Oct 20

Oct 20 Show Review: System of a Down Bring First Bay Area Show in A Decade To Oakland

System of a Down
Korn
w/ Russian Circles
Oakland Arena
Oakland, CA
October 18th, 2021

Photos and Review by Jared Stossel

The last time that System of a Down embarked on an extensive U.S. tour, and even set foot in the Bay Area, was in 2011. I remember this moment vividly because a lot of my friends were ecstatic that the band were returning to the road. It’s a good thing they went to that show in May of 2011 at Shoreline Amphitheatre; they wouldn’t return until this past Monday evening at Oakland Arena, with the four-piece avant-garde metal act taking the stage for their first Bay Area performance in ten years. I was fortunate enough to catch the band at Sacramento’s Aftershock Festival back in 2018, but festival performances can sometimes be limiting. They can definitely provide the opportunity for large-scale grandiose spectacles, but there is nothing like seeing an artist at their own show, their own personal showcase.

For Monday night’s show at the packed arena off the highway in Oakland, CA, the band were joined by their peers in Korn, and an abridged opening set was provided by instrumental metal act Russian Circles. Their performance was somewhat triumphant; prior to the show, the trio’s entire rig of gear was stolen, so the fact that they got on stage amidst all of this and managed to crank out a few songs and sounds great was inspiring (and I do hope they find the asshole that stole all of it soon). Their spirits may have been down earlier in the day, but they sure didn’t show it during their performance.

Korn took the stage shortly after for a set that was packed with fan-favorites and some older songs that haven’t been added into the band’s set in quite a long time (see set list below). Vocalist Jonathan Davis admitted to the arena that the band haven’t been having the best luck as of lately, with several of their members (including himself) contracting COVID-19 earlier in the summer. Drummer Ray Luzier wasn’t in attendance due to recently coming down with COVID, so Fever 333’s Aric Improta brilliantly filled in behind the kit for the fourteen-song, supercharged set. This was definitely a smaller Korn show than I’ve been used to seeing, as I’ve almost always seen them in the main headlining slot at shows, but it doesn’t really matter where you place them in the lineup; they’ll always bring a party. The band’s set finished with “Blind”, as a cascade of streamers shot out over the audience amidst Davis’ screeching call to action that kicks off the song: “Are. You. Ready?”

About an hour later, the moment had arrived. Armed with a massive lighting setup that continuously morphed throughout the hour and a half-show, System of a Down launched into a number of some of their best songs: “X”. “Prison Song”. “B.Y.O.B.” “Psycho”. “Hypnotize”. I’ve heard countless bands over the years hype up their performances by blasting “Chop Suey!” over the PA, and then watching as the entire crowd breaks out into song as if they’re actually watching System of a Down. There’s nothing like seeing it in person with the actual band there; the reaction is absolute bedlam. The same statement could be said for songs like “Aerials” and “Toxicity”. It’s a unique experience.

With the exception of bassist Shavo Odadjian, the Armenian-American four-piece band didn’t move around too much, or even have that much talking in between songs. It was by far one of the most efficient headlining performances I’ve ever seen a band of this scale do. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the entire performance was “strictly business”, but they knew what their fans were there for: a chance to revisit some of the classics of one of the most peculiar bands in all of heavy metal. I know that I relished the experience of finally watching System of a Down headline an arena, an experience that I missed out on in the band’s hey-day. I enjoyed every second of their set, from the kick-off with “X” all the way to the closing number, “Sugar”. I hope they’ll come back soon, and next time, the wait won’t be ten years.

System of a Down Set List

X
Prison Song
Holy Mountains
Mind (Intro only)
Cigaro
Suite-Pee
Needles
Deer Dance
Solider Side
B.Y.O.B.
Genocidal Humanoidz
Suggestions
Psycho
Chop Suey!
Lonely Day
Lost In Hollywood
Radio/Video
Dreaming (middle breakdown only)
Hypnotize
ATWA
Bounce
Chic ‘N’ Stu
Protect The Land
Aerials
Toxicity
Sugar

Korn Set List
Here To Stay
Falling Away From Me
Right Now
Got The Life
Rotting In Vain
Shoots and Ladders (with snippet from Metallica’s “One”)
Clown
Coming Undone (with snippet from Queen’s “We Will Rock You”)
Y’All Want A Single
Freak On a Leash
It’s On!/ Trash / Did My Time
Twist
A.D.I.D.A.S. (started in bridge)
Blind