Linkin Park
The Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA
Wednesday, September 12th, 2024
WillToRock grabbed a cell phone and was On Scene and Heard…
The Return of Linkin Park
July 20th, 2017 is the date that everything changed for Linkin Park. Vocalist, Chester Bennington took his own life and, outside of a Celebration of Life with LP & Friends later that year at the Hollywood Bowl, the beat of the band went silent.
7 years later after not much noise from the LP camp, a press release was sent just last week that contained a flood of information. Linkin Park would be releasing a new album (From Zero), have a new single (“The Emptiness Machine“), announced a live stream event and a world tour. Oh yeah, and now have a new vocalist, Emily Armstrong (previously from LA rock act, Dead Sara).
My first spin of “The Emptiness Machine“…? LOVE IT! It is 100% pure Linkin Park with a new twist. Obviously Emily’s voice is more delicate during slower moments, but when she screams… boy, can she scream.
How would this all play in the live setting and with the fans. I watched part of the Live-Stream and had mixed feelings about it. It was hard to gauge the energy in the room and with my ear fixed solely on Emily, I wasn’t 100% convinced.
Well…I can tell you from last night’s opening date of their quick hit world tour that things are going to be JUST fine.
Linkin Park are back with a vengeance.
The band (which now also includes new drummer Colin Brittain) rocked the hell out of the packed Forum crowd. Emily’s voice was insane. She gets to the heart of what makes Chester’s vocals so intense. Like before, you anticipate every scream, and Emily nailed it every time. She definitely has her own style and her cleaner vocals are delivered beautifully, but this chick can ROCK.
It may have been expected that there was some sort of fanfare for Chester and that there would possibly be an interlude that honored him or even some pictures flashed on the large cube screens that hovered over the stage that was set up in the middle of the Forum, but there was none of that. At the start of the show, Mike Shinoda said “If you saw the livestream, you know what to do tonight, You sing for Chester“. And that was really all that needed to be said. The crowd screamed along with Emily and for Chester the entire show. (I haven’t been that hoarse leaving a concert in a LONG time).
The setlist was incredible with a lot of songs being played that hadn’t been heard for a long time. Outside of all their hits, the band also played “When They Come For Me” (first time since 2014), “Given Up” (first time since 2015), “My December” (first time since 2008) as well as the live debuts of “Friendly Fire” (from Papercuts) and “Keys To The Kingdom” (from The Hunting Party)
The signal at the show was shitty, so even though I posted some livestream snippets from the WillToRock facebook page, the quality was balls. I do have some video that I took that I will try to get up at some point. But the good news is, the very large, grandma looking, lady next to me literally taped the whole concert. The bad news is, if you find her video wherever it ends up being posted, you’re going to have to hear ME scream the whole way through it. (insert evil grin)
Towards the end of the show, Mike said “It’s not about erasing the past. It’s about starting this new chapter into the future“. And by all accounts, the future for Linkin Park will be bright.
Linkin Park:
Mike Shinoda – vocals, rapping, rhythm guitar, keyboards, samples, synthesizers
Joe Hahn – turntables, synthesizers, samples, programming, backing vocals
Dave “Phoenix” Farrell – bass, backing vocals
Emily Armstrong – vocals
Colin Brittain – drums, percussion
Alex Feder – lead guitar
