
22 Years Ago: Breaking Benjamin Plays Maine for the First Time
Time certainly does go by at a quicker pace than most of us would prefer. For example, twenty-two years ago, Breaking Benjamin hit Portland, Maine, for the first time, opening for Saliva at the legendary State Theatre. It was January 31, 2003, and while they were the new kids on the block, that night was the start of something special between the band and Maine’s rock scene.
The band was touring in support of their debut album Saturate and their debut single "Polyamorous" was getting heavy rotation airplay on WCYY. I remember interviewing the band that evening before the show and at the time having no idea that they would have the entire crowd sucked in right off the bat. Details about that show are a little foggy (we all partied a little too hard back then), but I do remember the energy in the room that night was high.
Since that first show, Breaking Benjamin has come back to Maine a whopping 12 times, with the most recent being an unplugged show at Aura in 2021. Clearly, they know they’ve got some hardcore fans up here who never miss a show.
From opening act to headlining, Breaking Benjamin’s love for our state is real, and it all started back in 2003 at the State Theatre. Here's the setlist for both Breaking Benjamin and Saliva from that inaugral night.
A List of Maine's Longest Running Music Venues
Gallery Credit: Lizzy Snyder
15 Maine Restaurants That Are a Step Back in Time
Gallery Credit: Lori Voornas
More From 94.3 WCYY








