Linkin Park needs no introduction — but with their most recent album, maybe a reintroduction is more apt. The band that was formed nearly 30 years ago has gone through some monumental changes over the past decade. From the untimely death of singer Chester Bennington and disbandment to their reformation — adding singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain — it’s been a trying time for this monumental band.
Now, full disclosure, I’d never seen Linkin Park perform before their performance at CFG Bank Arena on May 3 in Baltimore, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I know there are fans who have seen them perform tens if not hundreds of times, but I hazard to guess that most of them would agree that Linkin Park in 2025 puts on an all-the-stops-out full-on rock spectacle.
Case in point: When I arrived at the CFG Bank Arena, I could feel the enthusiasm as the line pre-doors wound around the block. And, really, it should come as no surprise. The From Zero World Tour is the band’s first major tour in seven years, and last year’s From Zero has been garnering positive reviews. Singles like “Heavy Is the Crown,” “Two Faced,” and “Up From the Bottom” have an intensity that elevate most “reunion albums.”
Armstrong’s vocals can go from 0 to 100 in a matter of a single line while Mike Shinoda’s rapped verses are as vital as ever.
Hitting the stage first was grandson, the stage name for Jordan Edward Benjamin, who was engaging and whose music feels like a close cousin to Linkin Park. In fact, grandson was featured on Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda (singer/rapper/guitarist) on his debut solo record.
After an intermission, the lights went down and a blue beam of light buzzed onto the stage, illuminating massive cubes above. And as the band took the stage to kick things off with “Somewhere I Belong,” an apt opener from the band’s third album, Meteora, before playing one of their oldest songs, “Points of Authority” from their debut.
As the intensity of the performance increase, this Baltimore crowd responded. As a mosh pit formed further from the stage, crowd surfers slowly started to make their way in, well, waves. It’s been a while since Linkin Park came to Charm City. In fact, the last time was back when CFG Bank Arena was still First Mariner Arena in February of 2008 — nearly 20 years ago.
Watch the official music video for “Up From The Bottom” by Linkin Park on YouTube:
Linkin Park’s set was broken into four acts with a fifth act as the encore, allowing for not so much a change in the stage design, but a change in mood. From a masterful break by Joe Han on the turntables, to musical lead-ins, each act helped to keep things moving on-stage without a lull in the performance.
While Mike and Emily sang, joining each other at times on risers near the front of the stage, Dave Farrell (bass) and Alex Feder, the band’s touring guitarist, flanked them. It was quite a sight to witness. (Founding guitarist Brad Delson has taken on a studio/creative role but is not touring at this time.)
The newer songs from From Zero fit perfectly in between older songs like “In The End” and “One Step Closer,” which grandson joined in on-stage to a huge reaction from the crowd.
As things continued to heat up, Emily announced new song “Stained,” remarking it was the first time they’d performed it live.
Ending the regular set with the singles “In The End” and “Faint” as Mike went out into the crowd to sing to fans. And as the band returned for the encore, one after another, fans crowd surfed to the stage. Mike and Emily even remarked how high the energy was in Charm City.
One of the best shows I’ve seen this year, Linkin Park knows how to put together a brilliant performance that connected with both new and old fans. Linkin Park is currently in the midst of their From Zero World Tour, and it’s one not to miss if you have the chance.
The setlist included:
Act I
Somewhere I Belong
Points of Authority
Crawling
New Divide (w/ Moscow Intro)
The Emptiness Machine
Act II
Creation Intro A (with elements of “Castle of Glass”)
The Catalyst
Burn It Down
Up From the Bottom
Where’d You Go (Fort Minor cover)
Waiting for the End
Castle of Glass
Two Faced
Joe Hahn Solo
Empty Spaces
When They Come for Me / Remember the Name
Casualty
One Step Closer (with grandson)
Act III
Break/Collapse
Lost
Stained
What I’ve Done
Act IV
Kintsugi
Overflow
Numb
In the End
Faint
Encore:
Resolution Intro A (with elements of “Castle of Glass”)
Papercut
A Place for My Head
Heavy Is the Crown
Bleed It Out
Here are more photos of Linkin Park performing at the CFG Banks Arena on Saturday, May 3, 2025. All photos copyright and courtesy of David LaMason.
And here are photos of grandson opening at the CFG Bank Arena.
