Review and Photos by Greg Hamil
A Monday night might not be the ideal day for a rock concert, even if it is Linkin Park. Add to that fans that were cautiously optimistic about what direction the band would go after the tragic passing of Chester Bennington. By the end of the night, they would be thoroughly convinced that the band had entered a new era!
The band remains mostly intact with Mike Shinoda on rap vocals, backing vocals, guitar and keyboards. Brad Delson on lead guitar, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell on bass, and Joe Hahn on turntables, samples, and visuals rounded out the long-time members. The newest members were Colin Brittain on drums and Emily Armstrong on lead vocals.
Leading into the show was a ten-minute countdown during which the nostalgic “Lavern & Shirley” them song played in a nod to Milwaukee’s pop culture. As the countdown reached zero, a laser sliced right down the middle of the stage as two video cubes above the stage came to life with cinematic visuals. The band entered through a tunnel of fans and onto the stage where they launched into “Somewhere I Belong”. The crowd came to life as steam canons, strobes and lasers matched the beat creating a spectacle that matched the emotions of the band and crowd alike.
The 26 song setlist balanced nostalgia with evolution with a mix of songs from past and present. The unique part of this tour is Linkin Park doesn’t perform the same setlist every night making each show different. The was broken into four acts:
Act 1 included “Points of Authority” and “Crawling” which gave Armstrong a chance to prove herself. Her vocals were powerful and very similar to the emotional delivery of Chester Bennington. Fans that were apprehensive before were visibly moved. Some sang every word, while others were brought to tears.
Act II included “Burn It Down” and “Remember the Name” with Shinoda commanding the stage. This act also included a solo by Joe Hahn that was backed by Brittain. It was like a psychedelic interlude that allowed fans to rest before the next barrage.
Act III brough “Lost” and ”What I’ve Done”. The set showcased the band’s evolved sound which was more synth heavy and layered.
Act IV closed out the show with “Numb”, “In the End”, and “Faint”, with each song starting with and extended intros and outros that turned old songs in to new experiences.
The production was breathtaking! The “in the round” design of the stage allowed everyone in attendance to take in all aspects of the performance. The video cubes, with their synchronized visuals, accompanied by lasers, strobes, and steam canons punctuated breakdowns. The sound was amazing with a perfect balance of aggressive guitars with atmospheric synths.
Throughout the night, Chester’s presence and contribution to the band was felt. During “One Step Closer”, the video cubes displayed footing of Bennington performing the song. Fans raised their phones in tribute.
Before “In The End”, Shinoda took time to tell everyone “This band was built on emotion, connection, and honesty. Chester gave us that. Tonight, we honor him by continuing what he started”. With many in the crowd tearing up, chants of “Chester, Chester, Chester” rang through the arena.
Linkin Park’s performance in Milwaukee proved that they are thriving. The From Zero tour has reignited the bands creative fire, and the addition of Armstrong has opened new possibilities. They are not recreating the past, rather they are building on it.
SETLIST:
Act I: Inception Intro B – Somewhere I Belong – Points of Authority – Stained – Crawling – The Emptiness Machine
Act II: Creation Intro B – The Catalyst – Burn It Down – Up From The Bottom – Where’d You Go – Waiting for the End – Lies Greed Misery – Two Faced – Joe Hahn Solo – Empty Spaces – When They Come for Me/Rember The Name – Given Up – One Step Closer
Act III – Break/Collapse – Lost – Good Things Go – What I’ve Done
Act IV – Kintsugi – Overflow – Numb – In The End – Faint
Encore – Resolution Intro B – Papercut – A Place for My Head – Heavy is the Crown – Bleed It Out
