System Show in Massachusetts
My wife and I just got back from the System of a Down show in Worcester, MA with opening acts Bad Acid Trip (didn't see them) and The Mars Volta (Saw Them). Arsineh has already gone into detail with great pics from the other shows in the past. Being a casual SOAD fan only because they were Armenian during their first album, my appreciation for their music grew with Toxicity. Then, Steal This Disc, and now Mezmerize. I didn't feel like driving to Worcester, MA tonight, but since I had the tickets, we went. Killer show, one of the best I've ever seen. In fact, I can't remember a concert so intense from start to finish. I am afraid that everything I write from this point on will be cliched, so, I will just stop here. I've seen a lot of shows, this ranks up in the Top 3 all time, any genre. Forget the Armenian connection, this was about music.
While there at the concert, I ran into about a dozen Armenians. I knew some, and others I met for the first time. I stopped by the ANCA (Armenian National Committee) table manned by Arin Gregorian and Christine Arvangian. They were getting people to sign Armenian Genocide related petitions and there was a Dennis Hastert letter in there somewhere. Amazingly enough, Arin said that he had more people sign the petitions at this one concert than 4 years at AYF Olympics combined. Glad all four Diasporan Armenian members of System of a Down are teaming up with the ANCA to educate the throngs of non-Armenians at the concert (over 6000) about Armenian issues. The ANCA table was right next to the Axis of Justice table. Both tables were full with interested people.
While there at the concert, I ran into about a dozen Armenians. I knew some, and others I met for the first time. I stopped by the ANCA (Armenian National Committee) table manned by Arin Gregorian and Christine Arvangian. They were getting people to sign Armenian Genocide related petitions and there was a Dennis Hastert letter in there somewhere. Amazingly enough, Arin said that he had more people sign the petitions at this one concert than 4 years at AYF Olympics combined. Glad all four Diasporan Armenian members of System of a Down are teaming up with the ANCA to educate the throngs of non-Armenians at the concert (over 6000) about Armenian issues. The ANCA table was right next to the Axis of Justice table. Both tables were full with interested people.
posted by Raffi at 9:22 AM
5 Comments:
Raffi it's obvious you're a casual fan because the album is called Steal This Album and not Steal This Disc. That would be cheezzzy if it was Disc.
How were the Mars Volta? I would have loved to see this show, but I've been stuck in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip for the past month.
If I may, Mars Volta was a whole other experience. I got into them a little bit before the show, but their performance was so powerful. They have a great stage presence. Though the singer's voice is an aquired taste, once you get into it you love it more and more.
The Mars Volta were quite a revelation. Their set was about an hour long and I was not really prepared for their genre bending set. But, ultimately patience was rewarded from the fans when they broke into a killer song called "L'Via L'Viaquez". I just went to iTunes and downloaded their "Frances the Mute" album and will be listening to it this week while trying to piece together the songs with my memories of their performance. I've never really heard music like this before with one moment flashes of Led Zeppelin and the next a Mexicano blitz of sounds. Songs average about 11 minutes long. Anyway, if people haven't seen this System of a Down/The Mars Volta/Bad Acid Trip Tour, they are in for a treat when they do finally see it.
The Mars Volta are really amazing. Both of the albums bring me back to the time when you are 14 and a band is the MOST important thing in your life. I saw them 6 months ago in Worcester, but I'm really sad that I missed this one, as I've never seen SOAD live. I have to confess to liking SOAD more for their Armenian-ness than for their music, but some of their songs are great and Serj's voice is amazing.
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