Linkin Park

Linkin Park in Russia

Well, I have returned home and have reached my blog at last. I went to St. Petersburg to see the performance of my favorite group - Linkin Park. At 12 a.m. LPU members met near the metro station called ‘Nevsky Prospect’. Well, I had been waiting for a long time and then I understood that I was in the wrong place. After that I decided to go a little further and I saw people wearing LPU 8 T-shirts.

All of us quickly became friends and began waiting for other LPU members. It was Navy fleet Day, so everybody walked with flags in their hands. The guy named Timur had thought up to buy a Russian flag, to paint it and to present LP with it during the M&G.

Then the unreal thing happened: one girl understood that she had forgotten her ticket. We were waiting for her all together and then we went to hotel called Astoria. Last time LP had lived there (Besides Madonna will be living there). We had been waiting for a long time there and then met my friends from city called Chelyabinsk.

They had been staying there and lying in wait for LP since 9 a.m.

When we arrived we saw cars with words 'box office' written on them. We began walking around the stadium trying to find guys who would give us T-short stickers for the M&G.

Eventually I just went to the fan-zone and began waiting in the crowd. The crush was awful.

Security guards did not let us in. Well, who does not know Russian people? Everyone used bad language. As soon as I came in I asked a woman if she knew where the M&G would be. She just kept silent and shrugged her shoulders, and a man nearby told me: «I say this guy from LPU! You should be here at 7.55 p.m.» Well, I was delighted so I went closer to the scene, because one of my favorite groups called 'Lumen' was going to appear.

The crush and pushing began. A little emo-girl stood next to me. She tired me out. If you’re small, go back because you will see nothing among the big backs!

During the whole performance she was disturbing me. 'Lumen' began playing. The intro ended. Then the song called '6 миллиардов' began.

We began having fun.

There is the track list: 01. 6 миллиардов 02. Сид и Нэнси 03. ВВИЛЭМ 04. Лабиринт 05. Последний шанс 06. Государство

The performance was impressive. All songs that I wanted to hear were played. It was just the group before LP but I would be glad if they played about 20 songs. After the first song I started shouting 'Happy birthday'. Everybody around did not join me so the group probably did not hear my shout and began playing 'Сид и Нэнси'. After this song people around heard me and joined me. We liked the first group very much.

Then we waited while a scene had been preparing for the group called 'Funeral for a Friend'.

It seems like I stood still during the whole their performance because I didn’t know any song, so I didn't like the performance. It’s clearly that guys play something similar to heavy metal. It was very strange when the right part of the crowd swayed from right to left... I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face...

Then I saw my friends who were going to M. I ran towards them breaking through the crowd.

When I came to them there was a security guard. I asked guys where they had received stickers. They said near the box office. When I ran there the security guard told me that I would not be able to come back. (Our security guards are real scum). Of course I immediately came back. Linkin Park bodyguard is very kind. While I was trying to explain to one of them what had happened to me, my friend helped me in English and the guard asked, 'What is your name?' I told him the name of my friend who was selected to M&G. Thanks to my friend I got to M&G. Sergey, thank you very much. He checked up my name and said OK.

«Lena and the security guard»

I was on the top of the world!!! Then the second security guard came to us and said that he wouldn’t let come in people who didn’t have the sticker. I quickly showed to the first one that I did not have it and he told the second one that I had it. Then the vocalist of group 'Lumen' passed. I came to him and shook his hand. I asked whether they were going to come to Bryansk. The answer was simple: negotiations are held. I said 'Happy birthday' again and we were lined. It seemed like we were going to execution. The security guard told us that he would get out of here anyone who would leave the line. We went a little further and saw something like a small verandah…

There was Brad and Phoenix. The security guard told us to sit down. Phoenix passed us and said 'Привет'. There were 10 chairs and a little table. The security explained to us the rules of M&G. Having listened to him we began to wait for our favorites. Rob and Brad came. While somebody came to them and got the item signed, others asked questions. I asked a banal question, 'Are you going to return to Russia?'. Brad answered that he is already here. We presented guys with gifts. One of the gifts was the signed Russian flag.

As I was in despair I had nothing to be signed, so the guys signed my ticket.

Then after all we had one great photo taken and the guys left.

A Russian security guard came to us. He told us to get out of there and that he would beat our faces if we went the wrong way. While we were going to the exit we saw Chester. He did not even hear our screams

Then we took places in the fan-zone. In a few minutes the show began…

There is the track list of Linkin Park performance in St. Petersburg:

1. Session
2. Given Up
3. From the Inside
4. Somewhere I Belong
5. No More Sorrow
6. Lying from You
7. Points of Authority
8. What I've Done
9. Leave Out All the Rest
10. Numb
11. Breaking the Habit
12. Shadow of the Day
13. Crawling
14. In the End
15. Bleed It Out Encore
16. New Divide
17. Faint
18. One Step Closer

After 'Session' I asked my friend to put me on his shoulders. He agreed to do it but only for one song. And after that I left my mind. I bawled my head off and I didn't give a f*ck with what was happening around me.

At the beginning of 'Points of Authority' Mike performed the beginning of 'Petrified' as usual. And at the end of this song there was a new thing. I saw a poster with words 'A Place for My Head' behind me. And now I think Mike decided to comply with the request. Before 'What I've Done' Mike’s keys with our flag was brought to the scene. It was so pleasant to see my user name on this masterpiece.

'Crawling' was the same as it was performed during Projekt Revolution.

Mike rapped the first verse of 'Hands Held High' a cappella and rapped the second verse over the Reanimated intro to 'Crawling'. Brad’s part during 'In the End' was unreal. A guy who was at M&G with me asked to perform 'Pushing Me Away'. Joe was shocked when he heard this. After it Rob’s solo began and it was 'Bleed It Out'. Eugene, the loudest guy in the crowd, appeared near Mike. Everyone was shocked.

After the encore the guys played the greatest songs: 'New Divide', 'Faint', 'One Step Closer'. In my opinion the concert ended very quickly. It’s annoying that there was no talks to the crowd as the guys usually do.

It ended in one breath. I ca’'t believe that I was there. When we were leaving the fan-zone everyone said that it was unreal. I hope LP will return to Russia someday. At this concert I met many people who I was in communication with!!! So let’s meet more often guys! =)

Thanks VoCaL for translation from Russian into English