Having just ONE day off to recharge the batteries, FerroProductions’ crew made the ONLY logical choice to kick back for the day/night; drop in on a great friend Shavo from System of the Down at their NJ PNC Bank Arts Center show. System is arguably one of the best live shows out there. We, as a “Crew” have been fortunate enough to be up close and personal with many bands and it’s easy to say that SOAD’s show is one of the best.

“You’ve got to come to rehearsal and see this band!” a friend said to David “Beno” Benveniste, Founder of Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group. That band was System Of A Down or SOAD or just SYSTEM. Four Armenian-American guys from LA who’s sound was so original it literally changed the face of Rock once again.

From left to right: John Dolmayan (drums), Daron Malakian (vocals and lead guitar), Serj Tankian (lead vocals and keyboards and rhythm guitar), Shavo Odadjian

That was the mid 1990’s and those 4 amazingly talented guys are Shavo Odadjian (bass), John Dolmayan (drums), Daron Malakian (vocals and lead guitar) and Serj Tankian (lead vocals and keyboards and rhythm guitar).Together as a band they have released 5 studio albums, selling over 20 million records worldwide. They have been nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006 for “B.Y.O.B.,” much to the chagrin of artist such as Nine Inch Nails and Robert Plant. And very well deserved, as I’ve personally experienced they’re mastery in live performance many times over the years. You know something is special when the music speaks to you on so many levels. When the artistry, creativity, showmanship and love for what they bring to the world through music is transposed from their souls through stacks of amplifiers and out to the world. Not just as musical offerings, rather as multifaceted gems of interpretative light refracting beams far beyond what the eye can see, cloaked as chart topping music. Chart topping, Grammy winning Rock and Roll. At this level we are clearly speaking of truly rarified air.

So much so that in 2005 with rave review from the critics, the Grammy Award winning group topped a short list of talent in being the ONLY artists to EVER have 2 studio albums debut at #1 in the same year. The first album, Mezmerize, (released May of 2005) and Hypnotize (released November of 2005). Each debuting at #1 in the United States, and in other major markets around the world. Along with SOAD it’s “only” The Beatles, Guns ‘N Roses, and rappers 2Pac and DMX who can share such a notable and historic accomplishment.

Ferro crew and Shavo backstage after the concert at PNC

Shavo with his signature goatee and hockey shirt “Odadjian”

on the back, worked the stage, crowd and bass to perfection. John Dolmayan gets more sound out of his drum kit than anyone could even imagine. Same for Daron Malakian, ripping riff after riff his guitar fills the air as an accompaniment to his vocals. Serj Tankian spits the political verses Rock and Roll style somewhere between opera, folk song, and Nicki Minaj rapid fire vocal antics.

The boys played straight through at PNC, no encore, and KILLED IT!!!! What makes SYSTEM such a great act is that they have successfully combined mixing so many musical styles from salsa breakdowns to commercial pop choruses with a homage to Armenian folk songs leading back to the type of Metal they do best, frenetic, perfectly-timed grooves backed by the best of the best thrash-metal riffs.

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