Deftones, Gojira & Poppy at Isleta Amphitheater

Formed in Sacramento, California in 1988, Deftones led the way in creating a new sound in alternative metal – combining disperate influences like shoegaze, dream pop and hardcore punk to create a melancholy, experimental sound that earned them the moniker "The Radiohead of Metal". It took a while for the group to settle upon a steady line-up, but once it did, it built up an avid fanbase by adhering to a gruelling touring schedule and the band's debut album, Adrenaline, eventually sold over 220,000 copies. By the time the group's follow-up, Around The Fur, was released in 1999, the band was well known among the alt-metal scene and the album was eagerly anticipated. When it arrived, the band had two hit singles with "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)". White Pony (2000) was critically acclaimed and reached number 3 on the Billboard 200, as well as launching the single "Change (In the House of Flies)," which reached number 3 on the Alternative Songs chart, and the song "Elite," which won the 2001 Grammy Award-winning track for Best Metal Performance. To date, Deftones has released eight studio albums to date, five of which have charted in the top five of the Billboard 200.