Sunday may be the day of rest, but this past Sunday was anything but sedentary at the co-headlining Incubus and Deftones show at Darien Lake. Despite the fact that they were briefly mistaken for roadies doing sound check, the talented duo The Bots opened the show with a taste of the intensity to come.
The Deftones soon followed the opening act, hitting the stage while the sun was still shining bright. The atmosphere of a metal show this early in the evening was a bit odd to say the least. Their show seemingly contradicted their surroundings, with their hard metal sound wreaking havoc on the otherwise peaceful, sunny, Sunday evening. Regardless, Deftones fans managed to scream back at the lead singer Chino Moreno (who has a serious future in impersonating hawk calls, if being in a successful band loses its appeal). Moreno provided a set bursting with energy as he moved around stage, swinging his mic and exciting the crowd with every step. Similarly, it’s a miracle lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter doesn’t have permanent whiplash after hours of endless headbanging. The band was able to put on a cohesive set that was well received by fans. Even if the heavy metal life isn’t for you, it’s hard not to recognize Deftones are good at what they do.
During the switchover between bands an overhead countdown built up unimaginable anticipation for Incubus to take the stage. However anticipation continued to grow even after the band took their places, when they performed an almost minute long intro to their song “Wish You Were Here.” They moved swiftly and flawlessly through their set with the full attention of the crowd, especially during songs like “Nice to Know You.” Incubus managed to build intensity throughout their set, as songs exploded on stage without leaving fans feeling shattered. Throughout the show fans eagerly consumed every guitar riff and drum solo. The crowd howled in approval and solidarity after the song “In the Company of the Wolves.” At only 10:15 Incubus ended the show with their politically controversial single “Megalomaniac,” leaving the fans begging for an encore. The three song encore peaked during the second song, which was a crowd driven performance of the hit song “Drive.” The lights were lifted during the chorus leaving only the audience to sing “whatever tomorrow brings I’ll be there.”
In the end fans agreed that while both bands put on a good show, each night of this tour is a tug of war between groups. Depending on the fan base at each show either group has the ability to be the stand out act. As for Sunday’s show at Darien Lake Incubus came out on top putting on a spectacular performance.
Incubus setlist:
Wish You Were Here
Anna Molly
Circles
Absolution Calling
Are You In?
Vitamin
Trust Fall
In the Company of Wolves
Nice to Know You
Here in My Room
Sick Sad Little World
Pardon Me
Make Out Party
Megalomaniac (Nirvana’s Come As You Are snippet)
Encore:
Dig
Drive
A Crow Left of the Murder (Beatles’ I Want You (She’s So Heavy medley)
Deftones setlist:
Diamond Eyes
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Lhabia
Beware
Bloody Cape
Sextape
You’ve Seen the Butcher
Rocket Skates
Tempest
Swerve City
Knife Party
Digital Bath
Change (In the House of Flies)
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Headup
Birthmark
Engine No. 9
Photos by BackstageAxxess Correspondent Mark McGauley.
We would like to thank Ashley Ball from Live Nation for her assistance in obtaining the credentials for BackstageAxxess to review the show.
