Oh man! Oh man! Oh man! I would tell you about the opening act but I have forgotten who it was – all I remember is the singer making some lame joke about champagne and Barack Obama. I think that my lack of interest can be excused on this occasion, as my complete hysteria at the prospect of witnessing a performance by one of metal’s greatest bands was slightly overwhelming. Excluding the three guys vehemently cheering up at the front, the masses breathed a collective sigh of relief as the opener exited the stage. So, back to the ‘Oh mans’: the crowd tension increased notch by notch as the minutes rolled by, minute by excruciatingly long minute. Every time a techie tested a piece of equipment, particularly the guitars, the crowd let out bursts of anticipatory cheers and applause. Even the ‘pimp daddy’, porno eighties remixes that were playing over the sound system (sorry, I have no explanation) did not send the crowd into some hornified mass orgy. Why? Because the night was all about Deftones … getting laid took a total back seat. Kentish Town’s HMV Forum played host to a uni-mind of Deftones fans, collected to witness what turned out to be an unforgettable display of talent, insanity and brutality. The uni-mind spent the preceding few hours before Deftones’ appearance wondering what songs would be played, whether Chino would be on form, and whether the band would live up to high expectations set by fans. Well, the uni-mind was blown away! Deftones was stupendously amazing (I am seriously trying not to gush here). Chino was totally on his game, the crowd was intensely wrought with excited energy and the result was a gig that will not be forgotten by all who attended!
Deftones wasted no time in blasting the audience away with Feiticeira, and thus launched into a 23-song set list, which certainly compensated for the band’s absence from the UK since 2007. Deftones has a wealth of material to choose from and the set list was undeniably well constructed with songs from all five albums (Adrenaline, Around the Fur, White Pony, Deftones and Saturday Night Wrist). Throughout the two-hour gig, the pit never tired and the energy of both crowd and band never waned. The gig stands as a metaphor for the relationship that many fans have had with Deftones since the release of Adrenaline in 1995 – ever
consistent in mutual respect and adoration. Deftones is a band that is particularly difficult to pigeonhole within a specific genre of alternative/metal music. The band’s sound is experimentally eclectic and encompasses the likes of hip-hop, punk, metal, new wave, goth and rock. Always willing to take a risk and go where no band has dared tread before, Deftones’ performance emphasizes the band’s creative genius and advancement of the unconventional. Chino Moreno’s poetically abstract lyrics prove to be emotive and provocative for both singer and crowd. Chaos is rendered as the band performs ‘ballads’ including Change and Digital Bath, which are interspersed with the likes of Korea, Elite, Hexagram and My Own Summer. The only song I missed hearing was Around the Fur – not that I am complaining 23 awesome songs later. Due credit must also be given to Sergio Vega who did a great job filling in for bassist Chi Cheng, who is still recovering from a car accident at the end of last year.
It’s a difficult task putting into words the intense emotional experience of participating in the live performance of a band that one has admired for so long, a band whose songs have become a part of one’s soul. Great performances are about symbiosis – ‘give and take’ on the behalf of both band and crowd. The band’s performance concludes that Deftones and its fans have perfected the science and the art of symbiosis.
Setlist:
Feiticeira
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Lhabia
Lotion
Hexagram
Needles and Pins
Beware
Elite
Nosebleed
Root
Korea
RX Queen
When Girls Telephone Boys
Hole in the Earth
Engine No. 9
Digital Bath
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Headup
Change (In the House of Flies)
Back To School (Mini Maggit)
Encore:
Passenger
Minerva
7 Words
Check out review on ClinkMusicMagazine
Dude, Im jealous!
As you should be!
symbiosis – isnt that somehting that describes when those eel things stick themeselves on a whale?
yes indeed: “any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship “