Regardless of the drama, songs come first for Breaking Benjamin

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

4 “It’s a fun show, and we’re playing a lot of songs from different albums,” said guitarist Aaron Fink, calling from Little Rock, Ark. “We have a bigger production this go-around with more video. We tried to up the ante with every tour, and, hopefully, when people pay their $40 or whatever the ticket costs to see us, it’s money well-spent.”

High-tech video elements notwithstanding, what about some pyrotechnics?

“Yeah, we did a lot of pyro on one tour, and it didn’t seem to quite fit us,” Fink said. “So now we’re doing video stuff, and I think that fits the style of the band a bit more.”

While the presentation of the band may be different, Breaking Benjamin’s music has remained steady during the past decade with successful albums such as 2002’s “Saturate,” 2004’s “We Are Not Alone,” 2006’s “Phobia” and 2009’s “Dear Agony.” In fact, the middle two releases were platinum, with the latter effort released last September already gold. However, the one change for the band, which includes Elyria native Chad Szeliga on drums, was the new album marked the first time singer Benjamin Burnley was sober during the songwriting process. He had been in rehab before the effort.

Despite a different approach, Fink loves the results with “Anthem of the Angels” and “Lights Out” being his favorite new tunes.

“The CD was a little different in the way that it was written, for sure,” Fink said. “It took a while to make, and there were some things to figure out. But as far as recording and all that stuff, it was pretty much the same. Sonically, I think the record sounds great. First and foremost for us, it’s about good songs. We don’t worry stylistically too much. We’re not like every song has to be heavy or let’s write one for radio. We just kind of worry about the nature of the song first. We like to mix it up. And I think it gets boring if every single song gets heavy or if every single song is light.”

Finally, Breaking Benjamin’s mainstream success has seemingly thrust the band into a unique realm of influence. Just like Metallica and Nirvana before them, Breaking Benjamin is the inspiration for countless bar bands everywhere.

“That’s cool and, obviously, flattering,” Fink said. “I’m glad to be a part of something like that, but again, it’s hard to have that outside perspective. There are some days when we even question whether we’re still just a garage band [like when we started]. We’re still the same people but, obviously, it’s different now. But yeah, being called an influence is a compliment. And I have heard songs on the radio where I’m like, ‘Yeah, that kind of sounds like us.’”

So is there a downside to being considered an influence over so many groups?

“Yeah,” Fink laughed, “it makes you feel old.”

if you go

Who: Breaking Benjamin with Chevelle, Red and Thousand Foot Krutch

When: 7 p.m. next Thursday

Where: Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St., Youngstown.

Tickets: All tickets $37 ($39 day of show)