Samplorama
One thing has to be made clear to put the whole of this set in context. Sampling is an understatement. It's a fact of Linkin Park that has to be accepted. If you are happy accepting the fact you are listening to puppets acting to a CD then the rest of the set actually comes out pretty well.
The crowd is as expected, mostly twelve. Looking around I can see a number of people no higher than my waiste and their twenty-something parents wearing matching hoodies. It is an eerie sight and I cannot help but fail to shake off the thought that if I were elsewhere tonight the audience would be somewhat more balanced.
Equipped with a stage full of scenary and large-screen TV with special effects - the set can get under way. The set is well balanced between 'Meteora' and 'Hybrid Theory' with only one song played from 'Reanimation'. The fans love every minute of it and the constant shrill-screams that surround me reinforce how much they are enjoying the set.
Apparently, the audience at the Manchester Evening News Arena is the best audience that Linkin Park have had in quite some time. Further to that - we have made their night memorable. It's always nice to hear this - especially considering that during their 2001 support slot with Deftones and their Reading appearance this year we were also the best audience they have ever played to. Their audiences must get better every night. One thing is for sure with Linkin Park - their act is as scripted as their music is sampled. It plays well to the fans that honestly feel they have saved the Park's faith in their crowds.
During the set, a member of the crowd is bought on stage to help sing (more acuratley to stand on stage and mosh by himself). For one Linkin Park fan - this will honestly be the most memorable night of their teenage-angst years, 'performing' with their favourite band in front of 15,000 people. It is as scripted as the rest of the set, but it really has made someones night.
The support act, 'Kinesis', have said that they wanted to convert some LP fans to their material tonight. Hopefully they will have managed to do it - but the majority of people were here to see only one band. Linkin Park do what they do well. Saying that, the Spice Girls did what they did very well.