System of a Down Concert
Wow - what an awesome experience. Most people my age don't really know anything about them but it seemed like more than 10,000 20 year olds sure do. When I say experience, this was different than your regular rock show in my books. I was very apprehensive about seeing this band on the floor. They are a very heavy band and I knew the crowd would be young. I knew this would going to be step up than what I am used to.
I didn't go alone for a change - I went with my buddy Costas (who was born when I was in high school) and he got us floor tickets. We met for a couple of beers outside and then a couple inside and watched the opening band Mars Volta. This band was all over the place - Thrash metal and trippy jams from 2 guys (and their band) who's combined weight was probably 200lbs with massive afros. They had electric guitars and a sax and flute with one of the guys dancing better than Prince or MJ. It was odd seeing a guy dance like that doing metal but with these guys it just seemed to work. I'd like to see them again but in a smaller venue - sound didn't do them justice. The bass would travel right through every nerve of your body - it was a bit much.
It was off to the floor for Costas and I and we didn't have a lot to drink so for a change I'm almost sober. We squeeze up near the centre front a couple fo people back and wait for the show. We let in a couple of girls in front because they said they were being manhandled by the guys behind us.
The show started and the crowd went psycho on the floor like most shows with lots of positioning to be closest to the front. They kicked butt right from the get go and the pit went more insane as each song got passed. By the end of the third song, I had finally met my match in the pit - I couldn't take the lack of space and oxygen. I couldn't believe that I was leaving Costas and wimping out after all my previous shows and pits. Maybe not enough booze or this was just too hardcore too fast. It was brutal trying to go backwards in the pit when everyone is pushing but I finally got air and got to recover for a few songs in the back and then Costas came out just soaked and banged up as well. After a short break we went for it again and I was re-energized and pumped. We kicked butt getting up close again and this time I just went with the moshing instead of trying to fight it. It was way better than being jammed at the very front.
Surrounded by a bunch of hardcore 20 year olds who just wanted to get violent (not in a fighting way, in a way like - "I'll push you really hard and then you push me really hard and then we do it again - yeah !!! and then we'll push that guy in front to get closer - yeah !!!" , I got totally into it with them and the show just got better and better. We got bounced around a ton but it was a blast. Their music comes in waves, some cool mellow moments and then 10 seconds later, sheer pandemonium. The whole coliseum were on their feet jumping for almost the whole show which you don't normally see. The lighting was perfect and the sound was one of the best I've heard in the coliseum. They totally blew me away.
These young folks are on to something digging this band-I'm so glad I got out and saw a band that wasn't around 20 years ago :)
Wow - what an awesome experience. Most people my age don't really know anything about them but it seemed like more than 10,000 20 year olds sure do. When I say experience, this was different than your regular rock show in my books. I was very apprehensive about seeing this band on the floor. They are a very heavy band and I knew the crowd would be young. I knew this would going to be step up than what I am used to.
I didn't go alone for a change - I went with my buddy Costas (who was born when I was in high school) and he got us floor tickets. We met for a couple of beers outside and then a couple inside and watched the opening band Mars Volta. This band was all over the place - Thrash metal and trippy jams from 2 guys (and their band) who's combined weight was probably 200lbs with massive afros. They had electric guitars and a sax and flute with one of the guys dancing better than Prince or MJ. It was odd seeing a guy dance like that doing metal but with these guys it just seemed to work. I'd like to see them again but in a smaller venue - sound didn't do them justice. The bass would travel right through every nerve of your body - it was a bit much.
It was off to the floor for Costas and I and we didn't have a lot to drink so for a change I'm almost sober. We squeeze up near the centre front a couple fo people back and wait for the show. We let in a couple of girls in front because they said they were being manhandled by the guys behind us.
The show started and the crowd went psycho on the floor like most shows with lots of positioning to be closest to the front. They kicked butt right from the get go and the pit went more insane as each song got passed. By the end of the third song, I had finally met my match in the pit - I couldn't take the lack of space and oxygen. I couldn't believe that I was leaving Costas and wimping out after all my previous shows and pits. Maybe not enough booze or this was just too hardcore too fast. It was brutal trying to go backwards in the pit when everyone is pushing but I finally got air and got to recover for a few songs in the back and then Costas came out just soaked and banged up as well. After a short break we went for it again and I was re-energized and pumped. We kicked butt getting up close again and this time I just went with the moshing instead of trying to fight it. It was way better than being jammed at the very front.
Surrounded by a bunch of hardcore 20 year olds who just wanted to get violent (not in a fighting way, in a way like - "I'll push you really hard and then you push me really hard and then we do it again - yeah !!! and then we'll push that guy in front to get closer - yeah !!!" , I got totally into it with them and the show just got better and better. We got bounced around a ton but it was a blast. Their music comes in waves, some cool mellow moments and then 10 seconds later, sheer pandemonium. The whole coliseum were on their feet jumping for almost the whole show which you don't normally see. The lighting was perfect and the sound was one of the best I've heard in the coliseum. They totally blew me away.
These young folks are on to something digging this band-I'm so glad I got out and saw a band that wasn't around 20 years ago :)
posted by Slurpee Guy at 9:37 PM
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