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I arrived at the Germain Amphitheater before the gates opened. Since I opted
to get the Ozzfest PLARS package (which was more than I normally would spend,
but I’d do it again in a heartbeat) I got inside much quicker. Had to beg the
female security guard to let me bring in the SOAD dolls I had made…she finally
realized I was just a fan and they were harmless For those of you that didn’t
know, LOL I made dolls of each of the guys, and also included a pack of rainbow
sharpies, and two pink erasers. Sharpies well that’s a long story and the
erasers were directed to Serj because of the infamous incident in Edmonton
Canada where someone threw an eraser on stage..
I wandered around the grounds for a long time. I think I was overwhelmed LOL.
Granted I knew what Ozzfest was like as I’d gone before, but I think I was just
so excited knowing I’d be seeing System this time around. Met some cool people
mostly because they stopped me and commented on my dreadlocks! Didn’t expect
that to happen, because I’d figure at Ozzfest, there’d be tons of people with
more interesting fashion statements, but I had a joke marriage proposal out of
it even! And some people would reach out and touch it and go “I’m sorry, I just
had to, they’re so beautiful!”
Pre-System
Watched the mainstage groups until about noon, when I had to meet for my PLARS
backstage tour. We started with the humongous soundboard which each band has
their own personal sound and light technician. Then they took us right up on the
stage and we had a group picture taken. Provided it turned out it is supposed to
be on the Ozzfest webpage.
Then they asked “Any SOAD fans in this group” and of course I was like “ME!”
They lead us to the backstage area and I gasped when the guy flipped up a cover
and THERE WAS JOHN”S DRUM KIT. I bet I snapped about 7 picks of it; I got really
close and was careful not to breathe on it. The tour guide was laughing when I
told some dude not to touch it because John would be pissed if something
happened to it. LOL. It is very impressive up close. I also got to see Serj’s
Korg setup and took picks, Daron’s Gibsons and Serj’s Fender. Shavo’s
Thunderbirds were tucked back in an area we couldn’t get to, but I could still
see them. WOOO.
Then they took us to the back where the trucks were. SOAD had their own semi of
course, which I snapped picks of, and right next to it on the loading dock was a
large cooler that said “ SOAD- Water stage left, Gatorade-Serj” Or something
like that, I’ll look when I get the pics back as of course, Renee the geek took
a picture of that too!
They showed us some of Dragonforce’s stuff, the bass player had an awesome
looking white bass…I’m not sure if it was a B.C. Rich or what, I didn’t get
close enough to look. We met a LOT of the roadies and techs…very cool guys. No
one of the bands were back there, but I’ll have more about that in my
Indianapolis review!!!
After the tour I went back to the second stage to wait anxiously. Then I
wandered the crowd some more and came upon Harry Perry singing and playing his
guitar….he had a miniature amp strapped to his waist and was carrying a huge
leather messenger bag. He had his typical outfit of turban and long robe on.
Unfortunately he didn’t have his roller blades on, he was wearing snow boots
LOL. I don’t know how the man wasn’t dying of heatstroke! I sat on the cement
ledge next to him for a while and watched him play. It was obvious most people
were like “Who the hell is that?” I smirked and just kept watching. Finally he
stopped, and I started chatting with him. I bought one of his CDs, which is
actually pretty darn cool….I like to say that its very unique- style of music
reminds me of a combination of Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Bob Marley, with SOAD’s type
of lyrics…well not completely, but they are those thought provoking kinds of
things..
After I chatted a bit, I finally got the nerve to ask him if he would do me a
favor and get the dolls I made to the guys. He was wearing an Ozzfest laminate
that was labeled System Of A Down too. He said that the dolls were cool, and
that he would do it for me, but to find him before the SOAD set…he didn’t have
enough room to carry them at the moment in his messenger bag (filled with his
CDs and posters). He played some more and I told him I’d catch him
later….thinking “He wont remember,”
Finally when it was time for the mainstage to start, I saw the guy who was in
charge of our PLARS tour and was chatting with him for a bit. He saw the dolls
and swore that he’d get them to Ozzfest production office and that they would
surely give them to SOAD for me. So, taking a huge chance, because I wasn’t too
sure about finding Harry again, I did it.
After a super long wait through Dragonforce, Lacuna Coil (who was great live
btw!), Hatebreed, Avenged Sevenfold (who despite what I heard someone else say,
I thought was great too!) Disturbed….finally it was time for SOAD. I was lucky
enough to have those 2nd row tickets in a folding chair, but by the time Lacuna
coil came out it was clear that we were able to gather up at the barricade which
I did. Met some awesome people up there too! So nice! I secured my spot, got my
camera and phone ready and finally the lights went out and I started to scream.
