PHOTO GALLERY: Evanescence - Sanctuary of Power

Aug 8

Pine Knob Music Theatre | Clarkston, Michigan | August 2

The US portion of Evanescence's tour with Nova Twins and Spiritbox has come to an end in Clarkston, Michigan. With such an unbelievable lineup, this was a show no one should have missed, as each band and vocalist brought a unique level of power and energy to the stage.

When a band I've never heard is on a tour I'm attending, I try my best not to listen to them in advance. I love discovering new bands during live performances, and that's exactly what happened with Nova Twins. Opening one last time on this leg of the tour, they gave it everything they had. Bringing high energy, heavy fan interaction, and an incredible stage presence, they instantly set the tone for the night. You could feel the crowd's momentum build with each song.

When Spiritbox took the stage—a band I've been a fan of for a long time, but was seeing live for the first time—I was completely blown away by their entire performance. You can tell how much they love being up there delivering every single note. Getting to hear all my favorite tracks live was unreal as Courtney's vocals effortlessly flipped between gorgeous, crystal-clear emotion on "Jaded," "Tsunami Sea," and "Circle With Me," before unleashing full-throttle ferocity on "Holy Roller" and closing out with the sheer violence of "Soft Spine."

Before a packed amphitheater, Evanescence took the stage to "Sanctuary", the screams and cheers of new fans and lifelong fans began. Early into the set I had no doubt I would walk out of here knowing she is one of the best vocalists of our generation. Powering through a massive 21-song setlist that spanned the band's entire catalog, they never lost momentum. The musicians were equally relentless: guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord didn't miss a step, playing flawlessly alongside Will Hunt on drums, while bassist and vocalist Emma Anzai commanded the stage in perfect sync with the rest of the group.

My two favorite moments were: during "Forever Without You," Lee brought out a piano and you could really hear the power and emotion coming from her soul, again backing why she is, in my opinion, one of the best vocalists of our time. Then Nearing the end of the set during "Fight Like a Girl" Courtney LaPlante and the Nova Twins came out and sang with Lee.