Melding Darkness with Romance: Recapping Crosses 'Familiar World Tour' in Toronto
Photo: Steve St. Jean
For the first time in a decade, ††† (Crosses), comprised of Deftones' frontman Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, brought their first proper tour to Toronto. The duo's Familiar World Tour made its way to History on February 16th, 2024, supporting their sophomore LP, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love You, Delete.
The show started with Sacramento's DJ Crook, whose electrifying set blended tracks from Lil Yachty to Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw), catering to fans across various musical spectrums. The danceable ambiance set the stage for what was to come, and I couldn't have been more stoked to catch a Crosses show finally.
As anticipation built in between sets, the lights dimmed, followed by the unveiling of Crosses' now iconic logo at center stage, igniting Chino chants and general excitement for the show to come. As fog bellowed across the stage, Shaun Lopez took position on a raised platform center stage with midi keyboards and synths flanking each side of him on aesthetically pleasing pedestals. Chino was next out, draped in all-black attire, walking to one of three raised platforms at the edge of the stage. They kicked off the show with "Invisible Hand," one of the biggest tracks off their latest album, paired with abstract visuals on digital screens that lined the back of the stage. Like a Deftones show, Chino was in constant motion as he skipped and jumped from platform to platform. He was entrenched in darkness with minimal lighting, giving him a moody and mysterious vibe. At the same time, Shaun Lopez effortlessly performed backlit in front of the three crosses, showcasing his guitar work. He occasionally jumped down from his post to traverse the platforms like Chino, towering over the fans for dramatic appeal.
Crosses melded darkness with romance as they performed tracks across their discography, including the hauntingly beautiful "Initiation" and "Ghost Ride" off their latest release. On top of hearing new tracks, the duo didn't disappoint as they dipped into fan favourites from their self-titled debut, such as "†he Epilogue," "†elepa†hy," and "Op†ion." Crosses shone brightly through the darkness with impeccable sound and a performance well worth the wait despite the lacklustre, stagnant crowd (wtf Toronto!).
As the final notes faded into the night, I couldn't help but feel that Crosses had delivered an unforgettable performance as the energy continued to pulsate through the venue, even as the crowd trickled out.
For anyone who missed this show, check out all the concert photos from their Toronto show below:
CONCERT PHOTOS
CROSSES
CROSSES SETLIST:
Invisible Hand
†his Is a †rick
Ghost Ride
Pleasure
Initiation
Vivien
Found
Pulseplagg
Sensation
Holier
Protection
Eraser
†he Epilogue
†hholyghs†
Bi†ches Brew
Big Youth
Encore:
†elepa†hy
Op†ion
Relive ††† (Crosses) set with the playlist below:
Photography by: Steve St. Jean