So I had a good time at the Evanescence/Halestorm concert in Inglewood, yesterday. The journey to get there has been interesting. Left my house at around 5:45. Ran into the expected traffic of merging onto the 405 North. I really don't know what happened. No accidents or anything that would warrant a jam and after waiting it through 15 minutes, it just magically clears up. To park at Youtube Theater would cost $40.00. After what happened parking near SoFi Stadium for Foo Fighters for $45.00, I needed to venture a different option. I thought about parking at a lot near a train station for $3.00 and taken a bus to the venue and take an Uber back to the train station, but it's pretty dicey if I stay outside too long at night in Inglewood.
The next option was to park at a local casino that's a 15 min. walk to the venue. The security guard at the parking lot joked about it with me. They said, "What are you doing here? This is a casino, the theater is over there." and I told them that I spoken with a casino representative earlier that day they informed me that I could park here for $25.00 and they understood what I was trying to do and they were like, "Yeah, I get you. Parking there costs $50.00, you can park here for $25.00." They only allowed cash though so I had to make a withdrawal at the ATM in the casino and go back to the lot to pay them. Costs me $31.50. $25.00 to pay the guard. $4.00 fee to withdraw from the casino ATM, and $2.50 because the withdrawal was from an ATM that is not connected with my bank. Still cheaper than paying at Youtube Theater though.
As for the venue itself, it's actually pretty all right. I feel like it's pretty spacious and once you get in, it's still a bit of a walk to get to my seats in the 100 section. Got inside and the first band, Plush, was already starting their set. They were pretty good for the short amount of time they had. They were an all-female band and I think they were the right band to open for this bill. Had good energy and they played a cover of Heart's Barracuda.
Halestorm was up and the best thing I can say about them was that they were as great as they were when I saw them in 2017 (which was the first show that I personally pay for a ticket and drove myself to). Of course, the show in 2017 was better and only because they played for 30 min. extra since it was their own standalone show. Still had great energy. I actually liked their new song (which was also their opening song of the set), Back from the Dead, which is a bigger plus since I never liked their lead singles that's building towards a new album. They still saved a song slot for Arejay Hale to do his drum solo which was really entertaining and he brought out these huge as f drumsticks which I always liked as a visual. Another big appeal to this bill is that Amy Lee made a guest appearance and provided vocals for one of Halestorm's songs, Break-In. Naturally, it got a solid reaction and Amy Lee and Lzzy's vocals mesh well enough. Reminds me when the last time I saw Evanescence with Lindsey Stirling where she made an appearance to sing one of Lindsey Stirling's songs, Shatter Me (whose original vocals on the studio version was originally sung by Lzzy). Anywho, great set from Halestorm and they really extended the outro to I Miss The Misery so hard that it makes sense that it's the closing song of the set and that wasn't the last time we would see Lzzy Hale on that day, more on that on the Evanescence set.
Evanescence was really better here than when I saw them in 2018 in Irvine. The show in Irvine was so boring compared to yesterday. In Irvine, they had an orchestra and the band was sitting down, and I couldn't hear them and this was my description of the set: This was basically Amy Lee signing Evanescence songs with an orchestra and you can't hear the rest of the band and the crowd was so not into it. Heck, most people left after Bring me to Life was played and it was like the 7th-8th song of the set and more people left after My Immortal and it wasn't in either set closers. Just not that enjoyable.
Yesterday, was though. Band was obviously much more pronounced here. A lot of more energy in the room. I think the band sounded a bit more heavier than I thought they would be. A lot more moving around. Good visuals that fits more of the haunting/sorrowful/gothic vibes the songs had at times. Amy Lee was more interactive with the crowd. They had a nice small montage video break that showed some footage of how far the band has come in the ups and downs of their careers. A fair amount of the set was focused on their latest album, The Bitter Truth, which I thought was an ok enough album to warrant that focus. The crowd still liked the usual staples though (Going Under, Call Me When You're Sober, and of course, Bring me to Life although I feel like it's a bit awkward when played live since they don't want to work in the male vocal parts properly live). Lzzy Hale come out and they did a cover of Linkin Park's Heavy and they amped it up to be a more rocking song than the original somber poppier tone. It worked all right, plus it gives a nod to a band that was part of that group of 00s bands that Evanescence was in (Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Disturbed, System of a Down, etc.). Sadly, I didn't stay for the encore which had My Immortal since I needed to walk back to the casino parking lot and I and my car was able to get out in one piece thankfully.
Good night overall. Spent around $50.00 for concerts and parking total, which is a bit of a win. Heck, there was GA pit tickets on Stubhub the hour before the show began that was going for like $30.00. I was content on my seat which was pretty good and that I didn't need to stand after walking a fair amount to get to the venue and back. Was still a pretty attended building. Don't know if I want to come back to this venue for Slash and Myles Kennedy, but we'll see.
Next show will most likely be Trans-Siberian Orchestra if tickets fall low enough to my liking (under $50.00 would be nice, since that's what it would have been $55.00 on Groupon which is no longer available). If not, the show afterwards will be Daughtry/Sevendust/Tremonti and then Metallica in San Francisco.
Topic: Your Concerts for 2021 (crosses fingers) (Read 18388 times)
