Breaking Benjamin Heats Up A Chilly Night At Mystic Lake Amp!
First time shooting at the amp, but not my first show, was a bit more anxious than normal. New things are always a bit unnerving, so many variables unaccounted for. Hiccups un-uttered, chaos not yet unleashed. Well, that's what my anxious brain thinks at least. Means you are excited to do something, or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Made my way down to Shakopee a bit early to score free parking in their main lot, snagged a spot a stone’s throw away from the box office. Sweeeeet. Popped my trunk and ate my Kwiktrip cheeseburger in the fresh autumn breeze. You could feel the fall in the air, happy my outfit at every show involves a giant black hoodie. Plenty of folks coming in with Breaking Benjamin tour tees from yesteryear, a few cute gothy fits, and plenty of eager smiles for the night ahead.
Kami Kehoe is starting to blow up, and now I get why. This 23 year old isn’t shy or coy when on stage. Going from drums to vocals with ease, this Las Vegas musician is going to be a superstar. Thick-soled curbstomper boots, a understated but trendy look, and electric eyes that stare directly into your soul. Though there were a few filters on her voice, or at least some sort of processor/manipulation, it makes sense for the style of alternative rock she performs. “Love when a singer can also play music” was overheard from a newly adopted fan of Kami Kehoe’s while walking around during the last part of her set. Not necessarily in my typical playlist, could see a few songs of her becoming part of my ever-growing listening wheelhouse. The only (unmasked) female on stage the entire evening, happy she was chosen to crack open the show.
Oh wow, have you got to see Starset live.
Dripping with lore, epic costumes, lights and fog, the helmeted musicians began the set decked out in slick futuristic looks. Keeping the anonymity but never losing the plot, even with more than a half dozen members on stage, flowed and rotated like a lubricated glockenspiel their entire set. Everywhere your eyes are treated to a feast of science fiction fantasy. Red glowing LED under their visors highlighted the musicians mouths but that’s pretty much it for being able to distinguish between members other than the number on their helmet (well, I guess you also could see the gals’ knees, but not sure if there is any recognition software for those just yet.) Lead singer Dustin Bates adorned a spooky black demon look for the first few songs before peeling it off for the remaining tunes. Ya made a new fan out of me, Starset. Badass blend of electronic and rock with some industrial notes just to keep it spicy? Yes, please.
Saw Chevelle a decade or two back, so was overdue to witness a live performance by them (shout-out to Taste Of Minnesota, which is where I saw them last.) Opening up with “Family System,” audience was hooked right away. Lead singer Pete Loeffler still has the sultry growly pipes he always has, sounded great. Their tone was classic rock, but what else would you want? Making sure to spice it up a bit and run around a bit on stage to keep our eyes dancing between members. Mystic Lake Amp has some sweet lights, perfectly paired for a band like this. I honestly forget how many songs I knew by them, every other jam was like “oh dang, this one is their’s?” So easy to nod along and just enjoy some sweet tunes. Drummer Sam Loeffler was on point with his energy and of course keeping everyone on track. Will definitely not be missing Chevelle next time they are in town, a fricken blast to see on a big stage.
Breaking Benjamin has been eluding me for years, or maybe I have been eluding them? Well, either way, was hella stoked to see them on stage. Everyone I was talking to, including staff and fellow photographers, touting how sweet they are live. Now I do love when a band just explodes on stage and dives right into their opening track, but thye boys of Breaking Benjamin did something a little different this time around.
The millennials in the audience, myself included, laughed at the start screen of Windows 40 feet tall in front of us on stage, circa 2000-something. A phantom user looking for downloads via Limewire, an old music downloading/torrent platform that I may or may not have downloaded hundreds of gigs from back in the day. The words “I Will Not Bow” were searched, then the page corrupted and glitched out. Right as that happened, the band took to the stage and blasted into the tune live. A few songs in, “Evil Angel” was strummed, one of my personal favs by them. The members were mostly shrouded in deep blue and purple light, backlit to present them as anonymous silhouettes versus individuals. I love the mood it set, but it was slightly difficult to photograph. Love me a challenge. I turned behind me to check out the ampitheater to an ocean of people soaking up the notes. Epic to see the amp vibrating with so many happy folks. Other than the very entertaining theatrics, they sounded fabulous. Can see why I saw so many tour shirts in the crowd, glittering years from the past two decades plus of performing. They have die-hard fans for a reason, and make sure they show up for them. Not only literally, but musically. Easily able to mail it in if they wanted to, like so many bands with a permanent base of people willing to pay for their shows. Sorry to say, haters out there.
They rocked.
