Pop Break Live: Disturbed at Madison Square Garden
Words & Photos by Allison Socol
“Wow. We’ve been waiting 20 years to play here.” When Disturbed headlined Madison Square Garden, the night wasn’t just meaningful for everyone in the crowd, but for the band itself.
It was really eye opening to see the whole arena had their hands up as one unit. People started to cry from such overwhelming emotion. It was an overwhelming experience to see first hand that you might think everyone around you is doing okay only to realize that everyone has their own struggles. No one is truly alone and listening to Disturbed together really brought that to light.
Lead singer David Draiman equally felt the emotion all night and held back very little from the audience. Right before playing the hit “Stupify,” he announced the following to the room:
“The media says that today we are the most divided we have ever been. But NYC shows the opposite. I look into the audience tonight, and I see all people of different skin color, religions or no religions, and the gentleman on this stage, don’t care what side you fall on politically. Because when we are able to divide us, brothers and sisters, that is when we are easier to control. Not here, building, town, not tonight. Tonight all of us are family, we came here for the same purpose. And when the songs play and everyone knows the words and everyone sings along, all the bullshit doesn’t matter. The fact that people try to say otherwise, stupefies me.”
The night seemed to fly by despite the 20-song set and emotions remained high the entire night. By the time the house lights came on, you could see all the beer cups strewn about the floor and all that remained of the night. As everyone was walking out to exit, Mana Mahna by The Muppets was playing. And I don’t think I could have asked for a better way to end the night.
Setlist:
Stage A:
Are You Ready?
Prayer
Vengeful
The Animal
Stupify
(Guitar Solo)
Voices
Land Of Confusion
Hold Onto Memories
(Bass Solo)
(Drum Solo)
10,000 Fists
The Game
B Stage:
A Reason To Fight
Watch You Burn
Sound Of Silence
Indestructible
Inside The Fire
Encore:
The Light
Stricken
No More
Down With The Sickness
