Explore the Rejected Dust System: Begin Your South American Tour

The Down system commenced its tour of South America with a series of rare performances—check out the new setlists and show highlights below.

Tour Overview

Last week (April 24), the Down system kicked off the first show of its South American tour in Colombia, followed by a second show on April 27. All dates have sold out for the first time since 2017, a significant return for the group after a long hiatus of performing only one or two shows recently.

To commemorate this event, the band showcased different setlists, including several tracks they hadn’t performed live in decades—something bassist Shavo Odadjian hinted at in a February interview.

In line with this promise, the Colombia show opened with the live performances of “Arto” and “Attack” for the first time in a decade. Other highlights included the first live renditions of “Violent Pornography,” “Add,” “Marmala,” and “Roulette” in several years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aand50qhflc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anj0sefxntu

They also performed “Optimized” live for the first time since 2005.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcc1bckg1yv8

Setlist Highlights from Colombia

Setlist for the Colombia show on April 24:

“Arto” (first time since 2015)
“Attack” (first time since 2015)
‘Prison Song’
“Violent Pornography” (first time since 2019)
‘Aerials’
‘Mr. Jack’
‘IEAIAI-O’
‘Suite-me’
“Genocide Humanoids”
“Add” (first time since 2018)
‘Needles’
‘Deer Dance’
‘Soldier Side’
‘BYOB’
‘Radio/Video’
‘Bubbles’
“Dreams”
‘Hypnotize’
‘Atwa’
‘Bounce’
‘Offers’
“Psycho” (with a fragment of “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees)
‘Chop Suey!’ (with a fragment of “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna)
‘Lonely Day’
“Marmalade” (first time since 2015)
“Simplified Lines” (first time since 2005)
‘Forest’
“Protect the Earth”
‘Sigaro’
“Roulette” (first time since 2018)
“Toxicity”
‘Sugar’

For the show on April 27 in Lima, Peru, the Down system debuted a new setlist, kicking off with “X.” They also reintroduced several songs that hadn’t been performed in years, including “36” for the first time since 2002 and “Pictures” and “Showway Song” for the first time since 2017.

Other songs featured, which were not in the setlist from April 24, included “Kill Rock ‘N Roll,” “Spiders,” “Holy Mountains,” “Dam,” and “War?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTFLBH7G4NQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU3WSP2KLDW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nug39yujnle

Setlist for the Lima show on April 27:

‘X’
‘Suite-me’
‘Prison Song’
‘Aerials’
‘IEAIAI-O’
“36” (first time since 2002)
“Pictures” (first time since 2017)
‘Showway Song’ (first time since 2017)
‘Needles’
‘Deer Dance’
‘Soldier Side’
‘BYOB’
‘Radio/Video’
“Dreams”
‘Hypnotize’
‘Peephole’
‘Atwa’
‘Bounce’
‘Offers’
‘Psycho’
‘Chop Suey!’
‘Kill Rock ‘N Roll’
‘Lost in Hollywood’
‘Lonely Day’
‘Intelligence’
‘Spiders’
‘Holy Mountains’
‘Forest’
‘Dam’
‘War?’
‘Roulette’
“Toxicity”
‘Sugar’

After their tour in South America, the Down system will head to North America in August and September.

Future Prospects

In recent years, speculation has arisen about whether the group would record a new album. In October, frontman Serj Tankian mentioned that the new system album would represent a “Fresh Start in a New Way,” but later noted that he “became very passive” during the writing and recording processes of his last two albums.

In a December conversation with NME, however, Odadjian remarked that the legendary group “always talks” and probably “never parted,” expressing uncertainty about the singer’s comments, although he maintained that hopes for new music remain small.

In January, guitarist Daron Malakian confessed that he was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of a new album. In a conversation with Rick Rubin, who produced two albums two decades ago, Malakian shared: “It would be interesting to see the direction the group would take if we continued to release music. If we do produce another album, it would stray so far from (“Mezmerize” and “Hypnotize”) that it wouldn’t continue my story.”

He added that while he may have once desired a “new story” with the group, he is now unsure about the necessity of it: “I’m not in the same place I was 10 years ago,” he admitted.

Earlier this month, drummer John Dolmayan echoed Malakian’s sentiments. In a conversation with Lilian Tahmayskaya, Dolmayan expressed uncertainty about wanting the group to return to the studio: “No. I don’t know if I want that at the moment,” he stated, adding that there is currently “just too much drama.” He emphasized that he enjoys performing live and connecting with friends without wanting the dynamics to change.

“I would need very strict guidelines to make another record with the system again,” Dolmayan concluded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_eva6jvqaq

Though they have been touring since 2005, they have only released two singles in recent years: 2020’s “Protect the Earth” and “Genocide Humanoids.”

Since then, band members have begun exploring new projects outside of the group. In October, Odadjian’s band Seven Hours After Violet released their debut LP.

Meanwhile, Tankian recently published his memoir Down with the System. Discussing the book with NME, he stated: “There are many interesting lessons from my own life, and I hope this inspires young creators or potential creators.” He also announced a new solo EP titled “The Foundation” last year.