This show sold out quickly, and a limited number of additional tickets went on sale twice before the night of the show.  It’s amazing the audience the DEFTONES have amassed in their short career.  Non-stop touring in support of each successive release does have its rewards.  I had only been to the Palladium once before in my lifetime, to see Iggy Pop w/Alice in Chains opening for him about ten years ago.  And for some reason, I just don’t remember the place being as HUGE, or able to hold so many people.  Before working my way into the Palladium though, I did get the chance to exchange pleasantries, small talk, and a handshake with GLASSJAW vocalist Daryl Palumbo.  It struck me kinda funny that somebody so young could be on the verge of breaking through in the music business in the big way that I predict GLASSJAW will. 

I’d heard GLASSJAW’s debut, Ross Robinson produced, CD on Roadrunner Records and thought it was incredible, especially for a band so young.  Although I thought their sound was incredible, surprisingly complex, and heavy enough, I just didn’t get why they were on Roadrunner Records.  The label who’s roster boast all the “HEAVIEST” of heavy bands in today’s musical arena.  After being blown right off the spot where I was standing in front of GLASSJAW, I must confess that now I get it!  GLASSJAW let everyone know who they were, what they’re about, and what they’re capable of.  I doubt anyone who was there will soon forget them.  GLASSJAW’s live show is much heavier than anything they could capture in the studio. Not to worry, none of the complexity of their studio work is sacrificed in the translation from the studio to their live show.  As a matter of fact, everything just gets amplified on a larger scale.  The intensity, the heaviness, and the incredible energy the band puts out, is nothing short of awe-inspiring.  This band goes off, and the audience goes off with them.  GLASSJAW held the audiences attention for the full length of their set that included every song off of the bands 12 song Roadrunner Records debut, “Everything You Wanted To know About Silence”. Daryl Palumbo is an intense performer, whose very real persona is based on his very real inner turmoil.  You can hear the pain in his voice and you can feel what he’s feeling inside being channeled through that voice.  He and the rest of the band, Justin Beck and Todd N. Weinstock on guitars, Manuel Carrero (x-Stillsuit) on bass, and newly recruited drummer Larry Gorman (x-Orange9mm), accomplish everything they set out to do with their live show.  And that is to win over fans, and preach their pain to their newly converted.  Everything You Wanted To Know About Silence, and Everything You Wanted To Know About GLASSJAW can be found at GLASSJAW’s official site, www.siberiankiss.com.

It was interesting to see the crowd response before the DEFTONES came on, when some joker from KROQ (L.A. alternative rock station, who just recently discovered Metallica - ed) hoaxed everybody and introduced “somebody we ain’t seen in a long time!  Ladies and Gentlemen, AXL ROSE!” to the Palladium crowd.  At that very moment the amount of booing and heckling overpowered the amount of cheers and genuine heartfelt excitement for the Rock n’Roll recluse.  After about 10 seconds and the failure of Axl to manifest himself, the frenetic assault of sound and light filled the Palladium, and from there on out, there were about 3,500 DEFTONES fans in a synchronized, and unified trance.  From the first song of the set Chino was right there in the middle of the masses.  DEFTONES played an hour and a half of material off of “Adrenaline”, “Around the Fur”, and their latest, “White Pony”.  The material off of “White Pony” crosses over into the territory of something slick, and almost dare I say progressive sounding.  This is not the same DEFTONES I saw on Ozzfest two years ago, touring in support of “Around the Fur”, that’s for damn sure! That’s also not to say that the new material is bad, or weak by comparison. It’s just a little different is all. The former Rap-Metal quartet out of Sacramento, consisting of Chino Moreno on vocals, Stephen Carpenter on guitar, Chi Cheng on bass and Abe Cunningham on drums, is now the Rap-Metal quintet out of Sacramento with the addition of DJ Frank Delgado.  On an experimental level, all the DEFTONES previous work pales by comparison.  Delgado’s work on the turntables, and turning of the knobs is geared to a more low-end sound that actually compliments the sound more than it detracts from it.  There’s no scratching involved.  It’s more of a repetitive “spinning” that’s an underlying drive to the overall sound, running along with the bass and drums.  No competition for hi-end dynamics is involved.  What the DEFTONES have achieved in their desire to evolve as a band is experimentation without sacrifice.  And the power of their live show is still what the fans are gonna remember when they go home!  “White Pony”, “Around the Fur”, “Adrenaline”, and official DEFTONES merchandise are available at www.deftones.com.

Want More?
check out the official site for The Deftones 
check out the official site for Glassjaw 
Get tour dates, get an mp3 for the latest single at Road Runner Records Glassjaw site. 

Order Glassjaw or Deftones CD's Online

Comments Questions for Goth Brooks? You can email him at gothbrooks@antimusic.net