Recent visitor: US band Evanescence.
Photo by
Travis Shinn
Evanescence still going strong
American rock band Evanescence were recently in Australia on their latest tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Fallen, which featured the song Bring Me to Life. The album topped the Australian charts in 2003. I caught up with the group’s guitarist Troy McLawhorn — who has been with the group since 2007 — in Melbourne before the group’s performance at Rod Laver Arena.
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Having first met and interviewed McLawhorn in 2003 when he was in town with his former band doubleDrive, I asked him how the changes in the industry that had occurred since then had impacted his approach to making music today.
“Those changes continue to certainly spark a lot of conversation about what’s the move when we’re ready to make music,” McLawhorn said.
“Do we record an album or three or four songs and throw those out there on Spotify and ride that for six months and put out another three or four and go that route?
“We haven’t acted on that ourselves with Evanescence because, during the pandemic, we were like, ‘Let’s just record a whole new album [The Bitter Truth] because there is nothing else’.
“There was no touring, so we put our heads down to record a full album, hoping that we would be able to support it on tour soon.”
Did he find that the pandemic also forced changes in how touring was undertaken?
“I don’t think it’s changed touring life a lot from my perspective,” he said.
“There was a period where we had COVID protocols that kept us from having guests backstage, but we are back to normal now.
“We still don’t do in-person meet and greets like we used to.
“We just want to stay healthy on tour and avoid cancellations, as COVID is still around.
“Evanescence is having this good moment where people are noticing the band again.
“We’ve got this South America tour coming up in October, and one show has sold around 30,000 tickets — and it’s our show, not a festival.
“When it comes to the financial side of things, that’s something I’m not that aware of, but I’m sure it’s more expensive now with the rise in the cost of hotels, fuel and flights.”
The Australian tour saw Evanescence playing sold-out shows, which affirms that twenty years on, the band remain just as popular as ever.
“The shows were great, and the crowds were lively and such a joy to play for,” McLawhorn said.
“If I had to pick a few highlights, I would say that the crowd in Brisbane was the loudest and the rowdiest.
“The fans in Perth stood out in the rain and cold all day for the show and were in the rain during the show, too, because it was an outdoor venue.
“Australia is such a beautiful place, and the people are very lovely and welcoming.
“I always love coming back and can’t wait to do it again.”
Cher is set to release her first-ever Christmas album, titled Christmas.
A new album by Vanessa Amorosi is on its way. Titled Memphis Love, it is scheduled for release on November 17.
Graham Nash, of The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash fame, has announced an Australian tour for March 2024.
Also announced this week, British glam rockers The Darkness will be here in February 2024.
Joe’s editorial
With The Rolling Stones all over the news last week regarding the announcement of their upcoming new album, Hackney Diamonds, due next month, it got me thinking about why a band who have now clocked up 60 years in the business remain so relevant in an industry that worships youthfulness. The Stones are one of the few bands to have lasted the distance, and regardless of the rock ’n’ roll excesses they’ve partaken in, they have managed to navigate their way through it all and survive intact.
With most of the members around 80 years old and continuing to play their brand of rock ’n’ roll, they’ve remarkably transcended any generation gap, as both young and old love the Stones. Jagger and co prove age is no barrier to music, affirming that rock ’n’ roll is not just a young man’s game. It’s ageless. There are young bands I have seen over the years that have lacked the qualities that the Stones have in spades.
Today, the Stones have become the elders of the industry. The ones aspiring musicians look up to. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a rock, jazz or country music fan. The Stones showcase the importance of being yourself in their fullest glory. The band don’t care for critics, nor do they care about ageism. What they care about is the music. And being themselves. Period. And that message comes through loud and clear in their music. Just listen to their new song, the tongue-in-cheek Angry. It sounds vibrant, fresh and youthful. It doesn’t sound outdated or anything you would expect to hear from a band from generations ago. It grooves. It makes you feel good. It makes you want to get off your seat and dance. How many other 80-year-olds can make you feel that way?
Fun fact
Did you know that in 2016, classical superstar composer Mozart outsold CD albums by Adele, Kanye West and Beyonce? The 200-CD limited edition set, which collected every single Mozart work and comprised 200 CDs, sold 6250 units in its first five weeks of release, translating into 1.25 million units sold, thus topping the charts.
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