02. Chino Moreno’s charisma. Chino Moreno’s energy. Chino Moreno’s voice. Okay, maybe just about Chino Moreno’s everything. He definitely took control of the entire room. The microphone was like an extension of his upper limbs. His gestures were suave. He was suave.
03. Sergio Vega’s heart-pounding bass. His stage presence is eminent, almost ridiculously eminent, if I may say. Running across the stage for countless of times is no sweat to him. His bass lines never faltered and he was really entertaining to watch. (Plus his multiple Jaguars were ultimate eye candies!)
Fact: The phrase “koi no yokan” literally means “premonition of love” or “the sense one has upon meeting another person that they will fall in love” in Japanese. Pretty sweet, huh?
04. Stephen Carpenter’s steady stance. He was just there at the left side of the stage, looking very cool while effortlessly melting everyone’s faces with his guitar riffs. “He looks like a rockstar Jesus from here,” I quipped to my friends as his big hair soared along the mechanical whirring of the fan near his feet.
05. The entire band—actually! This was Deftones. Of course, they ruled. It didn’t seem as if it was their second time in the country because their performance was brilliant. Together with their drummer Abe Cunningham and their keyboardist/turntablist Frank Delgado, Deftones continuously rocked out for two whole freaking hours, with only sporadic pauses of “Hello, Manila!” and fine-tunings in between songs. Their set was composed of 24 tracks (including the encore), which left everyone’s “thirst for Deft” satiated. The lights beautifully and dramatically accompanied the full ensemble. Countless of photographic gadgets were held up all the time because the stage was very pleasing to the camera. Everything was a feast for the human eyes—and ears, of course!
06. The crowd’s Deft-defying response. Everyone bellowed heartfelt cheers and screeches, especially when Chino went to the farther side of the room to jam with the fans at the back. They hyperventilated at once and went wilder than ever! But then again, who wouldn’t? Let’s be honest, getting closer to the band (or even just the frontman) means redeeming one’s money’s worth! 😉
We asked some folks who went to see the show. Stefan Punongbayan, a self-confessed fan used Mean Girls to somehow explain her religious pilgrimage from the show, “One time, Chino Moreno punched me in the face… It was awesome.” At first, Redrum Dog drummer, Pocks Raymundo, was speechless but also claimed that, “Exhilarating is an understatement. There is no need for them to play Sextape to achieve multiple eargasms!”
Everyone exited the huge glass doors of the World Trade Center with plastered smiles on their faces. The next day after the show, everyone was posting all sorts Deftones-related stuff on their timelines. Everyone had an obvious hangover. And I bet that everyone was silently wishing for a third show. Why not?
When in Manila is grateful to be a part of the Deftones’ Koi No Yokan tour. ‘Til the next rock show! (Images by Bijan Gorospe ©)
Deftones Live in Manila 2013
