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Deftones @ "The Palladium"
Worcester, MA - U.S.A.
17 Nov 2003
www.deftonesworld.com
I just got back from the show and it was fucking awesome!! (of course) I didn't
see Denali, and Poison The Well was OK, the singer just yelled a lot. The crowd
was absolutley crazy and Deftones put on an amazing show. They hit the stage at
9:00 and opened with Minerva like they have been and went right into Bloody Cape,
bringing the crowd up another level. My friends black Boston Red Sox got knocked up
and ended up on stage, Chi wore it for a few songs, and then Chino wore it for a
while (that was fuckign cool Sam!) Stef was standing way back on the stage, it was
hard to see him and he didn't interact with any of the guys at all. Chino and Chi
fucked around a lot, talking about He Man and calling Chi "Mr. Miagi". Chi fucked up
a couple of times, it was funny. On BQAD, he ended the song too soon, and took his
guitar off to switch for the next song, and ended up having to put it back on again.
And on Digital Bath, he didn't come in on a certain part and Chino stopped the song
and ragged on him. All and all, another amazing show, the energy was incredible!
I'm kinda disapointed they didn't play 7 Words or Engine #9, as well as Needles and
Pins( I was really looking foward to hearing that live) Anyway,they played for about
an hour and a half and heres the setlist in just about exact order... Going down to
Providence to do it all again on Saturday...peace.
Minerva
Bloody Cape
My Own Summer
Fietercia
Korea
Bored
Root
B.Q.A.D
Mascara
Around The Fur
Digital Bath
W.G.T.B
Hexagram
Battle Axe
Head Up
encore-
Change
CPFuller@adelphia.net
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Well the above review said just about everything but I wanted to add that I caught
Denali. I can really see why Chino picked them! They have a lot of elements of the
deftones and team sleep except with a girl singing! I thought they got a good crowd
response. Oh yeah Chino introduced Stef as Ashton Kuscher and himself as Barbara Streisand.
I couldn't hear the rest of the introductions because of the guitar unfortunately.
All and all a great show!!
DBoudre5@aol.com
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this is the second time ive seen deftones, and its all been within 5 months i saw
them at sanatarium and there were fucking sick as hell. But this show was different,
this show they had time to play w/e the fuck they wanted they played for about an
hour an a half or more. i was pretty close to the front when they started playing
minerva, then i tried to look in the back for a pit but nothing was happening. becuz
there were so many people cramed on the floor that everyone was gettin squeezed an
shit, finally some space opened up an two pits came up. one was medioca, an the other
one was all big jacked up dudes. They put on the best fucking show ever, everyone
knows that some shows chino's voice isnt exactly on the money, but tonight his voice
was worth a million bucks. i was jumpin round an singing every word of every fuckin
song. around the sixth song i was loosing it i was exhausted and felt like shit but
it was BORED so i kept fucking going. Eventually my short lil self had a break when
they played mascara an the crowd stopped moshin GOOD kus i woulda been pissed kus that
shits disrespectful to mosh to if you know what im sayin. and it was beautiful.
i went to get a $3 water fuckin bullshit.... but then i hear bum bum bum bum chi bum ,
ohhhh shit i said an ran down to that fuckin pit for around the fur. anyways sick show,
best ever. chinos my idol, best singer , there ahead of their time in my opinion, but
the high point of the show for me was digital bath. my fav live song becuz i love when
chino hits the highest fuckin note I FEEL LIKE MORREE just quivers down ya spine.
not sure exctly on the setlist i dont member it too well, so ill copy the one from the
other kid haha but it was the best time of my life... good too see some full hearted
tones fans like me givin it all layta.
Minerva
Bloody Cape
My Own Summer
Fietercia
Korea
Bored
Root
B.Q.A.D
Mascara
Around The Fur
Digital Bath
W.G.T.B
Hexagram
Battle Axe
Head Up
encore-
Change
deadimpulse04@comcast.net
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WORCESTER - If the Deftones have proven one thing in nearly 10 years of releasing albums and
touring the country, it is that music can be loud, harsh and abrasive while still being
melodic and beautiful.
