Tuesday 11/07/06 Deftones @ Rock City, Nottingham

An hour before show time tonight Chino Moreno sits strumming his guitar happily on stage to an empty room.  All of a sudden his tour manager emerges and shouts “put that goddamn instrument down.”  Chino petulantly strokes the strings as he approaches before falling in line and slipping back into the secrecy of backstage. Deftones appear from a distance a tightly run ship, famous for powerful live performances and producing something altogether different to the mindless drivel which litters today’s heavy metal scene.  Tonight is time to take their mantle back as they continue the head of steam they began working up at Download festival a month ago. 

When Chino emerges again it’s as if he’s taken notice of his manager, emerging with shirt tucked in and socks so high they could cause DVT in an instant.  Deftones have dispensed with support acts (due to visa issues if the grapevine is to be believed) and decided to offer us all 3 courses themselves in a gigantic 2 hour set.  They are afforded a heroes welcome before launching into perhaps the most brutal opening salvo seen at this venue in years.  White Pony classic ‘Feiticeira’ grows into a monster of a live track with the driving riff complimenting Chino’s voice and building to a crushing climax as Chi Cheng repeats “soon I let you go” on backing vocals.  The crowd can hardly believe their luck then when they back this up with ‘My Own Summer (Shove It)’ in a similar vein.  Even by the end of this opening burst, Chino’s raised box at the centre of the stage looks more and more like a pedestal where fans worship.

They decide to air a lot of their most critically acclaimed album ‘White Pony’ in the middle of the set.  ‘Change (in the house of flies)’ and ‘Passenger’ excel equally in terms of crowd reaction and musical brilliance.  Chi Cheng’s crushing backing vocals and Abe Cunningham’s tub thumping come together with supreme delivery and just when you’re comfortable they pepper the encore with favourites from ‘Adrenaline’ such as ‘Minus Blindfold’ to increase the intensity and mystery of the set.

It is testament to their desire to remain fresh after this many years that Chino says before the set that they rewrite a different set list every night.  This attention to detail is part of the reason why they can demand such respect and lay claim to such an aura as a band.  This is yet another reminder that the Deftones still have the tightness in the live arena to remain top of the class.