Deftones make a return to North America

Ethan McConnell

Music Journalist

Now I know everyone and their mom knows about Deftones, just go ahead and ask her.  One of the most influential metal bands to have come out of Sacramento continues to be in their craft, providing entertainment all over the world for fans to hear. I know that the last time the band did a North American tour was way back in 2022 and after that, the group would go on to do festivals here and there along with tours in Europe, leaving fans here in the U.S. scared that they would never come back. After a couple of years, the announcement of a brand new North American tour would come out with openers being Fleshwater from Boston and The Mars Volta based out of El Paso. 

Openers: Fleshwater and The Mars Volta 

To start off the night after passing through lines and getting by the immense Austin traffic, me along with a group of friends walked down to the floor to get ready for the performances to come. As we were all walking in, you could hear the buzzing guitars through the walls echoing out into the lobby. Fleshwater has made a name for themselves releasing music in 2020. In just a half a decade, the rock band has amassed over 500 thousand monthly viewers with only two albums and a few singles. The project is essentially a side project from already established band Vein.fm, which now has fewer monthly listeners but also carries a different sound given that vein is mostly metal while Fleshwater is more rock based. 

Getting back into the set, energy was definitely there, given that the crowd was mainly Gen Z attendees. From the moment Fleshwater took the stage the audience was fully engaged, eagerly anticipating each song with hits like “Kiss the Ladder” and “Linda Claire”, along with an unreleased track adding to the excitement. Crowds were moving and chanting lyrics, creating a warm atmosphere all throughout the set. Not only was the crowd having fun, but so was the band off course with the bassist jumping up and down and raw intense vocals provided from lead singer Mirsy (Marisa Shirar).  The experience between the band members and audience was both explosive and immersive. 

After a great opener, we move on to a Texas native band coming in with The Mars Volta. These folks have been in the game for just as long as Deftones if not longer, giving a performance that fails to disappoint the audience members. For me, I’ve only heard of a few of their songs from their discography, but after witnessing the set, it opened me up to want to listen to them some more. The Spanish band comes with an interesting take on the experimental rock genre, practically bending the lines with progressive rock. The blend of riveting guitars with smooth drum fills between each track made the experience very easy to listen to, given that I haven’t given them much thought leading up to the concert. Even at his age, lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala does not shy away from showcasing his wide range in tonality, making a huge presence on stage. Now I can’t say too much on the band, but I can say that from what I heard, I did like, but I chose to get in line for merch before lines got too long and Chino took the stage. 

Now for the big moment that we’re waiting for, it’s time for Deftones to take the stage. The anticipation in the air was almost tangible, with a collective energy buzzing through the crowd. I remember looking at the schedule and making a joke that they were two minutes late and as those words were spoken, the lights go black. The crowd is roaring as they know it’s time for what they’ve all paid good money for.  

The lights shine back on as the members take the stage to their respective instruments. As audience members fill the stadium with their cries and screams, the first chord is strung.  People are jumping everywhere, lights are flashing, images are painted on the stage, the feeling is ethereal. All feelings are reciprocated with Chino jumping up and down the stage. As the set goes on you a good playlist of raw aggression like, “My Own Summer (Shove It)”, haunting melodies from “Diamond” and “Tempest”, as well as deep dives that true fans resonated with such as, “Rocket”, “Genesis”, and “Minerva”. There were also moments of intimacy—times when the music seemed to connect on a deeper level, leaving certain fans visibly in awe, some even moved to tears. It was evident that this wasn’t just another performance; it was an experience. Chino acknowledged the audience throughout the night, repeatedly expressing gratitude with a heartfelt “Thank you,” showing his appreciation for the unwavering support. 

As the final notes rang out and the stage lights dimmed, I found myself standing there, soaking it all in, knowing I had just witnessed something truly special. For the longest time, I had convinced myself that I would never get the chance to see this band live. But that night, I did. And it was nothing short of unforgettable—an iconic moment that will live in my memory for years to come.