On October 23, 2026– Marked the end of another incredible concert season at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. If there was ever a lineup worthy of closing out the season, this was it. Kami Kehoe , STARSET , Chevelle & Breaking Benjamin. Four artists representing different corners of modern rock, all sharing one stage for a final night of music beneath the North Carolina sky, But this night carried something much more personal for me. Something that took me all the way back to 2009. Back to being a kid getting ready to jump on Xbox Live with the homies. Back to the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. And back to a song that became permanently attached to those memories. “I Will Not Bow.” I had absolutely no idea that seventeen years later, I’d be standing in a photo pit photographing the very band responsible for that song. The craziest part? That’s exactly how Breaking Benjamin opened their set, but before we get there, we have an entire night to talk about.
Opening the night was an artist whose name has become especially meaningful in my photography journey. Kami Kehoe. Her music moves between alternative rock, pop influences and heavier guitar-driven arrangements, creating something that feels both accessible and deeply personal. Songs like “SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD,” “DOPAMINE,” and “PSYCHO” have helped introduce her sound to a growing audience. For me, seeing Kami again brought back a very specific memory. The first time I photographed her, I decided to do something completely different. I shot her on 35mm film. She was the very first artist I’d ever photographed on 35mm. For someone who has spent years working with digital cameras, that was a massive moment. Film forces you to approach photography differently. You can’t immediately look at the back of your camera. You don’t know whether you nailed the exposure. You don’t know whether the moment you thought was perfect actually translated onto the negative. You just have to trust yourself. I loved that. Unfortunately, on my way out of the venue that first night, I managed to mess up the film roll. All those moments I’d been so excited to capture…Gone..
Yeah. That one really hurt , but that’s also part of photography. Sometimes you learn the hard way. Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh, pick your camera back up, and try again. When I found out Kami would be opening for Breaking Benjamin, I knew I was getting another opportunity. Second time seeing her. Second time photographing her. Only this time?I decided to take the digital approach…No film mishaps. No wondering whether I’d accidentally destroyed another roll. Just me, my camera and another chance to capture an artist I’ve genuinely enjoyed watching grow. Kami opened her Raleigh set with “PSYCHO,” followed by “SOMETHING IN THE WATER” and “FADE OUT.” It was a fitting beginning to a night that would be filled with powerful vocals and emotionally charged rock music. For me, it felt pretty damn good getting that second chance.
Next came STARSET. And if you’ve ever experienced live, you already know that describing them as simply another rock band doesn’t quite do them justice. Their music feels like it belongs somewhere between a rock concert and a science-fiction sound track. Albums such as Transmissions, Vessels, and Divisions established a sound that combines massive guitar arrangements with atmospheric electronics and emotionally charged vocals. This was my second time seeing STARSET, and there’s something fascinating about revisiting a band whose entire identity is built around creating an experience.
Their Raleigh set began with “p a r a d 0 x 1 c,” immediately establishing the darker, futuristic atmosphere that has become part of their signature sound. From there, they moved into “Carnivore,” “Brave New World,” and“ Monster,” before eventually closing with “My Demons.” There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a band create music that feels larger than the stage it’s being performed on. STARSET understands that balance. The songs are heavy enough to stand alongside modern metal, but atmospheric enough to make you feel like you’re watching the soundtrack to another world unfold. As someone who loves cinematic storytelling, that approach has always fascinated me. It’s not simply about playing songs. It’s about building an environment around them. By the time STARSET finished, Coastal Credit Union Music Park was well into its final night of the season.
The next band was one I was especially excited to see a gain. Chevelle. There are certain bands whose music has remained a constant presence in rock for so long that you almost forget just how many incredible songs they’ve released. Chevelle is one of them. Chevelle developed a sound built around alternative metal, post grunge, and the kind of guitar riffs that immediately make themselves known. Their breakthrough album, Wonder What’s Next, helped introduce the band to a massive audience through songs such as “The Red” and “Send the Pain Below.” And more than two decades later, those songs still hit. This marked my second time seeing and photographing. One of the things I appreciate about photographing an artist more than once is how differently you approach the performance the second time around. You’re more familiar with their movement .You recognize certain moments. You begin anticipating the expressions, the lighting, and the way a musician interacts with the stage. With that familiarity never takes away the excitement. If anything, it makes me appreciate the musicianship even more.
