Phoenix was hot and humid, with summer winds whipping through the crowd but that didn’t stop countless fans from filling Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on Wednesday night for the return of Evanescence. The iconic rock group- joined by rising metal stars Spiritbox- brought their Sanctuary World Tour to the desert in celebration of songs both nostalgic and new.
Spiritbox’s set had nearly as much anticipation behind it as the night’s headliner as the band took the stage to thunderous applause from longtime fans. The group flooded the pit with red light and deep shadows as Courtney LaPlante captivated the crowd with her powerful vocals. From “Black Rainbow” to “Soft Spine”, both the band and the fans gave their all to the set and gathered the remainder of their energy for Evanescence.
It’s been over two decades since “Bring Me to Life” catapulted Evanescence to rock superstardom and the band’s flame has only gotten brighter in that time. The stage was shrouded in fog as they emerged right into “Sanctuary”, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Amy Lee was a powerful force onstage, drawing the attention of the fans with her compelling vocals and piercing gaze. The band treated the packed venue to over 20 songs- including all the hits- and closed the night with “Wide Open Heart” and the unshakeable knowledge that they are here to stay.
