Few bands have stood the test of time quite like Three Days Grace. With co-headliner Breaking Benjamin alongside them, the two modern rock legends joined forces for their sold-out tour stop at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC. Decades of lineup changes and evolution haven’t slowed 3DG, and despite thunderstorms delaying the gates and threatening to cancel the show, nothing could keep them from taking command. If you only take one thing away from this article, let it be this: Three Days Grace is still unstoppable.
Rising grunge superstars Return to Dust kicked off the evening. Blending the raw energy of grunge with alternative rock, the band warmed up the eager crowd with a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.
Three Days Grace's story is one of not just resilience but adaptability. Despite numerous challenges over the last twenty-eight years, including vocalist Adam Gontier's departure in 2013, they remained at the forefront of the rock scene. Most bands might have called it quits after losing their vocalist/frontman/co-founder, but the band forged ahead with new vocalist Matt Walst at the helm. When Gontier returned in 2024, the band made the bold decision to have a dual-vocalist lineup, and it works...really well. If you checked out our Three Days Grace interview recently, you'll know that this decision was natural and a seamless transition, which is a testament to their ability to evolve while staying true to who they are at their core.
Their set was absolutely phenomenal, spanning every era of the band’s career. They played anthemic hit after hit, touching on the new album, Alienation, as well as the older albums that we all grew up on. And, of course, no Three Days Grace show would be complete without “I Hate Everything About You.” Midway through their set, they also surprised the crowd with a powerful cover of “Rooster” by Alice In Chains.
But the night’s most emotional moment came when they launched into “Never Too Late” — cell phone flashlights lit up across the entire amphitheater as thousands of voices sang back every lyric at a deafening volume. In that moment, it wasn’t just a concert anymore — it was group therapy.
Breaking Benjamin has proved time and time again that they “will not bow.” Since emerging out of Pennsylvania in the early 2000s, they’ve built a rock legacy on dark and haunting anthems. Even after lineup changes and a brief hiatus, Benjamin Burnley carried the band forward, all while never losing that unmistakable sound that they’re so famous for.
A large white curtain greeted us as an angelic voice filled the air, setting an almost cinematic tone. Launching right into “Awaken” as the curtain dropped, Breaking Benjamin brought the energy early on. They followed up with many fan favorites from the past couple of decades, such as “So Cold,” “Polyamorous,” “Dear Agony,” “Evil Angel,” and “Dance With the Devil.” The personal highlight for me was when visuals from the video game Halo showed on the screens, followed by the song that Burnley wrote for the game, “Blow Me Away.” It was a nostalgic moment for any true Breaking Benjamin fan. The band closed the evening with their signature anthem, “The Diary of Jane,” which had every voice singing along in unison.
Their set was powerful and polished from start to finish. They leaned into their signature dark atmosphere with heavy riffs and moody lighting, all while still keeping the energy high. I’ve had the pleasure of attending a number of their performances over the years, and they just keep getting better and better. If this performance was any indication, Breaking Benjamin won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
