Streaming concerts has been the closest we could get to live shows from the bands we love. So to get the opportunity to see Evanescence performing was something I would absolutely not miss. The show started off with a pre-recorded Q&A session at 4 PM ET on December 5th with Amy Lee answering a number of pre-submitted questions from the fans. Some of the highlights during that session included the following:
- The new album The Bitter Truth recordings are complete and will be released on March 26, 2021.
- A positive thing that came out of the quarantine is the opportunities to do collaborations they normally wouldn’t get to do with other artists because they’re so busy touring. And finding new ways to be creative and getting some actual downtime to be with family.
- Whenever they get back to touring, the setlist will be filled with songs from The Bitter Truth and Amy loves to make setlists.
- The biggest lesson she learned from 2020 is “Don’t take anything for granted.”
- The fans in the chat went ballistic when Jen Majura (guitar, backing vocals), Troy McLawhorn (lead guitar), and Tim McCord (bass) all joined the chat during the Q&A.
Immediately following the Q&A started the streaming performance. The event was a pre-recorded event of the band’s first live performance held at Rock Falcon Studio in Nashville, TN where the band recorded The Bitter Truth. The band were socially distant for this show. At the studio were Nick Raskulinecz (producer of The Bitter Truth) in the sound booth, Amy Lee (vocals, piano), Will Hunt (drums) in a separate room, and Troy McLawhorn (lead guitar) in another room. Tim McCord (bass) was in California and Jen Majura (guitar, backing vocals) was in Germany.
Evanescence kicked it off with “Wasted On You” the first single from The Bitter Truth. If you’re a fan of Evanescence there are two things you immediately call out about the band. Their unique rock sound and Amy Lee‘s haunting, powerful, and crystal clear vocals. And when she first sang the lyrics, “I don’t need drugs” I literally got goosebumps. I knew right then and there this would be a special performance. Will is an absolute monster on the drums and it showed here. Jen provides a wonderful backing vocal blend and amazing guitar work. But, everyone in the chat, including myself was praising the fantastic bass work from Tim. I love it when a band truly lets the bass work shine in a song, and it absolutely did here. Fun fact: Nick Raskulinecz was the producer on Rush‘s Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork Angels, so he knows the importance of bass!
Next was “The Game is Over” also from The Bitter Truth. Troy seriously showed off his spectacular guitar playing here. What I truly loved here was the amazing collaboration between Troy, Jen, Tim, and Will. They were in perfect unison throughout the song and especially during the instrumental break. And, no surprise, Amy was absolutely spot on. Evanescence pulled out a song, as Amy stated, they haven’t played live in a while, which was “The Only One” from their 2006 album The Open Door.
This was such an amazing show with truly great pick of songs. But, it was Evanescence performing “Use My Voice” from The Bitter Truth that truly blew me away. The vocals, the music, and the heavy drum riffs from Will had me singing along with them through the song. Not only is it a song that seems very fitting for 2020, it’s a hard hitting, catchy rock tune. I thought Will was going to rip a drum cymbal off from how hard he was playing.
The chat was such a buzz and a blur from the fans showing their excitement, some even saying how they were crying being so happy to see Evanescence play live. The fans had their minds blown away more when Amy, Troy, Jen, Tim, and Will all popped into the livestream chat! To say the fans were elated was a huge understatement. Though some people thought this was a true live performance, the fans were thrilled to have Evanescence watching along with us and responding to comments throughout the performance. Amy commented when the band played “Bring Me To Life” how much she missed the crowd singing back to them “Wake me up!” So instead, the fans in the chat during that part of the song typed out “WAKE ME UP!” Though seeing Nick Raskulinecz air-drumming and lip-synching along was priceless.
After “Bring Me To Life”, Amy headed over to a “nice acoustic piano she just got tuned” to perform some intimate songs. First, “Lost in Paradise” from the 2011 self-titled Evanescence. Amy delivers such a breath-taking performance both musically and vocally. She closed out the performance with a cover of Portishead‘s “Glory Box”. Evanescence‘s full setlist was:
- Wasted on You
- The Game is Over
- The Only One
- Sick
- Going Under
- Use My Voice
- Bring Me to Life
- Lost in Paradise
- Glory Box (Portishead cover)
The one thing Evanescence reminded the fans is that you don’t need a fancy stage, pyro, or crazy lighting to provide a solid, enjoyable, and memorable performance. The only criticism I had on this event is that I wish it was longer! Nine songs went by way too fast and the fans in the chat were begging for an encore. The Bitter Truth can be pre-ordered now over at Evanescence‘s store HERE. Support the band, buy some merch, and I hope they’ll do another live session soon because this one was fantastic.
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