From diary15

Up to this time, I still can't believe I really saw Linkin Park live in concert! This sort of "hangover" continues to cling all over my psyche. Indeed, June 15, 2004 is something to be remembered for the duration of my whole life.

I remember the concert being announced on the LP Message Board and PEX way back early April. All of us at the boards were ecstatic, though at the same time a little worried--worried that it could be one of those "hoax-type" announcements that got us hanging for almost 2 or 3 years already since the release of Hybrid Theory. But much to our delight, the concert did push through.

I am one of those "early birds" at the CCP Open Grounds, I arrived at like 5 pm and they let us in around 6. I met Ate Noelle while we were giving our tix, she was alone like me, so we decided to go together (we were on Silver front). An hour later, Ate Karen (who travelled all the way from Baguio just to watch!) came in and joined us.

At first, we were a little bit anxious because it seemed like forever before the venue could be filled with people. We imagined things like "siguro kokonti bumili ng tix (maybe the ticket sales weren't good)...'wag naman sana (hope not)". To our relief, as the night progressed, more and more people appeared--with an extreme diversity of age, race, and probably "budget" for the concert.

After raising the huge banner with "Linkin Park" printed all over it, covering the sound system from the advent coming of the rain (which never happened, and that's a good thing too), a few false alarms from the front viewers, unending bickering with the bouncers, and me hitting someone with a cup for being so unconcerned about the people at his back, the guys finally came out starting the show with "Don't Stay", one of my fave tracks on Meteora.

Once the concert started, we really didn't care if we were all sweaty, tired or were singing out of tune. All you could feel is the adrenaline rushing inside your veins telling you to jump, scream and do all sorts of stuff you don't normally as if you never run out of energy or get tired in the process. Anything just to jam with LP! When I heard the intro for One Step Closer, I knew this could mean the end. And to my horror, Mike said "This is gonna be our last song! Thank you guys!". You could really hear the crowd roar in disbelief and discontentment. Well, I was too! This can't be! Nooo! We resorted to only one thing: People Power! Someone started to yell "We want more!" and then everyone started chanting it. Despite the deafening "plea" of Linkin Park addicts, there was nothing more on the playlist. I'm sure the guys wanted to, but, hey, I guess that's just the way it is.

The 3 years of waiting is to1 hour of performance ratio was a blast but it only fired my sage for more of LP! The crowd was excellent, the music rocked everyone out, they were truly talented musicians--not to mention Mike trying to say "Salamat" (thank you) and "Itaas ang mga kamay"(lift your hands up) and a perfect weather--what can I possibly ask for? Well, it could be having the guys take me with them! But hey, to sum it all up, the concert was really overwhelming giving a different kind of bliss no Linkin Park music video or CD could ever bring.

And what's the Filipino fandom shouting right now? "One more", of course!