When your 16-year old niece asks if you can escort her to a music concert you might expect something along the lines of an X-factor boy-band. Not with my niece, who has always shown some great musical tastes. And so we were off to see The Used and Evanescence at the NIA, Birmingham.

The first band on (whose name I can’t recall) was rather “meh”[1], next on The Used were competent but (to my mind) rather uninteresting, but Evanescence … wow! The power and effect heard in recorded tracks simply pours out on stage. While the drummer (Will Hunt) did his best with some energetic theatrics, it’s singer Amy Lee who provides the presence and energy into the performance. Moving between keyboards, piano and vocals Lee delivered newer tracks such as “What you want” mixed with older classics such as “Going under”, “Bring me to life” and “Call me when you’re sober”.

It’s nice when a band acknowledges that past work is as relevant to fans as the latest album, and the show had a very give-the-fans-what-they-want feel. I’m glad we held on for the encore too with a gorgeous performance of “My immortal”, a song that always gives me goosebumps. A great show, and thanks Kez for inviting :)

[1] teen lingo