Foo Fighters
20th January 2024
Go Media Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Review by Bridget Herlihy with photography by Doug Peters.
There are three things that you will almost certainly experience at a Foo Fighters show; pure unadulterated rock n roll, fun, and of course a few laughs. By constantly delivering these key ‘ingredients’, the Foos have perfected a formula that keeps fans coming back for more. When you’re at a Foos show, no matter how big or small, you can rest assured that you are going to have a damn good time. In fact, the earth may even move; both metaphorically and literally.
New Zealand has a long lasting love affair with the Foo Fighters; one that stretches back to the 90s and is globally renowned. And no one knows this better than the Foo Fighters themselves, having made numerous visits to our shores over the last three decades.
In 2011 during a Foo Fighters show at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, the 50,000 strong crowd set off a seismic event, while frontman Dave Grohl proclaimed that the crowd was the loudest that the band had ever heard. International media quickly picked up on the story, and New Zealand Foo audiences became infamous for making the earth move.
Our adoration for the Foos has not waned one iota over the years. In fact, judging by last night’s show, those fans from the 90s and 2000s were introducing the Foo Fighters to the next generation, with many youngsters in attendance with their parents, seemingly loving every minute of it.
It has been six years since the Dave and the boys last visited NZ, and anticipation was running at an all time high. Unlike their last visit, a hot summer afternoon welcomed the thousands of rock fans who descended upon Go Media Stadium for the big rock show. Several hundred brave souls made a beeline for the front of the stage to take up their positions for the event, while many others beat a hasty retreat to take cover in whatever shade they could find and wait for the temperature to abate.
Auckland’s infamous Dick Move commenced the afternoon’s lineup with a fast and furious set of their trademark punk rock that was just as blistering as the sun. Dick Move have garnered a great deal of attention since the release of their second album ‘Wet’ last year, and it’s easy to see why. Frontwoman Lucy Suttor commanded the crowd’s attention with her fiery vocals, which was no mean feat given the temperature. Fittingly clad in a 90s Warriors jersey that she admitted didn’t breathe well, Suttor and guitarists Hariet Ellis and Justin Randell, bass player Lulu McRae and drummer Luke Boyes played a tight and impressive set, including fan favourites ‘Pissing’ and ‘Eyes For Christmas’. An impressive start to the day indeed.
Fortunately a light breeze picked up before pioneers of art rock/ pop-punk The Breeders took to the stage, bringing more of the crowd out of hiding in the shade and towards the stage. The Ohio natives played a thoroughly enjoyable full set of material spanning their career, including hits ‘Canonball’ and ‘Divine Hammer’; songs that cemented them with cult alternative status in the 90s. 2023 marked 30 years since the release of the critically acclaimed Last Splash; an album that they demonstrated hasn’t aged a day and is as enjoyable and compelling as when it was first released. Frontwoman Kim Deal kept banter to a minimum, but did say that they band were very happy to be back in New Zealand, and it was obvious that the band was thoroughly enjoying themselves, as were their fans. It was a real treat to see them perform, and with their last gig here in 2018 hopefully it won’t be so long between visits next time!
The sun was only starting to set by the time the Foo Fighters appeared on stage, and Dave Grohl wasted no time setting the tone for the remainder of the night. The Foos came to rock, and rock they did! It was clear to see that he was taking in the screams and cheers of the crowd, almost as if he was surveying his kingdom before blasting into opening song ‘All My Life’, which has to be the perfect set opener. Dave assured the crowd on several occasions that they were going to play all night, and make the trip worthwhile. And it was very, very worthwhile. Churning through tracks from almost every album, including an abundance of fan favourites, the Foos had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands for nearly three hours. A mere 20 minutes into the set Grohl was drenched in sweat, but it didn’t slow him down one bit. Commenting that NZ is one of the band’s favourite places to play, the the adoration between us and them is clearly mutual.
The whole band were in top form, playing in such a sonically rich and layered way, creating their own wall of sound. Suffice to say the highlights were many, with some deep cuts such as ‘Statues’ thrown into the mix, and a special guest, Mr Jack Black, appearing on stage for an amusing, if not somewhat random, rendition of AC/DC’s ‘Big Balls’. There was also a special tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins, with the mention of his name eliciting screams and cheers so loud they could be heard from miles across Auckland. Playing one of his favourite songs, ‘Aurora’, it confirmed that Taylor was not far from anyone’s mind.
This tour also marks Josh Freese’s first trip to the Antipodes with the Foos having been recruited as the band’s new drummer. For those unfamiliar with Freese’s resume, he has played with the likes of A Perfect Circle, Devo, The Vandals, Nine Inch Nails, Viva Death….to name a few, as well as releasing his own solo material (check out his last solo album ‘Just A Minute Vol. 1’) . Watching Freese perform is absolutely mesmerising. His prowess and skill as a percussionist is second-to-none, shifting between fast and slower tempos with ease, whilst maintaining his distinctive rock and metal flavour.
Needless to say, there will be countless highlights for those who attend the upcoming shows in Christchurch and Wellington this week, so spoilers will be kept to a minimum here. With many punters in attendance who have seen Foo Fighters perform multiple times over the last three decades, there appeared to be a consensus that the band are well and truly at the top of their game, and this tour is certainly one to remember for all the right reasons. Hopefully we will continue to see Foo Fighters in New Zealand for many, many years to come, for the calibre of last night’s show was truly epic both sonically and visually. It’s unclear if the crowd set off another seismic event, but it’s clear our hearts and minds were most definitely moved. Christchurch and Wellington, prepare to rock hard!
Foo Fighters:
The Breeders:
Dick Move:
Were you there at Go Media Stadium for this high energy rock gig? Or have you seen Foo Fighters perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Foo Fighters Setlist:
- All My Life
- No Son of Mine
- Rescued
- The Pretender
- Walk
- Times Like These
- Generator
- La Dee Da
- Breakout
- Guitar Solo / Sabotage / Keyboard Solo / Blitzkrieg Bop / Whip It / March of the Pigs
- My Hero
- The Sky Is a Neighborhood
- Learn to Fly
- Arlandria
- Under You
- These Days
- Statues
- Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners
- Nothing at All
- Monkey Wrench
- Aurora (Dedicated to Taylor Hawkins)
- This Is a Call
- Big Balls [AC/DC cover] [with Jack Black]
- Best of You
- The Teacher [encore]
- Everlong [encore]
Breeders Setlist:
- New Year
- Cannonball
- When I Was a Painter
- Doe
- Saints
- Invisible Man
- Wait in the Car
- Hag
- Do You Love Me Now?
- Iris
- Opened
- Safari
- Happiness Is a Warm Gun [The Beatles cover]
- Drivin’ on 9 [Ed’s Redeeming Qualities cover]
- No Aloha
- Divine Hammer
- Walking With a Killer
- Gigantic [Pixies cover]
Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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