There was a snowstorm warning issued for Rochester on
Valentine’s Day, but don’t tell that to the large crowd gathered inside the
Main Street Armory to get a first glimpse at the new Breaking Benjamin. The
hard rock band had been on hiatus for the last five years, and after settling a
certain amount of drama, the new line-up had chosen Rochester as one of only
four cities to play its first electric tour since 2010.

The crowd was ready for a good time as the lights
blacked out and a deafening roar arose from the sea of people. After opening
with “So Cold,” one of Breaking Benjamin’s biggest hits, singer and guitarist Benjamin
Burnley informed the crowd that he was sick, but that the audience could help by
singing the songs with him — which was met with great approval.

For a while, the band delved into older material from its
first album, “Saturate,” and the crowd noise died down slightly. However, as
soon as Burnley thanked the crowd gave his gratitude, the band exploded with a
fan favorite, “Shallow Bay,” and the crowd finally let loose and never let up.

The performance was something to behold: Burnley
remains one of the most talented and consistent vocalists in alternative metal
and hard rock. With his new five-piece band, the music sounded like it came
straight off their catalog — sick vocalist or not. The other band members all
played their hearts out and made for solid backing vocalists. One of the
shining parts of the band’s performance was its harmonies, especially in songs
like “You,” which was the first song of its encore.

During the end of the first set, Burnley addressed the
crowd with minor details about a new album in the works. “We’re hoping to bring
some rock back with our new album. Keep an eye out,” he said, which drew a
massive cheer of approval from the masses. Burnley keeps a good sense of
honesty in his lyricism, which obviously resonated with the crowd judging by
the massive back and forth between him and the crowd. Not only that, he just
comes off as a genuinely kind and caring person, which added to the tight-knit
feel despite the large crowds.

The night really ended on a peak: During the last song
of the encore, “Rain,” all of the lights were turned up and the audience
started the loudest sing-along of the night. “I want you to sing so loud they
can hear it in the neighboring states,” Burnley yelled. And it was loud and
glorious. From where I was sitting, water had begun leaking through the roof
and onto the crowd below. But nobody cared; it was quite fitting to have rain
anyway.

This article appears in Feb 11-17, 2015.