BREAKING BENJAMIN was up next. Formed in 1999 from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the band got its name when singer Benjamin Burnley borrowed a microphone and broke it, prompting the owner to say, “Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic.” The current lineup is Benjamin Burnley, Aaron Bruch, Shaun Foist, Jasen Rauch, and Keith Wallen.

While I have heard of BREAKING BENJAMIN, I have never actually followed their music or knew much about them. My bad. They are great.

I couldn’t figure out what all the large white tubing was from the beginning of this show sitting in the photo pit that I had to continually trip and step over to get shots of the previous bands, until this band took to the stage. While perhaps a rumor, I was told that singer Benjamin has a lot of social anxiety issues, and the large tubing is actually an air conditioning unit that blows cold air onto the stage which calms his nerves. I completely understand social anxieties, but it’s always a bit trippy seeing those in entertainment having such crippling issues at times. All the kudos go out to those talents that can overcome their fears and share their talents.

On each side of the stage were risers with about 10-guests that had all bought the VIP experience. From what I have investigated, that adventure will set one back about a cool $5000. Whew. For a fan, I’m sure it’s amazing being onstage throughout the performance. As with most things, especially as I’ve had a few birthdays, and seeing a lot of them with large beverages in their hands, I just have to wonder what one does if they have to use the facilities? Like, do you excuse yourself in front of the thousands of folks watching and then come back to your space? Or are you stuck there until the bitter end?

Yet another band to have released an album in 2020, the band is out supporting their release of Aurora. Their setlist was:

• "Blow me Away"
• "Sooner or Later"
• "Firefly"
• "Tourniquet"*
• "So Cold"*
• "Angels Fall"*
• "Breath"
• "Failure"*
• "Who Wants to Live Forever"
• "Polyamorous"
• "Give Me a Sign"
• "Red Cold River"*
• "Until the End"
• "Torn in Two"*
• "I Will Not Bow"
• "The Diary of Jane"

Last up was ALICE IN CHAINS. Formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, along with Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. Starr was replace by Mike Inez in 1993, and William Duvall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley who died in 2002.

With their seminal sophomore album, Dirt turning 30-years old, their setlist had several songs from the 1992 classic to the delight of their fans.

Earlier in the year, singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell did a solo tour in support of his 2021 album, Brighten, in which he played several AIC songs. I had always thought earlier AIC songs were heavily laden with Layne Staley’s vocals. When I saw Jerry Cantrell many years ago performing a solo tour, I realized that so many of the songs I related to it being Staley, were actually Cantrell’s vocals. He has the signature sound that is AIC and I think it’s always a surprise to fans when they realize this.

As a photographer at this show, I only have one gripe. If you’re going to have photographers at your show, it’s really tough when you place them at the soundboard. I don’t care what great gear and zoom lens you may have, the magic of a pit shoot gets completely lost that far back. It becomes weirdly sterile. This isn’t inherent to only AIC, it’s for all bands with this photo policy. With today’s cell phone technology advancing with cameras, anyone in the first few rows can get decent to good photos that can be used for any web application, potentially far better than any shots with pro-gear from half-way across a stadium/venue. With this show, we started out in the pit, and quickly got escorted out to the soundboard, which required a quick run to get that far back and change lenses to accommodate the distance. To say it was stressful, is an understatement. Make it one song from the pit if it seems too invasive. I heard that some photographers at the other venues had to sign contracts stating they would send their photos into the band’s publicist without watermarks within 48-hours, and that management had full rights to the photos without any payment or photo credit to the photographer. I just can’t understand any artist being okay with this policy whatsoever. It’s an artist taking from another artist in my humble opinion. I’ve been beyond grateful to have shot this band through the years, and I have friends in the band. I understand it is an opportunity and privilege to take photos of those with a recognizable image. I respect that wholeheartedly. I will never be okay with “image grabs” without so much as a credit going to the photographer however.

Okay, off my soapbox.

In closing, the band looked healthy and as always, their performance was stellar. I love William Duvall as a frontman. He’s not only very handsome, but gives such a dynamic performance. Drummer Sean Kinney seriously looked like he may be going backwards in aging. He looks like he’s in his 30’s. I want his plastic surgeon’s number, that weird Dorian Gray he keeps in his basement, or the number where he signed to sell his soul. It’s nice to see this band out again after such a long (covid induced) hiatus. May their tribe keep on the move!

AIC setlist:

• "Again"
• "Check My Brain"
• "Grind"
• "Them Bones"
• "Dam That River"
• "Hollow"
• "Got Me Wrong"
• "Junkhead"
• "Man In The Box"
• "Nutshell"
• "The One You Know"
• "No Excuses"
• "It Ain’t Like That"
• "Would"
• "Rooster"