Evanescence and Amy Lee’s Soaring Voice Deliver a Haunting Grandeur to South Florida  – Photos and Review of the Evanescence Concert at the iThink Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL

The warm summer air over West Palm Beach was thick with anticipation as a sea of black-clad fans packed the iThink Financial Amphitheater last night for a chance to catch the opening night kickoff of Evanescence’ new tour. The covered venue provided a welcome shield from the hot Florida sun, but the real heat was cooking on stage, as a double bill of female-fronted opening acts was about to shatter the quiet of the evening before the headliner took stake. While Amy Lee’s majestic vocals promised a night of nostalgic grandeur, the journey to get there was a showcase of the genre’s evolving, defiant future with Spiritbox and Nova Twins starting the festivities.

The evening ignited with the raw, unapologetic fury of the Nova Twins. From the moment the London-based duo stepped onto the stage, they treated the massive amphitheater stage like a small, sweaty punk club that needed to be torn apart. Armed only with a guitar, a heavily distorted bass, a minimalist drum kit powered by touring drummer Jake Woodward, and a vocal prowess that swings between melodic rap and guttural screams, Amy Love and Georgia South built an impenetrable wall of sound. Their energy was a visceral shock to the system, a blend of punk attitude, grime-infused rhythms, and colossal metal riffs. Tracks like “Cleopatra” and “Monsters” rumbled through the venue with a seismic force, their infectious, groove-laden hooks compelling even the most stationary concertgoers to move.

Maintaining the ferocious momentum were Canada’s Spiritbox, who took the sonic intensity in a more atmospheric and technically complex direction. As the lights dimmed, an ethereal, synth-laden soundscape enveloped the amphitheater, a brief moment of calm before the storm of sound that was about to erupt. The band broke into a flawless performance with “Black Rainbow“, showcasing their signature “sweet n’ spicy” duality, swinging effortlessly between hauntingly beautiful melodies and crushing, progressive metalcore breakdowns. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante was a magnetic force of nature, her stage presence commanding and elegant, whether she was delivering a gentle verse or unleashing a demonic growl that seemed to emanate from the depths of the earth. The crowd roared in recognition as the intricate riffs of “Circle With Me” and the sheer brutality of “Holy Roller” cascaded from the speakers. The band’s performance was a high-definition, cinematic experience—pristine in its execution yet dripping with raw emotion.

When the lights finally fell for Evanescence, the roar was ear-rupturing as the cheering signaled a release of over two decades of pent-up love from a multi-generational audience. Opening with a haunting atmospheric prelude before launching into “Sanctuary“, the concert featured an astounding TEN live debuts as the band performed their brand new album (which released last week, also titled “Sanctuary“) in full throughout the night. Interspersed throughout the setlist were classic tracks like “Afterlife” and “Lithium“, proving that their signature gothic-rock sound has only grown more potent with time. Amy Lee, a vision in one of her signature dark ensembles, stood center stage during the heavier songs and climbed behind the grand piano that ascended from the ground during the slower ballads.

Her voice, an instrument of impossible clarity, power, and emotion, was the undeniable centerpiece. It soared through the heavy, drop-tuned riffs of “Going Under” with operatic precision and whispered the delicate heartbreak of “Bring Me to Life” with such intimacy that the thousands in attendance fell completely silent, hanging on every note. The band, tight and dynamic, breathed new life into the catalog, with guitarist Troy McLawhorn adding fresh, modern textures to classics like the sweeping “Call Me When You’re Sober“. The night was a perfect symbiosis of theatrical darkness and genuine emotional connection, with Lee sharing heartfelt stories between songs. A surprise twist came with the addition of two special guests during “Fight Like A Girl“: Nova Twins joined Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante on stage, voices melding with Lee’s in a powerful, hair-raising “double duet” that signaled the near end of the night. For the encore, the crystalline notes of “My Immortal” transported everyone back to 2003, the band premiered “Wide Open Heart” live for the very first time, and by the time the crowd left the venue with ringing ears and full hearts, they knew they had witnessed something truly special.