When Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington passed away in 2017, fans all around the world wondered if Linkin Park would continue on. Chester was a very unique individual who truly connected to the fans on an intense emotional level. His shoes would never, ever be filled, but what about the rest of the band? They went on an indefinite hiatus after his death which left many fans feeling as if the band was over. Fast forward to 2024 and Billboard magazine reported that the band’s booking agency was accepting offers for a reunion tour that would include Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong. Unbeknownst to the public, the band approached her in 2023 to reform the band.
The band recorded a new album entitled From Zero which was released in 2024 and received a lot of positive reviews. This was the first to feature Armstrong in her new lead vocalist. It was the band’s first new studio album since 2017’s One More Light. When the band decided to go back out on the road, new singer Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain join returning member Mike Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/visual director Joe Hahn and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell. Guitarist Brad Delson, who is still a member of the band, chose not to go out on the road with them. Guitarist Alex Feder is filling in for him in concert for the foreseeable future.
The band’s From Zero World Tour stopped in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 6 at Lenovo Center. This was the first time that the band had played in Raleigh, NC since a 2008 stop on their Projekt Revolution Tour. Fans began lining up early in the morning to secure a prime spot against the rail in the pit. Fans had made sings and banners in hopes of catching the attention of the band. The venue started to really fill up by the time that grandson opened up the show. Some in the crowd were familiar with his music. The ones who weren’t were caught off guard with the energy that this guy brings to his performances. His 35 minute set was tight and packed with more energy than any drink in the energy drink section at Sheetz.
His set ended and the crowd’s anticipation began to grow and grow. At one point a timer appeared on the large blocks/screens hanging above the stage. The crowd let out a loud roar of approval as the clock began to count backwards. As the clock got closer to zero, a familiar song to some began to play as the volume of the speakers was immediately cranked to 11. “Weatherman” by Emily Armstrong’s band Dead Sara was being played and I could see people asking the people next to them ‘who is this?’ The song ended, the counter was now at 0:00 and the lights dimmed. A single blue laser beam shot down hitting the stage and then disappearing several times. It was like one of those alien destruction beams that the mother ship would beam down to Earth. Images appeared on the blocks above the stage and the unique backdrop on the rear of the stage. The band slowly appeared to roars from the crowd with Shinoda receiving a thunderous roar as did Armstrong. Then, the band tore into “Somewhere I Belong” and the two hour celebration began.
The show was broken down into four acts with each one having a different type of feel to it. The set list did lean heavily towards the latest studio album From Zero with seven tracks being played from it. There were so many LP staples played as well including “In The End” (which included one of multiple times where Shinoda jumped down, got on the rail and sang with the audience), “Crawling,” “Faint” and “What I’ve Done.” There were a few surprises (especially for those who choose not to peak at setlist.fm before the show) including “One Step Closer” performed with opener grandson and a brief version of Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor hit “Where’d You Go.” The band seems to be switching things up from city to city, keeping fans on their toes, and changing at least one song each night. At this show, the band played “IGYEIH” during which Armstrong left the stage, climbed the rail and went into the pit. The band surprised her during Act II because it was her birthday. They brought out a birthday cake and the band, along with the crowd, sang Happy Birthday to her.
The Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina is also the home to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. When the band came out for their encore, Shinoda and Armstrong came out wearing custom made Hurricanes jerseys with their names on the backs and they performed in them. Overall, this was an awesome show. There was so much energy from the crowd and it truly did seem to move both Shinoda and Armstrong at several times. I’ve been a long-time fan of the band and saw them for the very first time on their Meteora Tour. The crowd was singing each and every song, some louder than others. All throughout the show, Armstrong would turn the mic towards the crowd and get them to sing the words instead of doing it herself. Without saying it was, this was a celebration of a band whose debut album was released 25 years ago. That’s a lot of songs over 25 years and a lot of memories. This band has meant so much to so many people. Do I think that addition of Armstrong to the band is tarnishing Bennington’s legacy? Not at all; it’s just providing another stage to allow fans, who choose to do so, to continue celebrating those amazing songs live as well as some new ones.
Review and photos by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price
