I apologize that this is so long overdue. I wanted to wait until I had time to do it justice. Never really "reviewed" anything before, but I'm giving it a shot. Here goes..
I traveled to Buffalo, NY with my brother and a friend to see the Foo Fighters live at the First Niagra Center on 9/25/2011. A little band called Rise Against opened - check them out if you haven't already. I became a fan after seeing them live - quality rock music with a different sound. Truly original and talented.
Moving on to the main event...
After the opening song, Dave Grohl addressed the audience. This is a direct quote:
"We've been a band for a long fucking time, and we've got a lot of fucking songs ... you wanna hear 'em all? (crowd goes nuts) It's gonna be a loooong fucking night!"
At this point I knew the night was going to be epic.
Here's the setlist:
Bridge Burning
Rope
The Pretender
My Hero
Learn To Fly
White Limo
Arlandria
Breakout
Cold Day In The Sun
Stacked Actors
Walk
Monkey Wrench
Let It Die
These Days
Skin & Bones (With Krist Novoselic)
This Is A Call
In The Flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
All My Life
Encore:
Long Road To Ruin
Best Of You
Times Like These
Dear Rosemary
Breakdown (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers cover)
Everlong
Yes, you read it right. That is a twenty-four song deep setlist.
I'm including a couple of videos - they were taken with my andriod so the audio isn't great, but it will give you the idea. I have better ones coming from a video camera, I'll post them when I have them edited.
Bridge Burning was an awesome start - crazy guitar, drums and all around energy. Dave puts all other lead singers to shame with his stage presence.
Rope, amazing ... "Choke! on a kiss, I thought I'd save my breath for you ...... gimme some rope, I'm coming loose, I'm pulling for you now / Gimme some rope I'm coming out of my head, into the clear / when you, go, I come loose ... " I stand by my statement that "Wasting Light" is the best album they've done to date.
The Pretender - I get chills every time I hear that song, and it did not disappoint live. Ever heard 20,000 people screaming like the world was about to end? Go to a Foo show. It will blow your mind. "I'm the face you have to face, mirrored in your stare..."
Tyler was already shirtless and sweating bullets at this point, three songs in. Dave poked fun at him during a short break when he grabbed a towel and buried his face in it. "You need a tissue? It's gonna be alright, Tyler. Let it out." If you don't already know, these guys have an incredible sense of humor. They are the total package. Non-stop entertainment.
My Hero - goes without saying. One of the best songs in Rock & Roll.
Learn To Fly was excellent, one of the more "calm" songs they performed. "We'll live happily ever trapped if you just save my life ... run and tell the angels that everything's alright ..."
White Limo was incredible, goes almost without saying. Only thing missing was Lemmy on stage. "Now if you don't care / Take a ride somewhere .."
Arlandria. This song deserves special mention. In my opinion, this was one of the highlights of the performance. "Come on hear me out ... " The guitar starting here, heard live, was a religious experience. I think I saw Jesus when Dave hit the notes that start at 1:21 on the record version. Brilliant. Chills, excitement, awe, wonder, you name it, I felt it during this song. "Use me up, spit me out / Lemme be your hand-me-down ..." this performance alone cemented the group into my top three favorite bands forever.
At this point of the show they went old school with Breakout ... the crowd enjoyed it. Cold Day In The Sun was great to hear live, more of a classic rock/ country feel. If you haven't heard it, it's available on "Skin & Bones" - the acoustic live album. "I think it's time you walked this lonely road all on your own / it's your cold day in the sun.."
Stacked Actors was expected, and extended, as usual. Still an excellent live song, and I suspect it always will be. "you're just another aging drag queen ... " amazing.
Walk. I know I am repeating myself, but this new music is incredible. I can't say it enough. It's even better live, if that's possible.
Dave and Chris Shiflett had a guitar solo competition at this point .... crazy good.
Here's some of it:
Monkey Wrench, Let It Die, These Days ... all incredible. The entire stadium shook with our voices screaming "ONE OF THESE DAYS, I bet your heart will be broken, I bet your pride will be stolen, I bet I bet I BET I BET ..."
Krist Novoselic - the original bassist for Nirvana - made an appearance on Skin & Bones. He was well received. If you don't know already, this show took place on the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind." Dave only made one comment about it: "This is a very special show tonight, but you don't need to worry about why..." Krist also recorded the bass on "I Should Have Known" on Wasting Light. If nothing before this has convinced you to buy this album, that in itself should.
This Is A Call ... another classic.
Their cover of Pink Floyd's "In The Flesh" was incredible. They played it a few days later on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, with Roger Waters himself. Check out the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tout_z3Yrs
All My Life is a perfect end to a set. Fortunately for us, we had another 35 minutes of encore to go ...
During the break, lights were down, and up on the big screen came up a video of Dave and Tyler on a night vision camera...
They were playing games with the crowd, and Dave was putting up fingers ... one, two, three .. the higher the numbers, the louder the stadium got. He made a guesture as if to say "fuck it" and walked off camera - everyone booed. He promptly flipped us off. LOL ... then he put up six fingers, and you could feel the ground vibrating from the screaming and pounding of the crowd.
Lights came up and Dave was here ... right in front of me.
I like to think he was looking right at me in this one ... it certainly felt that way :-)
Long Road to Ruin ... crazy. "Runnin though hell, heaven can wait.." There was a couple up in the nosebleed cheap seats, each wearing a white t-shirt with a big "F" in the Foo Fighters font on it. Could see them dancing together from where I was. Awesome moment.
Dave continued solo acoustic through Best of You and half of Times Like These. Right about at "I'm a new day risin .." the entire band joined in.
Dear Rosemary ... another religious experience.
Breakdown cover was flawless.
Everlong was a fitting conclusion to three hours of live performance.
How many bands have you seen play a six song encore?
This concert was
hands down the best show I have ever been to, and I have seen hundreds of bands live. This show sold out, with good reason. The Foo Fighters deliver.
If they're coming to your town, buy a ticket. It will be the best $40 you ever spend.
http://www.foofighters.com/us/tour
Cheers everyone. Much love.
