Linkin Park - London Brixton Academy - 6/3/03
4/5
By: Andy Willson
Brixton Academy always proves a dissonant hive of activity on regular gig nights - what do you expect with a 4,500 capacity? - but tonight appears to be, fittingly, even busier than usual.
Safe in the knowledge that they could sell out any UK venue at a riotous pace, Linkin Park have chosen to treat their followers to a couple of 'intimate shows' this week, playing here, at a radio-event in Nottingham and Manchester's Apollo. Having expected a plaintive barrage of teenage sk8r boys in their hooded tops, it was (welcomingly) surprising to be a part of a real mixed bag for an audience. Yet, even still, proceedings open at 9.00pm on the dot - possibly just to ensure that certain younger members of the contingent can be tucked up home in bed before 11.
Maybe it's the pre-pubescent springiness, yet anticipation is frightfully high, and after a couple of failed screaming attempts to draw the band from the wings, Linkin Park, all clad in black, troupe onto the stage to a frantic reception ('Live Aid'-worthy, in fact). And to further the stadium-rockiness of the whole affair - the mixing desk and drum kit are raised ten foot above the stage, even boxes placed at the front providing a passable view for all.
The imminent release of upcoming, second album, 'Meteora' markedly places its stamp on the set-list, and the first few tracks, inclusive of future single 'Somewhere I Belong', are all of such material; darker and dingier than before perhaps, they're well-received but when singer Chester Bennington asks if anyone wants to hear something from 'Hybrid Theory', naturally, the venue erupts. And so 'Papercut' and 'Points of Authority' follow, and events really start to liven up. In a weird form of contrived, country-dancing etiquette, Bennington, rapper Mike, lead-guitarist Brad and bassist Phoenix swirl around the stage, switching positions every three seconds. It looks knackering just watching them.
Material-wise, the rhythmic assault lasts from the outset to a crushing close, only one track set aside from commonly-forgotten remix album 'Reanimation', possibly an indication that this evening's purpose - if there is such one, other than to shamelessly entertain - is designed to reaffirm and retain their status as the definitive, youthful kings of nu-metal. Calling for the various sections of the crowd to cheer one at a time, with all the professionalism of a circus-ringleader, they declare that they are the best rock band in the world; based on this performance, and the mass-hysteria, you'd have to be ruthless to disagree. After only three quarters of an hour, they vacate the performance-space, leaving a break before a rousing, energetic encore sporting performance-epitomising renditions of 'Crawling' and 'In the End', an altogether magnetising and engaging presentation.
Having locked themselves away for the past eighteen months writing new material, the 'Park have emerged stridently stronger, and - of course - several hundred decibels louder than before. The looks may have changed/matured slightly, but the sound is still distinctive LP, and if they can shift as many copies of the fresh work as they did 'Hybrid Theory' (a mere 13 million and counting), they can take a well-deserved early retirement. But hopefully not just yet.
Artists in this article: Linkin Park
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