It's a shame that while the Deftones are finally beginning to get the mainstream success they
deserve, they must deal with the audience that they attract. Note to drunken, belligerent frat-boys
and metalheads: Just because the Deftones play thunderous music, that at times deals with anger
and frontman Chino Moreno is quick to let out a throat-scraping scream, does not mean the
Deftones make mindless mosh music. These "fans" are likely the same guys ruining other concerts,
like the generic college guy at a Dave Matthews Band concert that gets so trashed he vomits all
over the person next to him.
At Deftones concerts though, they just stupidly and meaninglessly swing their limbs about,
hitting anything that gets in their way. If someone wants to pay $25 to take his shirt off
and participate in the most undeniably homoerotic activity he can find on this side of Fight
Club good for him - he can have his mosh pit - but there is no reason to ruin the show for
everyone that just wants to be up close to the band.
Luckily even the meatiest of the meatheads couldn't ruin the Deftones stunning performance at
the Palladium in Worcester Monday night. The Deftones are notoriously hit-or-miss with their
live performances; the band sometimes has a bit too many "substances" before hitting the stage
resulting in forgotten lyrics, incoherent screaming, insane rambling, poor musical timing and,
at its worst, the inability to synchronize. Luckily for fans the Deftones not only managed to
refrain from being noticeably wasted, they also appeared to be - believe it or not - sober!
Moreno and the band had a few minor slip-ups, though. During "Digital Bath" Moreno, playing
guitar as he occasionally does, stopped the song because he felt that Chi Cheng's bass was too
loud. Guitarist Stef Carpenter seemed to encounter technical difficulties with his guitar
going out during the intro to the fan-favorite "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)" but the band
recovered perfectly.
While these were obvious mistakes, it would be nitpicky and unappreciative to focus on them.
The fact is that The Deftones are at a stage in their career where they could carry on playing
only their big hits, pandering to the crowd, and making generic, boring music and still cash
in - but they insist on remaining one of the most original, talented, and forceful bands in
hard music today.
Not only was the band musically tight but their performance was extremely high in energy; Moreno
was bouncing around the stage, running over to drummer Abe Cunningham's kit and back to the crowd,
leaning over the worshipping fans. Cheng was swinging his bass around him and whipping his
long hair in every direction.
The Deftones played very fan-pleasing set that focused on their whole career not just the new
album - this past spring's self-titled disc. In fact the focus of the set seemed to be 1997's
"Around The Fur," arguably the band's finest moment.
The band showcased their more aggressive side with the songs "Bored" and the rarely played "Root"
from their 1995 debut "Adrenaline," and played a handful of songs from 1999's "White Pony,"
including their greatest hit to date, "Change," and the beautiful, atmospheric "Digital Bath."
It was during "Digital Bath" that the angry moshing-mentality manifested itself in the worst
possible way. The song is one of the Deftones' calmest and downbeat tracks and yet morons still
felt compelled to push, shove and disrupt the atmosphere of the show. Although the Deftones cover
their songs in a wall of de-tuned, noisy guitars, it doesn't mask the beauty of the music. Moreno's
heartfelt lyrics and powerful delivery is the focus of the songs and, underneath the walls of
feedback, there are definitive and well-conceived instrumental parts that demonstrate talent and
thought.
That is, in fact, the biggest crime committed in the mosh-heavy action at a Deftones show. While the
audience members are a living, breathing advertisement for evolution the band onstage is breathtaking
and, despite their hard rock reputation, one of the most emotional and melodic bands in present day
rock music. The Deftones presented themselves in top form at the Palladium whether the audience fully
appreciated the true exquisiteness that many of the bands fans see or were simply looking for a
testosterone release.
by Nick Romanow - The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
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This show was just Dag Nasty! The Deftones definitely made ride there and back with
4 friggin anxious deftones fan's crammed into a tiny ass car made in the late 80s.The
show was sick enough to make me forget about holding my piss in for about a goddamn hour.
Anyway the place was packed not a inch of space it was hot as hell then the Deftones hit the
stage and it was insanity .They opened with Minerva and they had some pretty cool looking
lights and a big backdrop movie screen just making different patterns of psychadelic lights.
It was cool because they didnt have anything like that at summer sanitarium .The deftones are
def way better in small clubs then on monster tours like that.People were way more into it here
cause they were all deftones fans rather than just pussies waiting for a song theyve heard on
the radio.Chino was talking to the audience alot which was cool.He was talking saying how he
liked Rainbows depeche mode tiedye socks and He man and all that good stuff it was pretty funny.
