System of a Down concert
I'm not much of a concert fan, mainly because there are very few bands / artists that I like so much that I have more than one album, or in many cases, more than 2-3 songs even. Because of that, I've never really gone to real concerts; there was never a concert by one of those very few artists that I do like incredibly much. System of a Down is one such band, as I have all their albums and love absolutely all of their songs. Last friday, I finally went to my very first real concert, and as you'll have guessed by now, it was System of a Down.
I had the misfortune to miss out on the concert that System of a Down held in the Netherlands in June - I ended up being in the country during that time after all, but by the time that had become clear, it was already sold out. However, my host and friend here in St. Paul, USA, notified me of a concert by them that would take place during my vacation. Excellent!
I asked my friends from the area to see if anyone was interested in going, but most people were either not into System of a Down at all, or very short on cash. So I decided to just go by myself - my SoaD friends from the Netherlands weren't going to be there anyway, and without them it'd be quite different no matter who else I'd have with me. Going alone didn't seem like a bad idea anyway, it would allow me to just really rock out in my own style and also meet new people, perchance.
Turned out that going by myself was a pretty good thing. I met up with 2 girls and 2 guys, seated all around me, and I had the time of my life. The opening band was The Mars Volta, whom I hadn't ever heard of until that day (they're not really well-known in the Netherlands, I'm guessing). They were quite good, very nice as opening act. It was, however, all about SoaD, of course, and by the time they were about to start, the entire audience was instantly on their feet and ready to rock.
It was funny, though. Just before SoaD started, the guys to my left asked me who my friends (the girls) were, I told them I didn't really know them, had only met them just now. Then, 5 minutes later, the girls to my right asked who my friends (the guys to my left) were, and I told them that I had only met them tonight. Neither party believed me at first, which I found kind of funny. Apparently I give off this image or feeling that I've known people a long time? Strange stuff, but it amused me. More so when someone else who was seated near us asked me, while the girls were off getting drinks, what my friends' names were. At that point I had difficulty containing my urge to laugh out loud, but it turned out that he'd found the ID of one of the girls on the floor.
Eventually the main show started, and for the two hours that followed I was in a System of a Down trance, headbanging, dancing, being sucked up by the energy, the music. It was great, an experience I'll never forget. It also reminded me of how much I'd missed listening to System of a Down, something I hadn't really done in a while (by chance).
If you're wondering what this has to do with XHTML or CSS, well, it doesn't. My blog is about those things in particular, but also to music. This concert was one of the musical highlights of my life so far, which is why I just had to write it out here. Besides, I'm on vacation! I'm enjoying myself here, but my brand new (15" 1.67Ghz) Powerbook is very hard to resist. I just want to play with it some more, all the time.
This week should, hopefully, see a CSS and XHTML-related update, though. What it'll be about, exactly, is something I'm not going to share with you just yet, but it'll be great, for sure, so keep an eye out!
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All times are in CET. It is now 19:45.
The Mars Volta IS known in Holland. Every Kink FM listener should know it. The band members formerly participated in At The Drive In. They even played several times in the Netherlands (in Dutch).
WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
de eerste echte off topic post en ik MOET reageren wat ben ik JALOERS op jou man!
Vet super gaaf wreed kicke (hoor mij oud wijf!).
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRR
pijn doet dat. jaloers zijn. Agh
Komen ze nog naar nederland en niet AHoy want daar krijg je me met geen STOK meer in.
Tom:
They're not completely unknown here, sure, but nobody I know in the NL had ever heard of them (you're the first one). Yet, I know tons of people who know System of a Down, so like, in comparison and all... :-)
Sanne:
Well, I wouldn't expect them back in the Netherlands any time soon, actually. Took them a few years since their last visit to return to our neck of the world... I wasn't there at Ahoy either, but that had nothing to do with Ahoy (what's wrong with Ahoy anyway?)
System of a Down rocks, I also missed out the one in June though, for other reasons. ;) But I had the best (suprise!) music experience with Hans Dulfer a couple of weeks ago. It was really great, sadly he doesn't have a cd with his new style yet and his older albums are more traditional jazz. The concert I saw was with his new band, which means with electric bass, DJ Kikke for a near beat and MC Helder for some rapping. Also he had his daughter Candy as a guest that evening, made the whole of it even better. :D
Also, I do know the Mars Volta.
Some people can create art using CSS, others can using music, that's the relation. :P
I have heard of the Mars Volta :-)
They played Lowlands 2 years ago. But hey - did you say you were seated during the concert? Wasn't that strange? I prefer to stand at pop/rock concerts, sitting seems more suitable for classical concerts, doesn't it?
Well we had seats, but once SOAD started, virtually everyone got out of their seats :)
There were only about 5-6 people sitting during the concert (that I could see -- dark stadium-sized auditorim, not easy to spot the other side ;)) whilst the rest was all doing what I was doing: rocking out and dancing. In front of our seats. :)
Oh, and there was, of course, a huge standing-only section in front of the stage, where there was crowd surfing and mosh pits and such.
jealous that you saw The Mars Volta, I missed them when they came to the UK. Although I'd much rather see them as headliners, 2 and a half hour long set!
Sounds like you enjoyed yourself though, which is the main thing!
Ahoy way too big. Not intimate enough.
Sanne,
Where I saw them (Xcel Energy Center) was pretty darn huge as well, but it was definitely intimate (but that might've been the girls' cause) :-)
Haha. I guesss. maybe I'm just too old...
Used to travel to Ahoy for every one of Prince's concerts in holland for years (and Germany). Getting too lazy for that now, so I just want to crawl to and from the Patronaat nowadays. Anyhooo, anyone going to (HED)p.e. concert in Patronaat 30-10? Only show in Europe they say... with dreadlock pussy supporting and another band I don't know: NME.MINE from Germany?
hell
HED p.e. cancelled the tour.
CHimaira is coming though...
Dzjeeez I was looking forward to that show. F*ckrs
Aw, that sucks. =(
SOAD ROCK PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Since you expressed interest in the Mars Volta I wanted to let you know the following.
Listed below are two versions
of two of the songs off their new live Album
"Scabdates." I've also enclosed a promotional code to
get 15 % off when you buy the CD at
InSound.com* ENJOY!!
"And Ghosted Pouts"
Windows
http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/uni...osted_pouts.asx
Real
http://boss.streamos.com/real/unive...osted_pouts.ram
"Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt"
Windows
http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/uni...cerpin_taxt.asx
Real
http://boss.streamos.com/real/unive...cerpin_taxt.ram
15% Off The Mars Volta Live Album, Scabdates on
Insound.com
Coupon Code: scab15
*Expires: 11/22/05
link to buy:
http://search.insound.com/search/sh...7816&from=62736
Sod are the best and they are coming to Sweden soon!
Right here in Hollywood is the name of a new book on System Of A Down. Read it & enjoy:)