Deftones hosted their 17th tour at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on September 15, 2025. The show sold out at around 200,000 tickets, including former editor for The Mav Savanah Bayer (‘25) and I. She was able to get two resale floor seats, putting us in the very middle of the pit. Until then, I had never gotten to be on the floor of a concert at this magnitude. We were beyond excited.
The doors opened at 6:00 p.m., with Deftones set to perform at 7:00. Savanah and I were able to make it to the front of the line, allowing us to be two of the first to reach the floor. Having been to the Ball Arena before, I was able to get us through to our seats, as well as navigate bathrooms, food, etc. There were merch stands posted everywhere, allowing us to walk around and calm our nerves before the opening bands started.
Once we found our way back to the floor, the first opener, The Barbarians Of California started their performance, and they didn’t disappoint. They were the perfect kick-off; with unmatched stage presence and engagement with the audience, they effectively set the tone with their tracks “Dopamine Prophecy,” “Where Are the Punks?!?!,” and my personal favorite: “Modern Fashion.”
Once they wrapped up their set by thanking the audience, there was a short intermission before the IDLES took the stage. They provided a refreshing sound to the audience, people started moshing, and the energy was beautiful and chaotic—exactly what you’d hope to experience at a punk rock show. Their setlist included “Colossus,” “Gift Horse,” “Mr. Motivator,” and a few other songs that I loved.
Once their set was done, Deftones came on stage, opening with one of their most loved songs, “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away).” This being one of my favorite songs by Deftones, I cried. The song encapsulates the need for escape and desire for peace and solitude, which resonated deeply with not only myself, but everyone around us; we were all passionately singing along. The band played many of their popularized songs like “Cherry Waves,” “Hole in the Earth,” and most notably, “Entombed.” They also played faster and more metal songs from their latest album, private music.
Throughout the performance, the crowd moshed and sang along with Chino Moreno, the band’s lead singer. But part of what really stood out to me was the visuals they used along with the music, which changed with each song. It added to the experience and made the concert even more memorable. This is one of many punk shows I’ve attended, and I can say with confidence that it was one of the most emotional and energetic performances I’ve had the opportunity to see.
