You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
There aren’t many bands which will persuade end of summer, festival weary journalists to set up camping at Reading Festival, trek back to London that night for their gig, then get the train back to said Festival only to see the band perform again on the Main Stage, but for us Deftones had earned that honour.
News of Sacremento’s finest coming to the intimate venue of HMVs Forum was greeted with mass excitement by fans who have followed their progress through 5 albums, various B side complications, EP’s and side projects. For the band whose journey started in 1988 with school friends playing in a garage, playing shows alongside the likes of Korn in LA, where they would go on to impress bosses from Maverick, this intimate date would prove to be an accurate indication for their reception at Reading/Leeds festival.
When bands reach success through word of mouth, intensive touring, and internet chatter rather than media hype or promotion there is a feeling of ownership and loyalty felt by the fans, therefore the probability of a show being received with a rapturous and heady reception is high, compounded by its rarity, this show was sure to be a stonker.
Before the headliners we were treated to the recently reformed New Yorkers, Rival Schools. Despite not being an obvious choice of support the crowd gave them polite, warm reception even, no energetic body movements, but cheering and definite head bobbing.
The usual antique rugs were layed as was Chino screaming platform, the room started to rumble with excitement, anticipation heightened perhaps due to the nature of recent myspace updates.Its been a tough time for the band of late after their ‘brother’ Chi Cheng was involved in a serious car accident last November, which has left the 38 year old bassist in a coma. Alongside some cheeky english accent attempts,there were references to their fallen member throughout the show, with frontman Chino Moreno thanking the crowd for their continued support and well wishes. He also assured us that there were improvements in his condition and he said with some certainty (and hope) that hewould be back on stage with them again!! Despite the sadness for their missing member, they showcased the replacement, a smily Sergio Vega( formerly of Quicksand) who Chino professed had was also become a member of their ‘family’.
Opening with the powerhouse intro to White Pony’s ‘Feiticeira’, we knew we were in for dynamic show and were instantly assured that Chinos distinctive vocals were in fine fettle . They then followed with ‘My Own Summer’ which has rightfully earned the title of an alternative classic, which frankly could be applied to numerous titles on tonight’s set list.
They also played the atmospheric, electronic ‘Beware’ and the beautiful and ‘Hole in the Earth’ from 2006 ‘Saturday Night Wrist’, flaunting Chinos voice, which is still one of the best around, hitting his higher range with purity, stellar screaming capabilities , and an airy quality to his lower tones, which almost sound electronically affected.
Perhaps the catchiest of all their songs, the anthem ‘Back to School’ was a great choice to close the main set, with many of the audience imitating some of chinos hand gestures from the video, reminding of the videos MTV success.
The crowd still wanted more and they dutifully delivered, with a vexxing and impassioned Passenger, Chino covering for the lack of Maynards vocal contribution, Minerva, and from the Deftones vaults, a favourite track from their early days, ‘7 words’, which lead to many a pogoing induced toe bruising, which justhas to accompany the ‘suck, ‘suck, suck’ of the chorus.
Its always a treat when a band are happy to play a pleasing greatest hits of a setlist and thats what we gifted with here, enabling almost every fan leaving the venue to say they witnessed their favourite Deftones track. The gig also worked perfectly to remind us of Deftones ability to write both heavy, ball blazing head bangers as well as the haunting and lyrically poetic. Its also revved up the excitement factor for the impending release of their 6th studio album, ‘Eros’ which is due to be release this Autumn, and according to the frontman will be weird, unorthodox, featuring a lot of atmosphere and soundscaping, and have a “fuck you, I hope you die!” sort of aggression! Can’t wait! 9/10
Setlist
1. Feiticeira
2. My Own Summer (Shove It)
3. Lhabia
4. Lotion
5. Hexagram
6. Needles and Pins
7. Beware
8. Elite
9. Nosebleed
10. Root
11. Korea
12. RX Queen
13. When Girls Telephone Boys
14. Hole in the Earth
15. Engine No. 9
16. Digital Bath
17. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
18. Headup
19. Change (In the House of Flies)
20. Back To School (Mini Maggit)
Encore:
22. Passenger
23. Minerva
24. 7 Words
Words: Sophie Eggleton
Photo: Marianne Harris
No related posts.
RSS 2.0