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Serj Tankian Reviews - Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA (2.15.08) Review & Pics

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:17 AM
Post subject: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA (2.15.08) Review & Pics

I guess this is the sequel to my previous Serj review from the show on Feb 13, which you can see if you click here!

>>>>Here is the thread for the audio recording of this show, compliments of SubNoiZe<<<<

Once again, I acquired the privilege of being right up against the rail in the very front, and I was exactly in the middle of the stage. Right in front Serj's main microphone stand! It was wonderful! (I still have a bruise across my chest from being smashed against the rail! Good times!) Shocked

At this show, there seemed to be a rather annoying abundance of people in the front that didn't know anything about Serj. At concerts, I generally have the tendency to believe that the front of the audience, near the stage, should be an atmosphere of big fans of the performing band(s). It isn't their faults, but it felt to me that many, many of them just came out on a friday night to see "the foreign guy who sings 'Empty Walls' on the local radio station" .. It just bothers me deep down when I'm surrounded by a majority of these types of people at the front of an audience. (There were about half as many attending in general at the show in Richmond, two days previous, and I think that almost all of the people that I was in earshot of in the front were legitimate Serj fans. Go Richmond!) But who knows, right?

I think that Fair to Midland definately had a weaker show; with far less on-stage moshing among the band, less acknowledgement to the crowd by the lead singer, and overall just a more loosy-goosy set. But still, they rocked nevertheless.

Serj on the other hand! I felt that Serj was much more personal with the crowd! Much more smiling, joking around, fun gestures to the audience, and so on. I think he just recieved better vibes from the Norfolk scene. The NorVa (the venue in Norfolk where Serj performed) is a big, classy, crowd-drawing venue, and a big tour-favorite of countless musical acts. Even one of Serj's roadies said that he loves the NorVa and continued to compliment the venue during their setup.

ANYWAY, Serj of course did play an identical setlist as the one in Richmond- all the songs from Elect the Dead, "Girl" by the Beatles, "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedys, and "Charades", most of you might know that song from the Axis of Justice DVD or CD, or on the DVD side of the Hypnotize dual disk, you can see a short clip of him playing in on piano with John on drums in the background.

Back to the beginning-

The lights went low and the FCC took the dark stage in their all-black outfits, while a recording of Serj's 'The Reverend King' played. The stage-right guitarist began the solo intro to Unthinking Majority as white-suited Serj came out behind a curtain to the front of the stage, smiling big and bobbing his head to the beat of the guitar. He arrives at the microphone stand (right in front of my face) at the exact time that the bass and drums join in, and he says "ow!" like he does in the recording. So he takes the mic off the stand (pinky underneath, naturally) and keeps his head bobbing to the music. Then "WE DON'T NEED YOUR DEMO-CRACY, EXECUTE THEM KINDLYYY FOR ME" and so forth! Again, the second song was Empty Walls, done beautifully as always.

((NOTE: I met up with SubNoiZe before the show, he's here on SOADfans, and he may have a video recording of the entire shows, which I hope we can all refer to soon, depending on whether or not he was able to sneak the camera in))

((EDIT: He's actually got the camera in and we're awaiting his uploads of the still shots and the video, which he says is of top-notch quality!))

Serj was very, very clean in his vocals and seemed to duplicate the recordings well, (more so than I've ever seen him do with SOAD). His vocals were RIGHT on key with every song. He played electric guitar for "Saving Us" and he was using some sort of effect that made it sound just like an acoustic guitar, it may have had something to do with the strange looking pickups. In "Saving Us" he played all of the guitar parts that sound like an acoustic guitar on the CD. He also played the same acoustic-simulating guitar on "Baby".. and after he sang the first verse of that song and played it on guitar, right BEFORE the chorus comes in where he sings "Baby, oh, Baby".. he says "splitting planets into thirds" and then he plays a chord on guitar that leads into chorus. But he played a completly wrong chord, and there was no hiding it! He looked up at the crowd with a strong facial expression that illustrated "oops haha" .. and the whole place was dead silent. So I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted right at him "It's okay Serj, you the man! No worries!" and he looked RIGHT at me and smiled and laughed.

