Mike Shinoda on the 'Post Traumatic' Era

October 20, 2018

Creating music away from Linkin Park is not uncharted territory for Shinoda as his work as Fort Minor is just as known to some but this new project contained a lot of new energy that neither before contained. 

2017 was a tough year for Linkin Park fans as Chester Bennington, vocalist and co-frontman of the band alongside Shinoda, tragically passed away and there was a period of time where it seemed that the music would only live on in headphones. However, the Linkin Park fans banned together and thoroughly supported Shinoda in the months that followed. This support was the catalyst which fueled him to create as he sifted through this difficult year he was presented with – the result was a light in the dark for Shinoda and the beginning of a new era.


In late January of 2018 the communities supportive comments paid off as Shinoda released some of the first tracks from this new project into the wild. They were raw, lyrically complex and most importantly they were genuinely fantastic tracks – but there was no official word as to whether those few songs would be it or if more would come. Time revealed that the four tracks were just merely a sample of what as to come as debut of a solo album titled “Post Traumatic” released on June 15 and the music it contained was among some of the best and intimate tracks of Shinoda’s career.


After a few small venue appearances, radio concert appearances and festivals, Shinoda announced his initial headline solo tour this summer that spanned the country and was branded as the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour. The routing was expansive and fans rejoiced on social media as they were eager to experience these new songs live as well as possibly hear some of their favorites from Linkin Park, Fort Minor & more. On Monday, October 15 the tour stopped locally at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA for a night that would go down as one of the most emotionally charged and truly remarkable gigs the venue has ever hosted.

There was no shortage of material for Mike Shinoda to sift through when determining his set for the show as the ample number of Fort Minor, Linkin Park and new solo songs gave him a widely diverse array of music to draw from. The sheer volume of possibility gave his performance a unique edge of anticipation for the entire set that many artists never fully capture over the course of their entire career. There were emotional highs, moments of moshing and passionate sing-a-longs as Shinoda commanded the stage on his own for a twenty song set. Whether it was a Fort Minor mainstay like “Remember the Name,” the Linkin Park deep cut “When They Come for Me” or the clever mash up of “Over Again/Papercut ” Shinoda kept the Sherman Theater crowd engaged through out the night.


It is hard to say just how long Mike Shinoda’s shows will be like the one he put on Monday night in Stroudsburg and if the time comes that there is more of his solo material with less of Linkin Park/Fort Minor. However his show made one thing clear, Chester Bennington will always be a part of his work and therefore his show as well. Whether it be the beautiful late set tribute that had Shinoda at the piano with the crowd singing Bennington’s parts or just being the subject of his new material he will always be present.


That presence of Chester Bennington in the set doesn’t keep Shinoda from being his own artist as he owned the stage in a way he never used to and proved to any doubters out there that he can do it solo. 2017 was the end of an era for Mike Shinoda but the new one that 2018 brought is bright and hopefully 2019 will be even brighter as Shinoda continues to do what he does best – connect us all through music.