System of a Down
Daron came out in the dark, and I could see him looking in my direction when he
first walked out in the dark. I yelled to him and he smiled and started to sing
Soldier Side. First thought- HE LOOKED AWESOME! Any comments that people have
made on the board about his hair and his weight should get THROWN the hell out
because he looked MEGA handsome! Hair is definitely growing and he looks like
he’s training a goatee/mustache again. I started jumping and with that they
blasted into Attack.
I realized how close I was when Serj came out in his brown jacket….He was
standing right above me! I could practically see each eyelash and each eyebrow
hair. After a while, he finally looked down at the front (I think he was
concentrating on taking in the rest of the crowd first) and I caught his
eye…..he really does have that magical smiley gleam in his eyes! He looked
wonderful! But he had a different shirt on! (Holy Mother of Cigaro! Hehehe) It
was white and had a card on the front, I don’t recall which one it was…but rumor
has it the guys love Poker…
I couldn’t see much of John, but every now and then I could see him behind his
drums. His Mohawk was cute as ever, and he was pounding his heart out. He is so
awesome of a drummer, its really unreal. I saw him come on stage first, I could
see him sneak behind all the equipment to get in position.
Shavo was wearing his yellow socks, camouflage shorts and black shirt and was
very energetic. Smoked a lot as usual and was bouncing around on his side
of the stage. Unfortunately I didn’t see him up close much until much later in
the show when he got up on John’s drum riser.
Set list was pretty much as predicted, and there wasn’t a lot of talking going
on at first.
Daron started into a discussion about corporations, which he stayed true to all
three nights I saw them- I would imagine it was very similar or the same at
previous concerts.
Basically consisted of this
“Brothers and sisters, have you heard? Brothers and sisters have you heard?
We’re all addicted….we’re all addicted to oil…..but we don’t need it- they’re
just jacking up the prices…..Brothers and sisters have you heard? Have you
heard? Jesus is coming…..but if Jesus was coming, mainstream America would never
know because the mass media wouldn’t tell us….because he’s not a corporation
like Halliburton, MSNBC, CNN ABC. CBS and all of those other ones…. Jesus isn’t
a corporation…..and neither are we”
I really loved all the songs live. Attack really got me though. I’ve always
liked it, but since I saw it live in Ohio that first night, I’ve really listened
to it a lot more. Daron of course got down and had sex with his Gibson, spun in
circles and danced around doing that cute kick leg thing he does. Shavo was
doing something similar. Serj was pretty quiet this first evening, but he was
having fun too, it was apparent. He did a ton of dancing though. And was
encouraging everyone to dance with him. At one point I started to copy his exact
movements and I KNOW He caught it because then he started doing weird stuff to
see if I’d do it to and he laughed hard. That only lasted a minute or so though
and he became serious again.
I’m not going to list all the songs, as they’ve stayed pretty much the same as
all the concerts. Needles rocked, Question was great, Old School Hollywood with
Daron doing the robotic voice in the beginning was way cool. I got rather
emotional at all three shows during Chop Suey, Questions and Lonely Day….call it
crazy, but all three of those songs really bring back memories of my father that
I just lost in January so I was singing along and bawling at the same time. I
haven’t ever cried through those before, but it happened like clockwork each
evening. System did a great live show. I have no complaints whatsoever. The
vocals, drums, bass, guitar were all balanced and except for the last night,
there seemed to be no major technical difficulties.
I’d never been in the front like that at ANY concert I’ve been to, but it was
the best experience ever. I didn’t catch any pics or drumsticks, but that was
NOT the reason I was there…..I was there for the music and the guys. at the end
of the night when Sugar was over…he came over near the edge of the stage to me
and motioned as if to say “give me the dolls” and I had to yell that I gave them
to the other dude. But hell, I was amazed Harry even took the time to do that! I
give him props. SOAD introduced him as their hero growing up.
At the end when they played Sugar, instead of the whole “I sit….in my desolate
room….no lights, no music, Just anger!!! I’ve killed Everyone” he said “I
shit…you not….no lights no music JUST ICE CREAM I LICKED EVERYONE” . I expected
it LOL. But it was still hilarious either way.
One strange thing happened each night. Think of the irony of a butterfly at
Ozzfest. Its like seeing an old lady wearing leather pants or something! . Well,
the strange thing was, all three times when SOAD was playing, I saw an orange
Monarch fly overhead. Then in East Troy, there were also lightning bugs/
fireflies hovering overhead. Call it pure coincidence, but I believe that my
father was there in spirit….making the experience truly humbling.
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