The Best In A Bad
Situation
Bad Arena and Health Issues Can't Stop LP
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Linkin Park's charismatic frontman, |
>> February 2004, Long Beach, CA >> When it comes
to performing, Linkin Park really doesn’t have to do much. Sure, it would be
nice for the fans to have some long-lasting personal bond established, but it’s not
really that necessary. Yeah, occasional eye contact from Chester or Mike would be
life changing or maybe even a brief stare would put you into an epileptic frenzy, but no,
it’s not really needed here. And why would you need it? They have a sick
number of hits that can make even Metallica look like a one hit wonder; LP can do whatever
they want, so long as they bang out the hits.
For the thousands of fans at the Long Beach Arena, they got just
that. Hit after hit, after hit after hit. Whether it was “Crawling”
or “One Step Closer,” “Somewhere I Belong” or even “Numb”,
it was all there and then some. And only a lucky few hundred fans viewed first hand
Chester’s intensity flowing from his bulging reddish veins emanating from his pale
white neck. The rest got to watch Shinoda jump around like a silly goose from afar.
The Long Beach Arena, by the way, is just horrible - an antiquated hockey rink at
best with 80% of the seats literally a mile away.
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| >> The girl
Chester looked at is still in a coma. >> |
Although LP cancelled a huge performance at the Great Western
Forum the following day reportedly due to an illness befallen on Chester, he did not show
it in Long Beach. Though slightly pale and withdrawn he was graceful and incredibly
focused as he tightly gripped his mike with both hands and bellowed his familiar screech.
It was comforting. Shinoda as usual was a constant distraction with his
upbeat antics and his “hands in the air” routine but nevertheless he carries a
voice that compliments Chester fully.
They are complete only together.
Chester was in constant competition with his adoring audience who
sang along to every chorus, if not every verse, as if they were part of the performance
and often drowning out the guitars. This may have inspired LP to stop the show
midway and find a fanatic that could strum along and play live with the band if for
nothing but to bolster the sound. After two attempts, one fan got his five minutes of fame
and jammed along sounding quite good.
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>> "Anyone seen my razor?" >> |
The Meteora tour also brought along for the ride POD and
Hoobastank. POD in particular also brings a battery of hits and performed
adequately. POD’s music is certainly preferable via radio and they have
struggled to find their identity on stage. They at times seem to be distractions from the
main event but they were warmly received. >>
