It didn’t take much to talk me into checking out Breaking Benjamin’s 2023 tour stop in Michigan at Van Andel Arena. Ticket prices weren’t horrific and the top row of the arena wasn’t even open for seating. So it was essentially a small arena tour. My close friend, Leslie, was itching for an activity and her husband was going to watch the kids for the evening, so I packed string cheese, and a few car ride snacks, and we set off to see our old broken pal after work.
The first stop on this Tuesday evening was tackling dinner so we slid into the Grand Rapids Brewing Company for a Totally Roasted & BLUish Gold Cider to wash down our food smorgasbord. I can still taste the Street Corn Nachos with beer cheese and fresh toppings. We also split Caritas Street tacos with pineapple salsa, beer braised pork, and mango habanero ranch. Plus a “That’s Shroomy Baby” pizza with goat cheese, pork caritas and balsamic glaze because there is nothing like a large, strange mixture of foods before hitting a rock show. It was all delicious. I want to revisit for the Pear & Grape pizza or PB&J Burger with a side of Super Dank Fries. A concert evening didn’t seem like the time to be combining questionable flavor combinations. Anyways, the food log is more for me than you. But I’ll paragraph break here so you can get a snack before continuing….
Formed in 1999 by Benjamin Burnley in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, the group released four albums from 2002-2009 and despite a few rotating band members, they saw tremendous success in a post-90’s alternative rock scene with bands like Staind, Three Days Grace, Evanescence, Flyleaf, Red, Hinder, Seether, Shinedown, Godsmack, and many more that fill nostalgic 2000’s playlist and occasionally still-touring arenas. The band took a break in 2010 due to Ben’s illness-related phobia issues that his songs and album concepts are centered around. Oh, and because he essentially dropped the entire band over a recording dispute that involved a healthy dollar amount. Who was right and wrong can be debated. The lead singer pulled an entirely new group together around him for two new album releases in 2015 and 2018 to mixed reception.
Leslie and I have seen Breaking Benjamin together at least three times previously, dating back 15 years. My memory is fuzzy at this point, but I traced old records to a 10/11/07 concert date at the since closed Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids as the first time I saw the (original) crew. Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin co-headlined after big 2006 releases “One X” and “Phobia”. Their second and third album releases respectively and the best-selling albums for each artist.
I spend my teens ripping through albums of all genres I could get my hands on. Both downloading music and copying CDs from my local library. At some point, I added Breaking Benjamin’s albums to my collection. It took a while for them to join bands in like Staind, Evanescence, and Linkin Park in regular rotation when looking for moody, emotional, “alternative” rock. Many bands either had better vocalists, greater range in song style or more depth to their musical production. The group started to grow on me and my friend’s interest in the group encouraged me to take the discography for another spin
Breaking Benjamin was exploding after “Phobia” their 2006 release and 3rd album. Selling over 4 million copies, it’s the best-selling album in BBs discography and home of “Diary of Jane”. The track would go double-platinum in 2015 and push album numbers in the expiring years of a CD selling time. Physical album sales had declined four consecutive years and would fall another 40% by the time either group released their next album. Sloppy file sharing services (LimeWire, Napster) eventually gave way to consistent steaming and purchasing services like Pandora (05), Spotify (06), Apple music store (07) and Amazon Music (07) for an easier listening experience and a re-think for how to evaluate album sales.
Three Days Grace released their second album “One X” in 2006. It was their best-selling album as well and multiple times platinum selling over 6 million copies. Lead singer Adam Gontier would crush live vocals and controlled screams would resonate in tracks like “Riot” and “Never Too Late”. It was arguably peak time to see both groups. Gontier left the group in 2013 and was replaced by “My Darkest Days” Matt Walst. Brother to 3 Days bassest Brad Walst. I went with a fiend-work crowd at the time. Not to be consumed with a work-fiend crowd. Clearly, I’m friends with some people still years later and I don’t work with them. I think I met my future college girlfriend the first time at the show though Leslie, my mutual 4-timer BB attendee. I’m sure it was an awesome time. I bought a blurred misprint tour shirt for half-price in the parking lot waiting in line to leave. Like a pro. Why pay full price when you can get twice the band graphics for half? Crushed it. Still have the shirt.
