CALGARY -

When Evanescence hit the stage at the Saddledome last night one thing was clear -- this band has had its share of heartache.

They've lost members, been embroiled in a lengthy lawsuit and survived a year of sadness while watching one of their own recover from a stroke.

For most bands all that would mean the end.

For Evanescence, the nu metal rockers from Arkansas, it's simply something to draw upon for inspiration.

In fact, all the drama may have saved the band from becoming just another bunch of formerly angry youths who found success and have no pain left to wallow in.

Taking the stage dressed in black lace-up combat boots and a multicoloured tutu, singer Amy Lee instantly stole all attention away from her bandmates, who seemed more than content to let her shine.

She showcased her incredible vocal range through openers Sweet Sacrifice and Weight of the World, setting the tone for the evening -- energized rocking and mostly familiar.

Old favourites from the band's debut Fallen were obviously what the roughly 9,000 fans came for.

But even when Lee broke into lesser-known numbers from the new CD The Open Door her skills as a performer and songwriter were appreciated, the crowd responding with occasional howls and seat-cheers.

And while the band's charismatic frontwoman threw in plenty of drama-filled fist-pumps and hair-flips, she presented herself first and foremost as a musician, with her instrumental talent as central to the concert as her singing.

After taking a seat behind a baby grand piano shortly into the 80-minute set, Lee gave two inspired performances of Lithium and Good Enough as flakes of fake snow fell from the ceiling of the 'Dome.

She creatively incorporated some movements within the limited confines of her piano bench and surrounding area but never to the point of distraction.

Putting her alleged goth-rocker anger aside (it's hard to believe a woman who beamed as she announced her engagement on MuchMusic a week ago is truly angst-ridden), Lee showed her vulnerability in the early highlight of the night.

Evanescence guitarist and Lee's songwriting partner Terry Balsamo, who suffered a stroke in 2005, proved to be a survivor, never letting on for a moment he was having any difficulty, if indeed that was the case.

And while the band has lost two of its founding members since its tour for Fallen -- guitarist Ben Moody and bassist Will Boyd -- the current lineup was tight.

But at times there was the painful over-amplification, so characteristic of most concerts, which implied there might be something lacking in the songs themselves.

Earlier in the evening, American metal band Stone Sour, led by frontman Corey Taylor, delivered a noteworthy performance of hard rock and soft ballads,

The most memorable from their short set was the acoustic Bother and the chart-topper Through Glass.