We noticed a line where people were waiting, their faces like stone. Every one of them seemed to be like a zombie. I thought it was the line for check in until I noticed a food counter on the other side of them. Tony and I entered into the seating area, looking for the handicapped section. "It's ok, I don't need to sit there," he says to me. He found a seat that was comfortable. While I looked around, I noticed my father was finding a seat behind us, his ex-fiancé Phyllis following him, my sister Carol following her carrying a huge tray of what looked like some kind of meatloaf. "Hey, bud," she says to Tony. "Want some? I got it for free." I was in shock to see them here. They never told me they were coming.

"How did you get free food when they're selling that at concession?” I asked Carol. She continued to ignore me. Frustrated, I got up and went to sit down in the first row on the left side of the stage. "Where's the pit?" I asked myself. "And what's up with the kinky floor?"
My dad sat next to me. He didn't say a word. I changed my position to lay across the empty row of seats next to me with my head hanging off the chair. The curtain was partially drawn in front of me and the lighting on the stage was dim, kind of intimate. I saw Serj's shadow coming up to the front. Daron took his place in front of me. They were so close that I could almost touch them. They started playing something that I still couldn't make out, but the song felt so familiar.

A few minutes into the song, Serj starts improvising away from the lyrics: "La la la la..." really fast he sings, and then points his microphone to the audience for them to repeat what he said. Daron adjusted his microphone stand upside down; he's staring into my eyes with a huge grin.

After the audience is finished mimicking Serj, Daron takes over: "Nah nah nah nah...." really fast and then pauses for the audience to repeat him as well. For some reason, I knew what was coming next. There I was, turned upside down in my chair and my head was bobbing from side to side and I was singing the same silly nonsense that Serj and Daron where singing, even though the notes and tones were changing. My eyes were closed for a few seconds as I sung along with them. When I opened my eyes again, Serj was bending over looking me straight in the face and singing the lines over and over again, his eyebrows flashing up and down.

Daron moved his microphone stand closer to where he was bending over me, too. Then Serj breaks away from me and starts screaming into the microphone and the audience roars. The song finally ends as Daron claps his hands and announces in a gentle voice, "cozmachina, everybody."

Dreams are made winding through my head. Reality sucks. Spiders are scary. The Ozzfest that I went to, after I saw how the audience reacted to Disturbed being onstage, I kept thinking, "System's on next, and everyone in this place is on their feet throughout Disturbed's entire performance." I'm not much of a Disturbed fan. I do respect them, but after watching their show, to me it was the same routine as with other bands that I've seen before. The spectacle that I witnessed on July 27th, made me think that it would be hard for System to follow an act like that. Well, that thought just slipped away while System was there. If you’re asking yourself about those spiders that I just mentioned, that was my immediate thought of the crowd; all in tune, and just like my dream.

Many other SOADfans members have shared their experiences with us, but only reading them doesn’t come even close to feeling what they felt. You just had to be there, the smiles, the playfulness, the surprises – everything that I imagined System Of A Down to be onstage, I quickly forgot about it. The experience was much more than that.

July 29th, Seattle, WA: One of Ozzfest's first dates and the System guys are already flared up. A SOADfans.com review by member cheezychaz explained how Daron and Serj were on their playful side during their time onstage.

July 1st, Mountain View, CA: Another excellent show and review by WinkyFrog64 noticed how System was still playful but every note was accurate and on cue.

July 2nd, Sacramento, CA: The four members of System Of A Down are still showing that they know what it takes to make this thing work. MqPyChnicX noticed especially how much the band has changed from their 2005 tour and that this one show was better than the last. "You guys rock and we fuck the system \m/" was sited in the review.

July 4th, Albuquerque, NM: The magick that was conjured that night makes me so very jealous of JJ_Starscream. The spell casting wizards brought everyone to their knees. Shavo summoned the initiates into a ceremonial dance, and chants for System Of A Down echoed high up to the moon. "sigh" Wait a minute... what am I supposed to be doing again? Uhh, yeah!! - New Mexico sure was hot on Independence Day. Is that place even still on the map?

