From Dusk

It all started with one article, less than 150 words, tucked away in the last page of the lifestyle section of a local newspaper. The date was May 5th, a Wednesday. Now it's the 3rd of July and i am remembering the day when i first heard that LP was coming to Singapore for a one night only concert.

I was soundly asleep when my mobile phone rang. (I knew later that my friends have been trying to reach me. I've gotten no less than 9 miss calls and messages) It was my friend Wee on the line. She said LP is coming to Singapore! I thought she was joking. I couldn't believe it. But when she said that The Straits Times published it, i jumped outta bed and around the house in delight. After the call ended, i made several calls of my own. LP is coming! June 22nd!

The days dragged slowly as our group of LP fans waited in anticipation. The fact that LP is coming is always on our minds. Always. We've been waiting for so long...even thought there is the KL concert last year (15 Oct), many of us Singaporean fans couldn't attend that. I went and i can only say i love LP more after the concert.

D-day is here, finally. The morning was a mad rush for everyone, getting last minute gifts for the meet and greet, contacting lone LP fans who wish to attend the concert with us. When i got there at about 3 in the afternoon, there was a snaking queue already. Not alot of people if you compare it to KL, but it'll soon grow as dusk approaches.

Meet & Greet account

I was given the chance to attend this Meet & Greet session with the band and i truly appreciate it. It was a dream and it came true.

It was a little confusing in the beginning. We didn't know where the Meet & Greet counter was so we hung around somewhere near the entrance into the arena. We got told off by the police on duty a couple of times for blocking other's way.

After sometime, official staff was gathering people to a table. That was the meet up place for the Meet & Greet people. Soon after some briefing was done, the LPUers was led to the side of the arena to queue up for the impending Meet & Greet. Excitement and anxiety was welling up inside me already. Me! Meeting LP face to face! I wonder if they are enjoying Singapore?

Other Meet & Greet people like the Hard Rock contest winners was still waiting at the counter while the LPUers was getting filmed by Mark, the staff in charge of making newscaster on www.linkinpark.com

We cheered and shouted and posed for the video camera, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Many of us hoped that we would be in the footage that was to be aired in the next episode of newscaster. I know i was.

There was about a hundred LPUers listed to meet the band and all of us waited patiently...though restlessly. Denise Keller, a VJ with MTVAsia joined us for a short MTV filming session. When she asked us to shout out a LP video, we did, at the top of our lungs. I reckon that LP can hear us from inside the Meet & Greet room.

Finally (again), we were going in! My heartbeat just started picking up. Like last year in KL, anxiety washed over me. But unlike last year, i resolve to at least greet all of them and not walk away from the Meet & Greet feeling like an idiot! Since last year i had wanted Chester to write my name when he signs my poster but by then i had forgotten.

The Meet & Greet was held inside a room. Not dim, but not bright either. As i stood outside that room, my friends was pointing out the individual band members but i couldn't see them! Then i saw Chester walking out of nowhere to sit down at the end of the table (note:same place as last year in KL). This is it! This is what i have been waiting for!

I reminded Jazelle to remind me to ask Chester for a picture with him, I forget everything when i'm nervous. I wanted a picture with him to remember the experience by,to remind myself that i was actually there!

I walked in and i saw the band smiling and signing stuff. Brad Delson was the first. He looked like he had took part in Survivor. I greeted him and placed my poster which i have designed with the help of some friends on the table. He signed it and asked, "Where did you get this poster?" I actually managed to make my mouth work. I replied, "I designed it myself." "That's great."

That was a wonderful thing to hear. And i was thinking of giving Brad the bag of gifts and messages from other LP fans but i somehow didn't. I remembered to ask for a picture and Brad obliged. He looked up with just the vaguest of smile in his eyes.

After that I just moved to my left, to stand in front of Mike Shinoda. He was playing with the wrist support that was given to him by my friend June. He kept squeezing the 'toy' to make the eyes pop out, all the while his own eyes was widening. I swear, Mike has the biggest eyes i have ever seen. As he fiddle with the gift for the camera, i stood in front of him silently. I was feeling pretty awkard and wondered if i should call him. But after a moment, he picked up my silver marker to sign my poster. I said "Hi Mike" but i don't think he heard me. He was kinda studying the poster and muttering something to Phoenix. I thought i heard "That's Chester" (There was only the blurred figure of Chester on my poster due to time constraints) and i felt so embarrassed that i didn't include the rest of the band members! Once again, somehow i forgot to give Mike the bag, though i had plenty of time to do that. I guessed his eyes popping distracted me ha. I then asked Mike for a picture and he looked up. Later when i looked at my pictures i can't help smiling at Mike's eyes.

