Deftones Bring “Private Music” to Calgary, AB and Convert a New Generation of Fans
Deftones’ return to Calgary after two decades carried the weight of history, but the mood inside the Saddledome in Calgary, AB on Monday night was anything but heavy. Fresh off the release of their new record Private Music, which dropped just three days earlier, the Sacramento alt-metal legends wasted no time in reminding a sold-out arena why they remain one of the most visceral live acts of their generation.
They opened with “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away),” a fan favourite that has found new life thanks to TikTok, and the reaction proved how far their reach now extends. The floor buzzed with a mix of diehards who had weathered the full 20-year gap since the band last played Calgary and teenagers who may have only recently stumbled upon Deftones through the algorithm. Not everyone knew every lyric, but the energy never dipped. By the end of the night, even the casuals looked converted, head-banging along to every word and high-fiving people in their row.
Chino Moreno, ever the unpredictable ringleader, acknowledged the rarity of the moment: “What day is it, Monday? We’re supposed to be grumpy today and you’re here. It’s been a long time since we’ve played here, so thanks for showing up.” Mondays are notoriously tough draws, but the Saddledome turnout was proof that for Deftones, people will show up regardless.
Keeping up with Moreno was nearly a show of its own. He bounded across the stage, hopping on monitors, leaning into the crowd, and keeping the poor spotlight operator scrambling to follow his movements. More than once it looked like he might trip, creating moments of anxiety and exhilaration all at once. Yet amid the chaos, Moreno’s connection to the crowd felt deeply intentional. He paused to scan the audience under house lights, waved, and even fulfilled a sign request to “blow a kiss for a bracelet,” slipping it on immediately with a grin.
The setlist stretched to 20 songs, balancing classics with three tracks from Private Music. “infinite source,” in particular, lit up the arena, inspiring a wave of crowd surfers who seemed to feed on its anthemic energy. “my mind is a mountain” and “milk of the madonna” also made their live debuts in the city, warmly received even by fans who had only days to sit with them.
As always, the visuals played a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere. Projections flickered between obscure found footage and stark washes of colour, at times dissolving into black-and-white imagery that amplified the band’s signature sense of tension and release. During “Change (House of Flies),” Moreno retreated to the back of the stage with a guitar as muted sunset tones painted the screen behind him, a moment of calm and intensity. Later, “7 Words” exploded in vibrant flashes of light, while “Cherry Waves” moved like a dream through grayscale ocean shots. Deftones have always made music that feels like colour, and their live production leaned all the way into that synesthetic effect.
Near the end of the night, Moreno laughed and teased, “I’m not tired. You’re tired,” refusing to let up as the set roared to its conclusion. Twenty years might have passed since Deftones last stood on this stage, but on this Monday night in Calgary, they played like no time had passed at all—only louder, bolder, and brighter.
