By: Michael Demyan
“You’re not good enough,” Piers Morgan said.
“I don’t think what you’re doing right now is enough to fill a theater in Vegas,” said Sharon Osbourne.
It’s been a less-than-traditional road to stardom for Lindsey Stirling. After starting out on YouTube and gaining an incredible following thanks to her unique covers and original music, Stirling auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2010 and made it all the way to the quarterfinals before receiving some very harsh words from the judges.
But she proved them long. Just four years later, her album “Shatter Me” debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.
And after watching her at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., it seems pretty obvious that she can fill a theater.
Stirling doesn’t simply play the violin. She puts on an incredible show and makes it look effortless, even if she did recently post a video on her Instagram wagering who on her team of performers was going to sweat the most on stage.
Every song was beautiful to the ears and simultaneously a feast for the eyes as there was constantly something incredible to watch – whether it’s dancing, props, lights, or a combination of the three.
At one point she invited the audience to close their eyes and just listen to the music for a particular song as a way to relax and take it in. But I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, as I feel like I’d be missing something mesmerizing on stage. And while that song probably had the least amount of theatrics, it was still enjoyable to watch.
Beyond the great music, Stirling also spent a lot of time chatting with and confiding in the crowd – even playing happy birthday for some of the fans who were there to celebrate.
“There are great crowds in Florida,” she said. “You guys know how to have a great time.”
When she introduced her final song as the last one, I immediately felt disappointed to see it come to an end, but it was quite the way to finish a show. She brought out Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off the Earth and performed a crowd-pleasing song inspired by the end of her last relationship – a song she quickly finished right before the release of her latest album.
As someone who has followed Lindsey Stirling since the beginning of her career and scoffed at the judges’ remarks in 2010, I can confidently say that yes, she is good enough.
The Duality Tour continues across the U.S. through September 11 and some upcoming bands and artists performing at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood include Def Leppard, Maren Morris, and Bush.
