Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Wage War, and Lakeview Ignite Tampa with Genre-Bending Night at MidFlorida Amphitheatre

Tampa, FL. (May 13th, 2025)

On a warm spring evening in Tampa, the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre played host to a powerhouse lineup that fused nostalgia, aggression, and surprise into an unforgettable night of music. Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Wage War, and genre-defying openers Lakeview came together for a multi-genre show that was as emotionally stirring as it was sonically explosive.

As the early evening sun dipped below the horizon, Lakeview took the stage to kick things off. While many fans were unfamiliar with the name, the Nashville-based duo quickly turned heads with their distinctive blend of country grit and rock intensity. Far from your average warm-up act, Lakeview delivered an energetic set that defied expectations and injected the crowd with a jolt of curiosity and enthusiasm.

Opening with a driving, steel-laced rocker, Lakeview showcased a sound that lives at the crossroads of Southern storytelling and electric distortion. Tracks like “Wrong Side Of The Track” and “Money Where Your Mouth Is” felt equally at home in a honky-tonk bar or a rock club. Their vocals were twangy but commanding, harmonies were tight, and the instrumentation — backed by a full band — leaned heavy into hard rock breakdowns while retaining a country sensibility.

The crowd, initially skeptical, was visibly won over by the time the duo closed their set with a rousing cover of the Hinder classic “Lips Of An Angel.” The fusion of genres felt natural and refreshing, leaving many in the amphitheater murmuring about how they “didn’t see that coming.” Lakeview didn’t just open the show — they set the bar for creativity and stage presence.

Next up was Wage War, the Ocala-based metalcore juggernauts returning to their home state with fire in their veins. From the first note of “NAIL5,” the pit erupted. With their signature blend of crushing breakdowns, melodic choruses, and precision drumming, Wage War turned the amphitheatre into a battleground of energy.

Lead vocalist Briton Bond commanded the stage with ferocity, while Cody Quistad’s clean vocals added emotional depth to tracks like “Manic” and their newer material from Stigma. The band’s sound was tight and polished, showing their growth without sacrificing the raw edge that built their fanbase.

There was a visible camaraderie between the band and the Florida crowd — fans who had clearly followed Wage War from their early days to their national rise. For a band nestled between classic rock and alternative heavyweights, Wage War made sure metalcore had its moment in the spotlight — loud, unrelenting, and proud.

As twilight gave way to nightfall, Staind took the stage under a wash of moody lights and opened with the gritty “Eyes Wide Open.” The air shifted — not with energy, but with emotion. Aaron Lewis’s vocals, both raw and melancholic, instantly transported the audience back to the early 2000s. The set was a masterclass in angsty rock catharsis, with the crowd singing every word to hits like “So Far Away,” “Fade,” and of course, the timeless “It’s Been Awhile.”

Lewis, often stoic, let his voice carry the emotional weight. He didn’t need theatrics — Staind’s strength lies in their authenticity. Backed by Mike Mushok’s searing guitar work, the band delivered a sonically rich set that blended heaviness with heartbreak.

This tour marked one of the band’s more consistent returns to the road, and the Tampa audience embraced them like old friends. The set was a bittersweet ride through Staind’s past, with just enough edge to remind fans that the band still has fire left in them.

Headliners Breaking Benjamin closed out the night with a set that spanned their decades-long discography. From the opening chords of “Blow Me Away,” the crowd was in full participation mode, singing every line back to frontman Benjamin Burnley with fervor.

Backed by a now well-established lineup that includes guitarist Keith Wallen and bassist Aaron Bruch, Breaking Benjamin was tight, theatrical, and emotionally powerful. Their live sound — layered with textured guitars and moody atmospheric effects — filled the amphitheater with a commanding presence.

Highlights included “Failure,” “Angels Fall,” and the haunting “Ashes of Eden,” each performed with a visceral sincerity. Burnley’s voice, gravelly yet melodic, remains a cornerstone of the band’s enduring appeal. As “The Diary of Jane” rang out to close the night, thousands of voices joined in unison — a perfect end to a deeply cathartic experience.

This Tampa stop of the “Awaken the Fallen” tour proved to be far more than a standard rock show. With an unpredictable genre mashup courtesy of Lakeview, hometown pride radiating from Wage War, emotional resonance from Staind, and a thunderous headline set by Breaking Benjamin, the night offered something for everyone.

It was a celebration of musical diversity — a place where country met metalcore, and early-2000s angst collided with modern rock evolution. Fans left the MidFlorida Amphitheatre with ears ringing, hearts full, and perhaps a new artist or two added to their playlists.