Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Starset, Kami Kehoe
September 20, 2026
The MidAmerica Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Words and photos by Adam Tibbott
It had been more than a decade since I’d attended a concert at the MidAmerica Center. The last time I walked through those doors was in 2015, so returning to the venue felt like a homecoming of sorts. For longtime concertgoers in the Omaha metro, “The MAC” has hosted countless memorable shows over the years, making it especially fitting that my return came for a package featuring four acts representing different generations of modern rock.
Technical difficulties delayed the evening’s start, pushing door times from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, but once the music began, the delay quickly became an afterthought.
Kami Kehoe Opens with Attitude and Energy
Making her Omaha metro debut, Kami Kehoe hit the stage at 6:05 PM and immediately announced her presence with a thunderous drum solo before launching into “PSYCHO.”
For an artist still establishing herself in the rock world, Kehoe displayed the confidence of a seasoned veteran. Her set leaned heavily into her harder material, allowing her powerful vocals and natural stage charisma to shine. What stood out most was how quickly she won over an audience that had largely arrived for the night’s more established acts.
The crowd responded enthusiastically throughout the performance, particularly during tracks like “FADE OUT,” “THE END,” and the set-closing “DOPAMINE.” Given that this was her first appearance in the area, she left a strong first impression and likely gained a number of new fans in the process.
Kami Kehoe Setlist
- PSYCHO
- SOMETHING IN THE WATER
- FADE OUT
- DIRTY
- THE END
- LOVE IS A WEAPON
- SLEEP WHEN IM DEAD
- DOPAMINE
Starset Brings a Headlining-Level Spectacle
Few bands have embraced their identity as completely as Starset.
Having photographed the band 16 times since 2014, this performance was my first opportunity to see them live since 2019. In those seven years, the transformation has been remarkable.
While Starset has become a familiar sight throughout Iowa and Nebraska, touring through the region nearly 30 times since 2013, their current live presentation feels worlds apart from the band that first emerged with Transmissions. The group has fully embraced the ever-growing STARSET Society mythology, creating a show that feels less like a concert and more like an immersive science-fiction experience.
The visual presentation alone rivaled that of many headliners. Massive screens, elaborate costuming, cinematic storytelling, and a futuristic military aesthetic combined to create one of the night’s most memorable productions.
Perhaps the biggest evolution has been the addition of live keys, violin and cello performers. Those elements add an entirely new dimension to Starset’s music, elevating it beyond modern hard rock into something more cinematic and atmospheric.
Songs like “Carnivore,” “Monster,” and “My Demons” were audience favorites, but the visuals accompanying newer material such as “Brave New World” and “SILOS” demonstrated just how ambitious the band’s live experience has become.
Starset may have been slotted as direct support, but their performance felt every bit like a headline production.
Starset Setlist
- p a r a d 0 x 1 c
- Carnivore
- Brave New World
- Monster
- SILOS
- a n n 1 h 1 l a t 1 0 n
- TokSik
- My Demons
Chevelle Remains One of Rock’s Most Reliable Live Acts
Now we move into what feels like ancient history.
My first time seeing Chevelle was at Ozzfest 2002, when they opened the Second Stage in Columbus, Ohio. Nearly twenty-four years later to the day, the Illinois rock veterans continue to prove why they’ve remained one of the most respected bands in modern rock.
Since that initial performance, I’ve seen Chevelle in clubs, theaters, amphitheaters, festivals, and arenas. No matter the venue size, one thing never changes: they treat every performance like they’re playing in front of 10,000 screaming fans.
Sunday marked my sixteenth time seeing the band live, and somehow they still manage to generate the same excitement they did more than two decades ago.
Pete Loeffler’s vocals remain as strong as ever, while the band’s signature combination of massive riffs and precise musicianship continues to translate perfectly to the live environment. The energy throughout the set never dipped, moving seamlessly from classics like “Send the Pain Below” and “The Red” to newer material such as “Self Destructor” and “Mars Simula.”
What impresses me most about Chevelle is their refusal to become stagnant. Many bands entering their third decade settle into a comfortable routine. Chevelle continues pushing forward, and their shows somehow feel bigger with every passing tour.
Chevelle Setlist
- Family System
- Self Destructor
- Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)
- Pale Horse
- An Island
- Face to the Floor
- Jim Jones (Cowards, Pt. 2)
- The Clincher
- Send the Pain Below
- Comfortable Liar
- The Red
- Mars Simula
Breaking Benjamin Proves They Have Become a Generational Band
For me, Breaking Benjamin’s headline performance carried a bit of personal significance.
The very first time I photographed the band was August 13, 2006, inside this same building. Nearly twenty years later, I found myself standing in the photo pit at the MidAmerica Center once again documenting a Breaking Benjamin show.
Sunday’s performance was my fifteenth time seeing the band since 2004, and it’s incredible to witness how much Ben Burnley has grown the band over the past decades.
The stage production has become larger. The setlists have become deeper. Most importantly, the band’s energy remains every bit as powerful as it was during their rise through the mid-2000s.
The show opened with a brilliantly nostalgic video sequence depicting an early-2000s computer screen loading the original Halo before attempting to access LimeWire, only to become infected by a virus that melted into the opening visuals for “I Will Not Bow.” It was a clever, humorous callback that resonated with longtime fans while setting the tone for the evening.
Throughout the night, one thing became increasingly clear: Breaking Benjamin has evolved into a truly generational band.
Looking around the venue, you could see parents introducing their children to the music they grew up with. Grandparents attended alongside grandchildren. During one particularly enthusiastic singalong to “I Will Not Bow,” I joked with a nearby fan that they weren’t even born when the song was originally released.
Few bands can boast that kind of cross-generational appeal.
Another highlight came when the band played a tongue-in-cheek compilation of viral videos showing fans awkwardly demonstrating “how to dance to Breaking Benjamin” before launching into “Dear Agony.” It was a moment of self-awareness and humor that perfectly complemented the band’s otherwise emotionally heavy catalog.
By the time the closing notes of “The Diary of Jane” echoed through the MidAmerica Center, one thing was undeniable: Breaking Benjamin’s fanbase continues to grow, and the band’s connection with audiences remains as strong as ever.
Breaking Benjamin Setlist
- I Will Not Bow
- Until the End
- Evil Angel
- Crawl
- Red Cold River
- Blow Me Away
- Follow
- Angels Fall
- You
- So Cold
- Polyamorous
- Dear Agony
- Something Wicked
- Breath
- Awaken
- Failure
- Dance With the Devil
- The Diary of Jane
Final Thoughts
Despite the delayed start, the evening ultimately delivered one of the strongest touring packages of the year. Kami Kehoe introduced fresh energy and potential future stardom, Starset presented a visually stunning Demonstration worthy of headlining status, Chevelle reminded fans why they’ve remained a force in hard rock for three decades, and Breaking Benjamin closed the night with the kind of performance that only comes from a band that has become woven into the fabric of multiple generations’ core musical memories.
For me personally, being back at the MidAmerica Center after ten years made the event even more meaningful. Nearly twenty years after first photographing Breaking Benjamin in the same venue, it was fitting to watch a new generation of fans discover the same music that has connected audiences for decades.
Some bands endure. Some bands evolve. On this night in Council Bluffs, all four proved why rock music continues to thrive.
