Breaking Benjamin – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee MN – September 22nd 2026

Breaking Benjamin with Chevelle, STARSET & Kami Kehoe – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee, MN – September 22^nd, 2026

Review and photos by Kate Klaus

There really couldn’t have been a better setting for this lineup than a beautiful fall evening at Mystic Lake Amphitheater. Four bands with very different approaches to rock and metal filled the night, from the raw energy of newcomer Kami Kehoe to the cinematic world of STARSET, the no-frills heaviness of Chevelle and finally a fiery Breaking Benjamin performance that was easily one of the best they’ve performed in recent years.

Kami Kehoe had the task of starting the night, and she certainly didn’t ease her way into it. Kehoe came out behind the drums, immediately showing off both her talent and the amount of energy she was going to bring to her short set. Her music has a heavy edge, but there’s also something fresh about her sound and performance that made her an excellent fit for this tour. Songs including “Psycho,” “Something in the Water,” “Dirty” and “Love is a Weapon” gave the early crowd a good introduction to Kehoe, while “Dopamine” closed out her eight-song set.  There was no shortage of energy packed into those 30 minutes, and she definitely left an impression.

STARSET followed, and if there is one band that understands how to make a concert feel like more than simply watching musicians play songs, it’s STARSET. They continue to be one of the most underrated bands out there, not only for their music but for the captivating performance they build around it. Dustin Bates initially appeared almost unrecognizable, emerging in a long black robe with an elaborate metallic mask and crown-like headpiece. It had a dark, almost ritualistic appearance before the familiar futuristic world of STARSET took over. The rest of the band in their spaceman-style costumes, combined with the visuals, lighting and theatrical elements, made the stage feel like its own little universe. Their set was a relatively quick 40 minutes,  but songs including “Carnivore,” “Monster,” “Brave New World,” “TokSik” and the always incredible “My Demons” packed plenty into that time.  No matter how many times you see STARSET, their commitment to the visual side of their music makes their shows fascinating to watch.

Then came Chevelle, and while it was a switch to a much lower production and less theatric vibe,   their music and performance was absolutely on fire.  Raw talent, crushing guitars and a ton of energy filled the stage, with some really cool visuals on the screen behind them adding just enough atmosphere without distracting from what the band does best.  And with a catalog like Chevelle’s, they can let the songs do the work. “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along),” “Face to the Floor” and “The Clincher” all made the set, while “Send the Pain Below” and “The Red” brought two of the band’s biggest favorites toward the end of the night. They eventually closed their 12-song set with “Mars Simula.”  It was heavy, straightforward and incredibly tight, proving that sometimes you don’t need an elaborate production when the music is powerful enough on its own.

By the time Breaking Benjamin took the stage, darkness had completely settled over the amphitheater, and they seemed to come out with a renewed energy.  The Halo-themed backdrops throughout portions of the show were a fun touch, especially paired with “Blow Me Away,” but what stood out most was simply how much the entire band seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was an energy coming from the stage that made songs heard countless times live somehow feel fresh again. And they certainly weren’t short on those songs. Opening with “I Will Not Bow,” the 18-song set reached throughout the band’s career with “Until the End,” “Evil Angel,” “Red Cold River,” “Angels Fall,” “So Cold,” “Polyamorous,” “Dear Agony,” “Breath,” “Failure” and “Dance With the Devil.” Newer songs “Something Wicked” and “Awaken” fit surprisingly naturally among a set packed with material fans have been singing along to for years, before “The Diary of Jane” brought the night to its massive finale. Ben Burnley was also in a particularly talkative mood toward the end of the set. He joked about getting old while repeatedly expressing how grateful he was to still be doing this after all these years. He made a point of talking about the other bands on the bill and gave plenty of love to everyone who had shared the stage that night. Of course, he couldn’t resist having a little fun with Dustin Bates and joking about the STARSET “cult,” either. Those moments between songs added a lot to the performance. Instead of simply moving from hit to hit, Burnley seemed genuinely present and appreciative of the night, the other musicians and the fans in front of him. Breaking Benjamin has been doing this for a long time, and it would be easy for a band with this many familiar songs to simply go through the motions. This night felt like the complete opposite. They sounded energized, they looked energized and, most importantly, they seemed like they were having fun, and it showed in both the music and the performance.

From Kami Kehoe introducing herself with a burst of youthful energy, to STARSET transporting the crowd into another world, Chevelle stripping everything back to pure rock and Breaking Benjamin reminding everyone exactly why their songs have endured for so long, it was an incredibly well-rounded night. Add in a gorgeous Minnesota fall evening under the open sky, and Mystic Lake couldn’t have provided a much better way to spend one of the final outdoor shows of the season.