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Scars on Broadway ready to step out
Drummer John Dolmayan and the rest of Scars on Broadway have a simple mission: to provide good, live rock 'n' roll.
"There's no nonsense," said Dolmayan, who, like singer Daron Malakian, is also a member of System of a Down. "No bulls---. No theatrics. Just us playing live. We have a lot of energy and it comes through live. I think the live energies are always better than the album for any decent rock band.
"The Who made great albums, but they never captured the magic from their live shows. It's not possible. You don't have the energy there, especially because there's an audience. You're feeding off the energy. I guess, theoretically speaking, you could bring 10,000 people in the studio but it would have to be a big studio."
Scars on Broadway will tour this fall in support of their self-titled debut album, which spawned the first single "They Say." Tour dates are not available yet, however, the band will celebrate the release of its CD at Los Angeles' Union Station at 7 p.m. on Monday (7/28). Fans who do not live in the Los Angeles area can watch it live on the group's official website.
When the band does tour, don't expect it to play any System of a Down songs.
"We're going to keep it to Scars," Dolmayan said. "I figure System will play again eventually, and then you'll hear some songs again. We're not really broken up, to be honest with you. We're on hiatus. So whatever that means. To some bands, that means they're broken up. To us, it's just a matter of taking some time off from what was a big band for us. It took up a lot of space in our lives. After 10, 12 years, you really do need a break from anything--no matter what it is."
Dolmayan explained that Malakian had an idea for a side project about three years ago, before System of a Down discussed its hiatus.
"It's basically a conduit for music that may not necessarily work for System," Dolmayan said. "He wants to use it for songs that he may not necessarily want for System. Also, it's going to be a derivative of his style and more him vocally and all that stuff, which of course, it ended up being.
"When we decided to take a hiatus, I made the offer to everybody that if they need help with anything, to give me a shout. That's pretty much how it happened. Pretty random call about Christmastime. Daron called me and asked me to be a part of it. I thought about it, heard the music and said yes."
Dolmayan was impressed by the melodies and straight-forward rock of Scars on Broadway.
"It's something I haven't played in a long time," he said. "It just appealed to me. It appealed to where I am."
