One wouldn’t necessarily paint a Linkin Park concert as an all-ages show; however, Aug. 11 at Jiffy Lube Live appeared more family-friendly than expected, despite the occasional expletive.
Not that the messages put forth in Linkin Park's music is relevant across generations, but there’s no doubt that teens, adults and even seniors were connecting on Saturday night.
And the enthusiasm of the audience was everything that Linkin Park could have asked for on the opening night of their Honda Civic-sponsored 2012 world tour.
Despite the absence of the alt-rock band Incubus from this date of the tour, from the opening salvo of high-energy songs “With You,” “Faint,” and “Given Up,” the crowd was poised to participate with hands raised and fists pumping.
As singer/guitarist Chester Bennington belted out the melodies, rapper/guitarist Mike Shinoda provided the perfect counter-balance as they traded the spotlight throughout the evening. Likewise, the band’s fusion of guitar-driven energy blended with hip-hop and scratching turntables demonstrated why the band attracts such a diverse audience.
When Shinoda asked early in the show, “How many of you bought the new album?” the audience responded ecstatically. At this point, he announced that the band would play new songs from “Living Things.”
While the crowd settled down for “Victimized,” it wasn’t long before the concussive “Papercut” brought the crowd back and kept the crowd in tow throughout the rest of the show.
The evening also included the live debut of the forceful “In My Remains,” to which the audience was especially receptive.
The set featured songs from throughout their extensive catalog. Fans were happy to hear the sonic assaults (“Somewhere I Belong” and “The Catalyst”) as well as the more subtle numbers (“Leave Out All the Rest,” “Shadow of the Day,” and “Iridescent”). Flames burst from the stage for “Burn it Down” from the new record, which looks to be a significant addition to their set for tours to come.
To close out the hour and 15 minute regular set, LP offered a succession of fan favorites “In the End,” “Numb,” and “Bleed it Out” (which included verses from the Beastie Boys’ "Sabotage"). From performances of these numbers, it’s evident that the band considers its relationship with the crowd as symbiotic, mutually appreciative, as they surrendered the chorus of “In the End” to an impassioned audience.
After the band’s signature outro of a sustained, pulsating chord, they quickly returned for the encore of “Lost in the Echo,” “What I’ve Done” and “One Step Closer” to wrap the show by 11:00 p.m.
As the multi-generational crowd left the venue and some prepared for their considerable treks back home (reportedly fans traveled as far as Virginia Beach), young and old concertgoers certainly had a unique experience to share.
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