Amy Lee shines in cathartic Evanescence show at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth
A good rock concert can be a cathartic experience for both fans and band.
And that seemed to be the case Saturday night during Evanescence’s 20-song, one hour, 35-minute show at Dickies Arena.
Singer Amy Lee described the evening as something of a homecoming early on, telling the crowd of about 10,000 that the band’s 2017 “Synthesis” album of re-imagined mostly previously-released material was recorded at Spaceway Productions in Fort Worth.
“Thank you so much for being there for us for so long. We have history in this town,” Lee said. “We’ve got family here, we’ve got friends here.”
Nearly half the set was dedicated to the band’s latest release, “The Bitter Truth,” which came out in March.
The show opened and closed with two of their new songs, “Broken Pieces Shine,” and closer “Blind Belief.”
Lee’s plaintive vocals shined throughout the night. Her voice has always resonated strongest in contrast to Evanescence’s dramatic, often dark sounds. Guitarists Jen Majura and Troy McLawhorn, bassist Tim McCord and drummer Will Hunt kept the hard-charging music pumping as Lee, dressed in a dark-colored kilt like an extra from “Mad Max,” delivered the wails of lost love, hope, and introspection.
“We’ve been through so much and here we are, and thank God,” Lee said before “Lithium.” “Tonight is a celebration of life. I am so grateful to all of you. It has been a hard time for so many. Fact is, a lot of people in this room has lost somebody they love recently. Myself included.”
Lee was talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, but also seemed to be including all of the challenges and travails life throws at us. After all, Evanescence was giving us a soundtrack for all of the rough patches long before the pandemic hit.
“I know we are constantly reminded of the pain and loss all of the time,” Lee said before leading the crowd in a toast to those recently lost. “The question is, are we so hammered constantly with that information that we become numb to it? We can’t let that happen. As many times as I’ve wanted to escape the past couple of years I don’t want to forget. We don’t have to be sad, but we can’t forget. That’s what keeps them alive, that’s what makes us human, that’s what brings us together, and that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Those are the same sentiments and themes that consistently show up in the band’s songs.
“Never meant to lie, but I’m not the girl you think you know, the more that I am with you, the more that I am all alone,” Lee sang in “The Change,” from the band’s self-titled 2011 album.
Singer Lzzy Hale of opener Halestorm joined Lee on stage to sing Linkin Park’s “Heavy” near the end of the main set. Halestorm’s 11-song set packed a heavy, hard rock punch, and the crowd loved it.
Four of the 20 songs came from their 2003 debut album “Fallen,” including the main set closer “Bring Me To Life,” and the encore opener “My Immortal.”
They are the band’s most well-known songs and showcase everything fans are drawn to, a voice of isolation, desperation and, most importantly, perseverance.
“I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone,” Lee sang in “My Immortal.” “But though you’re still with me, I’ve been alone, I’m alone.”
As the crowd sang along, however, it was clear she wasn’t alone and they weren’t either. They were sharing a moment together, not alone.
Evanescence set list at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 20, 2021:
1. Broken Pieces Shine
2. Made of Stone
3. Take Cover
4. Going Under
5. The Game Is Over
6. Lose Control
7. The Change
8. Lithium
9. Wasted on You
10. Part of Me
11. End of the Dream
12. Far from Heaven
Interlude (Video)
13. Better Without You
14. Call Me When You’re Sober
15. Imaginary
16. Heavy (Linkin Park cover) (with Lzzy Hale)
17. Use My Voice
18. Bring Me to Life
(Encore)
19. My Immortal
20. Blind Belief
This story was originally published November 21, 2021 at 4:56 PM.
