Breaking Benjamin Brought the Heat to Noblesville Indiana

 

–by Kaitlyn Putnam

 

Early-2000s nostalgic alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin, known by fans and the band themselves as “divorced dad rock,” brought a heavy dose of nostalgia to the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on Wednesday, September 16. And boy, did their set bring back the memories. From the familiar riffs to the familiar sound of a dial tone, it was the kind of night that made you want to grab a Code Red Mountain Dew or Monster Energy Drink, sing along, and reminisce about the good old days.

Breaking Benjamin is currently hitting the road for their Summer/Fall 2026 tour alongside special guests Chevelle, Starset, and Kami Kehoe. It was a scorcher in Noblesville on Wednesday as fans gradually filled the venue, each one ready to relive the melodies that have become intertwined with the memories that helped shape who they are today.

First to take the stage was Kami Kehoe, and for those unfamiliar with her before the show, it didn’t take long for her to make an impression. Fans quickly took notice of her intense, powerful vocals and undeniable versatility as an artist. Kehoe’s vocals carried a captivating balance of grit and grace as she moved effortlessly between singing and commanding the drum kit.

At times, she would rock out behind the drums, twirling her drumsticks between her fingers, necklace between her teeth. Kami was an artist determined to leave her mark on the stage. Each member of the band matched the energy and grit of her set.

Next up was Starset, who took the stage and immediately transported the crowd somewhere far beyond Noblesville. Starset blends alternative rock with cinematic, atmospheric production, they delivered a performance that felt less like a traditional concert and more like stepping into a science fiction movie (with considerably better music).

The stage came alive with futuristic visuals, dramatic lighting, and the kind of production that made you wonder whether you had accidentally purchased a concert ticket or boarded a spaceship. The crowd embraced every second of it as Starset worked through their set, creating an atmosphere that was both massive and immersive.

Then came Chevelle. If Starset had taken the audience to outer space, Chevelle brought everyone right back down to Earth, and back in time!

The Illinois rock trio delivered the heavier edge fans were waiting for, filling Ruoff with their unmistakable sound. Their set had longtime fans singing along to familiar favorites while newer listeners were given a crash course in who appears on your Pandora playlist the most.

There is something special about watching a band perform songs that have been part of people’s lives for years. You could see it throughout the audience. People who may have arrived looking relatively calm suddenly found themselves transformed into their 16-year-old selves the second those opening notes hit.

After a night of heat, nostalgia, and enough rock music to make your ears politely request a vacation, it was finally time for Breaking Benjamin. The lights went down, the crowd erupted, and the familiar sound of a dial tone filled the venue.

If there was ever a sound capable of instantly transporting someone back to the early 2000s, that was probably it!!

Breaking Benjamin wasted no time diving into the songs fans came to hear, delivering a set packed with the heavy riffs, emotional melodies, and unmistakable vocals that have defined the band’s sound for more than two decades.

For many in the audience, these weren’t simply songs. They were memories. They were the songs playing through headphones on the way to school. The tracks burned onto old CDs. The music playing through the speakers of a first car. The songs that somehow survived every questionable fashion choice, awkward phase, and technological upgrade along the way. And somehow, here we all were in 2026, still screaming the lyrics.

There was something genuinely heartwarming about looking across the crowd and seeing generations of fans experiencing the music together. Some had clearly been there since the beginning, while others were discovering Breaking Benjamin’s music more recently. Regardless of age, everyone seemed to understand the assignment: sing loudly, rock out, and temporarily forget that tomorrow is a workday.

The band moved through a set filled with fan favorites, including “I Will Not Bow,” “Until the End,” “Evil Angel,” “Crawl,” “Red Cold River,” “Blow Me Away,” “So Cold,” “Dear Agony,” “Breath,” and “The Diary of Jane.” When “So Cold” rang through the venue, the crowd responded with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you realize just how deeply certain songs can stick with people. And when “The Diary of Jane” arrived, it was less of a performance and more of a collective decision by several thousand people to temporarily destroy their vocal cords.

No judgment. We’ve all been there.

The band performed newer material, including “Awaken” and “Something Wicked,” offering a taste of the next era of Breaking Benjamin while keeping the songs longtime fans have loved at the center of the show.

And honestly, isn’t that what nostalgia is supposed to be? You don’t necessarily want to go back. You just want to remember what it felt like. It was hot. It was loud. It was nostalgic.

And for anyone who grew up with early-2000s alternative metal, it was basically therapy, with guitars. Breaking Benjamin’s 2026 Summer/Fall Tour continues across North America with Chevelle, Starset, and Kami Kehoe, giving fans plenty of opportunities to relive the songs that soundtracked a generation while discovering what the band has in store for the future.

So, if you find yourself heading to one of the remaining shows, remember the essentials: comfortable shoes, plenty of water, and, if you’re feeling particularly nostalgic, a Code Red Mountain Dew.

Be sure to check out all of the photos from the night in the gallery after the setlists below.

Kami Kahoe Setlist:

1. Psycho
2. Something in the Water
3. Fade Out
4. Dirty
5. The End
6. Love is a Weapon
7. Sleep When I’m Dead
8. Dopamine

Starset Setlist:

1. P a r a d 0 x 1 c
2. Carnivore
3. Brave New World
4. Monster
5. SILOS
6. A n n 1 h 1 l a t 1 0 n
7. TokSik
8. My Demons

Chevelle Setlist: 

1. Family System
2. Self Destructor
3. Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)
4. Pale Horse
5. An Island
6. Joyride (Omen)
7. Face to the Floor
8. The Clincher
9. Send the Pain Below
10.  Comfortable Liar
11. The Red
12. Mars Simula

Breaking Benjamin Setlist:

1. I Will Not Bow
2. Until the End
3. Evil Angel
4. Crawl
5. Red Cold River
6. Blow Me Away
7. Follow
8. Angels Fall
9. You
10. So Cold
11. Polyamorous
12. Dear Agony
13. Something Wicked
14. Breath
15. Awaken
16. Failure
17. Dance With the Devil
18. The Diary of Jane