During a recent interview with the “99.7 The Blitz” radio station, Chevelle drummer Sam Loeffler shared his candid thoughts on the growing trend of rock and metal bands relying heavily on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances.
Speaking on his own band’s completely live, stripped-down approach, the drummer contrasted their traditional trio setup with the increasingly synthetic nature of modern concerts, noting that some artists are almost entirely dependent on playback.
“We have no tracks. We have nothing. We’re just three guys playing this music. So many other bands are coming out, and they’ve got track after track. Some of these guys, and I’m not gonna say who, aren’t playing any of it. All of it is on tape. I don’t wanna tell you either. But it’s true. And look, whatever — ’cause I don’t think anybody cares. I honestly don’t think anybody cares,” he explained.
Over recent years, the music industry has seen a massive shift in how live shows are executed. The use of drum triggers, vocal tracks, and assorted playback technology has become highly normalized, granting touring artists a more consistent, albeit less organic, nightly sound.
Sam Loeffler elaborated further on the specific use of backing tracks for drummers, admitting that discovering the truth behind some seemingly impossible live percussion performances actually offered him some personal relief.
“I’ll tell you this, dude. As a drummer, I can tell you, when I found out that a lot of these drummers aren’t actually playing the part — they’re playing some of it, but they’re not playing the double parts, I was, like, ‘Oh, I feel so much better,’ ’cause I couldn’t play that. It’s insane,” he concluded.
Chevelle will soon be bringing their fully live show to arenas across North America as they gear up to provide direct support for Breaking Benjamin. Produced by Live Nation, the extensive fall trek will officially kick off on September 2 in Camden, New Jersey, hitting major markets across the United States and Canada before wrapping up on October 24 in Bristow, Virginia.
The upcoming dates will continue to support Chevelle‘s latest studio album, Bright As Blasphemy, which arrived last August. Serving as the direct follow-up to 2021’s Niratias, the new record marked the band’s first release through Alchemy Recordings following their long-standing run with Epic Records. Alchemy Recordings is a specialized label created in partnership between former American Recordings vice president of A&R Dino Paredes and Danny Wimmer, the renowned founder of Danny Wimmer Presents.
Breaking Benjamin & Chevelle 2026 North American Tour Dates:
- September 02 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
- September 03 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
- September 05 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
- September 06 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- September 09 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
- September 10 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
- September 12 – Allegan, MI – Allegan County Fair *
- September 13 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- September 15 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- September 16 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
- September 18 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- September 20 – Council Bluffs, IA – Mid America Center *
- September 22 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater
- September 24 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater
- September 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
- September 28 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
- September 30 – West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
- October 02 – Las Vegas, NV – Michelob ULTRA Arena
- October 03 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
- October 05 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- October 07 – Albuquerque, NM – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater
- October 10 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- October 12 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
- October 13 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
- October 16 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Mercedes-Benz Amphitheatre *
- October 17 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- October 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- October 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
- October 23 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- October 24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
*Non-Live Nation dates
