On March 1, the Golden 1 Center was filled with fans celebrating the return of Sacramento’s beloved hometown band for their North American Tour. Deftones performed its first concert back in Sacramento since their Ace of Spades performance in 2011, which is a significantly smaller venue than the stadiums they now play. This performance will be their first time ever at Golden 1 Center, as well as a huge step for the band as they perform to an arena full of fans. Considering the band was formed in Sacramento, it should be no surprise how deep their roots run throughout the city and music scene.
The show opened with the opening bands Fleshwater and the Mars Volta to curate an upbeat atmosphere before the band took the stage. However, once the lights flashed and the opening riff of “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” flooded the stadium, the fans attention was instantly stolen.
Fans adorned lace, leather, and a lust for Deftones as they showed off their vintage merch and inspired tattoos. The audience itself had a variety of different fans ranging from GenZ teenagers, older fans who have been following the band since their inception and even families carrying toddlers on their shoulders for a better view. This melting pot of attendees is a true testament to the reach and timeless nature of the band’s music, as fans from all different backgrounds rallied together in support of their admiration of the band.
The setlist catered to all levels of fans as they pulled songs from multiple albums both newer and older. Including a combination of genres with some of their more mellow songs like “Rosemary” to some with a more hardcore sound such as “7 Words.”
Despite the enormity of the stadium there wasn’t a single empty seat in sight and as the intensity of the songs developed, so did the energy of the crowd. From the top of the stadium corners to the front of the barricade fans could be seen in their own worlds as they savored the experience of witnessing their favorite songs. When observing the crowd at stadium level it was evident that there was no lack of passion, as attendees seated on all sides rocked the stadium by headbanging in unison while circle mosh pits opened up on the floor level. The show created a truly transformative experience that forced fans out of their bodies with every guitar solo and guttural scream.
This performance was not only important to diehard fans and locals, but to lead singer Chino Moreno as well who stopped the show to shout out his father who was in attendance. With their return to Sacramento touching the hearts of the local community, fans can only anticipate the excitement for their next local show. Deftones will be welcomed back this year for Sacramento’s Aftershock festival which is their first time performing there since 2018. As the band continues to return to their roots of a community that has followed and adored them since the beginning, the reverence of the band will only continue to grow.
