Souls 2004- System Of A Down
April 24, 04
By Lori Silberman
After waiting for months for April 24th to come, the day had arrived-Souls 2004, a benefit for
raising genocide awareness such as the Armenian Genocide. Not only was I going to see my
favorite band play a full set, but I had faith in our Sheep Mafia powers that we would be able to
somehow get backstage and meet the legends themselves. My neighbor, Regina, had her
eighteenth birthday last week so I gave her a ticket to the show. We got there around 7 and
started walking to will-call. And who should we see while we are walking up the sidewalk-our
good buddy John Dolmayan, the drummer of System of a Down. He actually saw us, and
called out RoseMary’s name. What a great way to start off! We chatted for a bit and then
RoseMary gave him the gift she had bought for him from China-a Rolex. Well, not exactly a
Rolex, more like a “Ro-flex” (to quote John). But he didn’t know that at first and it was really
funny to see his reaction. We had also bought one for Shavo…we hoped we’d get a chance to
give it to him. So we continued walking to pick up our tickets. We had two section B’s and one
section A, so of course we had to find a way for us all to get into section A. No worries, just one
more obstacle we knew we could overcome. And of course, we did. It was embarrassing having
to move once we got into section A when we were in someone’s seats though-which happened
about 10 times. We saw a lot of famous people there, like the guitarist and drummer of Soul
Fly, and we even met Tripp Eisen again. And because it was a benefit for the Armenian
Genocide, RoseMary was in heaven because there were so many Armenians everywhere.
(RoseMary plans to marry an Armenian-so if you’re Armenian...you may have a chance ;-)
hint hint) Well the concert was AMAZING---they really are gods. Daron was running around
like “a five year old on crack” as always, and I’ve never seen anyone perform the way Serj does,
it was an orgasm of sound molestation. They played a lot of Armenian music, and funny old
ladies behind us were singing the Armenian songs and dancing. It was so cute and sweet. I
wish I could sing Armenian songs! So the concert lasted an hour and a half and we left the
arena in stubborn determination to get backstage. We tried going up through the mountain
pass and went on a little hike. OF COURSE, while we were tiring ourselves out, Tom Morello
and Rick Rubin just happened to walk pass the backstage entrance, the exact place we had
been ten minutes ago. Not cool. But we came back and about a half an hour later there were
people leaving from backstage. We asked for their wristbands and they gave it to us and a guy
with an All Access Pass helped us out. So, we got into the VIP party. It was unbelievably lucky.
We went into the room and immediately went to the free food (RoseMary ate ALL the
pineapples *they were so sweet*.) We only saw John, who saw us and waved, probably not
very surprised we had been able to get back. The Man himself: SERJ TANKIAN walks in with
a silly grin on his face, the man who none of us-not even RoseMary had ever met before. We’
re no longer cursed. Everyone backstage was all family and close friend, so we felt really out
place. So we took a picture with him and talked to him for a bit. RoseMary even asked for a
piece of his hair (ultimate embarrassing, he refused) and recited her Armenian she had
learned to him. He was soo nice. We saw Serj’s brother there and he looks exactly like Serj
with short hair. We took a picture with him and talked to him for a bit. We kept asking people
with passes if they could take us upstairs where Shavo was. Serj’s bro escorted us because he
is the sweetest man in the universe. You had to go through all these scary backstage hallways
to get there. The guard was all mean and scary and told us that we could go in and meet him
but then come right out. There were about 25 or 30 people in the room. This was the real after
show party place. We saw Shavo and he recognized RoseMary, who had met him at the
NAMM Convention and at like 50 other places. RoseMary gave him his Rolex, we told him it
was fake, later we heard him telling someone that she had given him a real Rolex. Haha funny
Shavo. He told us we could stick around so we were sitting on this big comfy chair...mingling...
feeling awkward. While we were waiting, Daron Malakian came in! So we got to meet him and
took a picture…he remembered RoseMary and I from the RHCP/SOAD show that we met him
at. Shavo was talking to someone and we didn’t want to bother him so we waiting for a while
so we could get a pic with him. Of course when he finished he was in a rush because he had a
“family emergency”-like every time we’ve met him. But he still had time to take a pic with us
and sign Regina’s lighter. Well after we got the pic we reluctantly had to leave. It had been the
best night ever! Not too bad for a first concert, eh Regina?
Regina, RoseMary who was so tired fell asleep, Daron Malakian
guitarist of SOAD, and Lori
RoseMary, the godlike Serj Tankian singer of SOAD, Lori, and Regina
Regina, RoseMary, and Lori with the sweetest man in the universe
and the brother of a legend (Serj): Sevan
Regina, Sheep Mafia buddy Tripp guitarist of Static-X, and Lori
Sheep Mafia Thanks for this Event:
Regina
The cool Prius that got us there
beautiful Armenians
Daron Malakian
John Dolmayan
Serj Tankian
Shavo Odadjian
Tripp Eisen
Stryker
Sevan
People who gave us wristbands
Concert crew
Axis of Justice
Opening bands
Those who made this possible