Linkin Park: Being Green Is Super-Cool!!!

By: Brett Hickman

Tuesday August 28, 2007

Nu Metal gets environmental
Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution Tour, now in its fourth incarnation, began back in 2002 and combined, much like Lollapalooza and Korn's Family Values Tour before it, rock and rap acts. But something is different about 2007's version of the CA band's "Revolution": no rap artists. Where'd they go? It would seem that the band is downplaying the hip-hop angle in its live shows because of the lack of it on their new hit album Minutes To Midnight. But is it also to drive an even larger wedge between the band and the stink of any "Nu-Metal" tags? After all, Linkin Park are about the only mega-successful artists left from that loathsome time (I suppose Evanescence would be another) who still resonate with the masses, moreso than just their core (Korn, for example).

Still, couldn't there be some hip-hop love? A "token" rap act, perhaps? Wasn't anyone available? Those "Party Like a Rock Star" guys, perhaps? No? Okay.

So let's look at who is with LP: My Chemical Romance (great!), Taking Back Sunday (okay), HIM (intriguing), Placebo (good), Julien-K (no idea). That's the main stage. On the Revolution Stage you have Mindless Self-Indulgence, Saosin (dreadful), The Bled, Styles of Beyond, Madina Lake and Art of Chaos (who were only on the West Coast and Texas dates, all of which have since passed).

Aside from Linkin Park, the only other big draw alone would be My Chemical Romance. This band has really wowed non-believers and, among the so-called "punk" bands of the past few years, are among the very few who have shown potential greatness.

But, other than the two main acts, the only other draw would be the multi-act bill. The idea that a surprise or two might happen or that you'll just go hang out with your friends for a fun time.

There isn't much to report on anything else happening on the tour stops besides the music. $1 of every ticket sold will go to American Forests through Linkin Park's charity, Music for Relief. The tour will also be using biodiesel on a majority of the buses, eliminating an estimated 350 tons of carbon emissions. There are also informative booths that will show concert goers how to lower their own greenhouse gas emissions. What fun!

Remaining Projekt Revoltuion Tour Dates:

August 28 - Syracuse, NY - NY State Fair
August 29 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
August 31 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
September 01 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

September 03 - Englewood, CO - Coors Amphitheatre