System of a Clown
The Shrine
August 6, 2026
I took on the assignment to review System of a Clown at the Shrine in Tulsa last week with a mix of confidence and dread. This band is exactly what you think it is, and even though I was the perfect person to review a clown-themed nu-metal tribute, I gotta say I wasn’t looking forward to it.
I’ve covered Tulsa’s juggalo community in the past and have a house decorated with vintage clowns. My friends subconsciously associate me with the word clussy (whose obvious definition you may google at your own risk) and I have facilitated multiple nu-metal tribute shows paying homage to Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Armenia’s own System of a Down.
So a show by L.A.-based System of a Clown should be up my alley, but clowns and nu-metal are a nuanced love for me. I prefer the ethereal hauntology of Depression-era clown aesthetics over the tacky “psycho” varieties. And though I am nostalgic for nu-metal, a fat portion of the genre trafficked in straight-up wackness, and SoaD’s “wacky” songs are a main offender.
I guess you could say I’m allergic to wicked-wackiness, but I’ll settle for “snob.” That’s why I was blown away by System of a Clown.