What can you even say about Deftones other than holy shit? They’re one of those bands whose reputation precedes them, but still nothing prepares you for the real thing. I’ve followed them for years without ever catching a live show. They blow the doors off wherever they play.

The crowd was just as intense as the band. Flames shot up like flares, highlighting the silhouettes of crowd surfers scattered across the field. Dozens of mosh pits spun like black galaxies, colliding and merging toward the center stage until a massive one took shape. From where I stood at the back, I could see everything, the smoke, the sparks, the sheer scale of it. It looked like an apocalyptic warzone with Detfones as the soundtrack. I was watching from a safe ridge; held in awe as adrenaline spread through me.

Their set pulled from across all their albums, a deep dive into a catalog that’s shaped heavy music for decades. “Change” was my personal high point, an iconic song I’ve been dying to hear live, and it hit harder than the moshpits. “Root” and “My Own Summer” were crowd favorites, familiar riffs sending waves through the field. It was also striking to see the mix of fans: young kids just finding their way into metal alongside old-heads who’ve been here since the beginning. Different generations, same instinct to throw themselves into the noise.

After their set, the field looked like it had been turned inside out, sweaty, exhausted, ecstatic people made their way home. That definitely kicked the weekend into high gear and had me buzzing for day two of my first Shaky Knees festival.

Review by: David Saxum; Photo by Pooneh Ghaneh/Shaky Knees

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Deftones Blow the Roof Off of Shaky Knees 2025