Many times I have used the phrase; I don’t know where to begin. I guess it’s an easy way of getting a beginning. But then - when it comes to a time like this - when you absolutely don’t know were to start… when all the other beginnings you’ve done seem so easy, and the use of ‘I don’t know where to begin’ so unnecessary… that is when you begin with an explanation of ‘I don’t know where to begin’.
Foo Fighters. I have followed Foo Fighters all the way from the rumours of the first album. Was a huge Nirvana fan when I was younger (the song Rape Me with Nirvana was actually the first song I learned on the guitar), so to follow through onto Foo Fighters came quite natural. I even remember when Nirvana released the Heart Shaped Box single in 1993, with the B-side Marigold with Dave Grohl behind the mic. I really liked it. Kurt even said back then then that the next Nirvana album, the one that was suppose to follow In Utero, was to become more of a ‘band’ album - with not only him behind the song writing - but also David Grohl. I really looked forward to that album. Unfortunately, like you all (hopefully) know - Kurt Cobain took his life April the 5th 1994, and another album was never created.
David and Kurt probably didn’t have much in common. I do believe that David and Foo Fighters would have made it by them self’s - without any past with Nirvana.
They have so much talent and motivation.
They filled such a big space in the music industry.
They have so much more to give them 98% of the entire music scene.
I’m even prepared to say that David Grohl and his Foo Fighters has reached a point Nirvana probably never would have. But still, the “disadvantage” Dave has is; he don’t share the pain (mostly cause he don’t have the pain). Kurt reached so many people mainly through sympathy. David reaches people through passion.
David simply doesn’t have, and doesn’t do it, for the release, and force of pain and misery. He does it for/through love and passion for music as an artform and profession.
I must say that the connection between Foo Fighters and Nirvana, Dave and Kurt, have never been like - something I have always thought about. I do see them as two totally different things. It was just that last night just brought so much Nirvana-memories back to me.
After last night, my “DAMN I LIKE TO GET A CHANGE TO SEE THEM LIVE” list look like this, in alphabetic order:
- Dave Matthews Band
Foo Fighters- Korn
- Metallica
- Nine Inch Nails
So my expectations for the gig was as high as they could get. And boy did they fulfill them (they basically crushed them). And sitting here trying to justify it with words feels quite pointless really.
The venue and our seating was as well - perfect. We weren’t too close neither to far away (about 30 meter from the stage, straight in front of it and clear sight).
It was their second ever acoustic gig.
The whole idea of this parallel acoustic and rock tour, I guess - is the fact that they latest album, In Your Honor, is a two disc/side CD; a acoustic and a rock side. So inline with the album - the tour also have two sides to it.
Dave said that a lot of the songs on the second (acoustic) CD are very old (some even go’s back to, well - before Foo Fighters were even a band (around Marigold)).
He said that the acoustic songs have always been a part of the band, but they never really wanted, or meant to be, the kind of band who rock your socks off and then all of the sudden bring forward the acoustic guitars. So instead of trying to squeezes these songs in - they have left them be.
Instead of the normal 4 person band; they were 8 (9 including Joe (the guitar technician) who played guitar on Virginia Moon).
Addition to the normal line up they had a keyboardist, a percussionist, a violist and a third guitarist.
David came on stage alone. Like if he just walked in to his own living room. Relaxed. A small wave to that audience. Picked up his acoustic guitar and started playing Razor form their latest album.
The rest of the band joined him towards the end of the song, and the song finished like it was the last song on their playlist - a massive crescendo - a sudden finish. Applause.
My initial thoughts, after the first song, were;
- I hope they turn down the bass sound a bit (it’s swallowing a bit to much (they did (and if I didn’t have this in my notebook I wouldn’t even have remembered it))).
- I’m already satisfied - I’m ready to leave - that was worth the £45 the tickets cost.
- Is that Pat Smear?!
This was the playlist:
- Razor - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- Still - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- On the Mend - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- Walking After You - from The Colour and the Shape
- Over and Out - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- Next Year - from Nothing Left to Lose
- Another Round - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- All My Life - from One by One
- Ain’t it the Life - from Nothing Left to Lose
- See You - from The Colour and the Shape
- Floaty - from Foo Fighters
- Virginia Moon - from In Your Honor Disc 1
- Cold Day in the Sun - from Your Honor Disc 2
- Miracle - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- February Stars - from The Colour and the Shape
- Times Like These - from One by One
- Friend of a Friend - from In Your Honor Disc 2
- Best of You - from In Your Honor Disc 1
- Everlong - from The Colour and the Shape
So most of the songs were from the latest album, In Your Honor, acoustic side. But they did manage to play at least one song for every album.
Razor, Friend of a Friend, Best of You and Everlong (basically the first song and the encore (encore started with Friend of a Friend)) Dave preformed by himself.
Floaty was sang by Petra, the violinist.
Cold Day in the Sun was sang by Taylor, the drummer.
They didn’t really play All My Life. Dave just said as a joke, “the next song is called All My Life”, and then explained that not all songs work in a acoustic version. Then they started jamming away on a salsa version of the song for about 15 seconds.
After song nr 13 (Cold Day in the Sun), David introduced the third guitarist - and it was Pat Smear.
So, not only did we have twice the Foo Fighters on stage, we also had half Nirvana. And that together with the song February Stars:
Even though,I watched you come and go.
How was I to know - Youd still show.
and Friend of a Friend
He’s never been in love.but he knows just what love is.
He says nevermind.
And no one speaks.
just brought a lot of Nirvana memories back.
The highlights were Times Like These (the last song before the encore), February Stars (I got goose bumps) and Best of You.
If I need to mention one highlight it’s definitely Best of You. David played it alone, with just an acoustic guitar, but sang as if he had the entire band behind him.
it’s times like these you learn to live again
it’s times like these you give and give again
it’s times like these you learn to love again
it’s times like these time and time again
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