Armenian-born rockers System of a Down travelled to their homeland yesterday, performing in Armenia for their first time ever. The band had previously announced the concert as a tribute to the Armenian Genocide, which took place 100 years ago in 1915.
All four of the band’s members are descended from survivors of the genocide, and while frontman Serj Tankian has performed in the country on solo tours, the group had never performed there together. That is, until last night, when the band’s “Wake Up The Souls” tour concluded with a stop at the Public Square in Yerevan, AM.
Speaking about the show, Tankian said “Part of it is bringing attention to the fact that genocides are still happening, whether you use the word ‘genocide,’ ‘holocaust’ or ‘humanitarian catastrophe,’ none of that is changing. We want to be part of that change. We want the recognition of the first genocide of the 20th century to be a renewal of confidence that humanity can stop killing itself.”
You can watch the concert, in full, below:
System of a Down – Live in Armenia Setlist:
01. Holy Mountains
02. Jet Pilot
03. Suite-Pee (Incomplete)
04. Prison Song
05. U-Fig
06. Aerials
07. Soldier Side – Intro
08. B.Y.O.B.
09. I-E-A-I-A-I-O
10. Radio/Video
11. Bubbles
12. CUBErt
13. Hypnotize
14. Dreaming (Incomplete, middle breakdown only)
15. Needles
16. Deer Dance
17. P.L.U.C.K.
18. Sartarabad ([traditional] cover)
19. Psycho (with “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones intro)
20. Chop Suey!
21. Lonely Day
22. Question!
23. Bounce
24. Kill Rock ‘n Roll
25. Marmalade
26. Lost in Hollywood
27. Spiders
28. Mr. Jack (with “Hezze” during guitar solo)
29. Science
30. Chic ‘N’ Stu
31. ATWA
32. War?
33. Arto
34. Cigaro
35. Roulette
36. Toxicity
37. Sugar