Linkin Park wasn’t always Linkin Park. In fact, in the early days, they were originally called Xero and later tried out Hybrid Theory, before eventually settling on Linkin Park.
Regardless of the name they ultimately chose, Chester Bennington (lead vocals), Mike Shinoda (lead and rap vocals), Brad Delson (lead guitar), Joseph Hahn (turntables), Dave “Phoenix” Farrell (bass) and Rob Bourdon (drums) had no idea they would eventually become one of the biggest rock bands of their generation.
In 2000, they released their first full-length album, Hybrid Theory, which is certified Diamond and became the bestselling debut album of the 21st century. Seven additional albums followed — Meteora, Collision Course, Minutes To Midnight, A Thousand Suns, Living Things, The Hunting Party and One More Light — as Linkin Park established themselves as heavyweights in the genre.
Let’s not forget Collision Course, a collaborative effort with legendary rapper Jay-Z, which sold more than 300,000 copies in its first week alone and became just the second ever EP to top the Billboard 200. In all, Linkin Park has earned multiple Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and notched five number one Billboard debuts.
After the tragic loss of Bennington in 2017, the band came to a devastating halt. Grief and unanswered questions obscured any thoughts of their future. Over time, in their words, friendships led the way. Shinoda, Delson, Hahn and Farrell began making music together again. They met Emily Armstrong (lead vocals) and Colin Brittain (drums). Jam sessions organically morphed into recording sessions, and Linkin Park quietly assembled a collection of new material “channeling the open-hearted spontaneity of starting over: From Zero.”
The latest evolution of Linkin Park was on full display in Baltimore, Maryland, during the fifth stop of the North American leg of their massive 59-show From Zero World Tour. The 13,000 fans who packed into CFG Bank Arena were rewarded with a two-hour, 27-song marathon performance that far exceeded any reasonable expectations.
The show kicked off with “Somewhere I Belong,” the band’s first single from their second studio album, Meteora. Picking such an iconic and well-known song to jumpstart the evening was clearly no accident, and only encouraged fans to sing along with the 2003 hit track. The next two songs — “Points of Authority” and “Crawling” — further invited those in attendance to accompany Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, in the singing of each chorus.
Even in an era where album sales have waned, Linkin Park became the first rock band to achieve more than one billion YouTube views. Fast forward to today, and they garner more than 48 million monthly streams on Spotify, which ranks them right around 50th overall on the platform.
The band’s new album, From Zero, dropped last November and was an immediate success — peaking at number one in 14 countries. “The Emptiness Machine” was the lead single of the album, so it’s only fitting that it was the first new song to be played live for Baltimore.
One of the biggest standout moments during the show was the performance of “Waiting for the End.” Those familiar with the lyrics know the song focuses on some heavy stuff, like denial of a broken relationship and/or the loss of a loved one. After Bennington’s death, a song like this carries heightened meaning for so many fans of the band, with lyrics like: “All I wanna do is trade this life for something new. Holding on to what I haven’t got.” More than a few fans in attendance were understandably emotional during this offering, wiping their eyes as they attempted to sing along.
A few songs later, “Two Faced” showed a completely different side of the band, one with an abundance of ruthless aggression. Armstrong’s primal screams kick off one of the standout tracks of the new album and rejuvenated the energy in the arena.
For the first time on tour, “One Step Closer” featured a special cameo by opener Grandson. This shouldn’t come as a massive surprise to anyone who has heard his cover of the song, but it was still a fun and enjoyable moment during the third act.
“What I‘ve Done” is a perfect example of how Linkin Park honors and respects the legacy of the original version of the band. Armstrong isn’t Bennington, and that’s okay. It’s different, but clearly it works. And it’s good. For two straight hours the crowd was more than happy to sing along and constantly roared their approval at songs old and new.
As the show concluded, I found myself legitimately blown away by how good Linkin Park sounds live. And, considering this was just the fifth stop on their first tour with this group, it’s noteworthy how everything already seems so polished and well oiled. The tour features captivating visuals, an impressive light show and, best of all, you can tell everyone on stage – and off it – is having a blast.
Setlist
Act I
Somewhere I Belong
Points of Authority
Crawling
New Divide
The Emptiness Machine
Act II
The Catalyst
Burn It Down
Up From the Bottom
Where’d You Go
Waiting for the End
Castle of Glass
Two Faced
Joe Hahn Solo
Empty Spaces
When They Come for Me/Remember the Name
Casualty
One Step Closer (with grandson) – first time together during tour
Act III
Lost (1st verse/1st chorus Mike and Emily piano into full band version)
Stained (live debut)
What I’ve Done
Act IV
Overflow
Numb
In the End
Faint
Encore:
Papercut
A Place for My Head
Heavy Is the Crown
Bleed It Out
photos + words : Brian Murphy