It was spring break here in the House of Mayhem and the missus and I couldn’t think of a more wholesome family mini-vacation than a road trip to see my favorite band, Deftones, live with two other bands who are heavily featured in our home’s daily soundtrack: The Mars Volta and Fleshwater.
We packed up our very sensible family vehicle and began our trek to Phoenix for this magical event. I’m happy to report that the ride was uneventful and mostly boring, the only friction being a debate as to whether control of the radio is a democracy or ruled by a single authority. Let’s just say Missus Mayhem won that argument.
By concert day, we found ourselves having a difficult time containing our excitement, so we headed to the Footprint Center a little early… well… about four hours early! Downtown Phoenix was very busy. Apparently, there was also a cheerleading competition being held not far away, so the roads were lined with a hilarious mix of heavy makeup, over-styled hair, and elaborate costumes from the two opposing factions. We even exchanged a “we’re not so different” moment with some of the cheer families enjoying a meal and a couple drinks at a local sports bar not too far away from the venue.
As the afternoon flew by, Figured acted as timekeeper to make sure we made it to the arena in time for one of his favorite bands, Fleshwater. Of course, he allotted enough time to pick up some merch before find our seats in order to catch Fleshwater’s set in full. We were not disappointed.
Fleshwater is five-piece band from Boston that formed in 2017 and soon emerged as a force to be reckoned with after their debut album We’re Not Here To Be Loved was released in 2022. They played a quick but powerful 8 song set, starting with their most recent single Standalone before launching in to some bangers from their debut like Kiss the Ladder, Linda Claire, and Woohoo. They might have also played a previously unreleased song that I’m still trying to track down on Spotify, as well as an excellent cover of Björk’s Enjoy (we all know how I feel about covers).
Much like with many opening acts, the bustling Deftones crowd approached with caution but were quickly won over by the raw power and energy emanating from Fleshwater. This band is special, and with an endorsement from icons like Deftones, they should be on the way to bigger and greater things in the future.
Up next is The Mars Volta with previously unreleased music from what is rumored to be their upcoming album Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio. When I first learned that they were joining the Deftones on tour as special guests, I assumed it would be to reminisce over the masterpieces that were Deloused in the Comatorium, Francis the Mute, and Noctourinquet. A reunion of sorts for the two lifetime friends and collaborators of the music that shaped so much of the fandom of my generation.
This set, however, was not a greatest hits show. It was a statement! The Mars Volta is back, making weird, complex, and just awesome walls of sounds that honestly left everyone in attendance awestruck. The band didn’t engage with the audience even once. Fans on the floor looked upon the stage with expressions of confusion and intrigue. The noise didn’t stop. In the words of my concert buddy, Mini Mayhem, it was the longest two songs ever but he liked something, he just couldn’t explain what it was.
And finally, the main event. Deftones. Live. Chino. Stephen. Abe. Frank. Fred (touring bass). From the very first note to the final thank you, Chino and Co. delivered. This was a greatest hits set, covering music from every studio release, starting with Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) and My Own Summer (Shove It). They played personal favorites like Swerve City, You’ve Seen the Butcher, and Rosemary.
The energy from stage was awesome. The crowd was electric. But for me, the magic was Chino’s relationship with the crowd. And not just him but his music, his lyrics. His art in action has transcended something that a lot of bands strive for but often fail to attain, a connection with a new generation of fans. From where I was sitting, a couple rows in front, there were two fellow middle aged rockers raging and singing along with the songs they grew up with. To my left was a young lady, maybe early twenties, who sang literally every lyric to every song played. To my right were my boys, Figured and Madmin, doing the same. Even Missus Mayhem got a little carried away as we serenaded each other with Sextape. But for me, one of my prouder moments as a dad, was watching Mini Mayhem raging next to me, finding a connection at nine-years-old with the same band that I’ve loved for a long time. Head banging, playing his air guitar, and bouncing with the rest of us when Chino would hype up the crowd.
For me, though, this was a particularly special night for another reason. On the setlist were two songs that mean a lot to me, the first being Bored. This song was how I was introduced to Deftones. At high school, on a portable CD player (betraying my age), some dude smiling, “you have to check this out”. And there it was, I was hooked. Bored is such an incredible song and captures the angst that a lot of young men and boys had at the time. The same energy that bore the Nu Metal movement. I was an instant fan. The next song came along a while later, Hole in the Earth.
It’s no secret that the 2006 album Saturday Night Wrist came out during a very turbulent time for the Deftones. There were issues with substance abuse that translated into some interpersonal problems among the band. Chino was going through a very painful divorce at the time and there was no shortage of conflict there. One night, on some late night show, I saw them play Hole in the Earth and a connection was made. I was also going through a divorce at the time and battling my own demons, mostly through the end of a liquor bottle.
The lyrics there’s a hole in the earth perfectly describing that sinking feeling of hopelessness and despair that I couldn’t express myself. I’m not going to lie, I let a few tears loose as I sang along to the song that not only perfectly described my pain and despair at the time but also puts my redemption and recovery into perspective. Hole in the Earth reminds me that I’ve come a long way.
If you have a chance to see Deftones with The Mars Volta and Fleshwater during their tour, do it. You won’t be disappointed!
