We lived in a student residence with complete strangers, had 20 hours of bus
travels, slept 12 hours in the 4 days spent there and it was all out of our poor
teenage pockets. Best money ever spent.
I won't lie, when we arrived at Parc Jean Drapeau I was miserable. Rain was
pounding, we hadn't even had tickets yet and we had gone 30 consecutive hours
without sleep. Yet soon enough, tickets were purchased from the box office and
the sun was shining. After lining up for two hours and hearing a Bad Acid Trip
soundtest in the distance, people flocked into a park drenched by a previous
shower.
We camped out briefly on the hill at the back of the park to get an aerial view
of everything. The amount of people was unreal. Then as I was eating my hotdog
géant, it started pouring again. In mere minutes I was drenched and cold, I
could barely see the stage. So my friend and I trecked through the mud to the
outskirts of the pit where we thought it would be warmer and chances of survival
would be greater. We ended up spending the entire show at the railing left of
the sound/equipment area about 40 yards from the stage, it was a near perfect
view.
.
Bad Acid Trip came on a bit before scheduled and after seeing them twice with
System last year I knew not to expect much. They looked more confident on stage
but the music was pretty much the same. There was a song that I think was called
'Black Metal Kitchen Appliances' that made me laugh. It was hard to take it in
though, with the sleep deprivation I had I kept momentarily passing out against
the railing and my body temperature was at a huge low. I think it was
approaching dangerous. However I do remember BAT taking every chance they had to
thank System of a Down for all they did for their careers and making us cheer
for SOAD as much as we could, it was really sweet.
Norma Jean failed to help my condition, in fact I think they made it worse. They
are a completely unimpressive band and just offered a headache amidst the
horrible weather. I literally fell asleep watching them. I tucked my arms inside
my shirt for some warmth and it helped a bit. The problem with Norma Jean is
that their music is so messy and overbearing then the singer commands so much of
the crowd when their music isn't good enough for it. Not a good band.
The concert took a great turn for the better with Unearth. They really get the
audience going, they have a great drummer and one of their guitarists is really
fun to watch. The singer has a good voice to and they could be a band to watch
out for in the future.
The clouds thinned out for Hatebreed making it just warm enough for me to stop
feeling terrible and get excited that System was coming closer. I am by no means
a fan of Hatebreed but they were much better than they were in Toronto. They
said they almost didn't make it because their flight was delayed or something
and for once Canadian customs didn't stop them. BAT said something about customs
too, I wonder what the problem was.
Avenged Sevenfold was good as usual. Except I noticed at both concerts the
guitar and drums go way over the singing and they could sound even better if
that didn't happen. Montreal fans have a surprising amount of love for them.
Actually all in all, Montreal fans just love heavy music and its a great scene.
It was easy to tell every band was giving it their all for them and were
especially impressed by how nuts everyone was despite the crappy weather.
And of course, next was System and it seemed to take especially long to set
their stuff up. The weather was getting worse but I didn't feel sick or tired
anymore as my adrenaline and anticpation was building. People were tossing mud
at each other and room for pits were already forming. Every single fan was
getting ready to be so intensely involved, it was magnificent. Then the lights
went out, a System chant started and on came Daron...
Soldier Side Intro - Sung beautifully as always, it started off being drowned
out by the System chants but eventually everyone stopped to sing along with the
beautiful melody Daron offered. The System chants were cool though, there's a
mild French accent behind them and it sounds neat.
Attack - As unbelieveable of a start it is to the album, I want to say that
they can start a concert with better songs. Daron comes out fully dressed with
in black with his hat and Serj is still in a suit while Shavo and John are still
getting warmed up ... they can't hit the intensity needed to play this song.
It's just everyone is so amazed that it is actually them so they overlook it
because of the universal excitement. Yet with this being my second time in a
week seeing them I could look past it. The song was still done well though.
B.Y.O.B - This song was beautifully done. Serj unveiled a baby blue t-shirt
instead of the pink we had seen him previously sport. They made up for the early
lost intensity of Attack. The venue wasn't the greatest for sound though. It
wasn't loud enough so often people signing along in the back drowned out the
speakers so it was hard to actually hear things. It wasn't the bands fault
though and I was in a place where I could still hear them well and it was fine.
