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

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Taylor Acorn returns home to Pennsylvania at the Archer Music Hall

By Matt Christine • November 12, 2025
Taylor Acorn’s return to Pennsylvania to the Arrow at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown was a homecoming a long time coming after a massive year of touring and festival appearances. Just a few weeks after performing at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas - and fresh off wrapping The Summer School Tour - Taylor Acorn returned to Pennsylvania with clear momentum behind her. Touring in support of her newly released LP, she arrived at The Arrow at the Archer in Allentown with a setlist shaped around this new chapter of her sound. The fresh material wasn’t just sprinkled into the night; it was the thread that held the entire show together. And while Acorn hasn’t forgotten her roots in the pop-punk world, it’s obvious that these newer songs give her a wider lane to move in and let her shine bright onstage. The Arrow itself proved to be an ideal setting. The room was full but comfortable, with that sweet spot where you can feel the crowd’s energy without fighting for space. Warm lighting and a clear sightline from almost anywhere in the venue helped create a sense of connection the moment Acorn stepped out. It didn’t take long for the entire place to settle into a rhythm—heads nodding, hands in the air, and plenty of voices shouting back the lines they knew. Between songs, Acorn kept the energy light and the banter genuine. She shared quick stories, poked fun at herself, and made it clear she appreciated being back in her home state. Nothing dragged, nothing felt overly rehearsed—it all stayed grounded in the good-natured vibe that filled the room. By the end of the night, The Arrow at the Archer felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration of where Acorn is right now: an artist still rooted in the scene that raised her, but growing fast and sounding sharper than ever. The crowd felt it, the room carried it, and Acorn made sure everyone left buzzing. A strong show, a great space, and the kind of night that makes you want to catch her again before the tour moves on.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.