Deftones Play Sold Out Orbit Room

By A.E. Kieren

On May 21, midsize Grand Rapids venue, the Orbit Room hosted prog-metal veterans Deftones.

In certain ways, this show was a repeat of three summers ago, when Deftones played the Orbit Room in 2007 to support its Saturday Night Wrist album. This show was different for two important reasons. There was the sad note – like all the shows on this tour – as Friday’s show was played without Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who remains in a coma since sustaining brain injuries in a 2008 car accident. On the more positive note, the Deftones’ 2007 show at the Orbit Room was back in days of relative economic prosperity. While certainly not under attended, that show did not sell out. Friday’s show however, in spite of the global economic crisis of latter, did indeed sell out days in advance, with scalped tickets going on eBay for $60-$70.

From the moment the new Chino Moreno took the stage, looking dapper and glamorously thin like a Brazilian supermodel, the audience was ecstatic. Though its career has seen very little radio play, the band still plays to sold out houses full of fans who stand in the rain (as Friday’s crowds did) and who know every word to every song. The crowd at this show didn’t just sing along, they played to the rafters. They held their arms aloft amphitheatrically and swayed in slow motion. The show’s set was designed to showcase the new album Diamond Eyes, and featured new singles “Rocket Skates” and the title track. The night was closed out with “Be Quiet and Drive.”