An Out-Of-This-World Starset, an Energetic Young Guns, and a Classic Rock Act from Breaking Benjamin at Jannus Live St. Petersburg
An Out-Of-This-World Starset, an Energetic Young Guns, and a Classic Rock Act from Breaking Benjamin at Jannus Live St. Petersburg
There are two things that will always be guaranteed during a Florida summer: blazing heat and constant rainy weather. Both of those elements were present for the crowd that showed up to see Breaking Benjamin’s sold-out show at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, FL, on August 26, 2015. From the moment that one walked in the venue, you would instantly notice three gigantic air conditioning hoses pointing towards the stage, obviously put in place to help the artists cool down in the near 100-degree weather. Fortunately, not even the extreme heat and rain played a factor in preventing the fans from enjoying the skillfully orchestrated show.
I must admit, I didn’t discover Breaking Benjamin until 2009, while I was serving a tour in Iraq, and a friend introduced me to their Phobia album. Although a latecomer in discovering the band, I instantly became a fan and spent the rest of my tour listening to their first three albums. Needless to say, I quickly fell in love with the band, and my desire to see them live quickly grew. Even though May 2015 brought with it my first opportunity to see this exceptional talent live, this second experience would be even more special because I would get to document the show. 
Starset, an electronic rock act from Colombus, OH, was the first band to take the stage. Every musician in the band, with the exception of the lead singer, wore a “lighted space suit” that helped enhance their sci-fi-themed sound on stage. I would describe their sound as a great mix between 30 Seconds to Mars and Angels & Airwaves. Starset was a last-minute addition to the lineup but still was well received by the early crowd. Their set was short but exciting enough to leave everyone wanting to see more outer space action. The second act to take the stage, Young Guns, is an English alternative rock band. Young Guns was highly energetic and fun to watch. Their lead singer remained extremely active throughout the show, which is something that the crowd really enjoyed.
Around 9:30 pm, as raindrops began to fall, Breaking Benjamin finally took the stage. By this time, the temperature had already dropped to 88 degrees, providing some relief to the already hot and sweaty crowd. The first couple of notes from “So Cold” were more than enough to get the crowd going. Shortly thereafter, the crowd euphorically exploded when Benjamin Burnley walked on stage. The set extended for 1-½ hours, providing an excellent mix of old hits, cover songs, and new material. Their latest singles such as “Failure” and “When Angels Fall” were very well received and accompanied loudly by the crowd. This should not be a huge surprise, considering their last album, Dark Before Dawn, debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, and it’s still in the top 100 after 9 weeks.
My favorite moment of the show happened as I was exiting the photo pit and Benjamin began to dedicate “Unknown Soldier” to everyone who has ever served in uniform and overseas. This moment had somewhat of a special meaning to me because when I first heard of this band, I was serving in Iraq, and now I was covering them; something I would have never imagined possible back when I first heard of them.
The setlist of about 20 songs was also adorned with extras such as a rendition of the “Imperial March” from Star Wars and a good share of cover songs from bands such as Queen, Tool, Nirvana and Pantera. Although these extras and covers are always welcome, I would have rather heard them play “Medicate” instead, which was absent from the setlist — minor personal complaint that I am willing to overlook since I got to hear other personal favorites like “So Cold,” “Follow,” “Angels Fall,” “Unknown Soldier,” “Breath,” “Failure,” “Polyamorous,” “Evil Angel,” “Until the End,” “I Will Not Bow” and “The Diary of Jane.” Benjamin’s vocals remained strong for the 1 ½-hour set, and the addition of the background vocals from some of the new band members was a great addition the band’s live sound. The band left the stage at 11:01pm and, thanks to the rain, the temperature was 81 degrees.
Breaking Benjamin, along with Young Guns and Starset, were able to deliver a solid show that was able to satisfy the hottest of crowds. If the opportunity presents itself, I would gladly go see any of these bands again.
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