BREAKING BENJAMIN / CHEVELLE/ STARSET/ KAMI KEHOE – LIVE
By Ralph Beauchamp
Breaking Benjamin brings their fall tour to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater with Chevelle, Starset and Kami Kehoe for support.
Tonight’s musical journey started with a bang. Kami Kehoe was the first act up and immediately there was a charge in the air. Kehoe started the evening off behind the drum kit. She is actually a powerful drummer and it was surprising to see her hitting the skins right out of the box. Her first song out was “PSYCHO” and the audience instantly felt the excitement.
Kami Kehoe is an extremely strong performer. She easily captures the crowd’s attention. Kehoe has swagger and she knows how to use it to her advantage. Her nine song set was forceful. “FADE OUT”, “UR Gone” and “THE END” were surely fan favorites. She ended with authority. “SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD” and her hit, “DOPAMINE” slayed. Kehoe will be a major talent in the very near future.
Starset was next. Starset is an American rock band from Columbus, Ohio, formed by Dustin Bates (Lead Vocals/Keys) in 2013. The band is a large ensemble that merges hard rock and metal with classical inflections. The rest of the band includes Ron DeChant (Bass/Keys/Backing Vocals), Brock Richards (Guitars/Backing Vocals}, Cory Juba (Guitars/Synths) and Adam Gilbert (Drums). In addition the string section is composed of Zuzana Engererova (Cello) and Siobhán Richards (Violin/Keyboards).
Starset had a wild stage setup with the band playing on different levels. Besides Bates, the musicians were garbed in space suits and masks with neon trim. For the first two songs which were “paradoxic” and “Carnivore”, Bates initially sang in costume in a box situated in the center of the dais. By the third track, “Brave New World”, Bates covered the stage sans the unusual attire.
“Monster” and “Silos” followed and Starset had the audience feeling exultant. New song, “anih1lat10n” riled the house even further. “TokSik” and “My Demons” ended the set. I totally enjoyed their performance. It had flair and panache. Their songs really filled the Amp with orchestral delights and detonating rhythms. The entire venue seemed to feel the fever because Starset got a rousing applause when they finished.
Chevelle was the third band up. Chevelle is composed of brothers Pete Loeffler (Lead Vocals/Guitar) and Sam Loeffler (Drums) with touring member Kemble Walters (Bass). Their sound unites hard rock and metal with heavy accents in order to create a very singular sound. The group’s stage demeanor is similar to their music; stoic, straightforward and dynamic. Every song hit with potent weight.
They opened with “Family System” and from the first note, the house was mesmerized. “Self Destructor” ran into “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)”, “Pale Horse” and “Face to the Floor” which had the congregation inflamed. The twelve song set was utterly infectious. Chevelle continued the onslaught with “Send The Pain Below” and “Comfortable Liar”. By the time they played “The Red” and “Mars Simula”, everyone was in sonic rapture. Chevelle simply destroyed.
Tonight’s headliner was the impressive Breaking Benjamin. The band’s blends nu-metal, hard rock with melodic overtones in order to devise a soundscape that is full of vitality and spirit.
This evening, lead vocalist and guitarist, Benjamin Burnley was a accomplished frontman. His vocals had depth and cinematic density. In addition, Jason Rauch on lead guitar delivered aural detonations while guitarist Keith Wallen was superb. Bassist Aaron Bruch dropped grooves that were commanding. Touring drummer, Brian Medeiros punched with determination. The entire band was on fire.
As soon as the first refrains of “I Will Not Bow” hit the AMP, the throng went ballistic. This was the act that the majority of the crowd came to see. Every person was singing along with fists in the air. Breaking Benjamin served up a muscular eighteen song set. The band commanded the stage with conviction. Breaking Benjamin knows how the arouse the anoited.
The middle of the program was solid. “Blow Me Away”, “Angels Fall” and “You” kept the assault ongoing. “So Cold” led into a awesome rendition of “Polyamorous” and a flawless “Dear Agony”. In addition, “Something Wicked”, “Breath” and “Awaken” kept the audience enthralled. Breaking Benjamin finished with a flourish. “Failure” and “Dance with the Devil” had the Amphitheater in ecstasy. The last song was their huge hit, “The Diary of Jane” which left the crowd completely spent.
The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater hosted an amazing night of hard-hitting music. Every band performed impeccably and with clout. The entire night was full of fireworks and excitement. In addition, the weather held out making the evening an utter success.
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