Review of the Foo Fighters, Live on 9/25/2011

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.

restless moonlight

went for a walk in the dark of night tonight
the moon was smiling, all was neatly quiet.
Didn't intend to go exploring, but so it was.

I thought of you.
Haven't in a while.

I know I cross your mind from time to time.
Good intentions know no struggle with distance.

Sometimes the lonely gets the best of me. I wonder, when it does, if it will be this way forever.
I'm quite difficult, you know. Intimidating, hard to handle, stubborn, take your pick.
I may be tough, but so help me God, I will never settle again. It's all or nothing, baby. Get in, buckle up & hang on or get the fuck out of my way.
Maybe if you're special enough, I'll let you drive.
That is, if you can handle an american six speed with a tricky clutch. ;)

Reflections

Went to Incubus on 9/9/11. Here's the setlist:


Megalomaniac
Wish You Were Here
Adolescents
Anna Molly
Promises, Promises
If Not Now, When?
Privilege
Consequence
Are You In? [Rider's on the Storm snippet]
Vitamin
In the Company of Wolves
Defiance
Paper Shoes [Acoustic]
The Warmth
A Crow Left of the Murder
Dig
Drive
Switchblade
Nice to Know You


Encore:
Pardon Me
Tomorrow's Food


Young The Giant opened for them. Good band ... check them out.


This concert was incredible. 2 hours of live Incubus music, and I love the tribute to The Doors. I recorded "Dig" on video, I will post it soon, as well as all the pics. Brandon Boyd is a lovely male specimen, let me tell you. He now adorns my desktop, shirtless and crooning.

They've been a band for 20 years. I felt pretty old after Brandon mentioned that little tidbit. lol


All in all, I have plenty of music to keep me company in 3eb's absence. Going to see Rise Against open for the Foo Fighters next weekend. Goo Goo Dolls in October, and so far Tori Amos is closing out the year for me. I'm sure I'll add more as the season progresses.


I've been restless these last couple of days. I feel the balance in my life shifting .. or rather, disappearing. Too much work, not enough yoga. Or sex. Or something. Anything, really, besides this  hectic summer realm I've been living in.


Fall is here, my friends. My time to shine. Let's hope I see my reflection looking back at me in the mirror ... else I may have turned to the dark after all.

just another obstacle, I suppose

While checking my email yesterday I saw an article on Yahoo about skin cancer risks, self examination, and other information. I decided to check myself out since redheads with a lot of freckles are at a higher risk of getting it than others.

Much to my dismay, I found this spot in the center of my back that's just a bit smaller than a dime. I don't remember it being there at all, at least not this big and raised up like a bump. I had my Mom take a picture of it because I can't see it well in the mirror.

My doctor tells me that he's almost 100% sure it's melanoma.

Great.

I have three other dark spots he wants to have checked, too.
I kind of knew this day would come, but I didn't think it would be this soon. At least it's treatable.

This is the article I read. You should too.

If I hadn't read it, who knows how long this little bump would have gone unnoticed.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/would-you-know-skin-cancer-if-you-saw-it-2537445/#photoViewer=1

sleepless night

I'm sitting in my room at the computer, stressed the fuck out.
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. this woman's name is Irene, and she's irate.
I can't sleep. I know my family is prepared - I made sure of that. I, however, am not in such good shape.
I don't have a generator (note to self - add to Christmas list) and this is my first time in my own house with my own trees to worry about coming through the windows or roof and other such nonsense.
New England wasn't built for 100 mph winds.
I have a few things left to pick up tomorrow, then it will be time to batten down the hatches.
I'm so glad I bought a sturdy house with a big, safe basement that sits up on a big hill away from flood zones.
So many people are saying it will be nothing... I have such a bad feeling they are wrong.
I really hope I'm the one who's wrong.

I could really use a cigarette or two right now. Too bad I quit last year.

Bugger.

Indian Summer

Nothing makes me happier than a cool breeze on a warm Indian summer night.

I want to run around barefoot and freezing

dreaming of the promise that life always holds

whispering to my best friend, maybe grabbing his hand

and pulling him along into a haphazard dance.

thirty

My birthday is next Wednesday. I'm turning the dreaded thirty. I don't know why this age is bothering me so much, but it's terrifying. Everyone I speak to tells me they had a hard time with it, too, although once it was over it wasn't as much of a big deal as they thought it would be. Why, then, is my rational mind having such a hard time coming to terms with this age?

I sit here, in a house I bought all on my own, with a well adjusted life, and wonder what the hell I'm so upset about. I should be happy, proud, and satisfied, but somehow I'm still afraid of missing something.

I see my friends running around in their hectic, expensive lives where taking a shower is a luxury and wonder if that's the kind of life I still want: married, 2.5 kids, white picket fence and a golden retriever chasing a cat around the yard. When I was young, up until I met Sean, I always said I didn't want kids, didn't want to get married. I didn't think my personality fit into that lifestyle. Suddenly being with him, everything changed. I had dreams of us living together, him talking to the child in my womb, taking care of me. Looking back now, I see how much of myself I changed to maintain that relationship. It really is amazing what a woman will do to keep up appearances - even one as independent and strong willed as I.

The funniest thing of all is that I didn't even know I was changing. I was slowly boiling in a pot on steadily increasing heat; the temperature never went up enough at once to warn me away, and one day I woke up dead.

I know I don't want to go through that hell again. What could have been the best years of my life instead turned out to be a horrific, painful waste of time. Youth truly is wasted on the young; if only we could all be Benjamin Button.

My doctor told me last week that I have "come so far in the last two and a half years" since I sat on his table crying dry tears and ready for death. I am clear headed now, and I am as happy as I can be in my constant drug-numbed state; so much so that he tells me I don't need the drugs anymore. I am "cured." I never wanted to take them to begin with, but I needed help then. I wonder what life will be like as "me" again. Will I be the "me" that loves quiet, solitary moments and never wanted kids or commitments, or will I be the "me" that doesn't want to be alone? It's an interesting trip I'm on, I'll tell you.

Maybe I just told myself I wanted the expensive, hectic version of the "american dream" because that's what he wanted. Say something often enough, eventually you will start to believe it. The rational me knows that I have an incredible life that many others say they envy - I come and go as I please, I don't answer to anyone other than my dog, I make more than the average american - enough to afford a house, a car and other luxuries comfortably. I love my job, have a loving (if dysfunctional) family and I have many friends that love me. Rationally, I know that I have enough, but it's a constant battle. I don't know why I have to keep reminding myself of all the good things in life.

Rationality doesn't always win, despite what others say.