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Foo Fighters @ The Forum, 3/5/08
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"This is our Homecoming show," an always energetic Dave Grohl yelled at a stopping point in the Foo Fighters two+ hour long set Wednesday night, as expected the sold-out Forum crowd lit up with cheers and screams of approval. With good reason too as the Foos have become the torch-bearers for this generations version of bold and bombastic, arena rock.(with Muse hot on their heels) There are very few bands touring today that can match the energy the Foo Fighters bring to their arena show and Wednesday's show proved their mastery.
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Grohl, the consummate musician knows how to completely control his crowd, whether with his ferocious guitar riffs, unadulterated screams or Jack Black-esque humor and banter, the man is simply one of the most entertaining showmen in the music business. The music it self has changed little since the Foo Fighters first exploded on the scene and while some may knock the band for a lack of variety but live their music comes through in spades. Heavy guitar riffs backed by some most excellent drumming from Taylor Hawkins and sing-along choruses are a staple to the Foos sound and one of the reasons why their live show is so entertaining. However, what was one of most entertaining aspects of the show was when the band slowed the pace down and played half the set semi-acoustic, "in the round."
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A catwalk had been constructed in the middle of the floor from the stage to the other end of the arena. Throughout the first half of the set, Grohl would run across in and play his solos from the other end, and the run back to the stage in time to hit the chorus. Midway through their set a smaller stage was lowered and the band played the next segment "in the round." Which featured a great acoustic version of the ever-popular "My Hero." At the end of the set the band left Grohl as he sang the first three verses of the Foos anthem, "Everlong" only to rejoin him for the climatic end.
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However, one of the biggest treats was saved for the end when drummer Taylor Hawkins introduced the crowd to the man who taught him how to play the drums, Stewart Copland of the Police. Copeland and the Foos tore through a cover of the Police hit, "Next to You" before ending with the crowd pleasing "Best Of You."
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The most striking and entertaining aspect of the Foo Fighters live experience is the relative ease to which Grohl and the Foos blow through their set. One can see the joy that Grohl has at the front of this band and it comes through in their music.
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In support, Against Me! and Serj Tankian brought great sets to get the crowd pumped before the Foos came on.
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