SALT LAKE CITY Two things are guaranteed at a Foo Fighters show: Dave Grohl screams really well. And the show is going to be really long.
Fans got exactly what they were hoping for at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Tuesday night, as the Foos delivered an epic performance of more than 2-and-half-hours of music spanning their entire catalog in addition to cover songs, dry-witted/entertaining banter, and extended jam sessions on some of their biggest hits.
Maybe most surprising of the nearly sold-out crowd was when nearly half of the audience claimed they were seeing the Foo Fighters for the first time when Grohl asked by show of hands.
Weve been a band for 22 years. You couldnt make it to one show?! Grohl said in his humorous, dry tone that he delivered throughout the night. Next time Ill pick you up and drive you to the show.
Grohl was in a particularly good mood as it was the bands last show before Christmas. They started with the pounding Run off their latest release Concrete and Gold, before getting into fan favorites All My Life, Learn to Fly and The Pretender.
About an hour into the show, the Foos really got into a zone that provided an incredible stretch of music that included My Hero, These Days, Walk, Let It Die, Times Like These and Breakout for the old school fans.
Grohls voice kept getting stronger as the show progressed. As a band, the Foos played as an incredibly tight unit thats used to being on stage for a long time. Super drummer Taylor Hawkins was a show all by himself as he kept tempo on his large drum kit that he jokingly described as Dream Theatre threw up on the stage (the kit also raised high into air with smoke coming from the bottom, ala 1978 Kiss). He also provide many backing vocals and switched places with Grohl to head to the front of the stage for Queens Under Pressure.
The song was one of several covers throughout the night. Others included Alice Coopers Under My Wheels sung by guitarist Chris Shiflett, who was also rockin an RSL jersey given to him by the team after the Foos spent some time scrimmaging at Reals indoor training facility on Wednesay.
Pat Smear delivered the opening riffs to The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop, while bassist Nate Mendel did the opening notes of Another One Bites the Dust. Rami Jaffee rounded out the band on keyboards.
The Foos also paid tribute to two of the biggest losses the rock world in 2017, playing Breakdown in memory of Tom Petty, and AC/DCs Let There Be Rock for Malcom Young. This is a Call and Everlong rounded out the encore.
The Foo Fighters are no strangers to high praise for their live performances. Tuesdays show proved why that praise is well deserved.