Deftones Host 5th Annual Dia De Los Deftones In San Diego, CA at Petco Park

Saturday, November 4th, the annual and most anticipated festival for any Deftones fans around the world, ‘Dia De Los Deftones’, took its place in San Diego, California at the stunning and sold out Petco Park. It has always been a dream of mine as a huge Deftones fan to be able to attend one of these yearly epic festivals. So once I learned the news of not only being able to attend, but in fact cover the event, I was literally on the floor in excitement. This was it. Every concert photographer and writer in the world knows exactly what I’m talking about, we all have that one dream show or festival that is our number one goal to reach, and Dia De Los Deftones was mine. As I flew my happy ass out from Texas to my San Diego destination, the excitement at this point was boiling over me. Once I arrived I could feel that Deftones energy in the air as I saw others at the airport arriving for the same reason: To attend this incredible festival. “Dia De Los Deftones showcases artists across the spectrum of culture, encompassing hip-hop, electronic, indie, alternative, and metal”, their press release read. “Inviting complete immersion and an inimitable experience, its concourse comprises art installations, local vendors, exclusive merchandise, and more. After three prior installments, it has emerged as a celebrated annual tradition for Deftones and the greater Southern California community.” Going into this, I didn’t know exactly what to expect but I surely didn’t expect everything I witnessed that afternoon.

Alongside the very well known Sacramento-based band were many other diverse artists that joined the bill for the afternoon including 100 Gecs, Knocked Loose, Doechi, Pinback, Pieri, Rile, and Capra. The only other band I knew out of this lineup was Knocked Loose, which I was also extremely stoked to see again, as everytime I’ve seen them, I’m left obsessing over them even more.

Every single detail that went into Dia De Los Deftones was absolutely mind blowing to me. This was by far the most organized and planned out festival I’ve ever been to in my life. I’m talking pop up merch sites the day before the show to help every fan be able to grab some before the long lines that would take over during the fest, to organized kick-off parties with Deftones themed flash tattoos, drinks, food, live DJs, and even more Deftones shenanigans, I was in complete awe. At this point it should just become a holiday! Huge props to all the vendors, artists, creatives and everyone in between who makes this such an experience each year. They all without a doubt deserve their own special shoutout for it.

As soon as you enter through the gate, you are presented with gorgeous imagery everywhere you turn, it’s almost a maze of it until you reach the inside of the field and that’s where all of the fun begins. Deftones-out lowriders, huge Dia De Los Muertos Skeletons, an archway of flowers, your very own Deftones X Belching Beaver collabed beer stands, face painting, a mystery hand tattoo station, and of course the beautiful and well-lit La Ofrenda section where fans and even staff members could honor their passed loved ones with flowers, photos, special items and lots and lots of candles. The raw and true emotion I saw within the walls of this stadium was truly a wonderful sight to see and every single human being within those walls were having the time of their lives that afternoon, including myself.

Knocked Loose – Photo: Krystiee Lee Photography

After watching most of the opening bands play, the anticipation within the crowd was building more and more as we were all patiently waiting for Deftones to walk out on the what seemed like 10 foot high main stage, and once that moment finally did arrive, everyone, and I mean everyone lost their shit as we heard the first song intro “Genesis” from their latest album blast through our ear holes. It was finally time and mannnnnnnnn I was on cloud nine. No one really gives credit to Chino Moreno the way he should be, this man is what, his fifties I believe? And still has just as much energy as he did playing decades ago. Pacing back and forth on stage alongside iconic bandmates Stephen Carpenter on guitars, Abe Cunningham on drums, Frank Delgado on that wicked turntable, as well as newest bass fill-in member Fred Sablan. It truly takes a village to pull off every Deftones song and melodic groove that we all know and love and that’s exactly why it is an absolute blast to hear this band live. They played a vast majority of their catalog that afternoon including many fan-filled favorites like “Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)”, “Swerve City”, “Diamond Eyes”, and “Cherry Waves”. And also dipping into jams that have not been played in years like “Xerces” which literally has not been played live since 2010 along with “Korea”, “Kimdracula”, “When Girls Telephone Boys” and my personal favorite “Phantom Bride”, which has not been played live since at least 2018. The sold out stadium was soaking in each song played while screaming their hearts out to each lyric that was passed through Chino’s microphone, and it was just a truly wonderful experience to witness. I can go on and on and on for hours on how incredible this show was, that’s how impossible it is to even explain. Maybe that’s just because I’m a die-hard Deftones fan? Maybe a little biased? Or because it really was just that damn good.

These Dia De Los Deftones Festivals are not just like any other festival, it’s an experience…an experience you’ll remember forever. Ending with epic encores “Miverva” and “Headup” Deftones put their heart and souls into their 4th annual Dia De Los Deftones, and I absolutely cannot wait until next year’s event.