Shapes/Colours: Deftones at Little Caesars Arena

Originally published by RadioFWD on April 14th, 2025

Deftones' initial 2025 North American tour announcement last September did not include their Toronto date with System of a Down, so I drove four hours for their April 1st Detroit show. Founded in 1988, California alt-metal band Deftones has enjoyed a popularity resurgence with Gen Z. Initially part of the late 90s nu metal scene, their sound and aesthetics have drastically changed with the times. Their 2000 record, White Pony, remains their defining release. My favourite Deftones song is Passenger featuring Maynard James Keenan from Tool. Legacy metal concerts usually attract middle-aged dudes who were fans as teens. Parents typically bring their kids to shows. Deftones had more kids bringing their parents. I always appreciated how songs like Minerva and Rosemary were meditative and explosive—perfect makeout music. Headbanging or letting the sound wash over you feels natural. Vocalist Chino Moreno's seductive moaning over guitarist Stephen Carpenter’s colossal downtuned riffs and Abe Cunningham’s precise yet laid-back (for metal) drums creates a spiritual yin-yang-esque contrast.

The first opener was shoegaze band Fleshwater, who had the time of their lives on stage. Fleshwater was too loud—a couple of steps louder than Deftones. Many opening acts use high volumes to compensate for being inexperienced or having to play first. The second opener was progressive rock band The Mars Volta, which exclusively played unreleased songs under an elaborate light show. They went on a little too long. I was not a massive fan of either opener but still appreciated The Mars Volta’s experimental energy with two vocalists.

I asked the people around me why they loved Deftones while waiting for them to set up. Older people said they came with their daughters, but appreciated that they were easy to listen to. Besides saying she likes the metal/shoegaze hybrid sound, a teenage girl said she liked how they were non-misogynistic, contrasting many legacy rock/metal bands like Guns N’ Roses or Mötley Crüe. Deftones captures sensuality and beauty with imagery of planets, owls, diamonds, ballerinas, and roses. The best songs they played were Change (In the House of Flies), My Own Summer (Shove It), and Tempest. Each member, especially Chino, was on point. The gorgeous videos and lighting effects perfectly evoked each song’s vibe. You’ve Seen the Butcher had this creepy video exploring a house bathed in red lights. Rosemary had an animation reminiscent of the 1981 film Heavy Metal. It would have been easy to have abstract imagery for every song, but I loved the commitment to supporting the band’s storytelling and immersive atmosphere. The way live footage of the band appeared superimposed over videos was stunning.

The setlist ranged from their 1995 debut record Adrenaline to their most recent 2020 release Ohms. Personal favourites Entombed, Pink Maggit, and Beware were absent. Their sound, especially live at Little Caesars Arena, brought a catharsis and euphoria until the complexities of the world dissolved into pretty shapes and colours. What more could you want from a concert? A personal connection, maybe? My love for Deftones peaked when I was 19, and I have changed a ton in the last two years. I unburdened myself from the emotions that drove me towards heavy metal and am striving towards a calmer state of mind. My relationships with people I listened to Deftones with have run their natural course. My most treasured concert experiences had me repeatedly playing each artist’s songs on the ride home. I mainly listened to vaporwave on the long night drive back to Toronto. When Chino sang, “I watched you change,” I felt him speaking to me directly, tinged with lament.