LIVE: Evanescence + The Beautiful Monument, Perth 2nd Sept 2023

LIVE: Evanescence + The Beautiful Monument, Perth 2nd Sept 2023
Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, Saturday 2nd Sept 2023
Review & photography by Pete Gardner

Red Hill is a fantastic summer venue, perched high up in the Perth Hills, with great views of the city and beyond. It is also a little exposed to the elements, as discovered by the 5000 strong sellout crowd, rugged up and glistening under a sea of plastic ponchos. This was the second day of spring, but someone forgot to inform the weather gods.

The wild weather was, however, a suitable backdrop for the tempestuous Alt Goth Metal phenomenon that is Evanescence, Finishing their first Australian tour in several years celebrating 20 years since the release of the brilliant debut Fallen, and promoting their Fourth album of original material, The Bitter Truth.

Openers, Melbourne four piece, The Beautiful Monument had the unusual privilege of playing to a nearly full house, as the Auditorium had filled early with fans eager to get pole position for the main event. Having supported Evanescence throughout the tour they delivered a strong set under a deluge from the skies.

With the Arena now packed with wet and steaming metalheads, Amy Lee’s haunting vocals echoed out over the PA with the pre-recorded opening track of the new Album Artifact/The Turn.

Drummer Will Hunt appeared atop the drum riser, sticks aloft to a huge cheer, joined by guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord and Australian newcomer Emma Anzai on bass. The cheer became even louder as Amy Lee entered the stage, and suddenly nobody gave a flying fuck about the weather as the artillery assault of the opening bars of Broken Pieces Shine exploded across the arena. For the next 90 minutes Evanescence performed a career spanning set, heavily weighted to the new album and Fallen, but managing to include all the hits and fan favourites with a couple of deeper cuts crowbarred in by way of a couple of medleys.

Amy Lee has the most incredible voice, setting Evanescence apart from any other band of the genre, with her soaring and powerful vocals, frequently hitting 11 on the “Spinal Tap” scale, such as during Going Under and Call Me When You’re Sober, and the quieter ballads showcase her wonderful timbre, such as Lithium and My Immortal. After listening to her on album for so many years, hearing her live was a wonderful experience, and well worth a drenching.

The lighting, already fantastic, including a myriad of lasers, was given a huge boost by the rain and the collective fug in the air above 5000 steaming bodies. You won’t get this effect at the RAC Arena!

The weather did take its toll on some, with Amy Lee halting proceedings on two occasions, for people needing help or medical attention in the crowd – it’s so good to see the band taking care of their fans. The third time she stopped was right in the middle of a medley of songs celebrating Fallen. Calling the band to a sudden stop after a fight broke out mid-mosh. Once the dickhead culprits had been removed by security, Amy gave the crowd a choice, skip it or start again? The reply was predictable with Amy declaring “you’re all getting a double show tonight!!”

The rest of the set continued without a hitch, and probably due to time and the weather the obligatory encore break was dispensed with, the usual encore songs running seamlessly with the rest of the set through to the evening closer Bring Me To Life, with the crowd in full voice enjoying every last wet steaming moment.

A very wet, but enjoyable night, and although it’s been said before, Australia is often an afterthought for may international touring bands – and Perth often the afterthought to that, so when a band like Evanescence come along its worth buying the tickets, and drinking every last drop of that experience. Was it worth a few hours in the rain, hell yeah!

Setlist
Artifact/The Turn (on tape)
Broken Pieces Shine
What You Want
Going Under
Take Cover
Medley – Lose Control/Part of Me/Never Go Back
Call Me When You’re Sober
Lithium
Far From Heaven
Better Without You
Imaginary
Wasted on You
The End of the Dream
Medley – Haunted/My Last Breath/Cloud Nine/Everybody’s Fool/Weight of the World/Whisper Use My Voice
Blind Belief
My Immortal
Bring Me To Life

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries