There are bands that one likes for more reasons than just music. The first time I heard a Breaking Benjamin song, it grabbed me  and I couldn’t tell you why. It grabbed me enough that I started doing research into the band. If nothing else, I wanted to see them live. I was sad when I found out they weren’t touring and might never tour again, because the lead singer was sick. One article I read made me think that Ben Burnley had disabled himself drinking (I want to kick that writer in the shins).

     In 2015, I started hearing news about them again. They were coming out with a new album and would be touring. I did more research. Turns out, Ben had quit drinking just before writing their previous album, Dear Agony, and had a chronic pain condition. Synchronicity! I quit drinking a number of years ago AND I have a chronic pain disorder. Human nature makes people like people they can identify with, so naturally I liked them more. Also, my research showed that Ben is a giant geek – video games, comic books, Star Wars… My people!

     Their new tour wasn’t bringing them to LA, sadly. But their Vegas show was with two other bands that I really like, Shinedown and Nothing More, and I could get away, so we bought tickets and went to Vegas for a few days.

     It was an amazing show.

     In 2016, they were touring with Disturbed and Saint Asonia (who I have been really wanting to see), but again, not coming to LA. We drove to Concord, which is inland from Oakland. Great show, although it looked like Ben was tired and in pain. The trip was a pain in the ass, though, because we had turn right right around to come home.

     So when I saw that they were going to be headlining a show less than a day’s drive from my home, I was in. Riverside is still 2.5 hours away in daytime traffic, but it’s a new-to-me venue, and I don’t have to choose between getting a hotel or figuratively killing myself trying to get home. On the downside, it was an early show, and midweek. Also, Batman booked work at the last minute, so I was flying solo. But I got a seat (!!) (the venue is GA) right behind the sound board. Note: I will amusingly be referring to the seats as the Old People Section, because, well, that’s who likes sitting at NuMetal shows. Bonus: I could take photos of the boards for Batman. He likes that. I toyed with the idea of elbowing my way up to the front, but the chronic pain condition makes that a terrible idea. Old People Section it is!

     RED was opening for them, and while they’re very high energy, I wasn’t a big fan of the lead singer’s voice. This could have been the sound board mix, I’m not sure. They also play a bit too much to track, for my taste.

     Breaking Benjamin were amazing. The crowd energy was high, Ben was in rare form, even joking with the audience for a good long while right before the encore, and the sound and lights were great. You’re all sorry you missed it.