From Zero, to Heroes: Linkin Park Lifts Minneapolis’ Spirits at Concert
Against the backdrop of the day’s tragic shooting, Linkin Park–a band itself familiar with loss–took the stage in its reborn form to entertain and uplift an eager Target Center audience.
Replacing lead singer Chester Bennington is the talented Emily Armstrong. Make no mistake, Armstrong is not Bennington. And you never feel she tries to emulate the revered singer, evident from a hit-filled opening act to extended versions of other favorites.
On songs like “Crawling”, she let the crowd help on Bennington’s higher parts, or she deferred to guitarist Mike Shinoda. “Faint”, she handled with surprising ease. And new songs written for her like “The Emptiness Machine”, she dazzled in her parts.
All while the band’s patented techno-industrial motifs displayed on two four-sided screens above the rectangular stage in the stadium’s center. The coolest moment was laser lights seeming to singe the screen open. And throughout the night, it boosted the intensity and emotion behind all songs. And, was visually stimulating.
Yet not long into the night, took out a note card and read “off his heart”. He acknowledged the day’s tragic shooting while paralleling it to their experience with Bennington’s suicide. He mentioned how it was “difficult”, yet they were able to “pick it back up” with the band. And he dedicated the evening to the “loving, strong, resilient city of Minneapolis” while pointing out how music can “bring a light during a dark time”.
This led directly into an emotional rendition of “Castle of Glass”.
Further spreading love with the city, Shinoda left the stage and high fived what seemed every fan on the rails. He also stood on the rail and sang a few verses of “Remember the Name” during a rap mashup. Even Armstrong went into the crowd a bit.
Getting extra close to the fans, he signed someone’s arm because the person had a tattoo that Bennington had. He also gave a kid his hat, a hat with all the band’s signatures, and talked with the family while the screens projected the moment.
A funnier local moment was when he asked how the concert compared to the state fair…a comment met with jeers and even some boos. Couple all this with the intro track of The Time’s “Jungle Love” and the dedication and gestures all felt extra sincere and personable.
The band also mixed a variety of performance styles, too. For example, drum and/or scratch solos from drummer Colin Brittian and turntable Joe Hahn. And indicative of their hybrid style (pun intended), a punk rock-fused version of “Numb” from a roulette-style game of “play the song in this style”.
Much respect also to opener Jean Dawson, taking the stage first after the day’s tragic school shooting. After his first three songs, he took a moment to show respect for the victims and their families. He also shouted out to the city for being strong and resilient.
Perhaps unironically, his opening songs included “Bad News” and “SICK OF IT*, as he sang while wearing a hat and hooded jacket, cloaked among the low lights.
From curtain to encore, fans sang Linkin Park’s classics and new songs with equal fervor and passion. Despite the solemn content of many of the band’s songs, the evening felt like a communal release. And an affirmation that what is lost can still live on.
