Staind and Breaking Benjamin, two titans of turn-of-the-century angst, teamed up for a co-headlining tour aptly dubbed a resurrection by some and a requiem by others, the 30-date Staind & Breaking Benjamin 2024 Tour was born out of a mutual desire to reconnect with fans and a shared grudge against silence. Grossing over $25 million in ticket and merch sales, the tour drew die-hards, latecomers, and the still-bitter survivors of early-2000s FM radio warfare.

Staind

Staind, out of Springfield, Massachusetts, brought a performance that could scrape paint off walls and make grown men cry in the same breath. Aaron Lewis stood center stage with a face like a weathered country road and a voice that slid between guttural growls and hushed confessionals. Mike Mushok’s lead guitar wasn’t flashy—it was a force of nature. Bassist Johnny April held it all together with clockwork low-end rumble, while Sal Giancarelli beat the drums like they owed him money. Their discography hits like a sledgehammer: Tormented (1996), Dysfunction (1999), Break the Cycle (2001), 14 Shades of Grey (2003), Chapter V (2005), The Illusion of Progress (2008), Staind (2011), and Confessions of the Fallen (2023). You want gear? They’ve got hoodies, vinyl, tees, and enough black-on-black designs to outfit an army at staindofficial.com.

Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin, forged in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, closed the night like they were soundtracking the apocalypse. Benjamin Burnley—part frontman, part preacher of the abyss—led his battle-hardened outfit with the precision of a general and the soul of a tortured poet. Backed by Jasen Rauch (lead guitar), Keith Wallen (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Aaron Bruch (bass, backing vocals), and Shaun Foist (drums), they tore through a setlist that bent time. From Saturate (2002) to We Are Not Alone (2004), Phobia (2006), Dear Agony (2009), Dark Before Dawn (2015), and Ember (2018), the band’s catalog reads like a case study in sonic catharsis. The crowd moved as one—shouting, sobbing, surrendering. Dive into their moody merch and tour dates at breakingbenjamin.com.

Daughtry

Daughtry, that once-unlikely rock contender from McLeansville, North Carolina, turned in a set that was clean, cut, and undeniably powerful. Chris Daughtry still looks like he could punch through drywall and still sings like he’s bleeding regret into every syllable. Backed by Brian Craddock (guitar), Elvio Fernandes (keys, guitar), Marty O’Brien (bass), and Anthony Ghazel (drums), they ran the gamut from Daughtry (2006) and Leave This Town (2009) to Break the Spell (2011), Baptized (2013), Cage to Rattle (2018), and Dearly Beloved (2021). The fans ate it up—especially the ones who never gave up hope that radio rock might still mean something. You can check out their journey and pick up tour gear, vinyl, and all the trimmings at daughtryofficial.com.

Lakeview

Lakeview, out of Nashville, Tennessee, kicked off the night with a set that was lean, loud, and grinning with the kind of hunger that turns unknown openers into next year’s headliners. The duo—Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy—delivered their brand of country-rock with zero pretension and full-throttle heart. Songs like “Loser” and “Home Team” punched with unfiltered urgency, a blue-collar boot to the chest before the big guns even touched the stage. They’re not here to imitate—they’re here to build something new out of feedback and heartbreak. For music, tour dates, and roadside merch worthy of a whiskey-fueled detour, hit up lakeviewcountry.com.