When they returned for the encore, the stadium lights went dark except for a single spotlight on Serj. He stood there, looking like a prophet who’d just found a really good kebab shop. They launched into “Question!”, and the crowd’s response was so loud that my earplugs (yes, I’m responsible) actually started weeping. The final notes of “Aerials” floated away, and for a moment, North London was peaceful. Then the lights came up, and everyone realized they had to find their train home.
The night ended not with a bang, but with a collective “ow.” The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium survived, but it will never be the same. And neither will I—my tinnitus is now a souvenir.
Final verdict: If you missed it, you have my sympathy. If you were there, you have my earplugs (I don’t need them anymore; my ears are now permanent noise-canceling devices). System of a Down proved that metal can tame even the most polite stadium in London. Just don’t ask the cleaning crew about the glitter.
