Evanescence @ Riverstage
A Captivating Night of Nostalgia and Power.
Photos & review by Dayna West
Brisbane’s beautiful Riverstage provided the perfect backdrop for a night of high-energy performances and musical attitude, as The Beautiful Monument set the stage for a big night ahead. TBM took the stage with an abundance of energy – guitars swinging around, bouncing through their chords - their enthusiasm was contagious. The crowd responded in kind, immediately getting into the groove and feeding off the band's playful and honest stage presence. The Beautiful Monument are evidence that the timeless appeal of rock music is still alive in Australia. Everyone was dancing, singing along, and losing themselves in the rock of it all, as TBM proved why they deserved this opening slot. Playing to a packed-out crowd, it was lovely to see that patrons showed up early – the atmosphere was energetic and alive and The Beautiful Monument are responsible for that!
Rock legends Evanescence delivered a performance that was nothing short of mesmerizing. The night was a true journey through the band's remarkable career that left the audience in awe. It has been a long time since Evanescence has graced our shores, as stated by Amy Lee herself – ‘thank you for being here, thank you for still being here – a lot has happened in the space between us, but I promise we will come back’.
Nostalgia hung in the air thick as the opening notes of early hits reverberated through the venue. For many in the crowd, these songs were the soundtrack of their youth. From the hauntingly beautiful My Immortal to the angsty anthem Bring Me to Life, every note struck a chord in the hearts of the fans. New hit Broken Pieces warmed up the crowd, followed by tracks What You Want and the iconic Going Under. As I turned behind me to witness the onslaught of emotional fans, it was the first show in a long time where the passion emanated so deeply and personally – there were minimal phones at the barrier for the time I was there – just prolonged eye contact, high energy singing and presence from both the band and the fans.
This show was a testament to the band's enduring relevance. Amy Lee's voice hasn't lost an ounce of its ethereal quality over the years. Her ability to seamlessly transition from soft, delicate verses to powerful, soaring choruses was a sight to behold. She commanded the stage with her charismatic presence which held the audience captive from start to finish. Her ability to move around and project the way she does, and then seat herself behind a grand piano is an absolute marvel. As tracks like Sober and Lithium ran off each other, I was personally transported back 10 years and couldn’t handle the bliss I was being hurled into. Before I could fathom my present reality, Better Without You came on – a relevant and recent addition to the Evanescence discography that centred me once again.
Riverstage itself added another layer of enchantment to Thursday night. With the city's skyline backdrop and the gentle breeze rustling through the crowd, it was a perfect setting for Evanescence's music to bring us to life. The venue's atmosphere and the band's performance were a match made in rock-and-roll heaven. This wasn’t a typical show. It was unlike any light show I’ve seen from a live music performance – the lighting and production value felt circus-like …. It was rockstar status if I’ve ever seen it – from the musical agility to the grand piano and intense tunnels of lighting, it was a sight to take in and all senses were ignited.
This show was also a powerful reminder of the band's artistic prowess. The newer tracks held their own against the classics, proving that Evanescence's creative well is far from running dry. The blend of symphonic elements, hard-hitting rock, and Amy Lee's haunting vocals created a sonic tapestry that resonated deep within the souls of all in attendance, and the crowd members both long-time and new, were able to share the experience wholeheartedly together, bridging Evanescence’s past present and future together.
No encore was needed, and the perfectly woven set ended with the infamous Bring Me to Life – a track that needs absolutely no explanation – I’ve never seen Riverstage so edgy and angsty before, and it was fun to see! Evanescence has continued to leave an indelible mark on their fans and their music continues to resonate so deeply after all these years. Let’s do it again sometime soon.
