CONCERT REVIEW | BREAKING BENJAMIN & STAIND

On their co-headlining tour, rock heavyweights Staind and Breaking Benjamin joined forces for a night of brooding riffs and post-grunge catharsis on their Awaken the Fallen tour. While both bands brought the energy and familiar hits that fans came for, the sets were notably short, leaving the crowd wanting more just as the night hit its stride.

Staind took the stage first with a brooding, tight performance that showcased frontman Aaron Lewis’ unmistakable vocals, while Breaking Benjamin closed the evening with a polished, crowd-pleasing finale that reaffirmed their status as one of rock’s most consistent live acts. Despite the abbreviated run times, the show served up a potent dose of early-2000s rock nostalgia.

Flashback to the early 2000s: Staind taped an MTV in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lobby in front of an audience of 250 people. They were a hot ‘new’ band, having recently released their breakthrough album, ‘Breaking the Cycle,’ in 2001. The show was fantastic. Staind instantly became one of my favorite acts.

Breaking Benjamin was the second band that I interviewed in person. Frontman Ben Burley wasn’t a participant, but long-departed members Jeremy Hummel and Aaron Fink were gracious to this 20-year-old bozo, recording the interview on a microcassette recorder. I couldn’t believe the thrill of being on my first rockstar tour bus. I’ll never forget it. It sparked my love for music journalism. My tenure in the field aligns with that of both of these bands in the music industry.

I didn’t have either band holding hits spanning multi-decades, or have any inkling that the songs they played at these shows would still be rocking amphitheaters 20+ years later. Yet…here they both are…co-headlining a major tour of sheds, and absolutely thriving.

Staind lost the coin flip and preceded BB’s set. (Bright side: They get to leave the venue early!) Lewis & Co. opened their set with “Lowest in Me,” a solid choice to introduce themselves to the short-handed crowd at Blossom on this chilly Monday evening.

Lewis’ voice is unmistakable. The guitar playing of Mike Mushok (read our pre-show interview), which was stellar in 2001, has somehow managed to improve, joining the entertaining drummer, Sal Giancarelli, who took over behind the kit after the untimely departure of founding member Jon Wysocki.

Approximately halfway through the band’s 15-song set, they played “Wannabe,” a bitch slap to the band’s haters and doubters, who were mocked and criticized by a vindicated Lewis. His pre-song banter, noting, “they can’t do what I fucking do,” drew loud cheers mixed with laughter from the audience.

Staind played their most recognizable song, “Outside,” mid-set. The song rose to prominence on the 1999 Family Values Tour, a “really fucking long time ago,” according to Lewis. In the tour’s DVD, Lewis is joined on stage by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst (ew!), who, honestly, detracts from this great tune.

“I’m on the Outside / I’m looking in / I can see through you; see your true colors / inside your ugly; ugly like me…”

Those lyrics have helped the song to endure for more than 25 years.

While the tune played, footage from the Family Values Tour DVD was displayed on the large screen behind the band, evoking a nostalgic response in fans over the age of 35.

They wrapped things up with four bangers: “So Far Away,” “For You,” their second-biggest hit to date (and this writer’s personal Staind favorite), “It’s Been Awhile,” before bringing the pavilion roof down with “Mudshovel.”

Lewis, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump (ew!), left the stage saying, “God bless America.” Honestly, that’s fine! Folks come out to concerts to escape the madness and divisiveness of the world’s climate today, not to be preached to or hear the political views of their revered performers. But, c’mon, his comment was non-partisan and completely harmless. (Talking to you, guy in front of me in section 12!)

When the ending notes of “Mudshovel” echoed through the venue and the crowd roared in appreciation, Staind proved once again why they remain a powerful force in rock. Blending raw emotion with musical precision, the band delivered a nostalgic and refreshingly intense performance. Even the security guard in {location redacted to protect his or her identity} was smiling and mouthing every word, sneaking peeks at the stage frequently.

Breaking Benjamin closed out the night! The band took the stage quickly and started their 16-song show with “Failure.”

“Tired of feeling lost / Tired of letting go / Tear the whole world down” got the crowd amped up for the set ahead.

“I want to see you singing along. Every. Fucking. Word!” Burley exclaimed early on. The fans did as requested. (Including the aforementioned security guard.)

The band showcased its signature intensity as the show progressed, immersing the audience in a relentless wall of sound. The synergy between the musicians was undeniable—tight, deliberate, and emotionally charged. Their videos, which played on the screen behind an elevated platform, accessible by a staircase, were an incredible addition to the show.

Burley and friends powered through their set with minimal banter. They had limited time and needed to get 16 songs in before saying “goodnight.”

While playing their first hit song, “Polyamorous,” the band used the screen to display the album cover, track listing, and CD liner for their debut album, ‘Saturate,’ bringing a smile to this reviewer’s face. This CD was in my collection and got many spins in my 1997 Honda CR-V.

Other set highlights included “So Cold” (the 2004 smash single) and the second-to-last number, “I Will Not Bow.”

Like Staind’s set, there was no encore.

The show closed with “Diary of Jane,” a favorite of mine and, evidently, most of the folks in attendance. The show was short(ish), leaving the audience wanting more. That being said, it’s Monday night. It’s unseasonably cold. We need to go home!

The songs were a trip down memory lane for us over 30, and they are probably brand new to teenagers or children of longtime fans who might be attending their very first concert. The songs are equally good for both demographics. That’s the power of music and the timelessness of both acts.

The longevity of both bands’ careers is impressive. I’m unsure if they’ll be around 25 years from now, but I’ll have my AARP card by then. Unless they do an acoustic tour of nursing homes, I’ll probably miss out.

This was a great start to Blossom Music Center’s concert season, a refreshing change from a burned-out classic rock band or wannabe country music star.