Photos by Angie New Photography
Words by Matt New
2023 marks the twentieth anniversary of Evanescence‘s debut record Fallen, and the Arkansas quintet’s monumental milestone would be reason enough to treat their adoring fans with an epic world tour.
Aussie fans have not had the band’s amazing live show on home soil since the 2018 Synthesis tour, something Amy Lee has been very vocal on rectifying. Angie and I were lucky enough to witness Evanescence’s amazing live set back in May at the inaugural Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, a festival that showcased so many iconic nu-metal and alternative bands; Evanescence were a standout, and I knew tonight would be equally as special.
Opening the mighty Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney’s West on a warm winter’s eve was Newcastle-based quartet The Beautiful Monument. A band that possesses a blend of heavy metalcore with the voicing of the catchiest pop-punk melodies. This tour would be a career-defining opportunity, in which the band provided a highly energetic and professional performance. They were powerfully entertaining and visibly made an impact on an eager audience awaiting the headline act.
Lizi Blanco had an eerily haunting presence on stage as she emoted the most delicate melodies with ease. Accompanied by a highly energetic rhythm section that consisted of Amy McIntosh on bass, whom people will also know from Vilify; Alex Manhire riffing hard on her Fender Telecaster, and Adam Pinzone holding time and forcefully driving the ensemble forward.
Their set showcased a strong showing from the 2019 album I’m The Reaper, opening with Invisible and playing other tracks such as Give Up and Deceiver. The Beautiful Monument also treated a near full Qudos Bank Arena to some of their newest offerings, including Misery and concluding their set with Hellbound. It seems imminent that a new album is on the cards, and I look very forward to seeing how the band has evolved over the past 4 years since I’m The Reaper.
As the lights went down at 9pm, the crowd was given Rage Against The Machine’s classic Killing in the Name to fire up and get into the mood for what was to come. One by one, each member of Evanescence made their way on stage to the sounds of Artifact/The Turn, the opening instrumental track from 2021’s The Bitter Pill. Once everyone was set, it was game on, as the crowd erupted to the riffs of Broken Pieces Shine. A highly minimalist yet alluring stage setup was aglow with an incredible light show that added to the amazing live mix and precision of every band member’s musical abilities.
Amy Lee is one of the most influential and revered vocalists of our generation, and live, she is absolutely flawless. Delivering a powerfully emotive and pitch-perfect delivery throughout the entire evening, without faltering. Accompanied by some of the finest musicians, including Sydney native Emma Anzai from Sick Puppies, Troy MacLawhorn who people will remember as Seether’s touring guitarist, Will Hunt who is one of the most in demand session drummers in the US, and finally Tim McCord from The Revolution Smile on rhythm guitar.
The set left no stone unturned, making sure every contemporary classic Evanescence are known for was included into this 80-minute-long set. A strong showing of tracks from The Bitter Truth and, Fallen, with classics like Going Under, a couple of highly orchestrated medleys with a mix of songs spanning across their entire career. A highlight for me was a stripped-back version of Imaginary accompanying a heartfelt video montage showcasing the band’s experiences on the road.
On many occasions a digital grand piano was wheeled out to centre stage for Amy Lee, and this was a clear indication of the track’s impending. The classical influence ever evident in the final two songs of the evening, My Immortal and Bring Me To Life which would conclude an amazing evening and musical journey. Every single person in the 21,000 seat venue, singing along to every song performed and on several occasions with a sea of mobile phone lights, swaying in unison, illuminating the intimately breathtaking moments of the set.
Evanescence have a deep appreciation for their fans, and Australia was very grateful to have this moment with one of rock’s finest bands of the modern era after such a long time. Massive credit to all the staff of Qudos Bank Arena for making the evening go so flawlessly and for offering a great experience for many patrons. So far, this has been one of the best shows of 2023, and it’s going to take someone pretty special to top this event.
