2018.08.16 - Chengdu, CN

[RogueSoul]

Grab the spoons and forks, because the next stop on the Post Traumatic Tour is the home of my favorite Chinese place (shoutout Sichuan Cottage). Mike's next show is in Chengdu, China at the Chengdu Performing Arts Center on August 16, the sixth stop on the tour.

 

 

You can put your pens and pencils down, because this is the first time Mike's ever been in Chengdu - he's never even been in the province! No history lesson today, so let's skip straight to the real meat: the current tour. These last couple of shows in China alone have been incredible, but this entire tour has been a blast to cover. Similar to Linkin Park's One More Light European Tour, Mike has currently placed a different set at every show of the tour so far. Whether it be big differences or small ones, each show has been unique. Hong Kong began the tour with a bumpy start, but nonetheless it debuted a bunch of changes to the set, including the full versions of 'Roads Untraveled' and 'When They Come For Me,' as well as new extensions for 'Kenji' and 'Place To Start.' It was also the debut of Mike's new band mates Dan Mayo and Matt Harris. Bangkok came next, the first show with no technical difficulties. Mike introduced 'Petrified' (as well as the 2015 Remix of 'Introduction') to open the encore at this show. Dan performed a drum solo over the extended bridge of 'Sorry For Now' in place of the demo verse, and 'Hands Held High' was added over the extended intro of 'Kenji.' Mike then played his first festival show of the tour in Incheon, delivering a short but powerful set.

 

That brings us to these run of China shows. Despite the lack of footage from these shows (we've literally found videos of two full songs from the two shows, 'In The End' and 'Remember The Name'), we know that a lot has gone on. Beijing kicked it off with one of the biggest crowd receptions Mike has gotten, ever. Despite censored songs (and 'Crossing A Line' being dropped, because apparently the Chinese government doesn't want people crossing lines), the crowd sang loud and proud. Instead of censoring 'Bleed It Out,' he dropped the verse completely and instead played the live version of 'Good Goodbye' for the first time on tour! The fans in Beijing were incredible, staying at the venue for almost an hour singing Linkin Park songs even after Mike's set was done. The venue had to ask the crew to make the fans leave! That's something that really has never happened before. Fans at the next - and most recent - show in Shanghai didn't cause quite a commotion, but still met outside to sing 'One More Light' for Chester. This show's setlist was unique too, featuring the return of the 'Good Goodbye' and 'Bleed It Out' mashup and an acapella of 'Faint' to open the encore. Mike walked out onstage to a crowd of people singing Linkin Park songs and decided to lead them in it, performing 'Faint' for the first time in a solo set and for the first time as an acapella. Mark wrote a great recap of the Chinese tour, so be sure to read that for a more in-depth look at what's been going on. Regardless of if he keeps this up, this tour has really kept us on our toes and has been a really incredible one so far. We'd, of course, love for more daily changes, but hey, who's really keeping track? (just kidding. we are. your move, Shinoda)

 

Another part of the set that changes every night is the story Mike tells before 'In The End.' He always has a different anecdote, but he always ends up talking about Chester. Check out his speech from Hong Kong, where he speaks endearingly about his best friend.

 

For this show, we don't quite know what to expect. We can count on a couple things: songs being censored (this includes 'Welcome,' 'Watching As I Fall,' 'When They Come For Me,' 'About You,' 'Over Again,' 'Make It Up As I Go,' 'Bleed It Out' (if it's performed), 'Petrified,' and 'Remember The Name') and no 'Crossing A Line,' because, y'know, lines are the enemy of communist regimes. We get it. The thing about the changes with the set is that they have genuinely come out of the blue. 'Petrified' popped out of nowhere, and we fully expected Mike to just censor 'Bleed It Out' instead of performing the live version of 'Good Goodbye.' Now that the 'Faint' acapella has happened, pretty much any song Mike's ever recorded is game too as a fun little moment. 'In Stereo' was included on a poll a few months back when Mike asked what songs fans wanted to hear on the tour. The other three songs have all been performed ('Roads Untraveled,' 'Sorry For Now,' and 'Petrified'), and considering that Mike's playing 'Petrified' completely by himself on stage, that slot could easily be anything from Mike's 2015 Fort Minor setlist. We'd say 'In Stereo' has an upper hand before the rest come, but fans have been adamant about hearing the 2015 remix of 'Cigarettes' at some point, as well as tracks like 'High Voltage.' Mike has said he could perform tracks like 'Battle Symphony' or 'Nobody Can Save Me' but said he'd probably get uncomfortable singing them every night simply because of their meaning, which is understandable. Regardless, they're on the table... as is pretty much everything else.

 

Anyone heading to the show? Mike's officialy two-thirds of the way through the tour, with just 3 shows left: two in Japan for the Summer Sonic festival and one last Asian stop in Singapore. Mike heads straight to Europe afterwards, kicking his tour off there with a festival in France and then the Reading and Leeds festivals in England. From there on, it's mostly headlining shows across the country, stopping in Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Germany, ending it off opening for Thirty Seconds To Mars in Italy. After that, it's a one month break until an extensive tour across the United States. It may be a bit before you get to see Mike live depending on where you live, but to hold you over, check this out: the first audience recording from the tour, recorded in South Korea and the Pentaport Rock Festival! The quality is fantastic, and there are plenty of highlights even though it was a shorter festival set (listen to 'Papercut,' because goddamn did this song get a level up with a backing band now).

 

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Check out the rest of Mike Shinoda's touring schedule here.