The threat of an impending thunderstorm did little to dampen the spirits of fans mingling outside the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore last weekend. The excitement before entering the venue was palpable, setting a promising tone for the night’s performance. Fans eagerly purchased merchandise, enjoyed concessions, and caught up with friends ahead of what was to be an electrifying, and for many, a healing night of rock with the legendary band, Linkin Park.
Currently on their From Zero World Tour, the latest iteration of the group – featuring Emily Armstrong (vocals), Colin Brittain (drums), Dave Phoenix Farrell (bass), Alex Feder (guitar), and of course, Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn – devoted the evening to honoring the Linkin Park legacy. Their setlist seamlessly blended past and present, creating an inspiring progression of their musical journey that had the crowd laughing, crying, and rocking hard all night long.
The evening kicked off with rapper and singer grandson, who delivered a high-energy performance with his mosh-inducing tracks. Known for songs that address societal and political issues, he gained significant attention in 2019 with his Billboard-topping single, “Blood // Water.” Throughout his set, he showcased an impressive range of songs from across his discography, jumping from tracks like “Bury Me Face Down” and “6:00,” to “Drones” and “We Did It!!!” Later, he asked people to turn on their phone lights. “Turn the fuck up – let’s light up this dark motherfucking world!” he shouted before transitioning to one of his slower tracks, which had fans illuminating the venue with a sea of stars. Towards the end of his set he even had the audience moshing, encouraging everyone to open the pit. The crowd enjoyed his energy, and the raw, emotional performance complemented the tour perfectly.
As fans continued to fill the large venue, mysterious ten-minute timers appeared on the large screens suspended from the ceiling, piquing everyone’s curiosity as they silently counted down. The clocks were reminiscent of the cryptic countdowns often seen online before Linkin Park releases something new. As the timer neared its end, the crowd began counting down the final ten seconds in unison.
When the timer hit zero, Linkin Park took the stage with a captivating performance that guided the audience through a powerful narrative of their musical journey, broken down into multiple acts. They played iconic tracks like “Somewhere I Belong,” “Crawling,” “Numb,” and “In The End,” while weaving in newer hits like “The Emptiness Machine,” “Two Faced,” and “Up From the Bottom” from their latest album, From Zero.
Though Linkin Park officially debuted their new vocalist in 2024, many fans had not experienced hearing Emily Armstrong live until this year. With her infectious personality and powerful voice – ranging from hard and gritty to emotional and smooth – she completely captivated the audience with her passionate performance. It was no surprise that the devoted LP fanbase responded with tremendous support and enthusiasm.
Throughout the night, there were several special moments in store for the Baltimore audience, including when Mike Shinoda ventured into the crowd to greet everyone in the pit. He gifted a signed hat to a fan after briefly chatting about her Animal Crossing island, which he recalled visiting virtually during a past livestream. Shinoda also shared that at every show he tries to remember a few lines from his Fort Minor project, before effortlessly freestyling lyrics to “Remember the Name” with fans joining in to help for a few bars – eventually making his way back to the stage to finish out the song with the band.
Midway through their set, Emily introduced the first ever live-debut of “Stained,” which was well-received by the audience. The group also treated fans to a beautifully moving cover of “Where’d You Go,” and once again people brought out their phones to light up the venue in camaraderie, singing along to the lyrics. During “One Step Closer,” grandson joined Linkin Park on stage as a surprise guest performer, causing the crowd to erupt with excitement.
Needless to say, Linkin Park kept everyone on their toes throughout the emotionally charged night with their expansive setlist, fierce delivery, and stunning stage production. The audience’s energy culminated in an explosive extended encore, resulting in a wave of crowd surfers during songs like “Papercut” and “Heavy Is The Crown,” until the end of the show. After their final bows, the band took time to toss drum sticks, guitar pics, and set lists into the crowd while expressing their thanks and waving goodbye.
The From Zero World Tour celebrates Linkin Park’s ongoing evolution, and witnessing the LP community come together to express their joy and pain, reliving nostalgia while celebrating the future, was an incredible experience. The tour will continue through November 2025, so be sure to catch their exhilarating performance in a city near you!
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