Serj played piano for "Honking Antelope" and the closer "Elect the Dead", and perhaps one other, but other than that he only sang.

I remember at some point during the show I was so hypnotized by the song and how close he was to me, that I jumped up and grabbed one of his pant legs and a bouncer quickly seized me firmly by the ends of my shoulders and placed me back down on the floor behind the rail.

It was a great, great show. It was my second and favorite Serj Tankian solo performance. I could have easily (and maybe should have) stolen the setlist sheet that was caught by the punk next to me who I knew for a fact didn't give a you-know-what about Serj Tankian. But I didn't. Life's not fair sometimes, as we all know.

If you possibly have the chance to get out and see Serj Tankian perform, do. You simply must! And keep in remembrance that this may in fact be his last solo tour. But let's all hope not! But on the other hand, I know we'd all rather see System on tour again. I'm very glad that I got to see Serj twice, even if I had to drive two hours down to Norfolk by myself! This concludes my review of Serj Tankian's performance at the NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia, US on February 15, 2008. Please check out the pictures below that I took on my camera phone! (sorry about the quality!)

FRONT ROW PICS by NOAHFERFER:

BALCONY PICS by SubNoiZe:

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:23 AM
Post subject: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15, '08 (REVIEW!)

Noahferfer wrote:

I remember at some point during I was so hypnotized by the song and how close he was to me, that I jumped up and grabbed one of his pant legsil.

You have no idea how funny that sounds.
Laughing

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:31 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

it was a divine moment my friend Smile

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:31 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

hey noah, yeah; i got the cameras in. i got most of the show recorded (minus 1 or 2 songs). it'll take me a while to get them ready to post, but they be something that everyone must download; and i am not saying that since they are mine. video quality: A, Sound quality: A.

i also plan on making an mp3 on the entire show to post for everyone as well.

i'll throw some pics up shortly. the video will have to wait a day or 2.

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:39 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

Does this mean - dare I say - a video of Charades?!?!?!?
*melts* smilie

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:40 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

^ You the man Jason. You can put the pics on this thread if you like, also submit them to the official photo gallery as well!

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:05 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

i am gonna try and get a lil snippet of video uploaded and posted tonight as well, but i am not sure. i've just got back in my a 3.5 hour drive, so i've got loads of unpacking and shit to do. i am sure am glad that tomorrow is a holiday.

and as far as charades goes, i am pretty sure i have it. i do recall not recording sky is over since the guard behind me tapped me on my should and asked me to stop recording. i handed her a $20 bill, winked at her and she walked away... it was quite funny. i also think i missed the intro to PTLAPTA, and the intro to another one. i cant remember atm, but i will take a snippet of something now. someone give me a song, and i will give you a 30 second sample...

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:08 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

i only shot pics while i was not recording video, and please remember that i was in the balcony since i was there with my wife and recooperating from a double knee surgery.

where do i add photos into the site gallery?

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:09 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

charades charades charades!

And nice pictures! much better than mine! haha

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:20 AM
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

SubNoiZe wrote:

and as far as charades goes, i am pretty sure i have it. i do recall not recording sky is over since the guard behind me tapped me on my should and asked me to stop recording. i handed her a $20 bill, winked at her and she walked away... it was quite funny.

Dude. That is so badass. Very Happy

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:23 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

okay, charades it is. do i make a new thread for this or what?

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:34 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

I don't care where you post it...JUST POST IT!!!! Very Happy

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:42 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

the file is rendering now and should be up very soon. i am thinking uploading to rapidshare. i dont want youtube pooping on my quality. the clip is about 30 seconds long and is untouched. i havent boosted the contrast or sharpened yet.

from the searching i have done on youtube, it would appear that my recordings are gonna piss all over theirs.

...and dont forget, once i get all the videos done; i will make an mp3 of the entire concert.

