by photojournalist Ryan Marchese
Monday night MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre was home to some juggernauts of heavy rock as Breaking Benjamin’s fall tour rolled into town. Bringing together a multi-generational lineup of alt metal titans, the evening offered thousands of packed-in fans three distinctly powerful performances under one [metaphorical] massive roof. I unfortunately was unable to catch Kami Kehoe due to the timing, so Starset kicked off my night. Starset enveloped the venue into a sci-fi spectacle, seamlessly paving the way for Chevelle to deliver a masterclass in untamed, relentless rock. By the time Breaking Ben took the stage to close out the night with nostalgic anthems, the crowd had united in a venue-wide choir.
This was my first time catching Starset live and it was a cinematic experience. They brought an elaborate stage setup featuring screened barriers, light strips, and intricate costumes. With the addition of the stage lighting and heavy fog, it created a moody, ethereal atmosphere which transformed the stage into an immersive science fiction landscape. The drummer and keyboardist were perched atop the barriers on either side of the stage, while guitarists patrolled the wings below them, outside of the string musicians. All performers wore futuristic, cyberpunk outfits complete with led lighting throughout and helmets that created anonymity on the stage. At center stage, a cloaked figure [Dustin Bates] stood enshrouded by dark, tattered robes, donning a mask and crown. I absolutely loved the beautifully morose aesthetic they brought to the stage for this tour. The blending of heavy rock with live violin and cello performances added another layer to this already captivating performance that grabbed the attention of everyone from the pit to the lawn. Despite the shortened performance as a supporting act, it was packed full of energy and expertly executed like a well-oiled machine, leaving the crowd craving more.
Chevelle delivered a raw, powerhouse of a performance when they took the stage. Stripping away any unnecessary arena set pieces, the commanding presence they brought was more than enough to keep the crowd’s attention. The Loeffler brothers and Kemble Walters proved why they remain one of the most consistently formidable bands in live rock to an audience that seemed impossibly large for a 3-piece. Kemble took a moment of time from his almost constant headbanging to ask the crowd to wish a happy birthday to front man Pete Loeffler, which he graciously thanked the crowd for. Pete’s vocals seamlessly transitioned from haunting melodies to throat-shredding screams, while his signature guitar riffs were accompanied by a percussive drive and heavy basslines in the high-energy set. Chevelle’s set included a pretty well-rounded mix of their discography. “Pale Horse” and “Jim Jones” were featured off of their latest album Bright as Blasphemy, but “Self-Destructor” and “Mars Simula” were the standout tracks in their set for me. It was no surprise, however, that “Send the Pain Below” and “The Red” received the biggest response, summoning the crowd to rise from their seats and throw up heavy metal horns.
When the stage screen lit up for Breaking Benjamin, the crowd erupted. A video depicted Windows XP booting up and the user opening Limewire [which received cheers and laughter] followed by downloading and playing “I Will Not Bow” before it crashed the computer and the band opened their set. The packed crowd ate up the nostalgia and the performance that followed. Breaking Ben’s live delivery was tight and full of the heavy, aggressive guitar riffs they’ve become known for throughout their career. Their set didn’t change much from the last time I saw them, but you won’t hear any complaints from me since it’s filled with absolute bangers. “Blow Me Away” featured Halo 2 gameplay on the screens, which had fans geeking out. Hearing the crowd at MIDFLORIDA sing along to “Red Cold River” was easily a highlight of the night. The only track to surpass that energy was the finale, “Diary of Jane,” which had thousands of voices echoing together into Tampa’s crisp night air.
