Hello likees & likettes, here's a special edition of Rossylikes because i've just got back from an awesome gig watching the one and only Foo Fighters and I feel compelled to write about it.
I've loved the Foos and Dave Grohl's other band before that since I was a young lad. I attribute my brother making me listen to Nevermind when I was 12 as a true musical awakening experience (like doubtless many others - I know it's a fucking cliche, but cliches are cliches cos they happen a lot alright!). When the Foo's burst onto the scene in the nineties, I always admired the fact that Grohl never wanted to cash in on his former glories, even though it was pretty inevitable that people would probably listen to them due to the Nirvana connection. He had actually planned to use the Foo Fighters name to release songs anonymously when he first conceived the project, and refused to do interviews to promote the first album. He must have known that sort of shit can only take you so far, and it's a fair credit to the Foo Fighters that they have built a rather excellent body of work in their own right, and are probably one of the biggest international bands in the world today. A few years ago, the band played Hyde Park. After that they played Wembley Stadium. The next step - Milton Keynes?!?!?!?!?
70,000 Foo Fighters fans cant be wrong
Okay so MK might not be the most obvious place for a major rock concert, but having spent yesterday at the Milton Keynes Bowl, I have to say it is an excellent place for a concert. A purpose built hill that curves into a (you guessed it) bowl, with the stage in the erm, center, it provides excellent views for everyone around. It was a fucking nightmare getting out of there but I guess that's what happens when you get 70,000 people in one place. Yeah, 70,000 people is a lot of people, this is probably the largest non-festival gig i've ever been to, i'm normally not one for massive shows cos I like my small intimate gigs and festivals (like YNot!). So this was definitely a new experience for me, but one I really enjoyed. The circumstances of me going was a little bit odd - having intially passed up the chance to go when the tckets went on sale, my friend posted on the book of face that she had a spare ticket. Having just been paid and desperately wanting to see them, I jumped at the chance, and at this point I would like to truly thank Miss Chloe Brammer for being an awesome companion for the day ( not to mention a brilliant friend).
Chloe & I
So. The bands. First up were Tame Impala. I've listened to their album a bit, so I was kind of looking forward to hearing them live, but it was just a warm up set so they came on and played for 20 mins and left, not exactly awe inspiring. I would still recommend their album, and maybe go see them properly at a gig, but if yesterday was all I had to go on I wouldn't be chasing them up anytime soon.
Death Cab... in all their melancholy glory
Next were Death Cab for Cutie - again, not awe inspiring but a lot more interesting than Tame Impala. Both bands seemed an odd fit for such a hard rocking band as the Foos in all truth (although Jimmy Eat World were playing the next day, they seemed to fit more but I guess there was scheduling conflicts or some stuff like that... who knows) but I really like them and really enjoyed their set and particularly enjoyed "I will possess your heart", one of my favourite tracks of theirs.
zzzzzzzz......
Then came Biffy Clyro..... I'll not go too deep into this, all I'll say is that Biffy's recent popularity and acclaim really comes at a point when I think think their music has taken a steep downturn in quality and credibility. They're very good at what they do now with their anthemic choruses and catchy songs... I'm just not feeling it too much. I kinda hoped seeing them live might get me into the Biffy groove (like seeing The Gaslight Anthem did for me at Latitude 2009) but it didn't at all, and when they played Many of Horror I felt like falling asleep there and then. Overrated.
That aside, onto the main event.....
Hand up - who wants to touch me?
First song was the opening track from Wasting Light, Bridge Burning followed by track 2 Rope. As an opening salvo this was every bit as bombastic as it sounds on the album, with everyone singing along it felt like an incredible start to the set. The main set was largely organised as a couple songs from the new album followed by 3-4 "hits". Dave was a consumate showman, constantly runnig up and down the gangway in the middle of the stage to rock out with all the fans. A third of the way into the set they introduced their good friend Roger Taylor from Queen (legend!) who played drums while Taylor had a jolly out onto center stage to sing Cold Day In The Sun.
Three singing drummers on stage at the same time!
Dave prompted a mass sing along to Best Of You, one of my favourite songs, and this was probably one of the best moments of the entire night. After "ending" the song, the crowd carried on humming the bridge of the song before the band kicked back in for the final chorus. Even after that everyone was humming it, which I think was probably endearing to the band but they also wanted to get on - "We have got other songs you know", teased Dave. After the high energy of Monkey Wrench and One by one, the band went off for a breather and Dave came back onstage to play a solo rendition of Wheels, again prompting the crowd to bring in their own backing vocals. He then half played Times Like These before the band kicked in to play the rest of the song.
Yes, there is a band behind you Dave
The final guest of the night...... Alice. Fucking. Cooper! They really do have friends in high places..... Alice came on and sang two songs including, inevitably, Schools Out. A really magic moment and something you that only really happens at gigs like these.
Alice & Dave rocking out
Finally, the song that must be the inevitable final song of every Foos set, Everlong. Beautiful in every way, although due to travelling restrictions I was on my way out at this point, I still heard most of it and saw the spectacular fireworks. And so, that was that. It was a bit of a mare getting home, but who cares - I'd go on the next day if I could afford it. My only disappointment of the night was their failure to play DOA, which I don't think have gone amiss, but it isn't one of their most popular songs so who cares really. My favourite part of the night was watching Pat Smear, a man who has toured the world and even played as a touring guitarist with Nirvana during their prime, yet still carried an expression of boyhood wonder throughout the entire show. A truly awesome guy.
To anyone looking to invest in the Foo Fighters' next big gig experience, just remember, Rossylikes!
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