Epica show last night proved why Amanda is the coach and Simone is the student!

[arnavut]

Last night show at the Masquerade, Amanda simply showed who is the teacher who is the student.

Amanda's mid range was more powerful, she flawlessly switched from mid to falsetto and back to mid , whereas Simone still has problems with live(most of the time it feels like she has a break in between). Amanda had more commitment to the songs when she was singing than Simone . (Opposite is also true interms of headbanging, Simone has the edge)

The same songs I listened to over years had more emotion and were more intense. Wow!

Simone is getting better every album every tour but, Amanda showed yesterday that Simone has still long way to go.

[Cheiron]

Well lets be honest about the situation. Simone was/is(?) Mark's girlfriend. Simone wasn't really a singer before the start of Epica (from what I've read). Simone is still learning, but she's very good. She'll get better, and as she does so will Epica both live and in the studio.

[VenomGA]

I didn;t think the vocalist last night was all that great and Epica's performance was NO WAY on par with their PP performance.

[ratanda]

Interesting, a friend of mine made similar comments about Simone's performance at PP: lacking power.

[Stevie WOnder]

Saw them in Quebec city last month and I agree that Amanda has got some pipes in every sense of the term...

Steve

[AMBR]

A lot of people who attended the NYC show were also singing Amanda's praises. This is no diss on Simone, but Amanda is clearly the total professional with worlds of talent and experience. Would like to see/hear a LOT more of her in some capacity after her stint with Epica is over and Simone returns.

[Empress]

I agree. Amanda is a total pro. Absolutely flawless performance. And the person above is right, Simone wasn't really a serious singer before Epica. She was Mark's girlfriend at the time, very cute and wanted to be in the band and sing like Tarja Turunen, so they had Amanda help her through the entire recording process of the first album and Simone took lessons after that with someone else. Anyway, I think Simone is very good and I agree, getting better every album, every tour.

But Amanda.. damn that woman can sing!!!

[GameFreac]

Yeah I'm not even a fan of Epica but last night they were great......way better live IMO

She sounded better than Simone from what I've heard so far

[Stingray11214]

Here is a better question:

Why is Amanda the teacher and Simone the frontwoman?

[BARfest]

Has anybody watched their DVD of the 2 Meter Sessies?? (Dutch TV) Simone is all of 19 or so, and this was just after the Phantom Agony album.. This is what really drew me to Simone. Her pitch has never been perfect, nor has her presence on stage ever been overwhelming, but there is an Xfactor to her voice which moves me beyond belief. I think Amanda by far is the superior singer now, but Simone has something that Amanda lacks-- Its like listening to Carreras vs. Pavarotti in their prime. Pavarotti has that beautiful tonal quality which cant be replicated--

I really hope that their next album is on-par. Their performance at ProgPower was one of my all-time favorites. Consign to Oblivion was incredible as well. Mark has a lot of the right ideas in his writing. The last album was a tad derivative in my opinion.

[AMBR]

Originally Posted by Stingray11214

Here is a better question:

Why is Amanda the teacher and Simone the frontwoman?

Simone is a beautiful performer with an exceptional voice and growing talent. I think she is perfect for Epica. Yet, it was just such a major treat to hear Amanda perform and I REALLY hope to see more of her in another band...SOON! Why is this exceptional singer and dynamic woman not performing regularly? She needs to be showcased with someone.