Deftones party in Cardiff like it’s 1998
Words/Photos: Nadine Ballantyne
★★★★★
Apparently it’s been 28 years since Deftones last visited Cardiff, half the audience weren’t even born. It’s always like a privilege to see a band as big as this grace our little arena compared to the giants like Birmingham and London that easily fill twice that.
Photo: Nadine Ballantyne
Tour supports Drug Church and Denzel Curry wonderfully complement the tour and are met with warmth from the get go. Both acts with their own charm and energy keep the momentum as crowd surfers continue to flow over the barrier.
The diversity, alike other recent nu-metal revivals such as Korn and Limp Bizkit, see the crowd split to those around 20 and those nearing 40 years old. Little comments overheard like “they’re playing the TikTok song” turn some older heads, but when it came down it, every one of every age sang along to the old and new. Unfortunately the trend of TikTok sees a younger generation film everything and would have liked to see less phones in the air and more living in the moment. I’ve been watching this band live for 20 years - I’ve been in the chaos, witness raw sets from the Scala to festivals and this is the most visionary and captivating they’ve ever been.
On tour to support latest release ‘private music’, Deftones aren’t afraid to throw the new songs into the mix as seven tracks from that album cut in and out of the older hits.
The trippy art filled screens overlayed to live visuals only help to intensify Chino’s stage presence whilst his screams captivate the arena. This is a band that’s evolved tastefully over the years whilst also staying true to themselves.
A perfectly curated setlist and what feels like a million thank yous from Chino towards the end.
Deftones headline Outbreak London this summer on August 23rd - Tickets can be purchased here
SETLIST:
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
locked club
Rocket Skates
Diamond Eyes
ecdysis
Digital Bath
my mind is a mountain
souvenir
Swerve City
Rosemary
cut hands
infinite source
Sextape
Hole in the Earth
Change (In the House of Flies)
Genesis
milk of the madonna
Cherry Waves
My Own Summer (Shove It)
7 Words