I’ve never cared much for nostalgia plays. Not in movies, not in television, and definitely not in music. The trend of slapping “When We Were Young” on a festival lineup or running another album anniversary tour feels like a lazy appeal to people who’ve moved on - who act like their former favorites are a relic of adolescence. Nostalgia tours, at their worst, are just plays for people who don’t have the guts to love something openly unless they’ve got a throwback hashtag to hide behind.
So it’s no surprise I’ve always wrestled with how people frame Linkin Park - my favorite band and likely always will be - especially since Chester’s passing. Even before that, there was always this weird tone when people said, “I had a Linkin Park phase.” I’m someone who never grew out of it, and frankly, I don’t see why anyone should. This is a band whose entire DNA is rooted in evolution, in never staying still, in stretching boundaries. They didn’t just get me into music; they shaped my entire sense of what music is. They taught me what a live show could feel like. They’ve been with me through every version of myself. My first words to my now-wife were asking if she liked Linkin Park. They’re not just a soundtrack - they’re embedded in my foundation.
And if I ever rolled my eyes at the idea of a band “saving your life,” I can’t really anymore. Over two decades in, it’s hard to pretend they didn’t. They do. Every day.
That energy - that connection - was alive and blazing during the band’s recent stops on their current From Zero World Tour in Raleigh, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. These shows weren’t about nostalgia, and they weren’t trying to be. They were a celebration of everything Linkin Park still is and everything they’ve become.
The Raleigh crowd was absolutely feral the moment the countdown on the giant stage screens hit zero. That timer has become a signature in this new era - a simple but brilliant way to build anticipation, a wink back to the ticking clock that accompanied their comeback announcement last year. The intro of “Somewhere I Belong” kicked in and the place exploded: moshing, crowd-surfing, an immediate full-send from a crowd that wasn’t here to be casual. Raleigh went.
And then there was the camera setup - giant screens capturing the band and crowd throughout the night, often focusing on the fans themselves. It reminded me of Rage Against the Machine’s last tour: no elaborate stage sets, just connection projected one hundred feet high. Between acts, as the stage shifted for a slower, ballad-driven section of the night, the feed lingered on the front row - fans gripping the barricade, showing off their LP tattoos, their merch, singing every word with their parents, with their kids. A generational thing, now. Families everywhere. So many people were there seeing Linkin Park for the first time. For some kids, this was their first concert ever.
The birthday energy at the Raleigh show only dialed it up. Fans shouted “Happy Birthday!” to Emily Armstrong throughout the Raleigh show until the band paused to let the whole arena sing to her. And then - in one of the greatest moments in Linkin Park history, full stop - they played “IGYEIH” live for the very first time. That blistering scream fest from From Zero finally got its moment, with Emily jumping directly into the mosh pit for the final minute, thrashing with the crowd, encouraging everyone to scream the words back at her. It was raw, it was electric, it was classic LP energy. Chester would’ve been proud.
And then, the encore: Mike and Emily returning to the stage in custom Carolina Hurricanes jerseys - a nod to the area and a sweet callback to Chester wearing a UNC cap on the band’s last Carolina stop over a decade ago. “If you’ve got any energy left,” Mike called out, “and I know you do!” before launching into “Bleed It Out.” Raleigh felt like a celebration of survival - of a band that’s been through hell and back, and a fanbase that stuck around not out of nostalgia, but because they needed this.
Greenville had a lot to live up to. It wasn’t as chaotic, sure, but it had its own magic. For many in the crowd, this was their first ever Linkin Park show - not just the first time seeing the new lineup, but ever. In fact, it was the first proper Linkin Park headliner in South Carolina, period. The only time they’d played the state was all the way back in 2000, opening for P.O.D., just weeks before Hybrid Theory exploded. Now, 25 years later, they finally returned - and thousands showed up to sing their hearts out.
The visuals were on full blast in Greenville. Lasers, massive screens, perfectly synchronized lighting - easily some of the most impressive stage production I’ve seen from the band, and that’s saying something. “The Catalyst,” “Burn It Down,” and “Good Things Go” were stunning. “Up From the Bottom” was staged like the music video come to life. During “Overflow,” couples slow danced in the crowd. Then Mike shouted out a man holding a “PIT” sign during “Two Faced,” calling him the group project guy who did all the work. “You wanna be in this guy’s group project right now,” he joked - and the pit exploded. From there on out, it stayed open and swirling through the rest of the show.
Both nights were packed with catharsis - people screaming their lungs out to “One Step Closer,” crying during “Lost”, dancing with kids on their shoulders, hugging strangers in the pit. I’ve seen that kind of thing at Linkin Park concerts in the old days - that emotional connection that surges throughout the venue as the band plays their hits. I’m beyond happy to report that it’s still happening. And maybe that’s what this all comes down to.
It is what it is, and it ain’t what it isn’t. Linkin Park isn’t some nostalgic act cashing in on old memories. They’re alive, well, and still evolving. More importantly, they’re exactly what millions of people still need. The biggest moments of both nights belonged to “In the End,” with the band letting the entire arena sing every word - a dedication to Chester without ever needing to say it aloud.
The emotion, the unity, the sheer release of these shows...There’s no stronger example of catharsis in live music today. And you shouldn’t miss your chance to be a part of that celebration as they come to a city near you.
Linkin Park's 'From Zero World Tour' continues throughout 2025. Check out the remaining dates below and get tickets HERE.
