Avalon was packed Sunday night with fans waiting in anticipation for the Nintendo Fusion show to begin. Evidence of the tour's sponsor, Nintendo, was not lacking at the venue, as kiosks of Nintendo Game Cube were scattered around the lobby. The tour features bands Finger Eleven, Revis and Evanescence, but it was clear that the majority of the audience was there to see the headliner, Evanescence. The band, which consists of members Amy Lee (vocals) and Ben Moody (guitar) is on tour to promote their debut album, "Fallen." Starting off from humble beginnings in Little Rock, Ark., Evanescence gained recognition from their first single, "Bring Me to Life," which appeared on the "Daredevil" soundtrack. Although there are only two permanent members of the band, John LeCompt (guitar) and Rocky Gray (drums) contribute instrumentals to the live performances.

While the set was sparse, decorated solely by the ninja star-like symbol that has become synonymous with the band name and some colored lights, the performance was anything but bland. The band deserves extra recogition since it it one of the few bands in its genre to have a female vocalist, a factor that does not in any way diminish its credibility. It is easy at first to be deceived by lead singer Lee's small stature, but once she opens her mouth is it clear that her powerful voice demands respect. Despite claims that Evanscence's music is "Linkin Park with a female lead," Lee's talent puts the band in a league of its own.

After the opening bands' performances and a long set change, Evanescence took the stage. They began their set with the song, "Haunted," to which the crowd immediately started to bob up and down, singing and bouncing to the beat of the music.Lee encouraged them with her fervent dancing, vigorously moving from one side of the stage to the next, singing into the crowd. Following this song, the band launched in the second single off their CD, "Going Under." The continuous fast-paced, hard-hitting guitar rhythms kept the audience enthusiastic and actively singing along. Judging by the many people who knew all of Evanescence's lyrics, it is safe to say that Evanescence attracts a devoted fan base.

Next, Lee took a break from singing to give the obligatory "thanks" to all the fans for coming to the show and supporting the band. Lee mentioned how this was the band's first tour and that they felt a deep gratitude towards all of the fans that supported their music. Although every band does this, Lee seemed extra sincere and appreciative in her demeanor. Then Evanescence continued with three more guitar driven tracks, "Taking Over Me," "Everybody's Fool" and "My Last Breath."

Throughout all of these songs the crowd continued to build its level of excitement, influenced by the energetic presence of the band. Lee's long, black hair constantly got in her face as she passionately nodded her head in time to the music, so much so that she eventually had to tie it back.

The set proceeded with a few more songs not included on the album, yet many fans still knew all of the lyrics and were able to sing along. Next, the band launched into an invigorating rendition of their hit single, "Bring Me to Life." Even members of the audience who were not hardcore fans knew the lyrics. This particular song, in conjunction with a few others on the album, showcases Evanescence's unique ability to integrate piano harmonies with heavy guitar beats. The song "Tourniquet," another promising single, followed. Evanescence ended their set with the song, "Imaginary."

For an encore, Lee returned to the stage solo to play one of the mellower songs on the album, "My Immortal." Backed by only a keyboard, the soft melody allowed Lee to display her mesmerizing vocals. The head-banging in the audience ceased, replaced by a calmer swaying back and forth of the fans to the rhythm, accented by the occasional lighter held above the crowd. In the middle of the song, the rest of band came back on stage to add instrumentals to the chorus. Evanescence closed the show with a solid performance of "Whisper." The performance was especially energizing as Lee informed the crowd that it was "their last chance to rock out."

With their infectious energy and talented musicianship, Evanescence was able to please their already loyal fans while winning over new ones. Unforuntately, the concert was much shorter than many would have liked. Instead of the usual hour-and-a-half set that most bands play, Evanesence's set barely lasted an hour. This was due to the fact that Evanescence has only recorded one album thus far.

The other downside to the concert was the presence of the over-enthusiastic intoxicated fans. While in the pit area, I had the unfortunate experience of coming into contact with a disgusting display of affection by a drunken couple. Alternately trying to keep out of their line of stumbling and actively avoiding their flying droplets of sweat distracted me from key parts of the performance. This was aggravated by the intrusion of the occasional mosher and crowd surfer obtructing my vision of the band. Luckily, I was able to move to a different part of the floor so I could enjoy the concert in a more comfortable fashion. But despite these trials, I was still able to appreciate the band's brilliant performance.