Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling @PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC 7-20-18

One of the hottest tours of the summer came roaring into town this past Friday as Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling made a stop in Charlotte at the PNC Music Pavilion on their summer co-headlining tour. With the amazing vocals of Evanescence front woman Amy Lee and the violin acrobatics of Lindsey Stirling, the tour promised to be an amazing night of music. Add in a full symphony orchestra live on stage and it would be the show of the season.

The evening’s entertainment got started early with Cellogram. Cellogram is a two piece group comprised of cellist Dave Egger and drummer and programmer Chuck Palmer. The duo came out , devil horns in the air, and greeted the audience. Egger had a comedic vibe to him as he introduced the group as “me on cello and Chuck on drums and assorted boxes.” The duo sounded awesome as they dove into a little classical and a little rock and roll with a cello and bongo version of “Back In Black” by AC/DC. The two had a great stage presence and quickly established a rapport with the audience as Eggert crouched down in bended knee and angled his cello down on the stage. The short but solid set was well received by the crowd and was a nice addition to the bill.

After a short break, the orchestra came on stage and began to warm up. As the members of Evanescence hit the stage, the crowd stood up in anticipation erupting into shouts and whistles as the elegant Amy Lee walked out on stage. As the orchestra began to play the opening strains of “Overture,” Amy waved to the crowd and took a seat at the grand piano for “Never Go Back” off their 2011 self-titled album. The music was passionate and intense with the orchestra adding a unique aspect to the show. Lee is a definite vocal powerhouse as her impassioned voice enveloped the venue. The band although taking a visual backseat to Lee and the orchestra was in fine form musically with drummer Will Hunt a stand out behind the kit as he drove a frenzied pace on the harder rock songs. Stand out tunes were fan favorites “Bring Me To Life” and “My Immortal” as well as a nicely done cover of the Beatles song “Across The Universe.” Tour partner Lindsey Stirling came out for a triumphant “Hi-Lo” which would whet the audience’s appetite for what would come later in the evening. All the elements were in place for what should have been a spectacular performance and yet it lacked something. Perhaps it was the size of the venue or the fact that it was still daylight out when Evanescence began, but something was definitely missing. The band seemed unable to connect with the audience on a more intimate level and I think that the show would have gone over much better in a theater type environment. Although the performance was musically and technically top notch, I have to say it was a bit of a let down for me.

Switching out headlining spots over the course of the tour, it was Lindsey Stirling’s turn to close out the show and she did so in grand style with poise and panache. As the giant video screens lit up with images of Stirling, a single spotlight shone at the top of a riser illuminating Stirling who began with “The Arena.” From that moment on, Stirling would barely stand still for the remainder of the evening. She is not only a virtuoso on the violin but she is a superb performer. Part ballerina, part rock star, and part whirling dervish, Lindsey was constantly in motion. Dancing through a graveyard in a broadway musical style for “Moon Trance” Stirling never missed a beat. The music was eloquent and dramatic with the orchestra accompanying her but make no mistake about it this was Stirling’s time to shine. She breezed through a set of her biggest and best songs complete with set changes, costume changes, and a visual light show that would both enchant and captivate those in attendance. Stirling was a nonstop powerhouse of talent and the audience fed off her energy. Lindsey was joined by Amy Lee on vocals for a dynamic rendition of “Shatter Me” which absolutely had the crowd spellbound. Stirling closed out the night with a medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Music of the Night” and “Phantom of the Opera” which truly encapsulated everything that Lindsey Stirling is about. It was musically expressive and articulate and visually compelling; a perfect blend of concert and theater.

If you’re looking for something a little different this summer, be sure to check out the Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling tour for a chance to see not only an amazing vocalist in Amy Lee but perhaps the most talented violinist in the world in Lindsey Stirling.

Evanescence Set List:

Overture

Never Go Back

Lacrymosa

End of the Dream

My Heart Is Broken

Lithium

Bring Me To Life

Unraveling

Imaginary

Secret Door

Across The Universe (The Beatles cover)