Indeed the rabid response the band have been gathering threatended to plunge the BDO into more controversy after the barrier in front of their stage in Auckland started to bend from the pressure during their set.
"The legs of the barriers were breaking down and kids were getting hurt," explains Serj quietly. "We saw kids passing out, on being pulled over, so they stopped the show during the third song."
Thankfully no-one was seriously injured, and as Shi had performed on an adjacent stage the barrier was reinforced, after which System returned to complete their set. Given the tragedy of last year, this must have been a frightening experience?
"It's scarier for the crowd because we're not getting hurt," says Serj. "We're just concerned. I think we're being extra cautious because of last year's Big Day Out, and that's understandable."
Thanks to the fact that there are usually three or four days between each show on the tour, it's often refered to as the Big Day Off. But while it's provided a welcome opportunity to catch up with old frineds like Amen and make new acquaintances in Drowning Pool, a hectic press schedule has prevented SOAD from really seeing the sights. On arriving in Australia, the band were presented with Didgeridoos courtesy of their record company, althought both are sceptical about actually learning the instrument.
"Gotta learn the circular breathing," explains Serj. "It's not something you can just pick up"
"Especially if you're a pothead like me," chuckles Daron. "The only circular breathing I do is through a bong!"
Given the proliferation of SOAD shirts doing the rounds it's not surprising that when Daron and Shavo appear at either side of the stage and begin hammering out the schitzophrenic opening to 'Prison Song', the crowd immediatly goes ape-shit. When the song finally kicks in you can actually see three separate pits swirling about. The rest of the crowd simply looks like a nest of unhappy ants.