The time came where I got to experience the rush of live music once again. Linkin Park came to Auckland for the first time since 2013. After the 2017 passing of the lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, Linkin Park re-formed in 2024 with a new lead singer and drummer – Emily Armstrong from Dead Sara and producer Colin Brittian. This revival was 3 years in the making, and with the eventual release of their newest album From Zero, the band started a three year world tour of the same name.
March 18th 2026, Spark Arena housed the Aotearoa show of the Aus/NZ leg of said tour. The arena was surrounded by 4 generations of Linkin Park fans. As a regular concert goer, I’ve never seen a crowd so diverse; their demographic is quite literally anyone and everyone. With my dad (3x Linkin Park concert attendee) by my side, we were surrounded by other parent/child duos, teenagers, people who bought tickets with their pension, and very, very drunk middle aged women. And these people filled that arena – this show being the biggest turn out in Spark Arena history.
As the floor flooded with fans, the opener Vana came on. Her vibe: whimsy ass, electro-pop/heavy-metal fusion. The New Zealand based artist was perfect for warming the crowd up to the main act. Though I hadn’t heard any of her songs before, I was taken away by her pure talent and undeniable aura.
The intermission between acts came to an exhilarating halt as a literal time counted down the seconds ‘til Linkin Park’s appearance. And, as the members of the award winning band came on stage – one by one – they broke out into ‘Somewhere I belong’. The crowd erupted with cheers and there was no denying that Armstrong was welcomed with open arms as the new lead vocalist. Interviews staring Mike Shinoda (founding member and frontman of the band) and Armstrong show that the come-back was not about replacing nor honouring Bennington, rather continuing the legacy the hip hop and rock blending band created. It was clear Armstrong was helping create something new while doing Chester justice in his original vocals.
It was magical seeing a band once torn by grief be such a family again on stage, even with the newer members; going from silly intermissions straight into biblical renditions of old song – especially with tracks like ‘Lost’. The band, particularly Shinoda and Armstrong, interacted with the crowd stunningly with vocal and visual reactions to the crowd purely enjoying the show.
With a set that went over 2 hours, Linkin Park seamlessly included old and new tracks, appealing to all audience preferences. Looking over to my dad shedding a few tears to ‘Lying From You’ out of pure excitement of seeing his favourite band for the first time in 13 years was definitely a highlight, as well as my two favourite tracks ‘Burn It Down’ and ‘Waiting for the End’ being played in the second act. I was blown away by Armstrong’s vocals, and learning that her vocal inspiration came from Bennington when she was young really put the icing on the cake for me. I’m a fan of Linkin Park, I’m a fan of blond lesbians, so I’m a fan of her.
As the show came to its end, the band announced Auckland was the last show of this particular leg of the tour – meaning they were being quite generous with the handouts of guitar pics, drum sticks, and set lists for the fans, and I managed to get both my dad and I branded pics at the end of the show. The pure love this band has for their fans does not go unnoticed and its extremely refreshing. And as the post-concert depression hits, I need this to be your sign to go to a Linkin Park show.