Puddle of Mudd appeared on earlier legs of the tour promoting album #3 “Famous” (07) with singles “Famous”, “Psycho”, and “We Don’t Have to Look Back Now” racking up plays. No album put up numbers anywhere their debut “Come Clean” (01) that is certified 3x platinum and headlined by 2000’s anthem “Blurry”, but the album is considered by many to be their second-best project.
Seether opened the show and I’m a huge Shaun Morgan fan. I got in on the “Broken” floor like most folks in 2004 when the single featuring Evanescence singer Amy Lee (and Shaun’s girlfriend at the time) played an angelic complement to his gruff vocals on the track. The music video is memorable, the single went platinum and so did “Disclaimer II” (04) where the song appeared. The song was originally an acoustic release with solo vocals on Seether’s debut “Disclaimer” (02) album but was one of many tracks to get re-worked in rereleasing the project to double the album sales (over 1 million). Evanescence released their debut “Fallen” in 2003 and the group quickly rose to superstar status with “Bring Me to Life”. The album went diamond (10 mill) and sold over 17 million copies. For historical context, as of 2023, only 92 albums have ever gone diamond Fewer than 30 albums are attributed by women, putting Amy Lee among royalty such as Shania Twain (Come on Over, The Woman In Me & Up), Adele (21 & 25), Alanis Morrissett (Jagged Little Pill), Whitney Houston (Whitney Houston), The Dixie Chicks (Wide Open Spaces & Fly), and Britney Spears (…Baby One More Time). At the time of the 07 show, Seether just released the single “Fake it” from their third album “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces”. It was the only track performed from the album according to old set lists, the album would be released months later in October 2007. No problem for me. “Disclaimer II” will always be in my rotation and their set was most songs from that album. I saw Seether perform multiple times in the 2000’s and they always had little creepy dolls on the microphone stands. As a horror fan I thought it was cool. I remember Shaun’s vocal performances always sounded as you would expect.
I can’t remember the second time I saw BB. It might have been at The Palace of Auburn Hills March of ‘08 with Three Days Grace and Seether again. Possibly, 2010 for the “Life Starts Now” tour co-headlining and promoting Three Days Grace new album with Flyleaf opening. I have a vague memory of missing part of Flyleaf’s set which would have been devastating. I’m 99% sure we saw BB with Three Day Grace multiple times. It’s kind of a blur. They toured often and so did I more or less. Hitting shows for Staind, Flyleaf, Story of the Year, New Found Glory, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Zedd, T.I., pre-mega famous Machine Gun Kelly, Chris Brown, Motion City Sound Track, Rob Zombie, Demi Lovato, Drake, Backstreet Boys….Riff Raff. I think Tim Mcgraw? So many. I’ve tried to keep better records the past couple years. I do remember seeing Flyleaf and front-woman Lacy Sturm (replaced by Kristen May 2012-16, Sturm returned in 2022) at the Orbit room in Grand Rapids October 2010. Story of the Year was the co-headliner for the mid-sized tour and it seemed like an odd pairing but the groups were promoting “Memento Mori” (09) and ‘“The Black Swan” (08) respectively. SOTY’s set I admittedly don’t remember, but Lacy Sturm’s voice is one you don’t forget.
