Deftones & Weezer Bring the Heat to Crystal Palace Park [Show Review]

With the sun blazing high over Crystal Palace Park on June 19th 2025, the stage was set for what felt less like a single gig and more like a day-long celebration of contrasts. From soulful grooves to industrial grind, gritty punk, and breezy alt-rock, the support acts leading up to Deftones covered a surprising amount of ground.

At first glance, the lineup came across rather disjointed. Qendresa, HEALTH, High Vis, and Weezer don’t exactly sit in the same musical universe, but once it all unfolded, it made perfect sense. That variety gave the day a festival-like energy. Each act brought its own tone, and the warm weather gave everything a hazy, golden glow that worked especially well for Weezer’s sun-drenched set.

By the time Weezer took the stage in the early evening, the park was buzzing with good vibes and cold drinks, and their set only amplified that energy. Kicking off with “Hash Pipe”, they rolled confidently through a set full of alt-rock staples and crowd-pleasers. “My Name Is Jonas” and “Undone – The Sweater Song” had the crowd singing along in full voice, while “Island in the Sun” felt tailor-made for the golden-hour light beaming across south Londons iconic park.

They sprinkled in deeper fan favourites like “Perfect Situation”, but the biggest reactions were, understandably, reserved for “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly”, which closed the set on a high. A standout moment came during “Beverly Hills”, when frontman Rivers Cuomo cheekily tweaked the lyrics to “living in Crystal Palace” as the tune came to an end. A simple touch, but one that earned a roar of appreciation from the crowd. It was a sharply delivered set that brought just the right amount of levity and nostalgia to round off the support bill.

Make no mistake though, this was Deftones’ night. As the sun began to sink behind the trees, they took to the stage and shifted the entire mood. Opening with “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” straight into “My Own Summer (Shove It)”, they wasted no time in firing up the crowd. It was a powerful one, two punch that immediately tapped into the nostalgia of longtime fans that were there in 1997 when the now iconic Around The Fur album first dropped and changed the face of what metal music could be.

The set pulled from every corner of their discography, showcasing their evolution without leaning too heavily on any one era. Tracks like “Diamond Eyes”, “Tempest”, and “Swerve City” had a commanding presence, driven by that signature balance of melody and muscle. “Feiticeira” and “Around the Fur” brought a jolt of early-career chaos, while “You’ve Seen the Butcher” landed with a thick, sludgy groove that had the entire crowd swaying.

One of the most memorable moments came during “Sextape”. With the sky beginning to dim and the air cooling just slightly enough for the light breeze to tingle the skin, the song’s dreamy textures took on a different weight — hypnotic, immersive, and beautifully timed with the setting. In contrast, “Headup” ripped through the calm with pure aggression. Chino Moreno was relentless, pacing and shouting with the same intensity he’s carried for decades. The crowd fed off it instantly — it was a genuine peak of the night, raw and unforgettable.

Later in the set, “Hole in the Earth” and “Rosemary” added atmosphere and weight, while “Change (In the House of Flies)” offered a brooding, emotional anchor shortly before the encore. When they returned with “Minerva”, it felt like a reset – modern, sharp, and heavy in all the right places. They followed it with “Bored” and finally “7 Words”, much to the delight of roaring crowd in a collective realisation that the always popular tune had made the cut, ending the night on a feral high that left the crowd howling the last words into the night.

There was also a subtle tease of what the future holds for Deftones! Cryptic visuals flashing PRIVATE MUSIC and a date for later this year teased potential new music. No explanations, just intrigue. Classic Deftones!

Credit must be given to the organisers of the event as well. The area was perfectly sized with short walks from the stage to water, food, bathrooms and the ever-important bars ensuring that little time was going to be wasted grabbing those ever important refreshments. This is, of course, if the lines for food and drink didn’t instantly slow the overall pace of the event down. This, however, is a minor gripe given that I have yet to attend a show such as this where I can sail past a bar, grad a brew, pick up a pizza and be back in time for the next band at peak time.

Crystal Palace has seen its share of live music, but it does feel these shows are rather sparse. A real shame as south London feels under utilised for concerts such as this, so, for those of us local to the area, let us collectively will more bands to grace the beautiful grounds that is Crystal Palace park.

Deftones Setlist:

1. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
2. My Own Summer (Shove It)
3. Diamond Eyes
4. Tempest
5. Swerve City
6. Feiticeira
7. Digital Bath
8. You’ve Seen the Butcher
9. Rocket Skates
10. Sextape
11. Around the Fur
12. Headup
13. Rosemary
14. Hole in the Earth
15. Change (In the House of Flies)
16. Genesis
17. Minerva
18. Bored
19. 7 Words

Deftones Crystal Palace Show Artwork