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:53 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

alrighty. heres the clip of charades:

http://rapidshare.com/files/92783539/CharadesClip.wmv

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 05:27 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

Do you have vid of the whole concert?

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 05:41 AM
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

hackthesystem2 wrote:

Do you have vid of the whole concert?

the only song i do not have is sky is over. i stopped recording during that song, and took the pics you saw earlier in this thread.

was the quality good enough for you?

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 05:52 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15

The quality was amazing, I assure you.

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 06:00 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15

i'll get the full thing out sometime real soon. i'll thow up the mp3s links sometime tomorrow afteroon, and the video in the next day or 2.

ZAk - Feb 18, 2008 - 06:13 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15

Great Share both of you, im so glad you all had great time there Smile

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 06:39 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

The charades clip is at the top of this thread. I think the clip cuts off right before the part where Serj starts air-humping in response to what I yelled at him. I'm kind of embarrassed to tell you all what I yelled... It was somewhere along the lines of.. "CHARADES!!! CHARAAAADES!!!!! CHARADESS!!!! FUCKKKK YEAHH!!! CHARADES!!!! GIVE IT TO USSS!!!!! YEAHHH!!!! FUCKKKK!!! FUCKKK!!!!" and then he starts air humping. I can't wait til he uploads the rest.

--EDIT--

This video will definately be the best bootleg that anyone has put out from this tour, and it is definately one of the best bootlegs that SOADfans.com has seen, I believe.

--EDIT EDIT--

And thanks Zak! We did have an awesome time! We met up in the bar before the show, unfortunatly I didn't see him afterwards because I was trying to get to my car as soon as possible, as I had a two hour drive in the middle of the night.

anniemannie3 - Feb 18, 2008 - 08:58 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

Oh no . . . =[ Serj shaved his mo off =[ Aww . . .

loly - Feb 18, 2008 - 10:15 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

Very nice pics,thanx Smile

kian@soadfans - Feb 18, 2008 - 11:02 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

This whole thread is amazing! thank you very much for all of this.hope the other videos are up as soon as possible

ez2dj - Feb 18, 2008 - 01:13 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

wow he shaved he looks different!

wtf man i found this video of lie lie lie and it sucked and serj was not even trying....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7Vj-zLzYJiM

i would say when he first started of it was better....

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 02:36 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

i am uploading unthinking majority this moment, just to give everyone a peak at what all you will be getting from me by the end of the week. now, i must warn you that the files are big. i refuse to destroy my quality to make smaller file sizes. all of my files will be uploaded to rapidshare (i will also add them to youtube).

it appears that each video will be around 100mbs, but i assure you; they are worth the download.

i might try and get the mp3s up once zak gets back up with me.

it took me a few mins to get comfortable recording this show with security all around me, at the beginning, it gets jump for a few seconds. a guard was standing literally 3 people behind me and i didnt want to get my $1000 camera taken away.

btw -- my vid should be up soon. i am just curious as to if i need to make a new thread for this vid or just post it in here. help!?

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:09 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: Serj Tankian in Norfolk, VA - Feb 15,

well, i have unthinking majority uploaded to rapidshare, but dont know where to put it. i'll just hang onto it until someone lets me know where i need to put all my video files.

krizz25 - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:21 PM
Post subject:

To SubNoiZe

Thanks a lot my friend. Indeed the video quality of charades is more than excellent. I am waiting for the mp3's which i am sure they will be a great addition to any Serj fan bootlegs collection.
Once again, great job!!!!!!

ez2dj - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:29 PM
Post subject:

or you could upload to veoh.com it supports any file size!

AK - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:45 PM
Post subject:

thanks for the charades clip, subnoize. it's indeed great quality!

