GALLERY + REVIEW: Take Back Your Life Tour - Sacramento, CA (7/18/23)
Disturbed (w/ Jinjer & Breaking Benjamin)
Toyota Amphitheater - Wheatland, CA - July 18th, 2023
Photos by Chelsea Anderson (@caligula.nv)
It was a scorching day outside for an outdoor concert. Yet nearly 20,000 people braved the 104 degree heat to attend the Take Back Your Life Tour featuring Jinjer, Breaking Benjamin, & Disturbed, held at the Toyota Amphitheater in Wheatland, California.
Jinjer took the stage, with Tatiana's signature demon like growls of "Perennial" permeating the blistering dry air throughout the arena and capturing the attention of any stragglers, serving as a reminder that it was time to kick off an incredible night of music. With her lime green makeup drawn as sharply as her lyrical prowess, Tatiana quickly takes control of the crowd, a new heavy metal queen in the making. But it is not just Tatiana that makes Jinjer shine. The whole band, hailing from Ukraine, collectively work together to create a heavy metal powerhouse that is not to be missed. Appropriate for the weather outside, they end their short six song set with "As I Boil Ice" to a cheering crowd, full of new fans.
After a dramatic curtain drop, Breaking Benjamin launches into "Failure", an enthusiastic crowd willingly participating at every opportunity. Ben Burnley is eager to participate and engage with fans, encouraging them to sing along in nearly every song, and sing along they do. Nearly every song is a crowd pleaser, and it is no wonder as Breaking Benjamin is celebrating over two decades since the release of their debut album "Saturate". Despite the huge ventilation system that deters visibility, the set is energetic and engaging. The set lasts nearly an hour, and ends on a high note with "Diary of Jane", as the crowd swells in unison.
Darkness sets in, as the temperature cools slightly. A curtain conceals the stage, though lighting teases the members of Disturbed moving behind, ramping up the attendees as "Hey You" kicks off and the curtain falls to a cacophonous roar from the crowd. It's a fitting greeting as Disturbed launches into a spectacle of fire and flame, a feast for the eyes as the set is constantly shifting.
Midway through the show, David Draiman sets an emotional tone discussing his battle with depression and addiction. Encouraging the crowd to raise their own hands if they themselves have ever battled with these afflictions. It's a sobering and tender moment, as they play "A Reason to Fight", uniting the crowd through a shared connection that we all face similar battles though we all may lead separate lives. Unity is a strong message throughout the night.
After several solo's highlighting the incredible talent of each member of the band, "The Sound of Silence" hauntingly begins to play. An incredible spectacle of light, and flame, and sound fills the Toyota Amphitheater as people watch, astounded.
The night ends with a three song encore, much to the crowds delight, featuring Disturbed's very first single "Down with the Sickness" off of their debut album "The Sickness, released in 2000. A fitting tribute highlighting such a prolific career in the industry.