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Deftones in Zurich - 20 April 2017
Deftones played the Halle 622 in Zurich to a horde of adoring fans, and it's fair to say that those fans left feeling no disappointment in Chino Moreno & company. The venue itself, opened in 2017, has the aesthetic of an airline hanger - that is until it is filled with the explosive sounds of nu metal - the genre that Deftones had a large part in creating.
Support came from Indian/American progressive metal band Skyharbor, who played an impressive set marked by complex time signatures and finger-cramping guitar riffs.
When Deftones came on, it was evident from the first song Korea that Moreno creates his on-stage presence by taking the energy from the crowd and in turn spitting it back out to them. A large fan base had come early and gathered directly in front of the stage and this group of fans would prove to be the life of the party throughout the entire show.
Running through their eight-album discography with songs like Rosemary, Gore and Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away), Moreno thrilled by interacting with the whole room - stealing the drumsticks from drummer Abe Cunningham and handing them to a fan in the crowd, taking "karaoke" requests, and telling the crowd how much he adores them with the quip "The Swiss are so kind, so quiet. You guys are so attentive... I LIKE IT!" before launching into a flurry of songs that seemed non-stop - and finally that attentive crowd started the mosh pit that Moreno was begging for from his raised platform on stage.
Stephen Carpenter, the lead guitarist since Deftones' inception in 1988, thrashed out vociferous riffs and his flowing mane of hair was mesmerising to watch.
The band played a bursting-at-the-seams setlist of more than 20 songs, as well as a 2-song encore that riled everyone up for their journey onwards. There is no doubt that this band are great at performing live, and Deftones have left Switzerland with a lasting memory of their capabilities. Come back soon, Deftones - the polite, quiet and attentive Swiss demand it.
- Suzi Lyon
More photos by Anna Wirz on Flickr.
