PHOENIX — On the dusty, windy night of July 15, 2026, two storms brewed in Phoenix: one from the desert’s monsoon season threatening dust and rain, and the other a lineup of powerhouse female vocalists taking over Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre. Evanescence, a headliner needing no introduction to anyone who has listened to rock radio in the past 20 years, was supported by the ferocious Spiritbox and the electrifying Nova Twins. This was a millennial-fueled rock-girl dream lineup, mixing a legendary heavy hitter with two openers that have been making huge moves in the last decade. If there were any doubt about the draw, the lines wrapping around the venue for parking and entry made it undeniably clear.
Nova Twins
Nova Twins began their set as crowds were still wrapped around the venue and into the parking lot, but their sound carried well beyond the amphitheatre’s walls. They were impossible to ignore, even from the security lines. The duo may have been a familiar name for some, but for those unfamiliar, they wasted no time making a lasting impression.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
Vocalist and guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South delivered a fierce, tightly controlled performance, pairing heavy bass-driven distortion with a commanding stage presence. Even in the final portion of the set, their energy took hold and demanded full attention. Seated a few rows back from the stage, I relied on a colleague photographing the performance for a few of the finer visual details.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
Touring drummer Jake Woodward was positioned off to the side while Love and South worked every inch of the stage available to them. Both utilized extensive pedalboards, along with a unique ring-controlled system that allowed for real-time manipulation of bass and synth effects. Their setup, paired with a more compact stage footprint, contrasted with the larger productions to follow, yet never felt lacking.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
Before they finished their set, I already had them pulled up and added to my playlist. Their infectious, loud, fun, and impossible-to-ignore energy set the spark for a triple-stacked lineup packed with talent.
Spiritbox
As the set change began, the skies darkened and lightning flickered in the distance, setting the perfect scene as Spiritbox prepared to take the stage.
Red and white lights flashed as the band took their positions on stage. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante reached toward the sky before the drop into “Black Rainbow,” opening a twelve-song set featuring several tracks from their 2025 sophomore album, Tsunami Sea.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
LaPlante carried a noticeably stronger confidence throughout the performance than when I’ve seen her before, sauntering around the microphone stand before stepping to face the crowd and unleashing her signature screams.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
Throughout the set, LaPlante took moments to connect with the crowd, thanking them for sticking it out in the Phoenix heat and building anticipation for Evanescence. She told the audience that “Most of you have no idea what you’re about to see, but I think it’s going to be the best show you ever did see.” Before “The Void,” she took a moment to shout out Nova Twins, telling the crowd, “We love them, and this next song goes out to them.”
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
A mid-set break shifted the tone as LaPlante told the crowd, “We thank you for your time, and this is the part of the set where we dance,” building into “Sew Me Up,” with drumming and clapping pulling the crowd into the rhythm. Another playful moment came when LaPlante inducted the wind as the fifth member of the band, saying “it’s making us look really cool.” The way the gusts whipped through their hair and clothing added to the atmosphere in a way that felt like an intentional part of the show.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
The playful energy of the show took a sharp turn after “Holy Roller” finished. The set was stopped due to a disturbance in the pit, spotted by drummer Zev Rose from his elevated platform which LaPlante referred to as him witnessing “the fuckery about”, prompting the band to halt the show.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
“We’re not going to play another song and this show is not going to continue til we make sure everybody out there is safe. So I need you guys to be tattletales – who’s the fucking freak who’s hurting everybody? Point them out.”
When the crowd shouted the person had run off to the restroom, LaPlante responded “Well guess what fucker, we all saw you, we know where you are, and your ass is going to get kicked the fuck out.”
The crowd began chanting “kick him out, kick him out” while LaPlante checked in on an audience member. The individual was escorted by security out of the venue to a chorus of boos.
The band and crowd rallied after LaPlante reminded the audience to take care of one another then rolled into their final song, “Soft Spine.” Their performance balanced intensity, control, playfulness and a deep care for their fans.