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 03:45 PM
Post subject:

i am not sure if you read this or not, but the veoh players contain both spyware and malware.

can someone just let me know where i can start posting my vids? i will probably only be able to get 1-3 done a day. those of you with rapidshare accts are gonna like this, while the others will piss and moan. there is a rapidshare glitch for users with nonstatic IPs. pm me for info on it....

now, where do i put my unthinking majority vid?

hackthesystem2 - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:45 PM
Post subject:

I think you should just wait, and put the WHOLE concert up at once.
If not, do Charades first Very Happy

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 04:54 PM
Post subject:

okay. i will just wait and do it all at once. do pass the time, here is the lower quality youtube version of my unthinking majority video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50e5fUx-wro

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 07:55 PM
Post subject:

again, i am still working on all the high quality vids, but here is a low quality of empty walls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-J2usLjAmM

enjoy!

...and a low quality version of feed us.

just listen to that audio. i had no idea that my camera would be able to handle that much noise, but it did so, and it did it great!

Noahferfer - Feb 18, 2008 - 10:00 PM
Post subject:

^^^^^^ At about 1:30 into the video, I lift myself up over the rail and yell the lyrics at Serj, and he looks at me and POINTS RIGHT AT ME and says "I.. Want you.. To be.. Left behind those empty walls.."

I had forgotten all about that!

ez2dj - Feb 18, 2008 - 10:12 PM
Post subject:

lol it looks like he was calling the guards to help u or something. But again what the hell happened his voice has changed so much in so little time Sad

. But i think i have an explanation when he did his first he sounded so good that people would buy his cd and now that more people know about it he is chilling..... very disappointed. SOAD 4 FEVA

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 10:27 PM
Post subject:

i think that serj sounds great...

...but maybe thats just me.

i'm still at work on the vids. should i continue to post the lower quality youtube ones until i get the higher quality up... or what?

ez2dj - Feb 18, 2008 - 10:59 PM
Post subject:

use voeh man i used it for years and no problem and yea high quality!

SubNoiZe - Feb 18, 2008 - 11:31 PM
Post subject:

again, i will continue posting the lower quality videos while i get the higher res ones completed.

here is LIE LIE LIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YgYru0YXQA

and once i hear back from zak, the MP3 will be up.

SubNoiZe - Feb 19, 2008 - 02:00 AM
Post subject:

saving uss, low quality youtube version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScE8KgeGg-A

Noahferfer - Feb 19, 2008 - 01:54 PM
Post subject:

When you're done with the whole video, just make sure you make your new thread here.
http://soadfans.com/PNphpBB2-viewforum-f-26.htm

And put the Mp3s here
http://soadfans.com/PNphpBB2-viewforum-f-27.htm

SubNoiZe - Feb 19, 2008 - 02:18 PM
Post subject:

almost 600 views on this thread. i promise to have the highrez versions up by the end of the week. the mp3 of the show should be up later tonight.

kotsu - Feb 19, 2008 - 02:34 PM
Post subject:

Show looks and sounded like it was great! Wish i could have went T...T

Cracker - Feb 19, 2008 - 04:33 PM
Post subject:

Noahferfer wrote:

Wow awesome
Im hopefully seeing him
Hope he does that to me!

SubNoiZe - Feb 19, 2008 - 05:15 PM
Post subject:

i am rendering the videos to about 100 mb each,which is making the quality not as good as it COULD be.never the less, the quality is still GREAT!

mp3 will still be up tonight

ez2dj - Feb 19, 2008 - 11:39 PM
Post subject:

Dude please tell me you have holiday in cambodia?????? i MUST SEE THAT LIVE!!!

SubNoiZe - Feb 20, 2008 - 12:11 AM
Post subject:

yes, the only songs i didnt get are "sky is over" and "Beethoven's Cunt". i also missed his speech before PTLAPTA.

i am rendering the songs in order of his setlist

SubNoiZe - Feb 20, 2008 - 01:21 AM
Post subject:

i have skipped a song in the set list and going ahead and rendering charades. it will be up on rapidshare sometime real soon.

