the first time i heard deftones was my last year at my senior high school back home in sweden. up until then, metallica was pretty much the heaviest music i listened too more than just a song every now and then. one of my friends gave me a tape (yeah, i’m that hold) with their white pony album and after one play through … i was hooked.
not only did deftones sound different but there was a depth to them i didn’t see in their nu-metal counterparts. mind you, this was the highpoint of nu-metal with bands like korn taking the front seat. but unlike other bands, i never really heard a compromise in deftones. and every new piece was a step somewhere. there was no settling. there’s a reason why they still stand while pretty much every other band has fallen …
white pony was a massive album, completely re-defining what i thought about heavy metal. because unlike anything else, in deftones there was a nerve i couldn’t figure out. but it was always there, hinting, showing blood. maybe it was the contrast of chino’s equally high pitched and guttural voice and steph’s massive wall of gitarrs, maybe it was the ambient landscape frank delgado swept up underneath it all, or the thunder chi and abe cooked up … idk.
needless to say, they have been one of my favorite bands for a long time.
unfortunately, i’ve always managed to miss their concerts. from the early shows at hultsfredsfestivalen together with RATM to their solo shows. either bad timing, not enough money, work or whatnot. but today, goddamnit today … finally let me get a chance.
10th of october (birthday month). The Warfield (great venue, not too big). Together with Jared (the original bane). General admission (because you don’t sit down on a concert like this) … it’s happening. got the tickets today and found my hands shaking a little.
fuck.
over 10 years I’ve been wanting to see the deftones.
and now i finally get the chance.
this fall is turning out to be quite amazing in every way.