This included hearing Daron say "hey baby" to a girl in the front row, haha. I
could also hear Daron's changes to how he played the verse very well, I liked
the touch. On the one of every beat he just struck a chord that would carry for
the rest of the bar, it made the party much more mellow. Serj yelled 'Montreal!'
in a really nice French accent during the song and added 'in the rain!' after
'have a real good time' in the lyrics. The rain really was a good time now,
seeing the mist rise off of all the dancing people with System of a Down rocking
beyond them in the night sky was the best atmosphere imaginable.
Revenga - Not to sound continuously negative but as much as I love Montreal
people, they cannot keep beat with claps. It was pretty funny how off they were
by the time the song came back in. I think Serj had to keep the beat by yelling
on the beat right before the verse came in just so the rest of the band didn't
get lost. The song was of course done greatly.
Needles - In a green light Daron turned and still without speaking raised his
hand quickly and nailed the first note as the lights fell into intricately
syndicated spasm. The lighting job in System shows is really spectacular. I
noticed during this time I was competing with a girl beside me (who had a light
moustache, tres gros!) to see who knew the words better. So far it was even. We
both sang Needles perfectly as the song was played perfectly.
Deer Dance - System continued with the 'wow' factor as they shoved this song
down our throats with spastic beauty. Much like in Toronto, Daron pretended to
have a semi-automatic in his hands when he wasn't played guitar. Serj told us
war was dressed as Lebanon instead of Iraq as said at Toronto. John always adds
in a little extra in this song with some shots and during the final breakdown
that makes it a lot better to jump to. And everyone was bouncing despite the
mud, they were loving this too much not to.
Suggestions - This is where I started to beat the girl in words, it was
obvious she didn't know much off the self titled album. I felt like a champ haha.
This was one of the best songs of the night. Right before the huge explosion
part of the song Daron did one of his murderous screams from the old days that
just make you so happy on the inside. Then there were literally explosions as an
added effect to make it sound like a ship was crashing. They didn't do that
effect in any other show I've seen it played and it sounded so real and it made
the song spectacular.
Psycho - Daron said some stuff while Shavo did the opening bass line but I
couldn't hear it very well. In a funny tune I think he was like "We're gonna
clap our hands and we're gonna do it like this!" and he exchanged "Wooo!" 's
with the crowd. He said we were gonna do it like some girl whose name I didn't
catch. Just hearing his voice is always something to me though, he's a hero. The
song was great, solo and all.
Chop Suey! - Another epic song, Serj was really great here. When he would say
"you wanted to" it sounded so casual and it made a cool touch on his parts. For
a song that I barely listen to anymore the live version helps me remember why it
was the song that made me fall in love with this band.
Lonely Day - Before the song Daron said how that when they come to Montreal
they always feel like their among friends. The crowd exploded in cheers for the
hundredth time and Daron appropriately started the song that would represent him
not being in Montreal. He didn't change the lyrics but he changed how they
sounded at one part near the end where he said "it's the most loneliest day of
my life" in normal speech. It sounded much more genuine and added a neat touch.
Kill Rock 'N' Roll - It's sad that this is a short song because it is just
done so well. The 'accidents happen!' is just breathtaking. Right before it,
Daron said "stop pushing the fans you asshole!" to a guy in the pit, I'm not
sure who though. Great song nevertheless.
Old School Hollywood - I can't get over how HEAVY this song is live. With the
rain not stopping mud was flying everywhere and people were covered. Behind the
sound tent, there was an area where topless guys were throwing each other in to
a mud pit and they were getting fully soaked in everything. And instead of his
belt, Daron told us not to touch his tits.
Violent Pornography - Daron opened it again with a speech but as a tribute to
how great they are, it was almost a different speech. So many bands do the same
thing word for word but Daron changed it up a lot. It had the same idea but I
think he said it a lot better this time. He really enjoys to sound like a
preacher. Then out of nowhere he stopped his speech and just started making
sounds. "Because...do bop dee do bop be doo bop doo.." and he just went on like
that, it almost sounded like he was scatting. Then he started going "mumma mia,
mummia mia, mumma mia!" and the song started. That was really entertaining and
so was the song, the crowd got an on-time clap going for once and Daron threw in
a "yeehaw!" longer than the one in Toronto during the final verse.
Radio/Video - Harry Perry came out to a huge applause for this one, Daron
told us to say hi to him if we ever see him in California. I have to say, I like
his touch on the stage. He rocks back and forth beside John and with Shavo and
you can tell he loves it. He's a cool guy. This is one of System's best live
songs, Daron really explores the depths of his voice and it has become a thing
of beauty. John also does much more drumming during the chorus and adds a bit
during the verse, the business makes the song a lot more antsy and explosive. A
lot of Mezmerize recordings don't peak well enough but when it's live John
really takes the songs to the highest point of craziness.
