On April 9, 2025, Deftones closed out their North American tour with an amazing show at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. With openers Fleshwater and The Mars Volta setting wildly different tones, the night was packed with energy, surprises, and the kind of raw emotional release only Deftones can deliver.
Fleshwater opened with a punch. Their blend of shoegaze and hardcore translated into a wall of sound that echoed all the way up to the top rows. They played a tight, crowd-pleasing set, even though I missed the beginning of their set when they started with "Kiss the Ladder." At one point, a massive mosh pit broke out, and it was clear that the audience was fully invested. The band's energy was infectious, and they had the crowd hyped from the very beginning. Although not everyone had quite arrived into the stadium, there was no lack of excitement or energy in the crowd.
The Mars Volta followed with an unexpected set composed entirely of material from an unreleased album. While technically impressive and full of ambitious instrumentation (bongos, synths, and vocals similar to King Diamond) it didn't connect with the crowd the same way. Personally, the mix of styles didn't sit right with me, and the rest of the audience seemed similarly unimpressed. That said, their lighting and visual presentation were stunning, and their vocal delivery was top-tier. I would have to give the album a second listen soon.
When Deftones hit the stage around 9PM, the energy in the room completely shifted. They opened with "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" and launched into a 20-song set that pulled from nearly every corner of their discography. Chino Moreno was in full command of the crowd, leaping across the stage and interacting with fans between songs. At one point, he spotted clothes thrown into the pit and joked that someone might be naked, asking security to pass the clothes before deciding to just move on, one of many moments that added personality to an already exciting night.
Their drummer Abe Cunningham also unintentionally stole the show a few times thanks to a fan blowing his hair upward dramatically whenever he was shown on the big screen— it looked like a Marilyn Monroe moment, and I couldn't help but laugh every time.
Setlist:
- Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
- My Own Summer (Shove It)
- Diamond Eyes
- Tempest
- Swerve City
- Feiticeira
- Digital Bath
- Prayers/Triangles
- You've Seen the Butcher
- Rocket Skates
- Sextape
- Around the Fur
- Headup
- Rosemary
- Hole in the Earth
- Change (In the House of Flies)
- Genesis
- Minerva
- Bored
- 7 Words
With a setlist like that, it was impossible to leave disappointed. The band's ability to move between aggression and ambiance, from "Rocket Skates" to "Sextape," for example, showcased just how versatile and powerful their music is. Every member was locked in, and the crowd responded with constant cheers, moshing, and arm waving.
It was a show that balanced nostalgia and freshness, humor and intensity. Simply put: a fantastic night. I'm already thinking about when I'll see them again.
The Mars Volta onstage
Fleshwater onstage
Chino Moreno, lead singer of Deftones