July 7th, Phoenix, AZ: Another one for the record books. A fight happened to break out down in the pit and Daron stopped the show until the fight was over. S*Misunderstood*Rose helped with demonpurr13's review, simply by stating "There energy was nothing less then awesome I mean I even remember a part when Serj was on his knees jumping everywhere on the stage...yes jumping on his knees". Damn, this tour so far sounds like the tour to end all tours. *sniff* Nevermind.

July 8th, San Bernardino, CA: averylongname's review of Lost In Hollywood and Lonely Day struck a chord with me. Both of these songs are of the best out of the double album. Despite continuous problems with the power going out, Ozzfest continued. Daron seemed mostly sentimental during this performance which most of it could have been brought on by remembering his cousin’s birthday that day.

July 12th, Houston, TX: A quote by Melo sums up the night’s show. "Over all, wonderful wonderful wonderful concert,” she says. “At one point I found myself thinking that all of their songs were so clean. I was really impressed how everything fit together, and there were no slow points to the entire thing. It was awesome, and probably will always be one of my best memories."

July 15th, St. Louis, MO: The heat seemed to take its toll, but the four band members seemed to survive. evil_mistress13 and mom45 share their experiences, as sugar_buzz recalls, "Not to say that there wasn't energy...there definately was! But, considering the heat and the typically lame-ass STL crowd, I don't blame them for trying to chill a bit."

July 16th, Chicago, IL: At one point during a review, Chic comments: "I shall always remember Daron’s solos (he did a few…OH! To hear them was amazing. Maybe they didn’t show his technique of play on screen because God doesn’t want me to orgasm to death…at this point in my life), and John’s solo. That rocked!"

July 18th, Pittsburgh, PA: Daron's birthday and a night just for him. Well, just for one moment maybe. Jag6770 says, "..sometime during the show they stopped and sang happy birthday to Daron and John came out from behind his drums and dumped a bucket of balloons on his head and Daron said 'ok you guys got me" and that he would rather be no where else."

July 21st, Columbus, OH: It's hard to get a really good grasp at how to explain this show based on the review by ReneeLovesSerj without jerking a tear. You can only speak about it through your soul and to let others see it or share it with them. They way she expressed in how she felt during this night was beyond beautiful. Not the usual "energy-awesome-system kicks ass \m/-Daron's making love to his guitar" shows. I am very glad that she got the time she did to spend it in the way she did. Thanks Renee!!

July 22nd, East Troy, WI: Besides mentioning their long excruciating wait for System Of A Down to hit the stage and what an awesome show it was, Ajirikowic quoted a statement by Serj during the into to War?: "WE NEED TO STOP THESE FUCKING WARS ON THIS FUCKING PLANET!!!!" I’m going to add "PEOPLE!!!" to the end of that statement. C'mon, pay attention. Now stop the fucking wars. Peace.

July 23rd, Indianapolis, IN: "As the band prepares to take a hiatus at summer's end, it's setting an example regarding the power of imagination and the value of questioning the status quo." Critics’ reviews hardly ever give the real feeling. Dress it up with a few words to dazzle the readers, and you still come out with nothing. There you have it.

July 25th, Toronto, Ontario: reeferbaby666 says: "Overall an amazing experience, I had to see them one last time live before their time off. Thank You System you guys rock." The same as other reviews, so the guys are still having fun and doing what they do best.

July 26th, Scranton, PA: The guys must be tired by now you would think? Thanks to RestlessWhisper7 returning to SOADFans with a review from this show, it seems that since we can't get enough of System Of A Down, then they can't get enough of us. Good? Good.

