The
Hollywood Arson Project are first up tonight with
their almost prog sound but not as boring, it’s
more like laid back rock, the band aren't much
for moving around then again it's not the sort
of sound to inspire jumping about, they just let
the music do its thing, but they are well appreciated
by the crowd. I enjoy the sound, the laid back
riffs, its music you can chill out too. It's a
good start to the night after a little trouble
trying to get in.
Viza
are the main support with their eastern European
sound think Gogol Bordello only more metal and
you'll get the idea of what they are like. 7 members
of this band fill the stage with their energetic
presence. The guitar playing is bloody superb,
some really great lead playing, great riffs and
really awesome solos. The Oud player is lost in
there somewhere, with the second percussionist
jumping about like a mad man. The vocals are pretty
decent and they fit the sound of the band really
well. The music is super catchy almost party music
with dancing, vodka and plate breaking. They also
cover The Doors and then the vocalist brings out
some ladders to add to the madness to dance around
with for a little while, odd!!! This band are
going to be a real hard act to follow, I hope
Serj is on his game tonight as this performance
is going to be tough to beat.
I
have to be honest I've never been all that struck
on SOAD or even Serjs own solo stuff, but I think
with Serj or any band really that you sometimes
have to be there to get it and this is one of
them cases tonight, the one SOAD song I've always
loved is Aerials, I'd liken some of his stuff
to that, I think it's different to SOAD but there's
that slight hint of it because of the way Serj
sings his songs. They are pretty decent and better
live than on CD as its more gripping and attention
seeking.
They open the set with Figure it out, comucopia
and feed us all, they are great songs to open
with and setting a fast pace to the final third
of the night they take things down a notch with
sky is over before taking it up again with baby
which us swiftly followed by butterfly, everything
so far has got the crowd very my h alive with
hands in the air, he seems to have most of the
crowd in the palm of his hand with them mimicking
his actions at times, he has very expressive arm
actions which I guess is a trade mark of his.
They continue on with the likes of Harakiri of
which is the opening track of his latest record
and the name of this tour and its pretty good
slow and dramatic in parts while being lively
in others, they follow this with occupied tears,
elect the dead, the unthinking majority, and honking
antelope which takes us into the final third of
the set. It's all rather good and deserving if
a few listens on CD again.
They
continue not with high energy but really good
stage presence from the front in which the rest
of the band follow with as they play the likes
of Ching Chime, lie lie lie, saving us, Beethoven's
cunt, he has no fucking clue why he called it
that and the very awesome Empty walls to close
the set and the night. My only disappointment
of the night is seeing the set list and them not
playing an encore which included Aerials, bastard!!
What pleasantly surprising set by Serj Tankian
and his band, I recommend you catch Serj and his
band when they are next about.
The Hollywood Arson Project 3.5/5
Viza 4.5/5
Serj Tankian 5/5
Review By Robert Lawrence
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