Have you ever had a tour announcement hit so hard that it stops you in your tracks, completely hijacks your thoughts, and makes whatever you were doing in that exact moment instantly irrelevant? Yeah… that’s me…every single time I get that little notification that Deftones are making their way to my side of the states. And yes, I’m also that girl in the virtual presale line, eyes glued to my phone, credit card in hand, presale code scribbled down, ready to claim my spot on that floor no matter what day of the week it is. Because let’s be real, with scalpers at an all-time ruthless high, securing those tickets at face value before prices skyrocket by a few hundred dollars is practically a survival skill at this point.
So, that was me back in September…locked in and officially on the countdown. And this past Sunday, the day I’ve been looking forward to the most, was finally here. It was Deftones day. My excitement was through the roof, as expected even though I had just seen and covered them four months ago… but let’s not get into my level of fangirl, okay? When I arrived at the Houston Toyota Center, it was packed…wall-to-wall full of what we call “The Deftones Family.” Hundreds of fans, all rocking either their old, well loved tour merch or freshly bought tees, drinks in hand, and making their way to their spots for the night ahead. The energy was already electric, and with a lineup that included Boston-based rockers Freshwater and the well known Mars Volta, I knew this was about to be one for the books.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control…and that lovely thing we call Houston traffic, I wasn’t able to catch Fleshwater’s set. But luckily, I had plenty of friends there who gave me the rundown, all raving about how great their performance was and how they really amped up the crowd, setting the perfect tone for what was to come. So, for me, The Mars Volta was up first. And as someone who never really got into their music, I wasn’t sure what to expect…especially with all the buzz about them playing only their newest album Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío in full, completely skipping over their well-loved catalog. But since I never had a strong connection to their older music anyway, I went into it with an open mind. They kicked things off with “Fin,” the first track from the new album, and the atmosphere was immediately captivating.
The stage was almost entirely dark, except for a deep blue spotlight washing over the band, all huddled together, fully immersed in their sound. The minimal lighting made the whole set feel almost surreal, keeping the focus purely on their performance. Their latest album is said to be a return to their roots, blending their signature experimental rock with strong Latin influences, creating a sound that is only true to them. Throughout their set, they played tracks like “Cue The Sun,” “Voice In My Knives,” “Morgana,” and more before closing out with “Lucro Sucio,” While their music still isn’t exactly my cup of tea, I genuinely enjoyed their set. And honestly, I don’t get all the hate they’re getting just for wanting to showcase their new work. They’re clearly proud of this album, and they should be. It wasn’t bad.
It was finally time for what everyone had been waiting for…Sacramento’s own nu-metal/alt-metal legends, Deftones. And as I said before, I was absolutely shaking in my Converse, full-on thrilled with excitement. Not only was I about to see my favorite band again, but I also had the honor of covering and photographing them right here in my hometown. The entire arena erupted as Deftones took the stage, and without hesitation, they launched straight into Be Quiet and Drive with Chino’s signature scream ripping through the air and setting the night into motion. Holy hell. The floor went completely feral. Fans were jumping, hands were in the air, and every single person was screaming along to every single word. I have never in my life as a concert photographer been so tempted to throw down my camera and just completely fan out with the crowd. I mean, yeah, I was still screaming those lyrics behind my lens, but keeping that camera steady was a struggle.
From that moment on, it was an absolute rollercoaster through Deftones’ entire discography, touching every era…from their Adrenaline roots to their latest release, Ohms. They hit every emotional nerve possible, playing banger after banger including “You’ve Seen The Butcher”, “Around The Fur”, “Diamond Eyes”, “Swerve City”, and, of course, “Rocket Skates”…which, to me, is my holy grail of a song. This setlist straight up gave me life, y’all. I couldn’t have curated a better one myself. One of the things that blew me away the most was the wild number of younger fans in the crowd…basically kids who knew every single word. It’s insane to think about how long Deftones have been around, yet they’re still gaining new fans with each generation. And that’s exactly why they’re out here selling out arenas on this tour.
Every single member on that stage brought their A-game that night. Stephen Carpenter crushed it on guitar, alongside Lance Jackman, who also threw in some backing vocals for this tour. Abe Cunningham was a beast behind the drums, Frank Delgado absolutely owned the keys as usual, and Fred Sablan’s bass tone was just filthy in the best way possible. And Chino? Dude was on fire. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with that much energy…running from one side of the stage to the other, jumping non-stop, just completely feeding off the crowd’s energy. It was exhausting just watching him.
The Production for this tour was absolute perfection with massive LED screens lit up with stunning visuals, each one crafted specifically for the song being played. It was truly an experience. I get chills just thinking about it or while replaying the videos I took on my phone. Deftones closed out their set with a full-blown frenzy…mosh pits, crowd surfers, straight-up chaos as “Bored” and “7 Words” blasted through the speakers. I’m pretty sure I almost broke my pinky toe in the madness, but you know what? Worth it.
I cannot stress this enough though, if this tour is coming anywhere near you, go. This was, without a doubt, the best show I’ve seen all year. And honestly? Good luck to any band trying to top it. But you know, I may be a little biased.
GALLERY: Deftones with Mars Volta at Toyota Arena in Houston, Texas (March 16, 2025)
