There’s something about a Deftones show that hits differently from any other rock or metal band. It’s not just the volume or the heaviness—it’s the atmosphere. The way they blend brutality with beauty, chaos with calm, distortion with dreaminess. When Deftones took the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena in May 2022, the whole place felt charged long before the first note rang out. Fans packed the arena shoulder to shoulder, buzzing with the kind of excitement that only this band can generate. It was a night that promised catharsis, nostalgia, and raw, shimmering energy, and Deftones delivered exactly that.
The Show
The band launched into “Genesis,” a dark, pulsing opener from Ohms that set the mood immediately. The stage glowed in moody reds and blacks while Chino Moreno’s voice cut through the haze like a knife. There’s a cinematic build to “Genesis,” and hearing it live gives you this slow climb of tension until everything finally explodes. It was the perfect way to crack open the night.
Without pausing, they slammed straight into “Rocket Skates,” one of their most ferocious tracks. The crowd went wild the moment Chino screamed “GUN! RACK!” and you could feel the floor of the arena literally shake. Stef Carpenter’s guitar tone came in thick and sharp, with Abe Cunningham holding the whole thing down like a freight train. If “Genesis” set the tone, “Rocket Skates” lit the fuse.
“Prayers/Triangles” brought a shift into Deftones’ more atmospheric side. The shimmering guitars, the bright vocal lines, the pulsing rhythm—it all felt like the band had shifted from storm mode to dream mode in an instant. Chino sounded especially strong here, pulling every bit of emotion from the song.
Then came “Royal,” another Diamond Eyes deep cut that hit harder live than anyone expected. That song has a relentless groove, and the crowd fed off every second of it. You could see fans headbanging one second and floating in the melody the next—classic Deftones duality.
From there, the band dipped into one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the night: “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away).” That opening riff instantly brought the arena into a sing-along, and Chino let the crowd take several lines on their own. There’s something magical about this song live—it’s heavy, sure, but it’s also hopeful, dreamy, and strangely comforting. Hearing thousands of people shout “I don’t care where, just FAR AWAY!” together created one of the night’s most powerful moments.
The momentum kept going with “My Own Summer (Shove It),” arguably the band’s most iconic riff. The pit exploded. Even people way up in the seats stood and screamed every word. It’s one of those songs you feel more than you hear, especially when the chorus hits with that throat-ripping energy.
Things turned more haunting with “Tempest,” a swirling, hypnotic song that sounded massive inside the arena. It’s a slow burn, but live, it builds into something almost overwhelming. The band kept that momentum rolling as they moved into “Swerve City,” which brought back the upbeat crunch and groove. Fans jumped and moved in waves to the rhythm, feeding off the band’s energy.
Then came a string of fan favorites: “Digital Bath” and “Knife Prty.” The combination is devastating in the best way. “Digital Bath” is sensual and atmospheric, and Chino nailed the falsetto lines with surprising ease. “Knife Prty” turned the arena into a neon-lit fever dream, especially when that soaring, haunting bridge hit. It felt like time slowed for a moment.
After that emotional one-two punch, the band shifted into the brooding “Beware.” It’s slower, darker, heavier in mood than in volume, and it added another layer of depth to the set. Hearing that massive chorus echo around the arena was chilling.
Then the lights changed again and they slid into “Sextape.” It was gorgeous—one of those songs that makes the entire crowd sway. It’s a softer moment, but Deftones always know how to make soft feel powerful. Fans were locked into every word.
The energy snapped back into full force with “Diamond Eyes.” Every member of the crowd knew exactly what was coming, and the second that opening riff hit, the arena erupted. “Time will see us realign…” rang out like a rallying cry. It was one of the most electric moments of the night.
The set continued with “Rosemary,” a slow, sprawling track that grows like a wave. Live, it becomes this massive wall of sound, and the band leaned into that completely. It gave the show another atmospheric peak before Deftones punched back in with “Bloody Cape.” The heavy riffing and raw vocals brought a burst of intensity similar to the early-2000s Deftones era. It hit hard—really hard.
Then, the band dropped the emotional bomb: “Change (In the House of Flies).” There’s nothing quite like hearing this live. It’s eerie, melancholy, and strangely beautiful. The visuals matched the mood, the band sounded flawless, and the entire arena was singing along. It felt like a collective exhale.
Before closing the main set, they played “Ohms,” a triumphant and hopeful anthem. The message, the energy, the sharp riffs—it all felt like the band stepping confidently into the present. It was a huge, soaring way to end the main portion of the night.
Encore
The band returned with “Lotion,” a heavier, deeper cut that longtime fans went absolutely nuts for. It was gritty, loud, and unexpected in the best way. Then came the show’s final blow: “Engine No. 9.” The song alone is chaotic enough, but Deftones added a bonus twist by weaving in Cypress Hill’s “How I Could Just Kill a Man.” The crowd lost it. The pit exploded again. It was pure, unfiltered adrenaline to close out the night.
Full Setlist
Genesis
Rocket Skates
Prayers/Triangles
Royal
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Tempest
Swerve City
Digital Bath
Knife Prty
Beware
Sextape
Diamond Eyes
Rosemary
Bloody Cape
Change (In the House of Flies)
Ohms
Encore:
Lotion
Engine No. 9 (with “How I Could Just Kill a Man” snippet)
Closing Thoughts
The Deftones show at Mohegan Sun Arena in May 2022 was one of those nights that reminded everyone exactly why this band has stayed relevant, beloved, and impossible to categorize for more than two decades. They brought heaviness, beauty, nostalgia, and raw emotion, often within the same song. Chino was in great voice, Stef’s guitar work was massive, Abe’s drumming was airtight, and the atmosphere they built felt almost cinematic.
Some shows are just concerts. A Deftones show feels like an experience—one that lives somewhere between the dream world and the real one, somewhere loud, emotional, and unforgettable. This night at Mohegan Sun was proof that the band is still at the top of their game, still evolving, and still capable of turning a packed arena into a pulsing, breathing organism.
In short, it was everything Deftones fans could want—and more.