by kwiltshire@lineone.net

Hi-just thought I'd introduce myself with a review of deftones' London Forum gig last night. I've been a fan for a while but never seen them live before so it was an extra special night for me. This was the concert to "make it up to" us English fans for Limp Bizkit's cancellation at Milton Keynes.

You can tell the band weren't impressed by the cancellation either. After the first number a bleached blond Chino starts limping and playing up, holding his back "I'm not sure I can sing". He and Chi apologised for the cancellation of Milton Keynes and the crowd sets up a chant of "Fuck Fred Durst", after which Chino says with Bart Simpsonly innocence "I didn't say nothing".

Later he says (after a brief chorus of nookie) "actually you know he really is hurt" which elicited the hugest sarcastic collective "yeah" I've ever heard. Chino himself had his forefinger in a bandage having cut it off the night before and having to have it sown back on again (??).

The set included (not in order) bored, nosebleed, 7 words, birthmark, engine no. 9, my own summer, around the fur, bqad, lotion, head up, damone, feticeira, korea and change, plus a bit of nookie and teclos. They were on for an hour and a half. About 30 minutes was chat and mucking about - Chino and Chi in excellent if very drunk moods, highlights were many: Chino climbing on to the balcony (there are no barriers at the Forum so lots of crowd interaction was going on) and getting stuck and having to sing from up there. Also some girl threw a pair of panties on the stage which Chino then put on and gave to the winner of his drinking competition … Also he invited a guy on stage wearing a deftones t-shirt from their first ever English tour and started reminiscing about their early days … Chino talking about his favourite toys … Chino excusing himself for being so drunk he didn't know what he was saying: "everybody says Chino doesn't make sense when he's drunk" … Lots about Chino I know but well he was just so in your face and the rest of the band (excepting Chi who was having bad voice problems) just let him get on with it. Awesome.

Loads of moshing, crowd surfing going on but security were pretty relaxed-more concerned about stopping Chino launching himself all over the place, so it all made for a really great atmosphere. So it wasn't technically brilliant. Problems with Chi's bass and Chino's "severed" finger meant he only played guitar once (Change) and they skipped a couple of songs. But then you buy albums for technical brilliance. You go live for the experience. This was definitely an experience and I won't forget it. Got tickets for Detroit-please let it be this good.