May 31, 2025 – Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA

Stir Cove was the place to be on Saturday night, May 31, 2025, as Breaking Benjamin and Staind brought their Awaken the Fallen Tour to town for the second night of the Stir summer concert series. The crowd had a totally different vibe compared to the previous night, when country star Jake Owen rocked the stage. Both Breaking Benjamin and Staind delivered powerful, unforgettable performances, and fans were also treated to two solid opening acts—Lakeview and Wage War—that kicked the night off perfectly.

Lakeview brought energy off the charts! The Nashville-by-way-of-Pittsburgh duo, lead singers Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, blend Country, Rock, and Pop influences into a unique sound rooted in classic storytelling but powered by a seize-the-day attitude and edgy production. Their performance was fresh, dynamic, and totally captivating.

Wage War, whom I’ve now seen twice, never disappoints—they always put on a killer show. With members Seth Blake, Briton Bond, Cody Quistad, Chris Gaylord, and Stephen Kluesener, they’ve built a strong following, boasting over 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Their latest album, Stigma, is definitely worth adding to any metalcore playlist. Their intense, high-energy set was the perfect lead-in for the headliners.

After a brief intermission, it was time for Staind! They put on a solid show that reminded everyone why they’ve been a staple in rock for so long. Aaron Lewis still sounds great after all these years—his voice is just as powerful and raw as ever. My friend Spencer and I commented what’s wild is how laid back he was on stage the whole time, casually lighting up cigarettes but still hitting every note perfectly. 

They played a great mix of hits like “Outside” and “It’s Been Awhile,” and the crowd was really into it, singing along every step of the way. Over their career, Staind has sold millions of albums worldwide and earned several award nominations, including multiple Billboard Music Awards and an American Music Award nomination, solidifying their spot as one of the defining rock bands of the early 2000s, and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

If you get a chance to see them live, it’s definitely worth it—Aaron’s voice and the band’s tight performance still pack a punch!

Staind Setlist:

• Lowest in Me
• Eyes Wide Open
• Fade
• Right Here
• Not Again
• Epiphany
• Something to Remind You
• Wannabe
• Outside
• Better Days
• Paper Wings
• So Far Away
• For You
• It’s Been Awhile
• Mudshovel

After a quick set change, it was time for Breaking Benjamin, and they absolutely crushed it! They sounded amazing—tight, powerful, and full of energy from start to finish. The set design was pretty simple but super cool, with blue, purple, and pinkish lighting that really set the mood and gave the whole show a great vibe.

The band, made up of lead singer Benjamin Burnley, Aaron Bruch, Shaun Foist, Jasen Rauch, and Keith Wallen, was totally in sync and brought their A-game all night. What made the night extra special was seeing Burnley’s 10 year-old son, also named Benjamin, onstage with them the whole time. Burnley joked it was “on the job training,” and honestly, it was really awesome to watch—like passing the torch right there in front of everyone. I heard this was the smallest venue and crowd on the tour, so even with thousands in attendance, I really appreciated the more intimate vibe at Stir Cove.

If you’re a fan of powerful rock with killer stage presence, Breaking Benjamin is definitely a must-see!

Breaking Benjamin Setlist:

• Failure
• Until the End
• Evil Angel
• Red Cold River
• Blow Me Away
• Follow
• So Cold
• Dance With the Devil
• Awaken
• Breath
• Polyamorous
• Without You
• Dear Agony (with Lacey Sturm)
• Blood
• I Will Not Bow
• The Diary of Jane

Lakeview

Wage War

Staind

Breaking Benjamin