Live4MusiC

WHAT: Linkin Park Live

VENUE: 2011 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Padang stage

ATTENDANCE: 50,000

WHEN: Sunday night

Hate to say it, but Linkin Park might do well with a reboot in the concert department.

Honestly, Sunday's show made one feel as though the American rock band could put on a full show in their sleep - and this isn't necessarily a good thing. Since they first gained international success in 2000 with debut album Hybrid Theory, the Grammy-winning sextet have toured heavily, most recently in support of their album A Thousand Suns (2010).

And, perhaps, life on the road has worn them out just a tad. Don't get me wrong - the 90-minute concert, which marked the end of this year's Formula One festivities, had all the trappings of a Linkin Park gig.

High-octane rap-rock numbers were delivered with effortless panache, and screamo choruses inspired some serious moshing from fans.

The diverse crowd numbered a whopping 50,000, although that figure included those on their way out of the race venue.

Lead singer Chester Bennington, as always, held court as the band tore through crowd favourites, kicking off with New Divide, off the Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen soundtrack (2009) around 10.40pm.

Switching from melodic vocals to his trademark growl, the 35-year-old's voice grew hoarser the harder he pushed it, especially on songs like From The Inside.

But at times, it felt like he was simply going through the motions. One couldn't help but wish he'd shaken things up a bit, perhaps by throwing in his recent rendition of British singer Adele's Rolling In The Deep.

Meanwhile, rapper-guitarist Mike Shinoda, 34, attempted half-heartedly to hype up his ardent following, imploring them to "pump your fists". Surely, Shinoda could do better than that.

The band first played at the Padang in 2004, and the Singapore Indoor Stadium three years after that, and so this round of Linkin Park felt like a case of "been there, done that".

So, while hardcore fans lapped it all up, others, like this reporter, were left wishing these stars had tried harder to up their game.

-MyPaper