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

The All-American Rejects kick off a new era at Parx Casino in Bensalem

By Matt Christine • April 1, 2025
On March 29, The All-American Rejects brought a whirlwind of nostalgia, energy, and surprise to the Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. With the crowd already buzzing, the band made their entrance to the iconic "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky, setting the tone for a night that would blend theatrical flair with heartfelt musicianship. Tyson Ritter and crew wasted no time launching into “Dirty Little Secret,” immediately turning the venue into a singalong haven for fans of all ages. The evening’s setlist was a well-balanced mix of crowd favorites and deep cuts, keeping both longtime fans and newer listeners on their toes. From upbeat anthems like “Fallin’ Apart” and “Beekeeper’s Daughter” to early classics like “My Paper Heart,” the band showcased their full range. But one of the night’s most emotional moments came from an unexpected fan request: an acoustic, acapella performance of “Heartbeat Slowing Down.” Tyson delivered the first verse and chorus with just his voice and a dim spotlight—his first time performing the song live since 2013. The crowd, stunned into silence, erupted with cheers at the final note. Throughout the show, Tyson Ritter kept the mood light with his signature irreverent humor. He poked fun at the convention center-style room, joking, about what other events were hosted in the room including a furry convention before launching into a riff about Parx Casino’s not-so-subtle encouragement to gamble. “They want you to leave this show... and immediately hit the slots. Don’t let them down!” he quipped, drawing laughs from every corner of the venue. That excitement rolled perfectly into a performance of their brand-new single “Sandbox,” which blended the band’s classic melodic hooks with a fresh, heavier indie-pop edge that had fans filming the moment for social media. One particularly fun surprise came when Tyson improvised a short, comedic song inspired by fans in the front row called “Chrysanthemum.” The details of this moment will be left behind lock and key for anyone not at the concert but just know it was one of the most obscene moments of the set and was a perfect way for the band to launch into "Sweat" after the moment wrapped up. The band also took time to acknowledge their recent appearance at Jonas Con, where they teased their upcoming role as special guests on the Jonas Brothers’ 20th Anniversary Summer Tour. The crowd cheered at the announcement, and Tyson grinned, saying, “We’ve officially joined the Jonas extended universe.” As the show neared its finale, The All-American Rejects rolled out a trifecta of hits—“Swing, Swing,” “It Ends Tonight,” and “Move Along”—each met with raucous applause and heartfelt singalongs. The encore, naturally, closed with “Gives You Hell,” sending the audience out into the casino with their voices hoarse and spirits high. Fans could be heard raving as they exited, calling it “everything I could have hoped for” and praising both the band and the intimate, high-energy setting. In the end, The All-American Rejects proved that they’re far from just a nostalgia act. With clever banter, emotional surprises, a killer setlist, and a brand-new single to boot, their performance at Parx Casino was a reminder that great bands don’t just survive the decades—they evolve, engage, and keep giving fans reasons to fall in love all over again.

Bishop Briggs hits Union Transfer for the "Tell Me Therapist I'm Fine" Tour

By Matt Christine • March 30, 2025
Bishop Briggs brought an electrifying storm to Philadelphia’s Union Transfer on the second-to-last stop of her “Tell My Therapist I’m Fine” tour—and if the title wasn’t already dripping in irony, her explosive set made it perfectly clear. Kicking off with “My Serotonin,” she transformed the venue into a cathartic dance party-meets-emotional bootcamp. It felt less like a concert and more like cracking open someone’s diary set to a thunderous bassline. From the jump, Briggs’ stage presence was nothing short of kinetic. She didn’t just command the stage—she treated it like an Olympic track, sprinting, leaping, and tearing across every corner without missing a note. During “Dark Side,” her energy swelled with the song’s intensity, delivering a performance that was equal parts spiritual purge and high-voltage rock ritual. “Woman Is King” arrived like a crown drop. Her voice soared, the crowd erupted, and in that moment, the track became less of a song and more of a statement—powerful, fearless, and unapologetically loud. It was the kind of performance that made you want to run through a wall or at least buy a leather jacket. The new single generated one of the best reactions from the crowd all night long and Briggs flashed more than one of her signature smiles from on stage during the emotional performance of the new track. Briggs didn’t just play a show—she led an emotional endurance test across 20 songs, and Philadelphia was more than willing to sweat it out with her from start to finish in this historic venue. If this was her version of therapy, then the rest of us were gladly booked in as co-patients.

Spencer Sutherland brings the "DRAMA" to Philadelphia at the Foundry

By Matt Christine • March 24, 2025
Spencer Sutherland lit up The Foundry in Philadelphia on March 20 with a headlining set that blended pop, soul, and showmanship in all the right ways. From the moment he hit the stage, his charisma was undeniable—commanding the crowd with powerful vocals and effortless swagger. Fans sang every word back to him, creating a room-wide chorus that felt more like a celebration than a concert. With emotional ballads, high-energy bangers, and a few unexpected twists, Sutherland proved he's not just riding momentum—he’s building a movement.