Members of Deftones stream live DJ sets on Twitch

Several members of Deftones have been live-streaming DJ sets over on Twitch. I've yet to catch one live set, but it looks as though all the set lists are being added to the band's Spotify page a few days after the live steam.

Here are the sets, so far:

Frank: http://bit.ly/frvnksdjset (17.04.2020)

Sergio: http://bit.ly/sergiosdjset (21.04.2020)

Chino: hopefully we'll get a link soon

A return...

Holy cow! It's been a really long time since I've visited this Blog.

I was about to start a new blog, as a means to document all the ways musicians were coming together to raise awareness about the current COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be through releasing new music for free, streaming live performances from their living rooms, or uploading old concert footage to Youtube. You can find the full list of posts here!

Maybe I should have restarted this project earlier. But, a lot has happened in the years since I last visited: priorities changed, interests shifted, and time poured into other activities. Any way, now seems as good a time as any to get back into blogging.

I don't know how often I'll post (or what additional content will be covered), but for now, I have plans to share new music from Nine Inch Nails, several playlists from live DJ sets by members of Deftones, and a Post Malone playing a Nirvana tribute concert, and a star-studded rendition of Foo Fighters "Times like these." If there are any other videos/playlists/downloads you have come across during your lock down, then don't hesitate to share them in a comment.

#StayHome                                                    #StaySafe                                          #LoveOneAnother

Deftones rehearsal footage from Eros sessions

A video of the Deftones rehearsing a previously unreleased song has surfaced on YouTube. The footage is rumoured to have been filmed during the Eros recording sessions, and includes scenes with deceased bassist Chi Cheng.

Last year the track Smile was released to commemorate the one year anniversary since the passing of Cheng. The remaining members of Deftones have yet to confirm whether Eros will ever be released in its entirety, but with material like this surfacing, it's looking more, and more likely that it will.

Change (in the life of flies)

I came across this short video showing the transformation, or metamorphosis, of a maggot into a fly up close. There is no audio to the video, but Deftones have just the right track to accompany this...

Source: Why Evolution is True

Deftones Smile Eros

Yesterday marked a year since the passing of Deftones founding member Chi Cheng. To commemorate  the date, the remaining members of the band have released a track form the unfinished album Eros, which has some of the last studio recordings performed by Cheng. 

Working video here

This is likely an early, unmixed version of Smile, but the rawness of the track adds to the sincerity of the remaining members love for their fallen brother. If Eros does ever see the light of day in it's entirety, it is likely to be a very emotional, and powerful album.

-- Updated 19 January 2015 --

Added link to alternative source to stream the video.

Time to play a little catch up

I spent the last week attending a conference in North West Province, which resulted in me not posting here at all, despite quite a bit having taken place. So here is a round up of all the downloads, videos, and other stuff that has taken place in the last week or so.

Music

Sol Invicto - free downloads for 9.0, 10.0, and a new version of 13.0
Deftones - music video for Romantic dreams

Palms - an even better music video for Future warrior
Polyfuse - free download of The Persistent | The Unobtainable

Gaming
Grand Theft Auto V - various game play videos
Heavy Rain - I started playing it

Other Stuff
Nespresso - We bought a coffee machine

More to come!

Deftones' Romantic dreams video

Deftones second video off Koi No Yokan is for Romantic dreams. The video features professional skateboarder Jason Park, skating some of Los Angeles' more iconic spots.

While I don't like the video that much, the song is still an absolute winner.

New ††† - Win†er 20†3

††† have released a second teaser video, with the same visuals as last months video, but different music. This video was released by Sumerian Records, which gives us some information regarding the label ††† have signed to. Noisey interviewed Chino Moreno recently, and he said that the new crosses release was a third EP. The video also has "Win†er 20†3" in the title, with Moreno saying October more specifically in the interview.

Unlike the first teaser video, the track used in this one gives us a brief listen to Moreno's vocals, even if they are a little distorted in the last few seconds of the video. 

-- Update 06 November 2013 --

A video of the song has been released, giving the title as Bitches brew.

††† teaser video

††† are just teasing us now. Here's a short video with no information about any future release, but it does feature some haunting music. Thankfully I've still got Thursday night's Deftones show stuck in my head (I'm busy writing a post about it and sorting through photographs from the evening). 

-- Update 06 November 2013 --

A video of the song has been released, giving the title as Bitches brew.

Only three more days!

Deftones posted the following picture on their Instagram account a few hours ago. I hope they're as excited about visiting South Africa, as South Africa is excited to be having them come and visit.

I'm really looking forward to Thursday nights show, as it will mean checking off one more band on my "list of bands to see before I die (or they stop touring)." In the meantime, if you're attending One Night in Cape Town too, here is an article listing things you may and may not bring with you to the venue.

Interview with Abe Cunningham of Deftones

It's just a few more days until Deftones play their first gig in South Africa. While I'm a bit bleak that I wont be seeing them at Oppikoppi, I am pretty stoked I'll get to see one of my favourite bands, perform live in my home-town.

Rolling Stone South Africa have interviewed band member Abe Cunningham as part of the lead up to Deftones two performances.

Cunningham shared some insight into what we can expect in terms of the set lists, and the bands approach to recording new material. Rumours of the possible future release of Eros, the unfinished album recorded in 2008, were put to rest.

Show times for the three bands were announced yesterday, but today One Night in Cape Town have added the disclaimer "Line up subject to change." I'm seriously hoping that this doesn't mean that one of the acts has pulled out, unless it's Yellowcard. I'm probably going to go buy beer and t-shirts during their set anyway.

