if breath it wasn’t down to her vocal capacity. Lee put her everything into that track, and the whole set in fact. Her limbs and fervour for her fans didn’t miss a beat. “Damn why'd we write that song to be so hard!” she yelled.

Finishing with Bring Me To Life, the years since Evanescence said goodbye to the track’s co-creator went unnoticed. There was no obvious hole in the lyrics that Ben Moody once filled as Lee doubled over and clutched her stomach with the pained poise she’s made her trademark.

“This tour has been so much fun,” she farewelled. “Thanks to all of you guys for making all this possible.”

Returning for a three-song encore on the grand piano, Evanescence looked more like a band than they had all night. Drummer Hunt swirled and juggled his sticks continuously through Swimming Home and Your Star and guitarists McLawhorn and Balsamo took the forefront at one point; but it was the much-anticipated My Immortal that really set Lee apart from the band. As it’s arguably their most famous release, we weren’t expecting such a raw delivery from the happily married 30-year-old. But as lighters and phone lights swayed, tiny baths filled our eyes before the house lights stopped the moment and many-a-sleeve was seen smearing our faces.

:: Read our interview with Amy Lee here.