Evanescence comes to town

Evanescence is in town. The famous rock band will be performing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 19. Pinoys really love this group. They came out some years ago but we still adore the songs, My Immortal and the Grammy-winning Bring Me To Life. Besides Evanescence is here on its first visit, we have not seen them before, so it will be a nice opportunity to find out if Evanescence is really as good as we have believed it is all these years.

I like to call Evanescence music as mystic rock. There is something other-worldly about its sound. Mysterious, eerie, scary are just some of the words often used to describe the songs of Evanescence. You actually begin thinking that Merlin or Gandalf will make an appearance after that final guitar lick. They don’t. But I still think that there should be radiant wizard bringing Evanescence sounds to a rousing finish. 

Take note though that I am referring to early Evanescence music when I say that. There have been some changes made since Fallen made the band a sensation in 2003 and when The Open Door proved that Evanescence was no one hit wonder three years later. The new and third album, simply titled Evanescence rocks more than the others. Truth to tell, the CD is now in heavy metal territory. Don’t turn away yet. No, these guys have not lost their mystic charm. They just play music that is louder and harder now.

The present tour is in support of this new CD. So those who will watch the show will get to find out for themselves how good is this new sound. Evanescence by Evanescence includes What You Want, Made Of Stone, The Change, The Other Side, Erase This, Sick, Oceans, Never Go Back, Swimming Home and because what is available here is the De Luxe edition, the bonus tracks, New Way To Bleed, Say You Will and Disappear.

Best of the lot are the big ballads My Heart Is Broken, End Of The Dream and Lost In Paradise. These are the songs to get lost in. You can get lost in heavy metal music provided the sound is as good as the kind Evanescence makes and the softer Secret Door.

Evanescence is made up of Amy Lee on vocals, keyboards and harp; Terry Balsamo on lead guitar; Troy McLawhorn on rhythm guitar; Tim McCord on bass; and Will Hunt on drums. Amy is the girl with the big operatic rock voice. She is also responsible for that piano which I must say was put to a lot of good work in this new CD.

Now that you know all about the show and the new CD, I have more good news for all Evanescence fans. You can meet and greet Evanescence at the SM Megamall Events Center at 1 p.m. on Sunday just right before the show. Simply buy a copy of the Evanescence album and you can then get the band to autograph your CD. Come evening you can hie off to watch Evanescence rock in concert. 

More good news. This one is a fantastic bonus for true rockers. Evanescence is performing with Bush at the Big Dome. Bush is a big rock act from the UK fronted by Gavin Rossdale. The band’s Razorblade Suitcase with the hits Swallowed and Greedy Fly, and The Science Of Things with The Chemicals Between Us and The Cables Sleep are considered classics. 

How Bush happens to be performing with Evanescence at the Araneta I do not know. I also want to carp that don’t you think Bush should get top-billing because it is the bigger and older band. But I will not. Why knock a good thing when you get it. This is no Avril Lavigne neither here or there show. What I am sure of is that these two acts are both fantastic rockers and they both make good music. So, if you watch this concert you will be getting two good shows for the price of one.

Tickets to the show are now available at TicketNet outlets in SM Department Stores and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Prices are P5,500; P4,500; P3,500; P2,500; P1,500; and P500.