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Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
September 30, 2005 Friday
Final Edition
System of a Down shows music as a way to speak the truth: Band's
intense message connects with real people
by Chanel Carson, The Edmonton Journal
Welcome to the Soldier side, where there's no one here but me ... or
should I say 12,000 fans flicking on lighters, swaying in time to the
strumming of an acoustic guitar, watching the black, curtain-covered
stage as Serj Tankian's singing silhouette is illuminated from a
spotlight behind.
Then, the curtain drops, and guitarist Daron Malakian screams out his
long-awaited question "Why do they always send the poor?!"
I am talking, of course, about System of a Down. Performing at Rexall
Place last week with opening guests Hella and the Mars Volta, SOAD
was a blast of fresh air after a somewhat uneventful summer for the
Edmonton concert scene.
I admit that even after seeing acts like David Bowie and Aerosmith,
it is safe to say that this was the best and most enjoyable concert
I've ever attended.
The lights went down half an hour before the concert was scheduled to
start, and an already confused audience got even more confused with
the band Hella, not knowing whether the group was just warming up, or
actually playing songs.
Confusion turned to psychedelia as the Mars Volta took the stage,
Mexican entourage and all. One in tight jeans, the other sporting an
even tighter pin-striped suit, singer Cedric Bixler Zavala and
guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez shimmied out the famous 32-minute-
long Cassandra Gemini, followed by The Widow.
Throwing in some improvising to go along with Cedric's screaming and
dancing, the Mars Volta completed their nearly hour-long set to a
standing ovation, unplugged and took down the Mexican flag draped
over the keyboard.
It was then that System of a Down took their place onstage. They
plowed through 26 of their hits, joked with the audience, and made up
their own words to Dire Straits' Sultans of Swing, with Malakian
singing at the chorus, "We are the System of a Down."
Since forming in 1993, SOAD has recorded four studio albums: System
of a Down (June 1998); Toxicity (September 2001); Steal This Album!
(November 2002); and most recently their two-part album
Mezmerize/Hypnotize. Mezmerize was released in May; Hypnotize will be
available in November.
SOAD are widely known for their controversial songs about the
American government, the American economy and the destructive
lifestyles of people living in Los Angeles. But the messages they try
to get across on their albums don't end when they leave the studio.
Tankian, along with guitarist Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and
drummer John Dolmayan are lobbying the U.S. government to officially
recognize the genocide that occurred in Turkey between 1915 and 1923,
acknowledging the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians.
When politicians block the road to justice, SOAD turns to music to
get the truth out.
As I watch Malakian's eyes bulge as he screams insanely into the
microphone, or Tankian twirl childlike in the middle of the stage, it
dawns on me that these guys are cool. Like, really cool. There is
something in their performances, the way they interact with their
fans, the things they sing about, and the way they live their lives.
They don't try and pretend to be badass rock stars, because what they
really are is themselves. They are real, fighting for real people,
speaking out and defending the real people that can't defend
themselves. System of a Down is the voice of the people.
Chanel Carson is in Grade 12 at Harry Ainlay high school
GRAPHIC:
Photo: Larry Wong, the Journal; Vocalist Serj Tankian of System of a
Down in concert at Rexall Place
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
September 30, 2005 Friday
Final Edition
System of a Down shows music as a way to speak the truth: Band's
intense message connects with real people
by Chanel Carson, The Edmonton Journal
Welcome to the Soldier side, where there's no one here but me ... or
should I say 12,000 fans flicking on lighters, swaying in time to the
strumming of an acoustic guitar, watching the black, curtain-covered
stage as Serj Tankian's singing silhouette is illuminated from a
spotlight behind.
Then, the curtain drops, and guitarist Daron Malakian screams out his
long-awaited question "Why do they always send the poor?!"
I am talking, of course, about System of a Down. Performing at Rexall
Place last week with opening guests Hella and the Mars Volta, SOAD
was a blast of fresh air after a somewhat uneventful summer for the
Edmonton concert scene.
I admit that even after seeing acts like David Bowie and Aerosmith,
it is safe to say that this was the best and most enjoyable concert
I've ever attended.
The lights went down half an hour before the concert was scheduled to
start, and an already confused audience got even more confused with
the band Hella, not knowing whether the group was just warming up, or
actually playing songs.
Confusion turned to psychedelia as the Mars Volta took the stage,
Mexican entourage and all. One in tight jeans, the other sporting an
even tighter pin-striped suit, singer Cedric Bixler Zavala and
guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez shimmied out the famous 32-minute-
long Cassandra Gemini, followed by The Widow.
Throwing in some improvising to go along with Cedric's screaming and
dancing, the Mars Volta completed their nearly hour-long set to a
standing ovation, unplugged and took down the Mexican flag draped
over the keyboard.
It was then that System of a Down took their place onstage. They
plowed through 26 of their hits, joked with the audience, and made up
their own words to Dire Straits' Sultans of Swing, with Malakian
singing at the chorus, "We are the System of a Down."
Since forming in 1993, SOAD has recorded four studio albums: System
of a Down (June 1998); Toxicity (September 2001); Steal This Album!
(November 2002); and most recently their two-part album
Mezmerize/Hypnotize. Mezmerize was released in May; Hypnotize will be
available in November.
SOAD are widely known for their controversial songs about the
American government, the American economy and the destructive
lifestyles of people living in Los Angeles. But the messages they try
to get across on their albums don't end when they leave the studio.
Tankian, along with guitarist Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and
drummer John Dolmayan are lobbying the U.S. government to officially
recognize the genocide that occurred in Turkey between 1915 and 1923,
acknowledging the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians.
When politicians block the road to justice, SOAD turns to music to
get the truth out.
As I watch Malakian's eyes bulge as he screams insanely into the
microphone, or Tankian twirl childlike in the middle of the stage, it
dawns on me that these guys are cool. Like, really cool. There is
something in their performances, the way they interact with their
fans, the things they sing about, and the way they live their lives.
They don't try and pretend to be badass rock stars, because what they
really are is themselves. They are real, fighting for real people,
speaking out and defending the real people that can't defend
themselves. System of a Down is the voice of the people.
Chanel Carson is in Grade 12 at Harry Ainlay high school
GRAPHIC:
Photo: Larry Wong, the Journal; Vocalist Serj Tankian of System of a
Down in concert at Rexall Place
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress