Deftones and System of a Down: North American Tour 2025 in Toronto at Rogers Stadium

This has, unexpectedly, been the summer of nostalgia. Back in February, my friend Chelsea asked if I wanted to go see Deftones and System of a Down on tour this summer. Deftones, of course, has been one of my favourite bands since middle school. (I remember picking up a copy of White Pony at HMV when it was just released, and 25 years later, it remains one of my favourite albums of all time.) And while I'm not as huge of a fan of System of a Down, Toxicity was one of my most listened-to albums in high school. So I obviously agreed to go.

Deftones at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
Deftones at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
Deftones at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
Deftones at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
Deftones Set List:

1. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
2. My Own Summer (Shove It)
3. My Mind is a Mountain
4. Tempest
5. Swerve City
6. Digital Bath
7. Rocket Skates
8. Milk of the Madonna
9. Sextape
10. You've Seen the Butcher
11. Entombed
12. Hole in the Earth
13. Change (In the House of Flies)
14. Infinite Source
15. Genesis
16. Minerva
17. Engine No. 9
18. 7 Words

System of a Down at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
System of a Down at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
System of a Down at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
System of a Down at Rogers Stadium, Toronto
System of a Down Set List:

1. X
2. Suite-Pee
3. Prison Song
4. Violent Pornography
5. Soldier Side - Intro
6. B.Y.O.B.
7. Science
8. Needles
9. Deer Dance
10. Radio/Video
11. Dreaming [Breakdown]
12. Hypnotize
13. ATWA
14. Bounce
15. Suggestions
16. Psycho
17. Chop Suey!
18. Lonely Day
19. Lost in Hollywood
20. Snowblind [Black Sabbath cover]
21. Aerials
22. Forest
23. Cigaro
24. Toxicity
25. Sugar

Oh. My. God. Both of these bands have been around for over 30 years which means they are now all in their 50s, and they STILL put on a fucking insane concert. (And they all have more energy than I do.) Both Deftones and SOAD had amazing setlists last night (they played two concerts in Toronto, but actually had different setlists for each day). They were fairly well-rounded, with songs spanning all albums. (Of course, SOAD hasn't come out with an album since 2005, so it was really between old songs and even older songs.) I guess after 30+ years of performing, they know what their fans want to hear.

I've seen Deftones several times in the last 25 years, but this was actually the first time I'd seen System of a Down live — and holy shit, these guys fucking BRING IT. I would never have been able to tell that they were on hiatus for so long. (Everybody's going to the party to have a real good time, indeed!) 50,000 fans just screaming along to every single fucking word of every single song. It was honestly a sight (and sound) to behold. I had more fun than I thought I would, to be honest. I went for the sake of nostalgia and we had the shittiest seats ever, but I ended up dancing and head-banging like I was 20 years younger than I actually am. 

That having been said, Rogers Stadium is perhaps the WORST VENUE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. Not to be mistaken for Rogers Centre, Rogers Stadium is the new 50,000-capacity stadium that was built at Downsview Park and just opened up in June. Never mind that I had to drive to the new Highway 407 subway station just to discover that the parking lot was absolutely full to the brim (to the point where people made their own parking spaces in the surrounding grass areas) so I had to drive even further to Pioneer Village subway station because I wasn't gonna risk getting towed. Never mind that after finding parking and getting to Downsview Park station, we still had to walk another 15 minutes to the actual stadium. Never mind that there are no real bathrooms at Rogers Stadium and only portable toilets. (A real fucking nightmare for a germaphobe like me, who also takes medications that are diuretics so I have to pee every fucking hour.) 

Never mind that our seats were so fucking high up that the people on stage looked as small as ants. (NOTE: THERE IS NO LOWER BOWL SEATING AT ROGERS STADIUM. 100 sections at Rogers Stadium are all the seated sections that is NOT FLOOR. So basically, the view is like 300 - 400 levels at any other stadium. We did not know this when buying tickets BECAUSE ROGERS STADIUM WAS NOT BUILT YET and therefore there was no reference for size or distance.) Never mind that our absolutely terrible seats were $200 CAD PER TICKET. I get that it's temporary (it will be demolished after 5 years), but this shitty fucking stadium — that was built as fast and cheap as possible — has the WORST ACOUSTICS EVER. Not sure if this is only for heavy rock music, but there is a GOD-AWFUL reverb — at least when sitting in the 100 sections — that is honestly insulting to anyone playing there. So, unless it's your favourite artist of all time playing there, it is absolutely not worth coming here for a concert. 