Chevelle opened their Raleigh set with “Family System,” immediately throwing the crowd into the heavier side of their catalog. They followed with “Self Destructor” and “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along),” creating a set that moved between their earlier material and more recent releases. Then came songs like “Face to the Floor,” “The Clincher,” and “Send the Pain Below.” And of course… “The Red.” It’s incredible how certain songs can instantly bring an entire generation together. The opening notes hit, and suddenly it doesn’t matter whether you discovered Chevelle in 2002 or twenty years later. You know exactly what’s coming. Hearing that music live for the second time reminded me why I’ve always respected bands that can evolve without losing their identity. Chevelle has never needed to chase trends. They’ve simply continued being Chevelle. That’s always been more than enough.
Then came the moment I’d been waiting for. Breaking Benjamin. This band became one of the defining names in modern alternative metal and hard rock. Their music found a unique balance between crushing guitar riffs, soaring melodies and lyrics that often explore internal struggles, relationships, fear and perseverance. Albums like We Are Not Alone, Phobia, Dear Agony, and Dark Before Dawn helped establish a catalog that has remained deeply connected to an entire generation of rock listeners. Songs like “So Cold,” “The Diary of Jane,” “Breath,” and “I Will Not Bow” became essential pieces of that era. For lil ol me, one song carries a very specific memory. And that memory has absolutely nothing to do with concert photography. It has everything to do with playing video games as a kid. Let me take you back for a second. It’s 2009. The original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has just come out. You’re getting ready to hop online with your friends. Headset nearby. Controller in hand. Probably getting ready to spend the next several hours talking shit, laughing, and trying not to get absolutely destroyed in multiplayer. And somewhere in the background? Breaking Benjamin — “I Will Not Bow.” Man. What a time to be alive. Those were the days. No responsibilities like the ones we carry now. No worrying about deadlines, photo edits, or getting home from a concert at two in the morning. Just music, video games, and your friends.
It’s funny how a song can become attached to such a specific period of your life. You hear it years later and suddenly you’re right back there. You remember the people. The conversations. The late nights. The feeling of being young and not realizing how much you’re going to miss those moments someday. That’s what “I Will Not Bow” does for me. And seventeen years later…I was standing in the photo pit at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Camera in hand. Waiting for Breaking Benjamin to walk onto the stage. And they opened with that exact song. I don’t think I could’ve written a better opening to my first Breaking Benjamin show if I’d tried. There was no easing into it. No waiting until halfway through the set for that one song I wanted to hear. The band came out and immediately launched into “I Will Not Bow.” And suddenly two completely different versions of my life collided. The kid in 2009. And the photographer in 2026. One sitting in front of an Xbox. The other standing feet away from Benjamin Burnley. One listening to the song through speakers. The other hearing it live while thousands of people surrounded him. For a moment, I couldn’t help but think about how much life had changed between those two experiences.
Breaking Benjamin didn’t stop with that opening. Their Raleigh set continued with “Until the End,” “Evil Angel,” and “Crawl,” before moving into songs such as “Red Cold River,” “Blow Me Away,” and “Angels Fall.” The performance moved through different eras of the band’s career, reminding everyone just how many recognizable songs Breaking Benjamin has accumulated over the years. “Blow Me Away” carried its own connection to video-game culture, having originally appeared in Halo 2. For someone whose memories of this music are closely tied to gaming, that connection made the evening feel even more fitting. Then came “So Cold.” , “Polyamorous.” ,“Dear Agony.” ,“Breath.” And eventually, “The Diary of Jane.” Each song represented another chapter in the band’s history. Each one seemed to carry a different memory for the people listening. That’s the thing about bands that have been around this long.
Their songs don’t simply belong to the musicians anymore. They belong to the people who grew up with them. There’s always something bittersweet about the end of concert season. For months, Coastal Credit Union Music Park has been filled with music, artists, photographers, crews, and thousands of people making memories. Different genres ,Different generations ,Different performances. Each show adding another chapter to the season. Then, eventually, there’s one final night. One last walk toward the photo pit. One last opportunity to photograph artists beneath the open sky before the outdoor concert season comes to a close. This year, that night belonged to Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, STARSET, and KamiKehoe. What a way to finish.
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