Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down, is next. A lot of punters here haven’t heard his solo efforts, eventuating in the 2007 album Elect the Dead. Tankian walks out in a white suit and white top hat.

His band he introduces as The Flying C**ts of Chaos are in a uniform of matching black top hats. He walks to the piano and plays the song of the album’s namesake. It is a solemn tune which throws the audience, as it is more melancholy rock than the expected alternative metal. Nevertheless, it strikes a chord with the crowd, with Tankian’s unique voice bringing unexplainable feeling, without lameness, to the song.

After the piano solo, the rest of the band pick up their instruments and finish the song together. The next few tunes are hard and fast with strong messages. Tankian regularly waves his top hat, bows down to the floor and lightly air guitars during the set. It is not strenuous exercise. His stage presence seems more like an eccentric rabbi, or the Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland- occasionally contentedly smiling to himself, or doing a jig. Most of the songs from his album are played- the crowd favourites being Lie Lie Lie (which generates a loud singalong), Sky is Over and Baby.

Tankian’s banter with the crowd and introductions to half his songs are very political. He shares his opinions about religion, institutions and American presidents freely. This is in stark contrast to the other half of the tunes performed, which are highly playful in nature. For example, to the fast-paced Money, he adds ABBA’s Money Money Money lyrics making a wacky mash-up. He also does a cover of The Beatles’ Girl, which has him laughing to himself, until he picks up the pace, turning the easy-listening song into his own hardcore version.

He finishes the set with Beethoven’s C**t, only to follow it up with an encore starting with a David Bowie Space Oddity cover. The very last song of the night begins with a speech by Tankian. He says, ‘I will not make my decision until I see action from President Obama.’ After which, he launches into Unthinking Majority. It is a good song to finish on. But, although System of a Down fans are satisfied, I cannot help but stare at the look of confusion on some audience member’s faces. More than one person remarks, ‘Well, that’s not what I expected.’ I guess you can’t please everyone.

Tankian is an interesting solo artist with a different sound that manages to bewilder some people. But despite this, I can’t help feeling the main act was upstaged by the support. With my expert snooping skills I found one punter that could sum up the night quite succinctly: ‘Lesson: if you want to look good, don’t put Patton on the bill before you.’

Words by aib33 for Fasterlouder

Photos by Kylie Keene for Fasterlouder