SubNoiZe - Feb 20, 2008 - 03:08 AM
Post subject:

i put up a high rez version of charades which can be found here:

http://soadfans.com/index.php?name=PNph ... 01c#653288

krizz25 - Feb 20, 2008 - 07:35 AM
Post subject:

Hey SubNoiZe ,
Any chance of uploading the mp3 of the show today?
Thanks

Noahferfer - Feb 20, 2008 - 02:04 PM
Post subject:

I think we would all love that Smile

but take your time jay

SubNoiZe - Feb 20, 2008 - 10:36 PM
Post subject:

mp3s are now up in the audio section

Noahferfer - Feb 21, 2008 - 02:52 AM
Post subject:

you are a god

SubNoiZe - Feb 21, 2008 - 04:23 PM
Post subject:

vids are now up.

http://soadfans.com/index.php?name=PNph ... 694#653694

Noahferfer - Feb 21, 2008 - 04:31 PM
Post subject:

You the man

mom45 - Feb 22, 2008 - 02:21 AM
Post subject:

Noahferfer wrote:

Back to the beginning-

The lights went low and the FCC took the dark stage in their all-black outfits, while Serj sang a very short song backstage as an intro to the show (the title to that song is still unbeknownst to me).

FYI, that was Serj's song The Reverend King, and it was a recording, not sung live. Kind of a cool song. It's available on I-tunes & some people here have it & might be happy to share, privately of course.

(I was at the Atlanta show on 2/11)

I enjoyed your stories & Jason's vids are amazing (so far)

Mucho gracias to both of you.

SubNoiZe - Feb 22, 2008 - 02:29 AM
Post subject:

the full concert is up for DL if you want to check it out

mom45 - Feb 22, 2008 - 02:59 AM
Post subject:

Yeah, I'm working on it. I figure I should get it all by the end of the weekend. A fine addition to my SOAD-vids collection.

I did check out all the you-tubes while I was at work today (don't tell my boss).

You're really awesome for doing that. I especially loved your story about flipping the $20 to the security chick! Wink

SubNoiZe - Feb 22, 2008 - 03:27 AM
Post subject:

i uploaded vids while at work today. dont tell my boss Wink

thanks again for taking the time to post.

when i get more time, i will upload all the songs to youtube

Noahferfer - Feb 25, 2008 - 03:12 PM
Post subject:

Ah, mom45, I am hardly the Serjologist that I could be! Thank you for the info about The Reverend King. I will definately check it out.

Shavo_lover13 - Mar 10, 2008 - 03:45 AM
Post subject:

Oh my gosh sounds like an AMAZING show!
And props for the review too Wink

I get to see Serj in just about exactly 24 hours,
so this was a good sneak peak for me lol.

Tankiani - Mar 10, 2008 - 07:05 AM
Post subject:

This is great show! Wink

...and I have question. I go on concert in Poland at 11 April, but tickets have the prohibition of bringing in the apparatuses. How you think, will the apparatus be successful me to bring in and to take photo?

And sorry for my English. :]

Noahferfer - Mar 10, 2008 - 02:03 PM
Post subject:

^ Your English is lovely and fun to read Smile

Put the camera in your pants!

Tankiani - Mar 10, 2008 - 04:08 PM
Post subject:

Noahferfer wrote:

^ Your English is lovely and fun to read Smile

Hah! Thanks? Very Happy

Put in pants... I will try! Very Happy

But if i make photos they will not do me anything (seciurity etc...)? , and in your country, there are also prohibitions? Razz

Noahferfer - Mar 18, 2008 - 01:23 PM
Post subject:

Yes, there are prohibitions in the United States for concealing objects in your pants to sneak them into a venue to take pictures. Not legally, but a security might take it if they see it. But really, I don't know about Poland Razz

you could pay the security guard like someone I know!

But here in the States, the safest way to film or take pictures at a show that prohibits cameras is to just go ahead and use a camera phone, which I always do. But again, I don't claim to know anything about Poland! Smile

good luck Tankiani! Feel free to PM me, not always the best to get too off topic Smile

-Noah

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