Because We Don't Do Everything Together - Deftones, UNSW Roundhouse - Sydney - 28 January 2011

I'm not a huge metal fan but there are a few acts that really rock my world.  And of these, my favourite is, without a doubt, Deftones.  I've been a fan of theirs since I first heard Around The Fur.  But listening to them is not anything like seeing them live.  Thanks to a Christmas present from Mine, this is exactly what I was going to be doing.

Their only side-show in Sydney while touring with the Big Day Out, Deftones made it an all-ages to accommodate their younger fans.  As a consequence, I barely had time to look at the merch stand (disappointing) before Deftones started their set.  I raced up stairs to the balcony level and was surprised by how good a view I was able to get.  Even so, the few photos I took with my phone don't really do the position justice.  And of course, being the sort of gig it is, the constant jostling made it even more difficult.  See what I mean: 

Looking down on the thrashing sea (well, large pond) of punters, I was glad to be standing in the relative calm on the balcony.  Stand-in bass player, Sergio, looked to be at home with the rest of the band, working seamlessly with Abe Cunningham's percussion and darting between his mic and the front of the stage, while Stephen Carter's hulking presence is personified by his massive guitar riffs layering over Frank Delgado's keys and soundscapes.  

But if the night belongs to anyone, it is to Chino Moreno, who not only held the audience in the palm of his hands but whose vocals were every bit as powerful as they are on record. Standing on a platform over the top of the fold-back speakers, it wasn't hard to imagine it as an altar, with Chino sacrificing his voice over and over, much to the delight of the sweaty throng.  

The set, a massive 23 songs, included material from all their releases.  I loved hearing older tracks like Minerva, Nosebleed, My Own Summer (Shove It) and personal favourite Around The Fur.  I was a little disappointed they didn't play Back To School but with six albums of material, its not hard to understand why it didn't make it.  There is no denying the power of the new tracks included in the the set however.  Diamond Eyes was made to be performed live while Sextape provides a welcome change of pace between Royal and big crowd favourite, Rocket Skates.  Check out the full set list here.

I'm sure Deftones have no problems playing the big stages, but there is nothing like seeing a band such as this in a small venue.  And while it's still early in the year and I may end up eating these words; could this be a contender for gig of 2011?  Only time will tell, I guess.

VERDICT: Vital!

Deftones - Diamond Eyes

YOURZ

Let me tell you right from the start: this review is going to be completely subjective.  Of all the bands I like and love, there are very few other who come close to Deftones for me.  I have just about everything they've ever released and am a big fan.  My only shame is I've never seen them live.  Hopefully, this will be remedied in the near future.

Diamond Eyes is their latest album and the first release after bass player Chi Cheng's accident, which left him in a 'minimally conscious state'.  Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the rest of the band put material written for their album Eros aside, and with the assistance of ex-Quicksand bass player Sergio Vega, knuckled down to write and record a blisteringly good set.

In fact, this is the best Deftones album since the last one.  (See, told you this would be subjective).  But seriously, from the pure power of first single Rocket Skates, I knew this was going to be a huge album, maybe their best album (something I'm sure Chi would be chuffed about).  There is both brute force and beauty in equal doses, from the relentless attack of songs like CMND/CTRL and the title track to Sextape and the aptly-named Beauty School.

There is an urgency in all these tracks, a feeling of getting shit done as quickly as possible, of not fucking around because life has just showed itself to be an unpredicatable ride. But what Diamond Eyes also shows is that even from the most tragic of events can spawn something good.  Seriously good.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

No.  Just.... no.  Too noisy, too shouty, too testosterone-fuelled.  But I know I'm the only one in our household who feels that way, so...

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

For more information go to: http://www.deftones.com/

In our collection we also have Adrenaline, Around The Fur, White Pony, Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist, B Sides & Rarities and Back To School (Mini Maggit)