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Rock fans in Jakarta can look forward to yet another treat this month — American rock band Evanescence will be performing for the first time in the city on Feb. 25.

“It’s something that we’ve all been waiting for,” said Sherwin Djajadi, director of concert promoter ShowMaxx Entertainment, who is bringing the band to Jakarta.

Sherwin said it wasn’t an easy task to bring the band to Indonesia, adding that it took a year before the Evanescence band members finally agreed to a Jakarta concert. There were many factors the band had to consider, including security and public response. Sherwin said he had to show the band a list of international bands who had performed successful concerts in Indonesia.

Sherwin said it was a blessing the band agreed to put Indonesia on its Asian tour itinerary. Before coming to Jakarta, Evanescence is scheduled to play in Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The Jakarta concert will be held at the Jakarta International Expo Arena PRJ Kemayoran in Central Jakarta.

Evanescence was founded in 1995 by singer Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody, who left the band in 2003. In addition to Lee, the band now consists of guitarists Terry Balsamo and Troy McLawhorn, bassist Tim McCord and drummer Will Hunt.

The band released its first studio album “Fallen” in 2003. With hits like “Bring Me to Life,” “My Immortal” and “Going Under,” the album brought Evanescence to international fame. Selling more than 17 million copies, the album received four nominations during the 2004 Grammy Awards and the won the “Best New Artist” category and “Best Hard Rock Performance” category for “Bring Me to Life.”

Heavily praised by the critics, “Fallen” became a stand-out rock album, not only in the United States but also around the world. It was certified 7 times platinum in the United States and also stayed on the Billboard Top 200 chart for 104 weeks.

The band’s second album “The Open Door” was released in 2006. Although not as acclaimed as the first album, “The Open Door” sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. The album’s singles included “Call Me When You’re Sober” and “Good Enough.”

The band’s third album was released in October last year with singles like “What You Want” and “My Heart Is Broken.” With more than 120,000 copies sold so far, the album has been receiving positive responses from both critics and fans.

Lee said the band’s newest songs tackle many themes. “The themes [in the album] are overcoming fear and the fight for freedom, love, loss, change, survival without bitterness, eternity, the ocean and l ife within dreams,” Lee said in an interview late last year with Buzznet, an online music publication.

Just like their two previous albums, Lee said the band put a lot of heart into the album. “Lyrics come from my heart, usually about my own experiences but there is some storytelling on this album too,” Lee said.

She said that she likes all songs in the album. “I can’t pick a favorite. They’re all different and special to me for different reasons.”

Although Lee has always been considered the band’s front person, she said it was teamwork that made it possible for them to produce high-quality music. “We’d bring a song to the whole band and arrange it in a group. That’s something that really stands out against other records,” she said on the band’s official Web site.

“There’s a tight band at the center of everything, giving it a very tangible energy.”

Lee said that fans have always been an important factor in the band’s success. “I can’t describe how great it feels to have their support. I love so much meeting them before and after the show. It feels like they’re growing with us.”

Evanescence
Feb. 25
Jakarta International Expo, Arena PRJ Kemayoran, Central Jakarta
Tickets from Rp 500,000, via rajakarcis.com