Virginia Beach’s oceanfront was buzzing with anticipation as rock fans packed into Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater for a night of heavy riffs, soaring vocals, and unapologetic energy. Co-headliners Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin delivered exactly what the crowd came for: a mix of nostalgia, power, and pure rock catharsis.
Joining the varsity rock bands was up-and-coming grunge rockers, Return to Dust, priming fans for the night with their head-bangers and energetic performance.
Three Days Grace kicked off their set with anthems that had fans screaming every lyric back at them. From the pounding aggression of Animal I Have Become to the anthemic Painkiller, the Canadian rockers reminded everyone why their catalog still hits hard after two decades. Vocalist Matt Walst commanded the stage with intensity, and the band leaned into their darker, emotionally charged songs — I Hate Everything About You had the entire amphitheater singing in unison. Their mix of newer material and classic hits showed their ability to bridge generations of fans.
When Breaking Benjamin took the stage, the energy shifted from frenetic to cinematic. Known for their atmospheric heaviness, the band created a wall of sound that swallowed the venue in waves of melody and crunching guitars. Introducing their set was a dramatic swell of Gregorian chants and videos of Halo in the background as members made it on stage. Frontman Benjamin Burnley’s brooding vocals carried the set, supported by a tight band that thrives on blending harmony with raw force. The production with moody lighting and bursts of strobes amplified the intensity, making every breakdown and chorus feel larger than life.
The pairing of these two bands made for a powerful one-two punch: Three Days Grace firing up the crowd with raw aggression, and Breaking Benjamin pulling them deeper into an immersive, emotional soundscape. By the time the final notes rang out, Virginia Beach was left with ringing ears, sore voices, and the satisfaction of witnessing two pillars of modern rock prove they’re still at the top of their game.
Three Days Grace Setlist:
1. Animal I Have Become
2. So Called Life
3. Break
4. Home
5. The Mountain
6. Mayday
7. Pain
8. Kill Me Fast
9. I Hate Everything About You
10. I Am Machine
11. Time of Dying
12. Apologies
13. Rooster (Alice in Chains Cover)
14. The Good Life
15. Painkiller
16. Never Too Late
17. Riot
Breaking Benjamin Setlist:
1. Awaken
2. Follow
3. Blow Me Away
4. So Cold
5. You
6. Evil Angel
7. Failure
8. Red Cold River
9. Blood
10. Dear Agony
11. Dance with the Devil
12. Polyamorous
13. Without You
14. Until the End
15. Breath
16. I Will Not Bow
17. The Diary of Jane
