California-bred Linkin Park will rap-rock its way into the mainland on November 18th for what promises to be Shanghai’s biggest fall concert. The sextet will stop at Hongkou Stadium for one night as part of their “Minutes to Midnight” world tour. Along with the Shanghai show, the band will perform in Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong. Despite the fact that Linkin Park has never played mainland China before, their mix of melodramatic nu-metal screaming and simple-minded staccato hip-hop resonates with a young undiscerning Chinese audience. The band was rumored to be coming to Shanghai last spring, but like most of the gossip surrounding Western acts coming to Shanghai, it didn’t happen. Through some of my conversations about American music with Chinese guys (who invariably bring up Linkin Park), I realize this band is well-received in China. It makes perfect sense. This band ruled American music right around when the internet blew up and gave Chinese people access to non-Chinese music. My only hope is that Mike “rap” Shinoda and Chester “rock” Bennington are not the only ones representing rock music in modern China. Tickets go on sale Tuesday through Emma and will cost you (not me) between 100 and 1600 yuan.

•CriEnglish: Linkin Park Lands in Shanghai in November

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