Concert Review with PHOTOS: Foo Fighters
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Photos by Matt Henry
By Ben Doy
Artist: Foo Fighters
Date / Venue: Saturday February 3rd, 2018 - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
What a difference a a week makes! A weekend earlier Auckland was baking in 30 degree sunny weather. A comment was passed... "I hope it's like this for the Foo Fighters show next week". It didn't quite turn out like it.
Halfway to Mt Smart Stadium in the Uber, the heavens opened. By the time we discovered our seats we were like drowned rats, with no let up from the rain. However, we timed it perfectly as Weezer had just hit the stage and started the set off with 'Surf Wax America'. I've seen Weezer a couple of times over the years now and they never seem to disappoint. With their catchy songs and quirky stage presence, they are definitely the nice guys of rock.
After performing hits 'My Name Is Jonas', 'Undone - The Sweater Song' and 'Happy Hour', frontman Rivers Cuomo thanked the Foo Fighters for letting them tour with them and explained that their next tour would be with The Pixies. In honour of that they launched into The Pixies hit 'Where Is My Mind?'.
The rollicking 'Hash Pipe' followed next, and Weezer finished off their set with 'Beverly Hills', 'Buddy Holly', 'Say It Ain't So' and 'Island In The Sun'.
Now it was time for the main event. The rain eased off a little when Foo Fighters first came to the stage - and they started with a bang straight into 'Run'. Full of beans and energy, they had the wet crowd in the palm of their hand, as we were treated to some of the biggest hits early up including 'All My Life', 'Learn To Fly', and 'The Pretender'. A spectacular rainbow appeared behind the grandstand at Mt Smart, with the sun trying to make a last ditch appearance before night time hit... although unfortunately it wasn't to be.
'The Sky Is A Neighbourhood', one of the Foo's later songs was next and got a great reaction from the crowd. It's refreshing to see that when a band has been around for 24 years, the new songs are appreciated just as much as the older hits. And talking about hits, that is just the thing with a Foo Fighters show, every song is a hit! Heading down through the list - 'My Hero', 'These Days', 'Walk' and 'Breakout'.
Dave Grohl then took time to introduce everyone in the band. Guitarist Chris Shiflett shone with amazing guitar licks and vocals on the Alice Cooper cover 'Under My Wheels'. Bassist Nate Mendel got some funky bass lines in with Queen's 'Another One Bites The Dust' and Duran Duran's 'Rio'. Guitarist Pat Smear let us experience some of The Ramone's 'Blitzkrieg Bop', and keyboardist Rami Jaffee showed off some of his piano skills. Then of course it was time for drummer Taylor Hawkins, but this time not from behind the kit. Hawkins headed out front and centre to the stage, while Grohl sat behind the drums for a version of Queen & David Bowie's 'Under Pressure'. Then we're back into the Foo Fighter classics again with 'Monkey Wrench'.
Rivers Cuomo from Weezer was welcomed back to the stage by Grohl, and was invited to perform the Kiss song 'Detroit Rock City'. Cuomo was genuinely having a good time and enjoying himself on what was the last night of the Foo Fighters tour.
The Foos finished the set with 'Big Me' and 'Best Of You'. It was now time for the inevitable encore... which seemed to take an age, especially for all the cold, damp, wet and a little confused punters. After what seemed about 10 minutes the screens came on and showed us Dave and Taylor backstage, teasing us for an encore. And what an encore 'Times Like These', 'This Is a Call, 'Wheels' and finally finishing with 'Everlong'.
Foo Fighters never disappoint. Dave Grohl is a natural showman, and there is no doubt he loves what he does. Undoubtably one of the greatest stadium rock bands of our generation, and by the way they are performing they hopefully have at least another 24 years left in them.