August 28, 2010
I'm a big proponent of live music. There's just something special about watching a band play and interact with a crowd. The genre of music is irrelevant; if a band puts on a good show, I'll enjoy it. With that being said, going to a concert to see a band that you're really into can be even better. Of course, there is a certain level of risk involved; if that band underwhelms live, you definitely won't listen to their music the same way again.
Fortunately, this is something that never crossed my mind when I was on my way to see Deftones for the first time. There's no feeling like seeing one of your favorite bands in concert for the first time. I've been a diligent fan of Deftones ever since I heard one of their songs on the soundtrack for The Matrix. I was intrigued at first, but when their record White Pony dropped a year later, I was hooked. The song "Digital Bath," in particular, rocked my world. Its spacey vibe and creepy lyrics make for a great late night song.
I've been actively attending concerts for about four years now; if there's a band that comes through Georgia, I'm there. For whatever reason, I never got a chance to see Deftones. The last time they came through Georgia, I was still a pledge, so I had to miss out on that show. After that tour, they went on break for a long time, partially due to the fact that their bassist, Chi Cheng, went into a coma after a bad automobile accident in November 2008; today, he is still in a semi-conscious state.
The band was unsure of what to do at first, but they eventually decided to continue with Chi's condition heavy on their minds. Sergio Vega, a longtime friend, filled in on bass, and the band hammered out what I believe to be their best record in ten years, Diamond Eyes.
I waited anxiously for a supporting tour to be announced, and when the dates came up, I bought tickets immediately. Surprisingly, the first Georgia show wasn't in Atlanta; I'm used to seeing shows there at venues like the Tabernacle and Masquerade. Instead, this show was being held in Augusta, in a tiny amphitheater on the Savannah River. I was skeptical at first, but thought, "Hey, it's the Deftones, y'know?"
August 28 couldn't get here fast enough, and when the day finally came, I woke up with a pep in my step. I gassed my car up, grabbed some energy drinks, and headed for Augusta. I got turned around a bunch of times downtown, and even had to regroup at a Popeyes, but I eventually figured out what I was doing. The venue was a tiny amphitheater on the river, but it had a great vibe. By the time I made it through the opening gate, the opening band, Baroness, had started playing already. They're a sludge metal band from Savannah, really jammy and heavy; they get compared to Mastodon a lot, and for good reason.
The crowd was really into them, and the energy reached a frenetic high during a rousing rendition of "Isak." At this point, I debated whether or not to stay in the stands or venture down to the pit. Most people in the pit are there to "mosh," or even worse, "hardcore dance." I go to the pit to fight my way to the very front for the best seat in the house. It doesn't matter where a concert is being held. Amphitheater, parking lot, club, living room; the front of the pit is always the best seat in the house. The only thing that sucks is that there's a brutal trade-off of having to be smushed together for hours and having crowd surfers land on top of you.
I decided to stay put. The place was so tiny that every seat was already very good. Plus, it gave me a better view of the river behind the stage, where some people had pulled up boats to listen. Baroness finished their set, and I took this opportunity to visit the merch booths and beer truck. I bought a Deftones shirt and ran into the singer and drummer from TrustCompany while waiting in line for beer. I made my way back to my seat with two Yuenglings in tow, and I sat down in time to watch the sun set. I grabbed a beer and enjoyed the view. Beautiful; hadn't felt this relaxed in awhile.
Not long afterward, Deftones arrived backstage, and the crowd knew it. There was a wall of lights set up on stage, so I knew we were in for something crazy. The house lights dimmed, and everybody went nuts. This is one of the most exciting times at a concert because the wait during the set change is finally over and the last band, the band that everyone came to see, is about to take the stage. I wondered aloud what song they would begin with, but before I could finish, the band stormed onto the stage. By the time Chino ran out to the front, the crowd noise had reached a deafening roar. He leaned over to grab the microphone and calmly raised it over his head; the calm before the storm. He looked back at his band, then back at the crowd.
Then, almost instantly, the band broke into the first thunderous riff of "Diamond Eyes." Chino danced around the stage, barely able to contain his excitement. He hit every note of the song's dreamy, soaring chorus: "Time will see us realign / Diamonds rain all across the sky / Shower me into the same realm." This is definitely one of my favorite Deftones tunes. Once the song ended, the band wasted no time in starting the next song, a rager called "Rocket Skates," which is pure, vintage Deftones: chunky riffs, smooth vocals, subtle drum flourishes, a dark groove, and even a shrieked chorus of "GUNS! RAZORS! KNIVES!" The next five songs were from Around The Fur, punctuated by "My Own Summer (Shove it)" and another personal favorite of mine, "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)." The crowd went bonkers to this song, bouncing up and down with Chino.
As their set continued, it was clear that Deftones was on top of its game, and happy to share the stage with one another after such a long time off. Sergio was really energetic, and Chino kept teasing him about what he had in his solo cup. Then, he started goofing around, singing lines from that cheesy "Broken Wings" song. Chi was not forgotten, though; Chino dedicated one of the newer songs, "Risk," to him.
A few songs later, the band took a short break, and when they came back on stage, Chino had a guitar and there was this static, ethereal sound being played. I knew what this meant: "Digital Bath." When you go to a show, one of the greater moments is when the band plays one of its older, more popular songs. As soon as the song starts, the crowd goes into a frenzy, which also energizes the band. It's hard to explain, but it's like the song takes on a life its own, almost like an old friend that you haven't seen in awhile; a mutual friend between crowd and band. When the first drum part started, I freaked out. I looked down at my arm: goosebumps.
I looked up at the stars and thought about all the times I had looked up into the sky late at night listening to this song. When the chorus started, the crowd was singing along with Chino and didn't stop until the song was over. This was definitely the highlight of the night for me. Deftones finished up with their biggest hit: "Change (In The House of Flies)," along with some songs from their first record, Adrenaline. During the encore, Chino did a front flip into the crowd!
Once the show was over, I set off into downtown Augusta in search of my car, still in shock from what I had just seen. It took longer for me to escape downtown than I thought it would, but it didn't really matter. All I was thinking about was the show. I had finally gotten the chance to see a band I have listened to since elementary school; a band that was fresh off delivering a watershed record despite the tragic loss of a close friend and founding member; a band that still balances critical acclaim and commercial viability; a band at the top of its game twenty years into its career.
I drove back to Macon that night, and all I listened to was Deftones; I must have played "Digital Bath" at least ten times. I will never forget the first time I saw Deftones in concert. Best. Show. Ever.
