Gig Watch: Linkin Park & Chris Cornell

Backstage Footage of
Chester's Broken Wrist (Below)

Alright, alright, no need to twist my arm about it, I was skeptical. I was expecting tonight's festivities to be a mass of black-clad, under-aged, mopey nu-metallers and emos, all snapping photos of themselves for their MySpace display photo with a caption saying "OMG LINKN PARK YO!!!11!".

And apart from the photo-taking bit, I was utterly wrong: the crowd was a mixed bag from the likes of fluro-slogan tees to heavy metal band shirts.

Linkin Park have been one of the few genuinely decent bands to cross over genres and trends while keeping their fanbase.

Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden and Audioslave fame, for those uninitiated) opened the nights merrymaking to a disappointingly half-full arena.

I have to admit feeling sorry for him, this wasn't exactly his target market. There was a beach ball being thrown about the crowd that ellicted more cheer from the GA area than Cornell's entrance, which worried me. Even though the 6 guys sitting next to me left just after Cornell's set, having paid a full $100 to see him and not the headliners, I couldn't help but feel that despite his stellar success, people saw him as 'Just Another Support Act to Sit Through'.

For the fans, though, he tore his way through hits from Soundgarden (Black Hole Sun, personal headbanging favourite, Rusty Cage, and crowd- moistener Spoonman) and most recent supergroup Audioslave (Show Me How to Live and the beyond brilliant Cochise that I almost exploded waiting for).

His solo stuff was appreciated, but was nowhere near as cherished as the rock hero's classics.The only disappointment with the Cornell set seemed to be stemming from his trademark scream (the blare that seperated him from other mumbling frontmen like Eddie Vedder and the abysmal Scott Stapp) which was not up to par. I've been refuted on this by several people who also saw the show, but I stand by my critique, gosh darn it!

The big moment arrived. Houselights dimmed, the excitement from the beach ball game now quickly dead, Linkin Park explode onto the stage with their very first hit, One Step Closer from the 2000 album "Hybrid Theory".

As the crowd sang along obediantly, singer Chester bounded about the stage like a madman: his showmanship and energy is second to none, like some delicious circus act. (I also consider the line "Shut up when I'm talking to you!" from OSC to be the new "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!").

I was surprised at the breadth of older material they played, having seen most long-standing acts abandon their earlier work in favour of newer music - usually off their latest album (to plug it, make sure people bought the album, blah blah blah, cash, cash, cash) - but tonight's set took me back, way back!

See, "Hybrid Theory" was the "Sgt. Pepper" of my high-school life. Before I knew of the likes of artistry I know now, I first got into music via stepping-stone bands like Good Charlotte and Korn (cringeworthy now, but before I knew of "alternative" music I was listening to Nelly and bad techno, so thank your lucky stars I found pop-punk when I did).

"Hybrid Theory" made me realise you didn't always have to sing about bitches and bling: that music could be spiritual, emotional, compelling and intense. In the same way The Beatles set a lot of people onto a journey of musical discovery, such was the influence that Linkin Park had on me. And I'm not ashamed! Loud and proud!

Anyway, Linkin Park burned through their "Hybird Theory" work like a juggernaut, sending heads banging and feet stomping and fists punching skywards with tracks Papercut, Pushing Me Away, Crawling and personal favourite Points of Authority which, I am not embarrassed to admit, sang along at full volume to. It's just too likeable!

However, half way through the set - something occured which could've ruined the show for all concerned: Chester had climbed a small flight of stairs set up on the stage to allow access to Joe Hahn (DJ) and Rob Bourdon (drums). It also added even more space for Chester to gallavant about in. But as he climbed atop the structure, his legs gave way and the screaming frontman fell flat onto the lower stage. He got up and brushed himself off with nonchalance, much to the crowd's acclamation, but a short time later he had to be excused. Mike Shinoda, Park's resident MC and Chester's hip-hop counterpart, told the crowd that Chester had broken his wrist and needed to be attended to. But, like the rock trooper he is, Chester emerged minutes later, heroically claiming, "If it's broken now, It'll still be broken in an hour". If nothing else, you can't deny the Linkin Park boys their rock balls or their willingness to entertain.