July 27th, Buffalo, NY: cromans writes, "I think Daron may have briefly gone to a place where the audience didn’t even exist anymore..." Yeah, maybe briefly he did, and from what I remember, Daron was smiling for most of the night. Despite the fact that the Buffalo Bills went to the Superbowl four consecutive times without winning, despite the fact that the Buffalo Sabres lost the Stanley Cup last season, and despite the fact that almost every other place tries to imitate the famous Buffalo Style Sauce - what many of you don't know is that Buffalo, NY survived a tornado at the beginning of July, so a little rain didn't hurt. I didn't have time to check a few things out, but I'll have to tell you that even though this was my first System show, it was the best show that I've been to. I say that because it didn't feel as if I was watching them up on a stage at all. I felt like Daron, John, Serj, and Shavo were right in the middle of that crowd. They're not rock stars. No. Who are you kidding? Not gods or rock stars. They're one of us.

July 30th, Hartford, CT: "No way in HELL are they losing it!!" shouts longjumper751... that practically sums up that review, because that's how I felt during the Buffalo show.

August 1st, Boston, MA: When describing how the band performed 'Question!', Bwainator13 reflects: "..at the end where it gets quiet, all of the n00bs started cheering. Only to have Serj scream again. Pshaw n00bs." Silly. Very silly. You got a chuckle out of me.

August 2nd, Montreal, Canada: ang+serj were one of the people in the crowd at Montreal that had an amazing night. It feels really good to hear these reviews because even though it's August, by now the worst of the hot weather is almost over, and especially with the bands probably feeling it the most... of course we felt it too, but with every passing second that heat just doesn't get noticed anymore.

August 5th, Virginia Beach: I almost choked when I read the beginning of Iluvserj's review. $400.00 in gas?? I can just imagine. Talk about dedicated hardcore fans. Iluvserj continues: "The Buffalo show was awesome, and I really didn't think it could be topped, but boy, was I wrong! The Virginia Beach concert completely blew me away." Hey!! How come I wasn't invited?! If I knew this before contemplating on shelling out $400.00 just for gas, eh.. I would have just spent it like water, too. They're good enough for it. Besides, if I came along, gas expenses could have been cheaper for the BOTH of us. "Pshaw nOObs". System Of A Down, man... System.. Of.. A.. Down!!

August 6th, Bristow, VA: Daron's at it again with his crazy antics. What else do I really need to say about this? I'm glad that Systemofadownishot went to see the show, but I'm sorry that she didn't get to sneak in her homemade flag.

August 13th, West Palm Beach, FL: The end of Ozzfest. I really wish I would have been here. Celebrating the last show must have been so emotional. Three reviews given by Moonette, XSOADROCKER666X, and Levi made one review that easily flowed together. I could picture everyone that was onstage during that performance... the hugs, the coming together during their final moments before ending the show, the fight breaking out and Serj demanding for it to stop, etc.. the list can go on. Now give me a hug.

"Tonight will be the last show we play for a long time together," says guitarist Daron Malakian. "We'll be back. We just don't know when." A few last words before System Of A Down leaves for their “indefinite hiatus”. Such a phrase can be defined as a temporary leave. It all depends on the person who hears those words. I don't believe they're finished. I don't believe there's an immediate end for them because they've been together for this long, growing into what we know today as System Of A Down. I hope I'm speaking for everyone if I were to say that the inspirations that System Of A Down has given us, the concept of such would never perish as long as it lives in us.

Until it is time for their return, of course we will miss them. There will be a warm reception waiting for them. But the thing that I see is not in their extinction, even if it is indefinitely. What I see is their gift in every breath that I take, in every whisper that I hear or speak, in every tree, river or sky, in every note of music that I hear, in every smile, every heart, and on every face. There is so much more of me that I have come to acknowledge, and there is so much more that everyone of us can give.

I’ll be dreaming until I hear from them again. I’ll keep an eye out for the spiders, too.

By Christine Spalla (Cozmachina)

Read fans Reviews of the 30 shows System performed in Summer 2006, HERE and see photos HERE.

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