Warm Up Gig: System of a Down

Okay...so this isn't a "review" per se, at least not yet. The reason: because I'm utterly exhausted, even though my exposure to tonight's pit was limited to a couple songs ("Suggestions" and "Deer Dance") and the occasional peripheral action, notably during the skull-crushing finale. For System of a Down is a band whose music demands active engagement, even if said participation is limited to the occasional balled-fist salute and a low "roar" in the manner of Serj Tankian. Put differently, my legs are giving out on me even while I'm sitting, and as such I feel it's time for bed.

But before I do that, some crib notes:

Bad Acid Trip. Now...okay. If you know me, you'll know I tend to speak in superlatives, so I'll choose my words carefully: Bad Acid Trip is one of the top five worst bands I've ever seen. Seriously, feel free to leave comments naming other, terrible acts I've seen (Paul, you should be particularly adept at this...c'mon, Ether Net?). Few of them will compare.

The Mars Volta. I didn't know what to expect from them, apart from a few excessively long songs--and on that note, they delivered with aplomb. The Mars Volta channels the ghosts of the Fillmore Auditorium to an unerring degree; I've never done LSD, but I can only imagine the effect of seeing the Mars Volta on a bad acid trip (*rimshot*).

System of a Down. Seen 'em once before, on the Toxicity tour back in 2002. I left that show nonplussed; on one hand I was suitably impressed, but on the other I wanted more. I felt as though System of a Down is a band whose live show could move mountains. Certainly their music is powerful enough--yet that night at the Kool Haus, I felt as though the band was simply running through its paces. Tonight, the band's performance felt a lot more spontaneous, even though I'm willing to wager they're playing an identical set night in, night out (which, upon further review, they are). Also, whereas the Kool Haus gig featured an underwhelming sixteen songs, tonight's featured...get ready for it...twenty-eight! That's a Pearl Jam show!

The set, from what I can remember*:

• Soldier Side
• B.Y.O.B.
• Revenga
• Know
• Needles
• Deer Dance
• Suggestions
• Psycho
• Chop Suey!
• Kill Rock 'n' Roll
• Sad Statue
• Violent Pornography
• Mr. Jack
• Cigaro
• This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song
• Bounce
• ATWA
• Forest
• Lost in Hollywood
• Question!
• War?
• Prison Song
• Aerials
• Toxicity
• Science
• Suite-Pee
• Sugar

(* -- This should be accurate...y'know, seeing as how I copied it straight from the band's official site.)

Huh. All things considered I've written a lot more than I thought I'd be able to produce. Still, I'll be back tomorrow with more extensive comments. Oh, and if I was forced into picking a highlight, it'd be a toss-up between "Mr. Jack" and the opening salvo...yes, "B.Y.O.B." was bloody epic.