He came out into the audience like he usually does so i crowdsurfed tapped him a couple of times
and got pulled over the railing.all in all a good show
setlist something like this:
minerva
bloody cape
my own summer
feliciteria
around the fur not sure about the order
korea
digital bath
bored
mascara
be quiet and drive
when girls telephone boys
hexagram i think dunno it was to insane
head up
then they did an encore with change
they played alot of stuff i didnt expect.
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"I get all numb," Chino Moreno's first words on the night of November 17, exploded into
a welcoming and rapturous crowd at the Palladium in Worcester. After a summer spent on
Metallica's Summer Sanitarium tour and a month-long stint in Europe, the Sacramento based
art-metal band the Deftones gloriously returned to U.S. clubs in their fall tour with
opening acts Poison the Well and Denali. Following the release of their critically acclaimed,
self-titled album on Maverick Records, the Deftones have been tearing up venues across the
country with a set list ranging from unreleased covers and B-sides to classic, fan-favorites.
The show promptly started at 7:30 with Denali, a relatively unknown female led prog-rock
band, starting things with an ambient bang. They did little to interact with the crowd and
their songs began to blend together after a solid 20 minutes of noise-heavy, synthesized rock.
The highly revered hardcore act Poison the Well soon followed and was welcomed by a crowd ready
to move. Mosh pits quickly erupted as the band began their vicious, albeit short, set.
Following Poison the Well, headlining act the Deftones promptly took to a pitch black stage
with solely an illuminated red backdrop outlining their silhouettes. During this time, the
crowd was absolutely taken by the brilliant sight and was ecstatic in anticipation. With Abe
Cunningham on drums, Stef Carpenter on lead guitar, Chi-Cheng on bass guitar, Frank Delgado
on turntables, and lead singer Chino Moreno occasionally helping out with back-up guitar, the
band broke into their new album's first single, "Minerva." The following show contained an
unfortunately predictable set containing 15 fan-favorites and one encore, topping the 1½ hour
long show at 16 songs of pure energy and emotion. The final setlist included: Minerva Bloody
Cape My Own Summer Feiticeira Korea Bored Root Be Quiet and Drive Mascara Around the Fur
Digital Bath When Girls Telephone Boys Hexagram Battleaxe Headup
--encore--
Change
From a technical standpoint the show was just average. The guitars were ringing, the drums
were crashing, and the vocals were bursting, but the bass muddled the overall sound and at
times seemed overbearing. The Deftones are traditionally known for their incredible live
performances, and this night corroborated the claim. One could literally feel the bass line
rattling the ribs, and the bass drum sent chills down the spine. Chino, who is known for his
soaring vocals and primal screaming, had to be heard to be believed. His vocal power was
absolutely mind-blowing and shook the club with each breath he took. For the most part the
band was in time and in sync as a whole unit. Chino occasionally skipped a line or two of a
song and could not quite hit some notes, but he was mainly right on key. One of the night's
most pleasant surprises was "When Girls Telephone Boys," the heaviest and most brutal track on
the new album. The Deftones perfectly emulated the song and created near chaos in the crowd
below.
Although concerts are traditionally judged by their audio aspect, the visuals at this show
were simply astounding. The Deftones had an intricate and sophisticated light show that moved
in time with the music and added further emphasis to solos and song moods. There was also a
huge, cloth backdrop behind the band that changed colors throughout the concert. As obviously
important as the music was, the lighting added much to complement the whole experience.
After the show ended, I waited around the tour buses for 1½ hours until Chi and Chino finally
came out and greeted their truest of fans in the freezing cold. They were more than willing to
take pictures with fans and signed anything one gave them. They were very appreciative of
compliments and were modest, down-to-earth guys. It was really amazing to see a band like the
Deftones not fulfill the typical, rock-star stereotype.
November 17 was one of the best nights of my life. The Deftones concert was easily the best
concert I have ever been to, and it even made fans out of those who came with low expectations.
There is no way to justly describe this concert in words, yet I believe Frank of the Deftones put
it best when he said in a recent interview I conducted with him, ".man, it's all about the music.
If it's good and honest, then we'll do it."
Tglav2626@aol.com
