Monday night Deftones came back to New Orleans and rocked many a face right off! They packed the House of Blues real tight like. This was the fifth Deftones show I've been to in the last 10 years. The past two shows (they played New Orleans back in August of last year) have been by far the best. Everyone in the band seems to have it all together. Chino Moreno (vocalist) looked and sounded GREAT! The shows, now, just simply seem like the band is genuinely having a good time on stage again.

Deftones are most definitely in my top 3 favorite artists.

During the day on Monday, I had some time to kill. So, I walked around New Orleans with no agenda until the show that night. When I got to the corner of Canal and Chartres, I was waiting to cross. I looked up and saw Stephen Carpenter (guitarist) and another guy walking around the corner. Not gonna lie. I dorked out a little bit. My heart kinda started beating real fast, wondering if I should stop him. But I didn't wanna be that kinda "groupie". So what did I do? I stayed a safe distance and did a bit of stalkin!

loading...

That's him there in the red hat. I followed him for a good 3-4 blocks until he turned around and we almost ran into one another...I decided to play it off and just look around and kept walking straight passed him. Haha.

Finally, It's show time! I attended the show with a dear friend of mine, Catherine Fontenot. We ended up with a pass that said "After Show - N'Awlens" on it. I didn't quite understand what that meant, and no one around (including the House of Blues folk) knew what it was. I didn't think much of it.

loading...

I actually put the pass on upside down. Whoops! I was a little tipsy. WHAT?! I was in New Orleans, what do you expect???

So, we THOROUGHLY enjoy the show! The band sounded great! The mix of songs, everything from Adrenaline to Diamond Eyes, was perfect! If you've never seen Deftones live, I HIGHLY recommend it!

loading...

Tard and I have what seems to have now become a running joke, in that I can never capture an entire song on camera... So here's "You've Seen The Butcher" that starts just as it kicks in...

After the show is over, we decide to find out what that pass is all about. So we make our way around to the area by the merch booth upstairs where there's a security guy by the door there. I ask him if he knew what the pass was for. He opens the door, shrugs his shoulders, and says, "I mean, it gets you back here."

I ask what I'm supposed to do to which he replies, "The band might come out in this room. I don't know."

We sit in the side room for a few minutes, and then decide it's all or nothing now. We can either leave, because I have no idea what to do, orrrr we can walk back to the main green room and see if the band was there. Catherine dared me to go for the latter. Not one to back down from a simple dare, I proceed to walk toward the back room...annnnnnd the ONLY guys in the room...were Deftones. Thank you alcohol for helping me not to freak out. I played it cool. Said, "Sorry to interrupt." To which they straight invited us in with no worries. Chino immediately says,"Who does he remind you of?" Apparently I was a hybrid of two people that they knew. Someone named Walter, and one other person that I didn't catch the name of.

Abe Cunnigham (drums) was very friendly and funny. Offering hand grenades, singing "Who Dat! Who Dat! Who Dat say I'm gonna drink this Hand Grenade!", and a bushel of apples.

I ended up telling Stephen about the mini stalking I did earlier in the day, to which he congratulated me on my stalking skills because he didn't notice! He was also quite the philosopher.

Frank Delgado (DJ/Keys) was extremely nice as well, offering beer after the Hand Grenade went down the gullet.

When all was said and done, the show was great, the guys were very cool and friendly. Sergio Vega (bass) and Abe even invited us to the Foundation Room where they were heading for the remainder of the evening. I didn't want to over stay my welcome, so we ended up not going. But Steph and Chino did reward me with a pic!

loading...

Thank you Deftones! For everything! Once again, if you ever get the opportunity, GO SEE DEFTONES LIVE!!!

More From Classic Rock 105.1