Opening Fire: Return to Dust
The evening began before most fans were even in their seats, with Return to Dust kicking off the night. Hometown show for the Return to Dust boys. The band emerged through the stage backdrops with an urgency that felt raw and immediate. Their set opened with “Black Road” (from their 2024 debut) and quickly established the tone — heavy guitars, tight rhythms, and vocals that cut through the roar of the crowd.
A short but solid set with songs “Shine” and “Summer Rain”. These guys are absolutely on their way to the top.
As a first act, Return to Dust struck a fine balance: not overreaching, but confident, tight, and emotionally grounded — the perfect spark to ignite the rest of the night.
Three Days Grace — Controlled Chaos in the Middle Slot
When the lights dropped for Three Days Grace, Dickies Arena erupted. Looking to the right side of the arena you could see 5 guys dressed like boxers walking to the stage. Without wasting a second, they tore into “Animal I Have Become” and the crowd was on its feet, fists pumping and voices booming back every word. From there the set felt like a rollercoaster — heavy riffs one moment, anthemic singalongs the next. “So Called Life” hit early and hard, reminding everyone why the band’s newer material still packs a punch. Seeing Adam Grontier back with the band was a sight for sore eyes and ears! Love this mans voice.
Frontman Matt Walst worked the stage edge to edge, constantly trading high-energy moments with the fans. Newer tracks from Explosions blended seamlessly with the older favorites, but it was the classics that triggered the loudest reactions — “I Hate Everything About You,” “I Am Machine,” and a deeply emotional “Never Too Late” that had phone lights swaying across the arena.
They closed with “Riot,” and the floor turned into a sea of jumping bodies and screaming voices. It wasn’t just nostalgia — Three Days Grace proved they can still command an arena with precision and raw energy, perfectly setting the table for the headliners.
Breaking Benjamin — A Powerful, Emotional Finale
By the time the stage went dark for Breaking Benjamin, the crowd inside Dickies Arena was electric. A low rumble built as the intro swelled, and when the first chords of “Awaken” hit, the arena roared to life. Benjamin Burnley stepped forward with his signature calm confidence, greeting Fort Worth before diving straight into a crushing “Follow.”
The set moved seamlessly between new and old. “Red Cold River” thundered with chest-rattling bass, while “Blood” had the entire floor shouting along. Deeper cuts like “Dear Agony” and “Dance With the Devil” gave longtime fans a chance to sink into something darker and more emotional, while early favorites such as “Polyamorous” and “Without You” sparked big singalongs. The night’s emotional high point came as Burnley let the crowd take over the chorus of “I Will Not Bow.”
For the finale, they unleashed “The Diary of Jane,” and the arena became one giant choir. The mix was clean and powerful — guitars cutting sharp, vocals steady and heartfelt, and newcomer James Cassells (filling in for longtime drummer Shaun Foist, who stepped away due to health issues) locked in tight behind the kit, keeping the band’s trademark punch intact.
Breaking Benjamin didn’t just play through a setlist; they built an atmosphere — heavy yet cathartic, polished but still deeply human. It was the kind of closer that left the crowd both drained and euphoric.
