Evanescence kicked off their U.S. tour with Korn on August 18, 2022 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
The arena, formerly known as the Pepsi Center, sold its naming rights to Ball Corporation, best known for those durable glass mason jars used in canning fruits, deserts and overnight oats.
In some ways, this tour is a little like what would have happened if Evanescence's dynamic singer and songwriter, Amy Lee, canned her favorite elements of the band's 2007 tour.
Fans may remember that 15 years ago Korn and Evanescence were the top bill of the Family Values Tour together. Once that epic tour ended, Lee and the band stayed on the road playing several shows with Sick Puppies opening. Lee and Puppies bassist Emma Anzai became friends and kept in touch.
When Evanescence parted ways with guitarist Jen Majura, recently, Anzai signed on, and longtime bassist Tim McCord took over on guitar. Lee says these new changes have energized the band.
"We're all really happy right now," she told Revolver. "We're in a healthy new chapter moment... and are feeling inspired and excited for the future."
The band is supporting 2021's The Bitter Truth, Evanescence's fifth album. It's that new material that gets plenty of love in their set, beginning with the first song.
Adorned with eerie black wings, Lee opened the show appearing behind drummer Will Hunter's belting out "Broken Pieces Shine," from the latest album. Five other tracks from the well-received album, including the fan favorite, "Better Without You," are part of the 15-song set.
15 years ago something else special happened due in part to the Family Values Tour: Lee and Jonathan Davis sang "Freak on a Leash" during Korn's MTV Unplugged concert.
Evanescence fans who stayed through Korn's rocking set in Denver were treated with Lee and Davis opening up that mason jar of nostalgia as the pair performed a duet of the hit once again.
"There's only a couple of voices I like," Davis told Lee in a conversation recorded for YouTube a few days before the tour started. "And that would be one if them: yours," he told her.
The feeling is mutual. Lee returned the compliment by saying, "you have so many great songs from over the years and I've been your fan since before I knew you."
One can only hope the show-ending duet will be a regular occurrence as this tour travels clockwise around the country, concluding with a trio of shows in Washington in September.
Tickets are on sale for the remaining dates here.
