Saturday night, the 21st, will forever remain in the memory of Evanescence and Brazilian fans. It was at Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo that the band performed the biggest solo show of their career to date, even with a reduced audience capacity.
It's been 20 years since the release of their iconic debut album, Fallen (2003) , which introduced us to Amy Lee and Evanescence's gothic influences in hits that still resonate today, such as "Bring Me To Life" , "Going Under" and "My Immortal".
The 2000s nostalgia element certainly contributed to the large crowd that filled Allianz Arena on Saturday night, but the longevity of the music is also evident when we notice the surprising number of teenagers in the crowd – all wearing makeup, band t-shirts, or even imitating iconic outfits worn by Amy Lee.
Two decades after their resounding debut in the music market, Evanescence still transcends generations, even though their music has much less commercial space today. This is undoubtedly due to the compositions that resonate with the audience, whether on an individual level, through the deep and visceral feelings expressed by Amy Lee, or in messages for the collective, such as the powerful "Use My Voice".
Warming up the crowd, Ego Kill Talent took the stage an hour before the main band and delivered an electrifying show of approximately 30 minutes. The Brazilian hard rock band is playing their first shows with their first female vocalist, Emmily Barreto , from Far From Alaska , and performed their new singles, “Call Us By Her Name” and “Finding Freedom,” as well as two unreleased songs to be released in November. Emmily's energy on stage and her raspy, impactful vocals make Ego Kill Talent the perfect opening act for a band like Evanescence, also known for the notoriety of their female vocalist.
On Saturday night, Evanescence honored their discography by performing some of their greatest hits, such as “Call Me When You're Sober” and “Lithium,” as well as the most popular tracks from their most recent album, The Bitter Truth (2021). Even with four albums in their repertoire, the band paid special attention to their debut album, playing not only fan favorites but also “Imaginary” and a medley of “My Last Breath,” “Haunted,” “Everybody's Fool,” and “Whisper.”
Amy Lee's charisma and talent are the driving force behind the performance and continued success of Evanescence's music. Her vocals, both touching and powerful, remain as impressive as ever, even if she currently struggles to perfectly sustain some notes she reached naturally at the beginning of her career. During her visit to Brazil, she met fans at the airport, rode the bus, and, as a surprise for her Brazilian fans, played a short composition in Portuguese on the piano, singing the following verses: "Love is your light, let it shine / I'll never let it go / It doesn't end / It never ends / You know."
Before delivering a moving performance of “Lithium” on the piano, the vocalist took a moment to say that, after everything we've seen happen in the world in recent years, one of the things she had learned was how to stay in the present moment and enjoy every second. More than once, she said she didn't want Saturday's show to end, and Evanescence bid farewell to São Paulo with a fireworks display, many waves, and lengthy thank-yous, honoring their status as one of the greatest bands of their generation.
Our contributor Jéssica Marinho was also there and captured the evening. Check out the photo gallery.
READ ALSO: Evanescence: 5 interesting facts about the hit “Bring Me To Life”