Evanescence
After a lengthy changeover that seemed to rebuild the entire set, Evanescence emerged to a dramatically transformed stage. The show was now framed by cathedral-like structures behind them, backlit in deep crimson, while smoke rolled across a newly slanted stage and drummer Will Hunt sat elevated at the center. From the moment they took the stage, the crowd was on its feet, with many remaining standing for the entirety of the set.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
Opening with “Sanctuary,” the title track from their newly released album, they wasted no time establishing the tone for the night. Amy Lee stepped to the front of the stage with a presence that felt both commanding and beautiful, her voice cutting cleanly through the instruments. The set continued with the new album woven throughout the 21-song set, effectively playing it in full across the night. The sands of time have not dared to dull Evanescence’s flame.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
When the band shifted to “Going Under,” the energy surged, phones rose throughout the crowd as fans captured a treasured moment. The transition between older and new material was seamless, creating a setlist that moved fluidly across each era.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
“Lithium” shifted the performance into an intimate space, with Lee seated at the piano under a cool white spotlight. The tone softened, but the emotional weight was heavy. That same intensity deepened during “Like You,” the one song from their second album release they had never played live prior to this tour. Lee’s voice soared above the distorted growls of the guitar, adding depth to her clarity.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
The production throughout the set elevated the experience above and beyond rock standards. Between massive screens, shifting visuals, and pyrotechnics, it felt surreal to be in the audience, part of this magic.
That atmosphere of magic carried into the night’s more personal moments, particularly when Lee addressed the crowd before “Forever Without You,” sharing that the next song was very personal to her:
“I wrote it about my life, my journey and me getting here but I realize how many people have been through something so similar so if the story I’m about to tell you, if some words that I say resonate with you and make you feel like you’ve been there before or you are there now please uh,” she laughed softly, “first of all, don’t be afraid. I know that’s easier said than done but second of all never regret love. I’m done regretting love! You’re not bad, you’re not stupid for loving someone. But you don’t have to stay.” She then promised, “It’s better on the other side.”
Her words hung in the air as she moved into the song, her voice deeply emotive as it danced with her piano accompaniment. Lee held notes with precision, sustaining them in a way that felt almost impossible for such a heavy and personal performance, drawing cheers of support from the audience.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
That emotional weight quickly shifted into one of the most explosive moments of the night with their 2003 Grammy Award-winning debut single, “Bring Me to Life.” The entire venue came alive as the crowd sang along, matching the band’s energy. Everyone on and off stage was rocking out. Lee held out the iconic note on “dead” with striking control before calling on the audience to join her, hands raised as confetti rained down over the pit. Without pause, the band pushed forward into “Imaginary,” maintaining a level of stamina that never seemed to falter.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
A standout and favorite moment of the night came when Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, along with Amy Love and Georgia South of Nova Twins, joined Lee on stage for “Fight Like a Girl,” a track originally featuring K.Flay from the film Ballerina. The collaboration created what felt like a powerful, unified front at the edge of the stage, highlighting the strength of the female-fronted lineup. It’s hard not to want more from that combination.
“My Immortal” delivered one of the deepest, most nostalgic emotional moments of the night. The performance resonated throughout the crowd, bringing this millennial back to her teens, wiping away tears while watching Lee smile one of the biggest and most beautiful smiles of the night. She carried the moment with grace and sincerity.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
The evening closed with “Wide Open Heart,” the band’s energy never fading as they pushed through the final moments of the set with the same intensity they opened with.
Photography: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved
To call two-time Grammy Award-winning Evanescence and vocalist Amy Lee epic and legendary feels like only scratching the surface. The sheer force of the band, wielding their instruments like magicians time-traveling us through over two decades of beloved music, is an experience difficult to fully capture in words alone. Lee, alongside Emma Anzai, Will Hunt, Tim McCord, and Troy McLawhorn, delivered a performance that proves Evanescence continues to evolve while remaining exactly what fans have loved for decades and will continue to love for generations.