And then it was Phoenix. He smiled and looked at me when i greeted him and i quickly asked for a handshake. I sworn to ask him for one because he was so friendly to me last year. Immediately he held out his hand and i shook it. After he signed my poster, i asked for a picture and he smiled and held up his palm for my camera.I wanted to say thanks to him for being to nice last year but i forgot. And you guessed it, i forgot to give Phoenix the bag too.I wondered if i had more time to talk with Phoenix would i become as nervous and as tongue-tied as last year?

Joe Hahn was sitting beside Phoenix in a Guns & Roses T-Shirt, looking indifferent. My friend was still in front of him and I helped her take a picture with Joe and i forgot to turn off the flash! The rule was strictly no flash and my flash just went off right in front of his eyes! I apologized, feeling flustered. Luckily Joe didn't complain or anything. He was just as stoic as ever. Joe Hahn didn't smile much, he merely acknowledged my greeting with a slight nod. But that didn't bother me because i heard that is his usual self. I asked for a picture and he looked up stonily. Just when i thought my encounter with Joe is but an uninteresting one, he lunged suddenly at me after i pressed the shutter button. That's Mr Hahn for you!

Beside Joe was Rob Bourdon and i remembered him as shy and quiet. This time, he was still as shy and quiet. I asked him for a picture after he signed my poster and he looked up, not really smiling. It's hard to find a picture of Rob smiling i heard. I'm just happy that i got one of him looking at my camera. If i knew that later he would give my friend Aishah and my brother his drumsticks, i would have thanked him profusely right then.

While i was at Rob's i was distracted by Chester. He was talking to June and holding what i thought was a pack of cigarettes.I was thinking if giving them ciggies is allowed. I also noticed how chatty he was and kept reminding myself to talk to him! I must! I will not stand there dumbly and then curse myself later.

So i moved in front of him and greeted him. I asked for a handshake and he held out his hand. I took out a lighter which has his name translated in Mandarin engraved on it and gave it to him. (If you're wondering, it's pronounced as Jie Si Te) "This is for you," He took it and said thanks and was about to keep it when i said, "There's your name in Chinese on it."

Chester took a closer look at it and said something like "That's great, thank you." I remember him smiling, not only with his mouth but with his eyes. That's one look i won't forget, ever! He looked sincere and genuinely pleased. He shook my hand again when he thanked me for the lighter and i hoped that's a gesture that indicate he really likes the gift!

Nervously, i asked, "Can i take a picture with you? I'll just lean over." To which he replied apologetically, "I'm sorry i can't. Would you like to take a picture of me?" I made a face (i can't believe i did that but i did) because i was so disappointed. Chester then explained to me; "Cos you see, if i take a picture with you, then he would want to take with me, and he, and he, and he, and he." He pointed to the people after me. "It would take very long," (i think that's what he said) "Would you like to take a picture of me instead?" So i said yes and snapped one and thanked him for that. I didn't dare insist because i understand and respect his decision and i was afraid that their bodyguards would throw me out if i did insist!

I then promptly walked out with the bag of gifts. I was staring at the bag and cursing myself outside the door. Luckily the security guy at the door asked Mark to come over and i handed the bag to him for LP.

All i can say about this Meet & Greet is that i'm really happy about it. They were all in a good mood and looked happy to be in Singapore. No pic with Chester for me but i'm not too sad cos i still got to meet him..all i can ever ask for. This Meet & Greet was way better for me than last year's KL one. I am really glad i got to go to this one. The memory will be a part of me forever.

The Concert

Because of the Meet & Greet me and my friends went into the field late. There was a sizeable number of people crowding at the front of the stage already. I desperately want to stand in front, right at the barricade. That for me, is the best way one can enjoy a LP concert. Jumping and head-banging to their music, all the while seeing their every moves. Plain awesome. So our group proceed to squeeze. We tried but we couldn't get into the thick of the crowd. Seeing there's no way we could get the place we wanted, we moved to the back, center. Not a bad vantage point.

