Linkin Park, Rise Against, And Of Mice & Men Take Bridgestone By Storm

                Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena was only stop number two for “The Hunting Party” tour. Generally, that idea might bring some worry; some bands have to adjust to their new set list and reacquaint themselves with life on the road. That did not appear to be the case Saturday night for Linkin Park, Rise Against, and Of Mice & Men. All three acts came out swinging before the loud and intense Nashville crowd.

 

Both Linkin Park and Rise Against could be considered veterans of hard rock. With over 30 years of combined touring experience between the two bands, it’s safe to say they know how to rock an arena. Of Mice & Men, while just beginning to make their big splash in the genre, has already successfully toured across Europe and the UK on Linkin Park’s previous tour.

 

                The party lasted over three hours, with each band showcasing its own brand of head-banging rock. Of Mice & Men got things started. The enthusiasm they shared with the crowd was unmistakable. The group seemed just as excited as the crowd to be at a Linkin Park show. Front man Austin Carlile mentioned his deep respect and admiration for Linkin Park, specifically for the group’s willingness to serve as mentors and give them a proper introduction into the world of metal. Throughout the show he thanked the Nashville audience for their support and participation. Our job is to “get people warmed up each and every night,” he explained to the crowd just before directing them to get down near the ground in the general admission floor section. As the energy rose with the building rhythm of bass and a chopping guitar, Carlise released a scream in sync with the eruption of the fans jumping to their feet.

 

                Rise Against didn’t really scream, but the amount of emotion and sincerity could not be ignored. The powerful voice of Tim McIlrath bellowed throughout Bridgestone and only energized the crowd even more. The band picked up exactly where Of Mine & Men left off to get the crowd fully engaged. The fans started to mosh in the pit; it was a wild-looking scene. Before anyone knew it crowd surfers were popping up all over the floor section of the arena and being transported by their brethren towards the front of the stage. The security guards looked a bit ill-at-ease while trying to carefully help the surfers down once they reached the front row (then only to escort them all the way to the very back of the floor section); the crowd, on the other hand, only grew more energetic. McIlrath proved to be a skilled entertainer as he guided the crowd through the rocking set list in full control. He even gave the rest of the band a break while he took his acoustic guitar to the front of the stage and calmed the crowd with a mellow acoustic interlude. Of course, he got everyone’s fists back in the air with the next track.

 

                The anticipation for Linkin Park grew throughout the night. The group has a large fan base (Linkin Park has the most fans of any band on Facebook), and it’s also surprisingly a diverse population. One might expect fans in their teens or early twenties sporting tattoos, facial piercings, black skinny jeans and hoodies. There were plenty of fans that fit that description, but there were also countless couples in their thirties, forties, and even beyond. In the opposite direction there were even some young adolescents who came with their parents. One particular youngster, probably around the age of 10, danced and jumped like a kid in a candy store when the famed rockers took the stage. It was impressive to see that the success of Linkin Park has bridged generations.

 

With the recent release of their sixth studio album, everyone was anticipating the chance to hear some of Linkin Park’s new stuff live. “The Hunting Party” has been acclaimed for its raw and aggressive nature. The guys in the band produced the record themselves and made it a project specifically to impress their inner teenage selves. The new tunes were great, and were interwoven perfectly into their already impressive repertoire.  

 

The crowd and the band were in tune with each other throughout the night, and interacted well with each other. Linkin Park closed out with a five-song encore. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda took time from behind their microphones to high-five the crowd and show their appreciation. In fact, all six members of the group took time at the end of the set to throw out drumsticks, picks, and “thank yous” to the crowd.

 

All in all, these three groups put on one heck of a show. It was especially unique to experience the emotion and sincerity that all the bands delivered while on stage. It was clear from the start that the bands were extremely grateful for everyone that turned out to experience the show. The fans were ecstatic to take part in the show; they no doubt left with some great memories.   

Patrick O'Hagan

mpohagan@yahoo.com