Linkin Park @ Staples Center, 3/4/08

Seeing the Staples Center sold out for something other than the Lakers was quite an impressive sight and whether you enjoy their music on not, the Linkin Park sound was made for this type of venue. You can't quite call it arena rock, not in the traditional sense, but in the larger venues their angst ridden melodies boom and fill the cavernous space in full. The screams echoing off the jerseys in the rafters and the bass lines rattling through the floorboards. As a band, they are entirely at home on the large stage as each member, save the drummer, plays to different parts of the crowd.


Linkin Park has changed and evolved somewhat in the years since they broke onto the mainstream music scene but it still remains as instantly recognizeable as ever. Each song containing one or both of their main elements, for example this years hit "What I've Done" is a straight rock song with Bennington at the front, while tracks like "Bleed It Out" the band's rap-rock influences are front and center with Mike Shinoda up front as the emcee and Bennington, singing (or screaming) the chorus.

Their music is not something you turn on for a nice relaxing drive through the country, unless that is you are an angst ridden teenager escaping from the tyrannical rule of your parents, but when you are in that certain mood it is a nice escape. No matter what you feel about their music, the band knows how to entertain and put on a good show.

All Photos By Joey Maloney/LAist.com