Leslie and I went to see Breaking Benjamin “Unplugged” at the Fillmore theater in Detroit for the third (possibly fourth?) time November 2017. We stood on the floor in front of the band with seats behind and above us for a somewhat intimate setting of songs discussing trials and torments. No openers or crazy mosh pit. Just a vibe similar to a college hangout where two guys are strumming guitars, singing in the middle of a room while the rest of party is half-admires and half people just happy there. You know, then one guy is a little too intoxicated and starts being disruptive and rambling on about something that draws the attention of everyone in the room. Well, it was Ben in this case. The lead singer of the band who started to ramble with 2-3 songs left in the show. The setup was meant to be expressive and allows more talking than usual between tracks in a laid back setting, but he went on an extended discussion with himself that made the audience restless and confused. Ben has admitted to complications from excessive drinking previously and it’s possible this was related. From what I can tell, they acoustic shows are part of the tour on a regular basis and give room for more space and personality since, you know, you can actually HEAR everything the bad is doing and saying. This is fun, different, and allows you to feel closer to the band. It certainly did that evening. I would go again to an Unplugged show assuming I wouldn’t quite see an off-the rails closing again, it was certainly memorable. Ben does have a fun sense of humor both during this show and in reviewing other acoustic show. “Dark Before Dawn” (2015) was the groups fifth album release and the group ripped off four tracks from the new album.
Setlist-Breaking Benjamin “Unplugged” 11/17, Fillmore Theater-Detroit
1. So Cold (We are Not Alone)
2. Angles Fall (Dark Before Dawn)
3. Sooner or Later (We are Not Alone)
4. Blow Me Away (So Cold EP)
5. Follow (We are Not Alone)
6. Simple Design (We Are Not Alone)
7. Ashes of Eden (Dark Before Dawn)
8. Never Again (Dark Before Dawn)
9. Failure (Dark Before Dawn)
10. Breath (Phobia)
11. Face in the Light (Keith Wallen Cover)
12. Down in a Hole (Alice in Chains Cover)
13. Polyamorous (Saturate)
14. Until the End (Phobia)
15. I Will Not Bow (Dear Agony)
16. The Diary of Jane (Phobia)
Closing with “Diary of Jane” will probably be the legacy of BB until the end of days. I would have woven more of the older hits in with the new, but overall it was a unique and enjoyable experience. Feeling like you’re hanging out with the band for a stripped down experience allows for a different soundscape. A more casual feel with no openers and Ben chatting between tracks rather than fighting for space over arena speakers provided a more inviting environment and friendlier “sing-along” feel since most attendees know the song lyrics.
That brings us to the current 2023 show. The tour didn’t have a name, which is perhaps a sign that you’re now touring just to tour. Not to promote a new project. There is nothing wrong with that. Reports have surfaced that the group is writing a new album but they didn’t play any new music during the show. Bush had just begun their set when we walked in with “Quicksilver” crashing over the speakers. Concert goer next to us inform us that lead singer Gavin Rossdale had just walked up our isle before hitting the stage, briefly making me regret spending so much time lingering on our nacho dinner. I’m not as familiar with Bush’s discography, but “Heavy is the Ocean” stuck out to me as an enjoyable live track. With booming vocals and reverb, the sound really works in the arena. “Glycerine” was performed by Rossdale solo allowing the crowd to sing along. Speaking of the crowd, perhaps our 2000’s bands are starting to show their age in their fans. There was no moshing, jumping, extensive head banging, or any other kind of aggressive verb that could be used to describe how you would rock out to music shown by fellow concern goers. I’m not sure I saw many folks in the mid-sized (and partially closed) arena under the age of 30. Which makes sense, considering the height of popularity for BB was 15 years ago. I guess it brought me to the realization that BB and some of their contemporaries of the 2000’s might not acquire many new fans anymore. Even if they continue to release new must. Lead singer Gavin Rossadle deployed what I can only call a “hot girl” shimmy while performing. A comical full body wiggles that looks like a snake sidewinding upright. I’ll keep that dance move in my bag for later. After Bush concluded, we have a 20 minute break before Breaking Benjamin hit the stage.
One thing that needs updating after decades of concert going is the accessibility to merch tables. Long lines guarantees you’re sacrificing music and the concert experience in order to wait in line for your purchase (which is probably why I ended up with a faulty parking lot purchased t-shirt in 2008 but I digress). Leslie and I took a pass and she decided to order a tour shirt online rather than risk missing BB’s opening track due to the lines.
After a lap around the area to stretch the legs, we returned to our sideways-stage facing lower-bowl seats in time. BB dropped the curtain blocking the stage view, reviling basically the same stage that Bush just vacated. BB’s signature insignia displayed to the left and right of the stage, which stayed mostly dark during the evening as the gang open up to “Blow me Away”.
