August 12, 2007
TBO

TAMPA - After a day of searing heat, a storm threatened Linkin Park's headlining set at the Projekt Revolution tour Saturday at Ford Amphitheatre.

Following the performance by My Chemical Romance, fans on the lawn were ordered to leave and wait in their cars until the storm passed. They were instructed to listen to two local radio stations to find out when the band was coming on. The rest of the crowd of about 18,000, including fans on the lawn with no car to go to, rode it out under the pavilion.

The half-hour delay only seemed to energize the crowd, which paid tribute to Linkin Park with several spontaneous, seat-pounding shows of support. The sextet's combination of hip-hop, metal and alt-rock angst connected with the crowd, which sang along with almost every number.

Singer Chester Bennington's head looked about to explode on occasion, especially when he unleashed a throat-shredding scream. He was spelled on vocals by MC Mike Shinoda, whose rhymes, along with DJ Joseph Hahn's turntable scratching, kept the band's hip-hop roots intact.

The band extended its set about 15 minutes past the 11 p.m. curfew.

Preceding Linkin Park, and the storm delay, My Chemical Romance delivered a powerful set that showed, even more than last year's "The Black Parade" album, that the band has shed its emo skin for good.

Musical ambition and a majestically flamboyant performance by singer Gerard Way kept the crowd roaring throughout. Sure, the sound is derivative of Queen, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, even T. Rex on "Teenagers," but that doesn't make it any less terrific.

Taking Back Sunday has shown itself to be smarter than the average emo band on tunes such as "Liar (Takes One to Know One)" and "Cute Without the 'E'." The slower numbers, though, tended to sound like amped-up Goo Goo Dolls retreads.

HIM (an acronym for His Infernal Majesty) drew a huge response from the time its logo - a merger of a heart and a pentagram - appeared at the back of the stage.

Singer Ville Valo didn't speak to the crowd until just before the final song, but his presence was undeniable. Clad in black, a cigarette between his fingers as he sang, his vocals moved from gothic growl to full-throated belting to blood-curdling scream.

The set included a metallic revamp of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" that managed to retain the haunting feel of the original, even with the increased volume.

England's Placebo got off to a bit of a shaky start but recovered by the third song, "Meds," and carried on with its updated glam-rock on tunes such as "Nancy Boy" and "Special K."

Julien-K drew most of its influence from Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails but added little of its own.

The doors opened at noon and music on the second stage began soon thereafter with sets from Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, The Bled and Styles of Beyond.