Divorce Dad Rock Takes Over Darien Lake with Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle

Breaking Benjamin / Chevelle / Starset / Kami Kehoe – Darien, NY

***Breaking Benjamin – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien, NY***

Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle shared the Darien Lake stage as the venue’s concert season moves toward its close, with Starset and newcomer Kami Kehoe opening the evening. Both veteran bands kept the focus on their music, with Chevelle working through three decades of material before Breaking Benjamin followed with an 18 song set filled with familiar favorites. The night also offered plenty of visual contrast, particularly with Starset’s elaborate presentation and the look back at Breaking Benjamin’s early years.

With the concert season nearing its end at Darien Lake in Darien, NY, fans gathered for a night of rock featuring newcomer Kami Kehoe, Starset, Chevelle and headliners Breaking Benjamin. Each band offered something different, from Kehoe’s introduction to the audience to Starset’s elaborate stage presentation and the familiar hard rock sounds of Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin.

Kami Kehoe got the night started with “Psycho,” the opening track from her newest album, Love is a Weapon. At just 23 years old, Kehoe showed plenty of confidence as she moved between the drums and the microphone, eventually handing the drum duties over to her touring drummer. Released August 28, the new album made up much of her set with “Dirty,” “The End” and “Love is a Weapon.” She later reached back to her debut album for “Dopamine,” bringing the opening performance to a close. Kehoe’s enthusiasm and willingness to showcase her musicianship made for a solid introduction to the crowd.

***Kami Kehoe – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien, NY***

Starset followed with a performance that leaned heavily into the band’s sci fi inspired presentation. Their newest song, “p a r a d 0 x 1 c,” opened the set as Ron DeChant on bass, Brock Richards on guitar, Siobhán Richards on violin and Zuzana Engererova on cello appeared in matching helmets and outfits. Above them, Adam Gilbert on drums and Cory Juba on guitar and keyboards performed from elevated risers. At center stage, Dustin Bates remained mostly still beneath black robes and a crowned mask, letting the music and visuals shape the opening moments.

The performance shifted after “Carnivore,” when Bates returned without the mask for “Brave New World.” The band then moved through “Monster” and “SILOS” before introducing the currently unreleased “a n n 1 h 1 l a t 1 0 n.” The song began with a slower melodic approach before building into a heavier finish. “TokSik” and “My Demons” brought the set to a close.

***Starset – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien, NY***

Chevelle took a different approach, stripping away the elaborate presentation and keeping the attention on the music. The trio of Pete Loeffler on vocals and guitar, Sam Loeffler on drums and touring bassist Kemble Walters worked through a set that showed why the band has remained a familiar name in hard rock for three decades.

“Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)” had fans singing early in the performance, while “Send the Pain Below” brought plenty of movement from the crowd. The band finished with “Mars Simula,” leaving the audience ready for the headliners. Chevelle’s appeal has always been in its gritty, straightforward sound, and the performance was a reminder that the band does not need much beyond the songs and the musicians playing them.

***Chevelle – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien, NY***

Breaking Benjamin closed out the evening with a video package that looked back at the band’s early years. A Windows 98 style screen, references to LimeWire and a nod to the band’s involvement with Halo brought a bit of humor to the opening moments, along with some familiar memories of the early internet era.

As the lights remained low, Benjamin Burnley on vocals and guitar, Jasen Rauch on lead guitar, Keith Wallen on rhythm guitar, Aaron Bruch on bass and touring drummer Brian Medeiros took the stage. “I Will Not Bow” opened the set as deep red and blue lighting filled the stage. Burnley briefly addressed the crowd before the band continued with “Until the End” and “Evil Angel.”

From there, the band kept the songs moving with little interruption throughout its 18 song set. “Angels Fall,” “So Cold,” “Breath” and “Failure” were among the highlights, with the band occasionally holding the final chord of a song long enough for the crowd to respond before moving into the next.

Breaking Benjamin did not leave the stage for an encore. Instead, the band went straight into “The Diary of Jane,” closing out the night with one of its most recognizable songs. With four bands covering a range of rock styles, the Darien Lake crowd had plenty to enjoy as the concert season moved toward its close.