Barbarians of California – Raw Firepower to Open the Night
The evening kicked off with Barbarians of California, a band that brought nothing but raw firepower and swagger. Their set was sharp, dirty, and unrelenting, the kind of performance that made you feel like you were watching a future headliner cut their teeth in front of a packed house. They weren’t just an opener—they were a statement, and they left the stage with the arena buzzing.
PHANTOGRAM – Dark Beats and Hypnotic Atmosphere
Next came PHANTOGRAM, a sharp contrast but the perfect choice to shift the energy. Their atmospheric beats, pulsing bass, and layered visuals turned Rogers Arena into a dreamlike state, balancing darkness with allure. The crowd swayed between the hypnotic soundscapes and sudden bursts of energy, making their set feel like a living, breathing piece of art. They primed the stage for what would come next.
Deftones – A Career-Spanning, Transcendent Performance
When Deftones finally took the stage, the energy in the arena flipped from anticipation to eruption. Opening with “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” immediately set the tone—a reminder of the band’s ability to marry heaviness with haunting beauty. Without missing a beat, they dove into “My Own Summer (Shove It)”, the crowd erupting as if it was 1999 all over again. For me, it truly felt like stepping back into OZZFEST ’99, except now with decades of growth and evolution behind them.
The setlist was a gift to longtime fans, pulling from every album and even debuting new material live. “My Mind is a Mountain,” “Infinite Source,” and “Milk of the Madonna” were unleashed for the first time, proving the band isn’t just relying on nostalgia—they’re still carving out new territory, and the audience embraced it with open arms.
They tore through heavy hitters like “Diamond Eyes,” “Rocket Skates,” and “Swerve City” with crushing precision, while the more atmospheric tracks—“Digital Bath,” “Sextape,” and “Cherry Waves”—washed over the arena with dreamlike intensity. “Tempest” and “Genesis” shook the room with apocalyptic weight, and “Hole in the Earth” was delivered with the kind of aching power that has defined Deftones for decades.
An Emotional Tribute
One of the most moving moments of the night came when the band performed “Entombed” for the first time since 2017. Chino Moreno dedicated the song to Brent Hinds, who had tragically passed away just two days earlier on August 20th. The dedication hit the crowd hard, silencing the arena in a wave of respect before lifting into a collective swell of voices. It was a reminder that Deftones have always been more than just a heavy band—they’re a conduit for grief, catharsis, and release.
Lighting, Production, and Artistry
The production was flawless from start to finish. The lighting design alone was phenomenal—at times bathing the band in stark white flashes, at others drenching them in deep reds and blues that pulsed with every beat. Live camera feeds captured the band mid-performance and projected them across massive screens, but instead of simple closeups, the footage was distorted into gritty, abstract art pieces that gave the show an otherworldly edge. It wasn’t just a concert; it was an audiovisual experience.
Closing with Fury
The end of the night was pure catharsis. “Engine No. 9” rattled the foundations of the arena before the band closed with “7 Words”, a feral reminder of the rage and raw energy that launched their career. The crowd screamed every lyric, fists raised, feeding off a band that, decades into their career, still play with urgency like it’s day one.
Final Thoughts
Deftones delivered a show that was equal parts nostalgic, emotional, and forward-looking. They honored their past, mourned their peers, and embraced their future all in a single set. Walking out of Rogers Arena, it felt less like just another concert and more like a moment in time—a reminder of why Deftones remain one of the most vital and transcendent bands in heavy music.
For me, it was like seeing them for the first time again back at OZZFEST ’99—wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and utterly hooked. Only now, with decades of history behind them, the performance carried even more weight. Deftones are not just still here—they’re still climbing.
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