Lindsey Stirling Treats Fans at Dolby Theatre to a Night of Her ‘Brave Enough’ Tour

Harriet Kaplan

Lindsey Stirling brought her wide-ranging repertoire to the Dolby Theatre stop of her “Brave Enough” tour: classical, electronic, dubstep, country and Celtic. It was a special night for the Arizona singer, as she noted, because her friends and family were in the audience at the Hollywood & Highland auditorium.

The YouTube star and former contestant on “America’s Got Talent” was accompanied by four dancers, a drummer and keyboardist as she powered through “Arena,” “Shatter Me” and “Brave Enough,” among other fan favorites. Vocal sensation, ZZ Ward, made a guest appearance on “Hold My Heart.”

The show featured remarkable costuming, creative lighting and exciting stage designs, making best use of the Dolby’s space that was famously customized for Cirque du Soleil’s residency there. “It was the best night of the tour,” the singer-violinist-dancer-aerialist gushed at one point.

She also played a new piece, one that carries some poignancy. Introducing “Gavi’s Song,” Stirling spoke tearfully about missing her best friend and keyboardist Jason Gaviati, a bandmate who died of lymphoma a year ago as she was working on “Brave Enough,” her third album. She noted that he was “full of light” and “brave of heart.”

But there was also a light side to the night, as she evoked her past setbacks in the music industry, including her “America’s Got Talent” ordeal, when she was and told her music “sounded like rats being strangled.” Sharon Osbourne told her that she didn’t have what it takes to fill a hall. But in fact, the Dolby was packed and the show was indeed a sellout.

And it didn’t seem anyone thought she sounded like rats being strangled, either. Stirling devotees were in high spirits, cheering, clutching one another when they heard a favorite song, yelling: “We love you Lindsey!”

The pacing of the show was a little off, though; Stirling opened the concert with a series of high-energy numbers and the accumulated impact threatened to become overwhelming. She connected with the audience better once she slowed things down and chatted with the audience between pieces. And while the music was powerful throughout, sometimes the visuals were so elaborate that they detracted from the sounds.

Lindsey Stirling played the Dolby Theater on Nov. 10.