Cigaro - The usual slow intro, everyone loves Darons cock. And he loves us. I
think Daron said something funny but I really can't remember it because the song
is just so good.
Hypnotize - John OWNS this song. The way his drums are tuned and the way he
plays them makes the song really beautiful. Anyone who calls this a "weak"
single has easily not seen it played live. Daron smoked up for this song and I
think it gave him some inspiration for his solo.
Lost In Hollywood - After Serj telling the Montreal crowd for the millionth
time how beautiful we all were, Daron started Systems best slow song (in my
opinion). Instead of they take you and make you, Serj and Daron said rape you.
That's probably closer to the truth. Another beautiful song.
Question! - For their hardest song musically, they make it look so simple.
Serj takes to his stool with his beautiful acoustic sound, Shavo and Daron stand
together and play while Harry sways back and forth playing along with John. Serj
again changed his scream before the first ending, splitting it up kind of and it
sounds much better.
War? - This didn't have the prelude it had in Toronto but you could tell
Daron thought about it yet instead jumped right into the song. Some people
aren't big fans of the interlude because its not as angry as originally put but
I really like the keyboard and the added lyrics. And of course, John being the
absolutely fantastic drummer he is gets a trippy beat going and the speech
sounds really progressive and modern. I love the new style of the song.
Sultans Of Swing - Again, I'll say this is THE guitar song by THE guitar player.
If hearing Daron do this was the last thing I ever heard I would die willingly.
Simply majestic.
Aerials - The sea of hands under the rain in this song was so awesome. The
rain had become a light touch on the heat and passion of the performance so it
created a really misty visual. Honestly, it looked like a dream world with the
haze it gave and seeing System like this really was a dream. It was also really
fitting that "life is like a waterfall" and we were essentially in one. At the
end of the song I realized Holy Mountains, the best song ever, may or may not be
played. They had only done it previously in Toronto which made my life. And...
ORGASM - It was played again. I went fucking nuts again. I think I am the
luckiest individual who lived to hear it in the only two concerts they've played
it this tour. Just...so...awesome...
Toxicity - Don't ask me why, but everyone seemed to agree that this was the
song of the night. Despite John's continual ownage and the rampage of the guitar
it has never been a complete favourite. The song really took everyone to a
higher place though.
Sugar - Of all places they'd do Suite-Pee, I thought it would be here. I
could see in every members faces how much they cherished Montreal and its fans.
While I think they were better musically in Toronto, the fans and the band
really gave their hearts to each other here. Sugar was its usual fun time that
System uses to remind fans not to take anything too seriously. They really fool
around and make sounds, I think Serj even meowed like a cat. The motion he had
when he told us he gets his girl to suck his dick was a laugh too. And I took
the championship with knowing the words best for the night when I sang "Just ice
cream! I licked everyone!" along with Serj. People looked at me in disbelief.
Christ, I like this band too much...if it's possible. Then they left to more
System chants and the heaviest rain of the entire night. My friend was
uncontrollably shaking but we both had the biggest smiles and that was all that
mattered.
Leaving was an adventure on its own. The mud was literally ankle high and with
everyone splashing around, it was impossible not to be covered up until your
knees. Many people were just fully covered, hair and all. I got new shoes two
weeks ago and I need new ones already. No one cared at all though, the
collective thousands started singing Ole! and everyone was at a permanent high.
Taking the subway home was amazing, despite some speaking English and some
French everyone was joint in knowing they just experienced the most wild show
Montreal may have ever seen. Even the Hatebreed fans said the System pit was too
much for them. SOAD never stopped smiling or telling us how much they loved the
crowd. We really put all on the line for them, I'm surprised I didn't get
hypothermia or something. They've done much more for me than I can ever do for
them though. My multi-hundred dollar trip, sleepless nights and 10 hour bus
rides to Montreal don't even scratch the surface on how much the music means to
me.
I came home late last night, completely having my mind blown. The night after I
got drunk for the first time (17 in a city where the drinking age is 18 and
still NO ONE CARES), I saw a football game and I met some of the coolest people
in a city of class and culture. The heart Montreal has is unmatched by any other
place I've ever been. Language is no barrier in everyone's love for each other.
Factoring in this with the beautiful scenery on the bus ride home it really hit
me how great Canada is. You all should be here at least one.
J'aime Montreal.
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