Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Braving the summer heat, fans packed into Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, to prepare for a night of female-fronted rock and metal music. Tonight, Evanescence was in town, and no one wanted to miss out on seeing them. Along for the ride came Nova Twins and Spiritbox, who both had plenty of fans in the stands waiting to see them.
Kicking off our night were the genre-bending alt-rock duo Nova Twins. Hailing from the UK, these girls were a long way from home but were met by a crowd excited to receive them. Their music was a unique blend of nu-metal, rock, and electronic and psychedelic embellishments. It was clear that by the end of their set, they had won over plenty of new fans in the venue.
Met with cheers, Spiritbox was second in line for the night. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante spent some time conversing with the crowd, pointing out a fan by the stage who had been to 8 shows on this tour so far and giving a shoutout to her grandma who was nearby in my section. Their set included visual elements with visual intermissions on a large screen, as well as bubble machines that got the crowd hyped up. “Circle With Me” and “Holy Roller” were great hits, with the latter being dedicated to everyone in the crowd who was a fan, new and old. The final song on the setlist, “Soft Spine,” was dedicated to everyone that LaPlante “f*cking hates.”
The crowd was already on their feet and buzzing with energy by the time Evanescence took the stage, and I dare say it was one of the loudest crowds I’d ever heard at this venue. Vocalist Amy Lee took control of the stage, kicking off our night with “Sanctuary”, the title track from their latest album. But no worries for longtime fans; the setlist featured a mix of songs from across all eras of Evanescence.
A piano appeared from underneath the stage throughout the set, slowing us down and letting us catch our breath for a few songs. Evanescence’s second album, “The Open Door,” celebrates its 20th birthday, and with that, we were treated to a song that had never been played live until this tour. “Like You” was a great hit with the crowd, and if I were the band, I’d leave it on the setlist for future tours.
In fact, there were several songs off the setlist that were great hits with the crowd. “Forever Without You” seemed to resonate with many people in the venue, getting cheers and claps from all around. “Call Me When You’re Sober” received the loudest applause of the night, and it only got louder as it transitioned into “Bring Me To Life.” “Fight Like A Girl” was also met with cheers, especially due to the reappearance of Nova Twins and Courtney LaPlante onstage for the song.
And don’t worry, an Evanescence show isn’t just one to hear; it’s one to watch as well. Pyrotechnics took over the stage throughout several songs, and rising platforms lifted the guitarists and drum kit high into the air. And if that wasn’t enough to watch, screens lighting up the backstage switched through moodboards for the songs, to live camera views of what was happening onstage, to old clips of music videos. It was more than just a concert; it was an experience.
