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Posted: Oct 03, 2005 - 11:11 PM
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 07, 2005
Posts: 1
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Alright so this past Friday, I happened to catch the System and Mars Volta show at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. This being the first concert of my life, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We got to the arena at just after 6 PM and basically hung out and talked to people until Hella came on. Now, let me explain why Hella suck. The simple reason is a lack of virtually anything that can be deciphered as being music. Essentially, the drummer just senselessly soloed for their half hour set while the other three guys seemed to improvise random electronic noises with guitars, bass, and a keyboard. It was just generally weak. At one point in time, I actually heard them play something rhythmically cool but it ended after 30 seconds and the insanity continued. Their sound was utterly unbearable as their sound crew seemed hell bent on cranking everything to 11 which created just a horrible mishmash of sounds. They disgusted me
Anyway, after that shitfest, The Mars Volta took the stage at 7:45 and proceeded to bring back my faith in the music of the night. They did the "standard" set list for this tour of Cygnus, L'via, The Widow, and the Drunkship of Lanterns Jam all exceptionally well. What was hilarious was when they were setting up the stage without a curtain in front and all the SOAD fans surrounding me were freaking out going Oh My God! Is that a saxophone? How much stuff can they have? Needless to say, the whole crowd was on its feet at the beginning of Cygnus. The intro music was the same Fistful Of Dollars tape they've been using and just wow, I mean, Cygnus. They absolutely killed it. Everything was played perfectly. Cedric danced. Omar soloed. Ikey went crazy. It was bliss. The extended jam on the outro was fantastic with the saxophone solos only adding to the awesomeness of this song. Anyway, the taped intro to L'via came on over the dimmed lights and then bam! L'via began. At this point, in badass drummer fashion, Jon Theodore ripped his shirt off and proceeded to play while Omar improvised over the introductory John Frusciante solo. The song played out basically the same as the studio version except that Omar improvised all the solos and the outro contained dueling piano/flute/guitar solos. Cool time. So The Widow began and the lighters came out. They played it pitch perfect which doesn't make it special. Really, they should've dropped this song and thrown in Televators or Miranda for a slow song. I'd kill for Miranda. Anyway, Paul got to do some cool sound manipulation stuff after The Widow which segued into the Drunkship Jam. The curtain dropped and my buddy was like holy shit it's mickey mouse in the background. Needless to say, he was tripping but I can see the resemblance. Anyway, it was great to see this song get stretched out as I'd been waiting to hear it all night. The jam portion had stuff that sounds like new music. Again, couldn't decipher Cedric's lyrics but it all sounded scripted. Anyway, Drunkship ended and everyone ran off stage. I was in tears and fell over from all the dancing I did. It was a great time. Can't wait to experience a 2-3 hour Volta show.
Alright, so System equally rocked the moshing was insane and we got the treat of an extended set list. They played the usual stuff but played kill rock n roll and hypnotize. Until now, it had always been one or the other. Anyway, special mention goes to Daron Malakian's occasional guitar solos such as in the Mr. Jack jam and during Sultans of Swing. Sadly, no drum solo after the song Toxicity. I loved the teaser of Van Halen’s Aint Talkin’ Bout Love” that Daron threw in. So few people knew what it was but I almost fell over laughing. I think it was on War? that we actually got to see Serj get into things and start dancing. System’s show had a great deal of intensity to it as their quick punchy, proggy songs worked over well with this concert crowd. Serj Tankian was shockingly vocal during the System set and I enjoyed when he was like oh you people are just so beautiful. According to Daron, we were a great crowd but, yeah he likely says that everywhere. Daron was hilarious in everything he did. It was interesting to see on This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m On This Song a drummer other than John Dolmayan playing. It must have been a tech or something because he came back at the end of the song and retook control of the drums. Still, System was utterly flawless. The Mars Volta was utterly flawless. Hella couldn’t have been more flawed Good times. |
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Posted: Oct 03, 2005 - 11:38 PM
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SOADFans Founder
Joined: Nov 12, 2003
Posts: 6781
Location: World Wide Garbage Can
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Posted: Oct 04, 2005 - 04:13 AM
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 04, 2005
Posts: 1
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| Are you kidding? The "tech" drummer you are referring to was Charlie Benante from Anthrax. Didn't you see Scott Ian in the moshpit?! Maybe he elbowed you in the head. |
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Posted: Oct 04, 2005 - 05:30 AM
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Joined: May 08, 2005
Posts: 2922
Location: Florida
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Posted: Oct 04, 2005 - 11:42 PM
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 04, 2005
Posts: 1
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| nice volta review, but this is a system site. |
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Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 12:20 AM
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Member
Joined: Aug 29, 2005
Posts: 198
Location: chicago, babez
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| that show was crazy, i was so happy. hypnotize is a great song!!!!!!!!!! |
_________________
Everybody should fucken DIE!!!
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Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 05:06 AM
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New Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 25
Location: Chicago
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| Hell yeah that show was crazy, even better on shrooms. I got meet John on tuesday in Batavia. That guy is a bad ass on drums. |
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Posted: Jan 30, 2006 - 04:59 AM
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 17, 2006
Posts: 2
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| Ya thanks for the 20 minute review on volta. The only thing i had to say about them was that, compared to Hella, at least they played music. Everythign else, was just some wierd guys runnin around in girly pants to me. I was front row on the barrier in front of Mr. Malakian, and System of a Down were completely amazing. And the guy from Antrax played the drums during Bounce. |
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Posted: Jun 05, 2006 - 10:41 PM
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Member
Joined: Dec 30, 2005
Posts: 304
Location: Donuts, photo developers, laundromats, fast foods...rinse and repeat
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That concert was insane... I got my ass kicked in the mosh pit  |
_________________
Feel free to call me Andrea.
"If it's true that every seven years each cell in your body dies and is replaced...then I have truly inherited my life from a dead man...and the misdeeds of those times have been forgiven...and are buried with his bones."
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Posted: Jun 16, 2006 - 04:45 AM
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Banned User
Joined: Mar 16, 2006
Posts: 1097
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| This is the best review i ever seen. Thanks man i was there too. |
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Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 07:16 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 01, 2005
Posts: 198
Location: the sky
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| i was there it was great my frist concert i loved it im glad to have read it cuz i forgot alot of what happend that day cuz i was so excited good review |
_________________
Humans have been on the earth for millions of years, yet we don’t believe man began thinking until he started building walls. And what good have these walls ever done us?
-- Serj Tankian
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