(I sincerely hope that if Toronto is a stop on BTS' next world tour, they avoid Rogers Stadium AT ALL COSTS.)

Taking Back Sunday and Coheed and Cambria: North American Tour 2025 in Toronto at Budweiser Stage

A few months ago, I was hanging out with Chelsea and Braden and we were talking about all the music we listened to in high school. All three of us — born in different years and totally different areas of Toronto, mind you — were emo kids, so naturally, both Taking Back Sunday and Coheed and Cambria came up in our conversation. I hadn't seen or really listened to either of these bands since the late 2000s, and I wondered if they were still performing live. And that's when we found out they were actually on tour. Together. And coming to Toronto. So we had to get tickets, even just for the sake of nostalgia. And we finally got to see them last night:

Taking Back Sunday at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Taking Back Sunday at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Taking Back Sunday at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Taking Back Sunday at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Taking Back Sunday Set List:

1. A Decade Under the Influence
2. What's It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?
3. S'Old
4. Error: Operator
5. Set Phasers to Stun
6. The One
7. Liar (It Takes One to Know One)
8. Amphetamine Smiles
9. You're So Last Summer
10. My Blue Heaven
11. Timberwolves at New Jersey
12. You Can't Look Back
13. This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)
14. Flicker, Fade
15. Cute Without the 'E' (Cut From the Team)
16. MakeDamnSure

The last Taking Back Sunday album I actually listened to was New Again, which came out in 2009, so fortunately I recognized the majority of the songs from their setlist. (The last time I saw them live was in 2003 at Kool Haus with Saves the Day and Moneen, and I still remember I thought that was one of the best live rock shows I'd ever been to. I still think that.) Despite some changes in their band lineup, they still play with that infectious energy that I loved so much over 20 years ago.

Coheed and Cambria at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Coheed and Cambria at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Coheed and Cambria at Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Coheed and Cambria at Budweiser Stage, Toronto

Coheed and Cambria Set List:

1. Goodbye, Sunshine
2. Shoulders
3. Blood Red Summer
4. Blind Side Sonny
5. Everything Evil
6. Number City
7. The Suffering
8. Searching for Tomorrow
9. The Continuum II: The Flood
10. A Favor House Atlantic
11. The Liars Club
12. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
13. Mr. Brightside (The Killers cover)
14. Welcome Home

The last Coheed and Cambria album I listened to was Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1, which came out in 2005. (I did, however, see them at Riot Fest in 2015, so way more recently than Taking Back Sunday.) I recognized even less of the songs on their setlist, maybe four or five at most, and their music is way more metal than post-hardcore now, but my god, they sound phenomenal live — just like on their records, but with some crazy guitar ad libs thrown in. (Of course, Claudio Sanchez also has one of the most unique voices in the music industry, so I'll always know when a Coheed song is playing regardless if I know the song or not.)

Despite ending with pouring rain (Budweiser Stage is a covered outdoor venue, but it was raining so hard that the venue management asked Coheed and Cambria to shorten their setlist by two songs so everyone could get out safely), it really was an incredible concert. It's crazy to think that it's been over 20 years since I first listened to them. I guess you can take the kid out of the scene, but you can't take the scene out of the kid…

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Finally got to see Jin at the last date of the North American Leg of his #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark yesterday! Aside from Jin performing his songs, I actually didn't know what to expect from a tour that's based on Run Jin — his variety show that's full of shenanigans — because I purposely kept myself from watching tour footage beforehand so as not to spoil the experience. But it was surprisingly interactive, with random audience participance games in between songs, and HILARIOUS. (Him trying to guess "Orange Suit Guy" with all of us pointing to an ARMY in the 300 sections wearing a full-on orange dinosaur suit will forever be a highlight.) And considering this tour doesn't include choreography or backup dancers, I thought he commanded the stage exceptionally well on his own. His setlist was well-rounded and included the majority of his solo songs across Happy and Echo, as well "Super Tuna" (of course), and a medley of BTS songs:

1. Running Wild
2. I'll Be There
3. With the Clouds
4. Falling
5. Don't Say You Love Me
6. Super Tuna
7. I Will Come to You
8. Abyss
9. Background
10. Another Level
11. Loser 
12. Rope It
13. BTS Medley: Dynamite
14. BTS Medley: Butter
15. BTS Medley: Mikrokosmos
16. Spring Day
17. The Astronaut
18. Nothing Without Your Love
19. Epiphany
20. Moon
21. To Me, Today

I managed to get us Soundcheck VIP Packages for this concert, so we also had the pleasure of watching him perform "Running Wild," "Another Level," and "Super Tuna" during soundcheck. Despite having had to line up in a thunderstorm with pouring rain all afternoon (thank god I checked the forecast beforehand and packed an umbrella) and not being able to leave Prudential Center for nearly seven hours (as a smoker, this is kind of a nightmare), I thought this concert was absolutely worth flying to Newark for. (As you can imagine, there are some worries about going over to the US right now.)

As usual, I will be uploading reels of every single stage from this concert on my Instagram. (Lest you think I'm not enjoying the concert in real-time, I usually film about a minute of each song and then sing along and dance and wave my ARMY Bomb with everyone else.) Just waiting for the official announcement of the OT7 world tour now. (And the ticketing blood bath that will ensue.) Unless another surprise solo tour is coming...

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn at Barclays Center — Day 1

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1

Yesterday was the first date of the North American leg of J-Hope's Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn (sadly, the only day of the tour that I got tickets to). It was a flawless concert with an absolutely loaded set list that included old classics ("1 VERSE"), new favourites (the world premiere of his unreleased new single, "Mona Lisa"), songs across his entire solo discography, and a select few BTS bangers: 

1. What If…
2. Pandora's Box
3. Arson
4. STOP
5. MORE
6. On the Street
7. Lock / Unlock
8. I Don't Know
9. I Wonder…
10. Trivia: Just Dance
11. Sweet Dreams
12. MONA LISA (World Premiere)
13. 1 VERSE
14. Base Line
15. HANGSANG
16. Airplane
17. Airplane, Pt. 2
18. MIC Drop
19. Silver Spoon (Baepsae)
20. Dis-ease
21. Outro: Ego
22. Daydream
23. Chicken Noodle Soup
24. Hope World
25. = (Equal Sign)
26. Future
27. NEURON

Tens of thousands of ARMYs from all over showed up (let's not talk about the insane line-ups) and proved why we are still the biggest and baddest fandom in the world. The crowd was electric, just pure energy. I am so, so, so glad I got tickets to this concert (and lower bowl seats, at that!). It was entirely worth flying to NYC for only one day. 

(I've uploaded about one minute-long reels of almost every performance from this concert on my Instagram, in case you're interested. And so I can re-live this show until the next OT7 concert.)

Jungkook — GOLDEN Live on Stage

(Photo source: BTS Official Twitter)
(Photo source: BTS Official Twitter)
(Photo source: BTS Official Twitter)
(Photo source: BTS Official Twitter)

1. Standing Next to You
2. Yes or No
3. Somebody
4. Closer to You
5. 3D
6. GCF in Budapest
7. Hate You
8. Shot Glass of Tears
9. Too Sad to Dance
10. Please Don't Change
11. Seven
12. Magic Shop
13. Still With You

Ooof, well worth waking up early for. Each song sounded amazing live, but the one that surprised me the most was "Somebody," which was actually one of my least favourite songs when I first heard it and is now one of my Top 5 on GOLDEN. (I initially thought there was too much voice manipulation on the recording to make his voice sound that deep, but that is his actual voice. It's incredible. He can literally make himself sound like a completely different singer.) I also thought he'd go with "Euphoria" for his encore, but he chose "Magic Shop" which immediately brought back memories of their Love Yourself and Speak Yourself tours, and I found myself starting to tear up out of sheer nostalgia. (God, I can't wait until 2025.) "Still With You" was the perfect song to end with — not just because she showcases his incredible vocals on it, but for the sentiment and the fact that he wrote this song specifically for ARMY. He could easily go on a world tour if he added some of his BTS solo songs and I would pay an exorbitant amount of money for those tickets.