Things are stirring again in the ††† camp...

††† (Crosses) was formed in 2011 and comprises of Chino Moreno (Deftones, Palms, Team Sleep), Shaun Lopez (Far), and Scott Chuck (Chuck Doom). The group has previously released two EPs, and there have been several recent photographs uploaded to the bands social networking sites. These photos have shown band members in the recording studio, as well as the possible cover for the groups next release. It is however unclear whether the next release will be a third EP, or the highly-anticipated  first full-length album.

††† first EP is available as a free download below;

Manchester Orchestra to join Deftones in South Africa

So Em and I are heading to Cape Town for the long weekend in August. I'll be heading to One Night in Cape Town to see Deftones with my brother, while Em will likely go shoe shopping. 

Manchester Orchestra have been added to the line-up as the third international act, which I'm quite excited about, although I am also still hoping some local acts will be performing at the event too.

Deftones and Yellowcard in Cape Town

A few weeks after the news that Deftones will be one of the headline acts at Oppikoppi, it has been confirmed that Deftones will perform a show in Cape Town on 8 August. One Night in Cape Town will also feature Yellowcard and other local acts, still to be announced.

I'm still hoping to make it to Oppikoppi: BewilderBeast with Em in August, but if that plan doesn't work out, I'll travel back to Cape Town just to catch Deftones live. I recently saw Chevelle at the Grand West Arena, and while the band themselves put on a spectacular show, the crowd and atmosphere in the venue were a little dull for my liking. I'd much rather try get to the outdoor festival, which should be packed with people in the mood to party and amped for the music. Let's see what happens after I get back from Europe.

Deftones to play Oppikoppi Festival, South Africa

The organisers of Oppikoppi Festival have just announced that Deftones will be one of the headlining acts for the nineteenth instalment of Oppikoppi, entitled BewilderBeast.

Hopefully this means that Deftones will add an additional tour date for Cape Town, and possibly Durban, depending on the demand for tickets.

I've never been to an Oppikoppi Festival, but reckon the reunion of Kidofdoom, as well as the confirmed visit by Deftones definitely warrants a first-time visit to the festival.

Now to work out the logistic of getting there, and who I'm camping with, especially since Em doesn't like dirt and camping; two things synonymous with Oppikoppi.

Deftones' official music video for 'Swerve city'

The music video for Swerve city, the latest single of Deftones' Koi No Yokan premièred on Noisey this evening.

Deftones and Isis members form new group, Palms

Palms is a Los Angeles based quartet, made up of former members of Isis (Aaron Harris, Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide), and Deftones' vocalist, Chino Moreno. 

The band's first single, Patagonia, is now streaming on Pitchfork and Soundcloud, with the full album to be for released on 25 June of this year. Palms will be playing four shows in California in support the album release;

10 July - San Diego, The Belly Up Tavern

11 July - Santa Ana, The Observatory

12 July - Los Angeles, The Troubadour

13 July - San Francisco, Slim's

15 year old Deftones video surfaces

Be quiet and drive (far away) was released in 1998 as the second single off the Deftones' second album. An acoustic version of the track was released on the various pressings of the single, and also appeared on the soundtrack to Little Nicky, and later on the Deftones' compilation album, B-Sides & Rarities.

Now, after 15 years the music video shot for the acoustic version has surfaced:

Deftones - Be Quiet and Drive remix from Frank Ockenfels on Vimeo.

This version appears to have been filmed in the same locality as the official video for the version of the song that originally appeared on Around the fur. You can watch that video here.

Chino Moreno's change of wardrobe for the acoustic version fits the overall sound and visuals of this version of Be quiet and drive (far away) extremely well. This is one of those tracks that literally gives me the chills when I hear it, and it is definitely one of my all-time-favourite Deftones songs.

Unofficial video for Deftones' Tempest

Deftones shared the following fan-made video via their various social media accounts. While it seems to have been fan-made, it has obviously gotten the band's approval.

Since the video contains mild nudity it might not be a good idea to watch this at work or school.

Win a Stephen Carpenter ESP guitar, signed by Deftones

Deftones seventh studio album, Koi No Yokan, was released today. To coincide with the release, Deftones are hosting a competition to win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP guitar. Check the following link for details. Competition runs till 16 November 2012.

I received an email to download my digital copy of the album early this morning. The zip file only contained 10 tracks. Ironically the missing track is named 'What happened to you?' I'm guessing that the file name contains a '?' so the file is incompatible with Windows. This is mildly disappointing, but it's not the first time this has happened. Many Mac users forget, or are entirely unaware, that Windows does not allow certain characters to be used in file names.

On the plus side I can still listen to the track elsewhere, and I can take solace in the fact that I have a CD, shirt and (potentially autographed) poster on the way from the States. In the meantime I'm loving the 10 tracks that I was sent, especially Tempest, Entombed and Gauze.

--Update 14/11/2012--

I emailed Deftones online customer services to let them know that the zip file only contained 10 tracks. They were very helpful and sent me another link to download the complete album. About six hours later I received a second download link from customer services. This time the email had been sent to the entire pre-order mailing list. It contained the following message,

Earlier today you received an email to download KOI NO YOKAN.  Due to a technical issue, your download did not include Track #11, "What Happened to You?".  Please click on the button below to receive the full version of KOI NO YOKAN.

I'm super impressed with the speed that the matter was dealt with and am now able to listen to the entire album, while I wait for my CD to make its way over the Atlantic Ocean.