The setlist didn’t include any songs from their last two albums.
Setlist-Breaking Benjamin 5/16/23-Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
1. Blow me Away (So Cold EP)
2. Follow (We Are Not Alone)
3. Angels Fall (Dark Before Dawn)
4. Sooner or Later (We Are Not Alone)
5. So Cold (So Cold EP)
6. Failure (Dark Before Dawn)
7. Until the End (Phobia)
8. Dance With the Devil (Phobia)
9. Breath (Phobia)
10. Give Me a Sign (Dear Agony)
11. Breakdown (We Are Not Alone)
12. Polyamorous (Saturate)
Drum Solo
13. Evil Angel (Phobia)
14. I Will Not Bow (Dear Agony)
15. The Diary of Jane (Phobia)
Again, it could have just been a purposeful choice, but if songs from more recent albums were performing better they would have made the set list right? During an earlier leg of the tour, a couple different songs were swapped in the list including “Red Cold River” from the 2018 album “Ember” but it’s since been rotated out. No tracks during recent shows have any music released post-2009.
I’m not complaining. I’m the target audience. Appreciating the nostalgia associated with early albums more than the new, but it does beg the question on whether or not new BB music will continue to tour well. Perhaps BB and other bands of their time period and ilk are this current periods Guns N Rose or . “Dark Before Dawn” gold and charted well when the new group around Ben returned in 2015. But with three Platinum selling albums already in hand, it was the lowest selling album since their “Saturate” debut. The album became gold certified mid-2016. Estimates for 2018’s “Ember” suggest the album did half the numbers “Dark” did.
Suffering though PTSD from the 2017 performance, Leslie and I were concerned when Ben stated the group was sick and could have cancelled the show during his opening audience address following the completion of “Blow me Away”. “Soooo a couple of the guys and I have been sickie poo” displayed Ben’s humor addressing the area filled at 90% capacity (of the seats that were sold, keep in mind upper level wasn’t open) as he pleaded for crowd assistance during the show. The live vocals didn’t sounded strong throughout, but Ben did rely on more audience participation for chorus lines more than ideal. Video recordings reflect vocals that were much worse surprisingly, but I’ll retain good memories. “Sooner or Later”, “Until the End”. And “Breakdown” were three of the more standout tracks for me personally. The crowd that wasn’t on the floor in standing room only, stood for a majority of the show and sang along the hits.
Bush’s Gavin Rossdale assisted with vocals on a couple tracks towards the end of the set list. It gave Ben’s vocal cords a rest but it is somewhat disappointing for the lead vocalist to turn a song over to someone that isn’t a superior vocalist.
I’m not a fan of drum or guitar solos in live performances. If it’s an alternative to dead space for the band to take a breather or the musician is known for their skill than it’s understandable. Breaking Benjamin’s set had a drum performance by, who I assume is, current drummer Shaun Foist. BB has added additional touring drummers in the past and Foist wasn’t on the original records for most of the music being performed. It allows for a pee break before hitting the home stretch. Closing with three memorable songs, culminating with “Diary” wrapped a decent performance and fun evening out.
Leaving the arena was easy considing it was only partially full. Although we swung back past the brewery to grab our left overs that our server promised she’d put aside for us to pick up post-concert (we did order half the menu after all) it was locked up for the night and didn’t allow for re-entry. Alas, we’d have to settle for string cheese on the way home.
Despite the criticisms, sick singer, no new music, the bland no-name, no built-out stage tour, the experience was engaging. The songs are nostalgic for those of a certain age and influential for current rock groups and vocalists who’ve found influence in Benjamin Burnley’s writing, recovery, and rebuilding of the group.
It’ll be interesting to see how BB’s new album will be receive when it’s released and if a larger tour will be scheduled. It’s certainly possible that certain 2000’s bands of their flavor will continue to build directly out of the folks that have followed them for almost 20 years. For now, we’re still here.