Our local celebs DJ was working the crowd up, saying things like "If you have work tomorrow, take an mc!" The crowd replied gleefully, loudly to whatever the DJs said. We couldn't agree more. Tonight is THE night to go crazy. Tonight is the night LP play live at the Padang. Pia, the opening band from Korea played very well. I like their brand of music, even though i had no idea what they were singing about. The beats and the vocals are there and it's not hard to see why LP chose Pia as their opening act again for some of this year's Asian shows. A LPU friend said that Pia is the best band out of Korea, i'll second that if i had knew the Korea's music scene well!

The crowd started to chant Linkin Park after Pia's last song and to me, it didn't take very long for LP to come out. The moment LP appears, the crowd shouted and screamed. Time to rock! Everything was a blur after that. I kept jumping and jumping, kept singing and singing and asking my friends to jump harder! Mike and Chester seems to be even better than they were during last year's KL gig! My proof of that was listening to Mike rapped furiously for the medley Nobody's Listening, It's Going Down and Step Up.

"When i say it's going, you say down." Mike instructed. No doubt that we followed in sync. Chester's rendition of Nine Inch Nails's Wish was one that everyone couldn't stop talking about, even till now. He was amazing and though he censored the lyrics himself, the song still rocked. In fact, i thought it was one of the best performance of Chester, ever.

We knew the lyrics to every song that was played that night and we belted it out at the top of our hearts. No matter we were standing at the back, we could see LP and we had a hell of a time jumping and cheering. The people around us kept giving us funny looks because we would yell excitedly the name of each songs as soon as the music starts and we would point out special things happening on the stage. For example, i couldn't stop exclaiming that Chester picked up a guitar during It's Going Down.

We also were the first ones in our area to start clapping when Brad played the intro for A Place for My Head, which by the way, is one of the best LP sings to listen to live. Breaking The Habit was one song that stood out for many of us. LP altered the song slightly by having a longer intro played by Mike on the keyboards and Chester's singing before the drums kicked in. Breaking The Habit was made more poignant that night. I fell in love with it all over again.

There was some laughs to be had throughout the concert. Chester seemed to have forgotten the lyrics for Numb! He started out singing the first sentence then stopped suddenly and looked to Mike with a smile. Then he tried again but stopped again. All of us was atonished but in a good way. We sang the sentences though and Chester said, "You guys saved me on that one."

Speaking of the comic relief, i noticed that LP was more relaxed and spontaneous for this concert when i compare it with the KL one. Mike and Chester exchanged small talks, and 'chatted' with the crowd. Rob played a drum solo accompanied by Brad (Phoenix too right, Jas?) which totally rocked. I remember him beating so hard at the drums. Wonder if any of his drumsticks actually broke?

At one point, LP brought out Janet, a staff who's leaving the band to embark a new life with her husband ( is that right? i couldnt hear clearly). We sang Happy Birthday for her and so did Chester. That was something special for us, for Janet and for LP to remember by. Though the inner circle portion wasn't filled up fully(something that really bothered me), we made up for it by being really loud and singing along with Chester or rapping with Mike to every song.

LP drew a very diverse crowd that night. There was the expected teenagers and the young adults. But there also was kids and their parents and middle-aged people. Beside Singaporeans, there was fans from neighbouring countries like Malaysia and other foreigners. I quote, "Music brings the people together."

Not everything was perfect. I was annoyed at certain rude and rough individuals who doesn't think twice of kicking or shoving you. But that is to be found in all concerts so yeah, gotta accept it and be more wary the next time. I was also disappointed that not everyone jumped or sing in unison with LP. If they did, i bet that there would be tremors throughout the Padang. But i'm pleased that we sang so loudly to every songs.

All the songs played that night had so much energy. I can tell you that LP is a true live band. The songs sounds awesome on record but was stunning live. You can't attend a LP concert and walk away shaking your head. You'll be half deaf but you'll agree, like so many of us, that LP f*****g rocks.

And they promised to come back! I distinctly heard either Mike or Chester said "We will be back." I have no idea if they meant Asia or Singapore but no matter what, me and my friends will find the means to catch them in concet again. For now, we'll relive June 22nd thru words and memories.

I must say this: I love and respect LP even more after that night. Thank You Singapore for making us feel so welcome, Chester said. I say, Thank You LP for making our dreams come true.