ECHO reporter Ryan Paton was at Foo Fighters' first Anfield gig as the rock band thrilled a sold-out crowd with a back catalogue of hits
Dave Grohl on stage in front of a sold out show at Anfield last night
Dave Grohl on stage in front of a sold out show at Anfield last night(Image: Andi K Taylor)
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Certain bands are built to play a bigger stage. And Anfield has welcomed some music heavyweights in the years since it was established as a regular summer music venue.
Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Elton John are some of the titans that have commanded the home of the Reds over recent years. Foo Fighters proved to be a worthy successor in the pantheon of summer L4 headliners as their visceral brand of rock more than filled the famous sporting arena across a mammoth set on Thursday night (June 25).
A scorching hot day, when temperatures reached more than 30 degrees, thankfully did nothing to slow down the tempo as frontman Dave Grohl was at his energetic best across an almost three hours on stage. It's not the first time the 57-year-old has graced Anfield as he was a special guest of Sir Paul McCartney for the Liverpool Sound concert in 2008.
The Best Of You singer returned to the stage last night to play with his celebrated band at Anfield for the first time. However, he admitted he was initially confused when he saw the only UK tour dates of the Take Cover tour were in Merseyside.
During one of his addresses to the audience, he said: "I got to be honest. When I looked at our tour schedule I saw a bunch of places in Italy, Spain and Germany. I was like, Why are their only two shows in the UK? That's weird because we usually do a bunch of shows."
However, Dave saw this as a challenge to convert new fans to the Foo Fighters music, as he teased a more expansive UK schedule next year. It's fair to say he couldn't have been more thrilled with the response elicited from the Liverpool crowd on a sweltering Thursday night as the Liverpool audience followed the Foo Fighters' only rule - You must singalong with the performance.
Foo Fighters take a bow at the end of their Anfield show on Thursday (June 25)
Foo Fighters take a bow at the end of their Anfield show on Thursday (June 25)(Image: Andi K Taylor)
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Across a rip-roaring set that featured all the bands hits - Best Of You, My Hero, Times Like These - the crowd sung along with every word. The two UK shows being in Liverpool helped dispel Dave's initial disappointment with the tour schedule - and he admitted he couldn't wait to do it all again when the band returns to the same stage on Saturday for their second night at Anfield.
Before the penultimate song, Exhausted, he said: "We can't thank you enough. When you're in a city for multiple nights, the first show is like a first date when you get to know the person.
"Let me tell you, if this is the first date, then Saturday night, I'm going to feel pretty good because Liverpool, you're a beautiful city." Ahead of the gig, I must confess I wasn't a Foo Fighters devotee and didn't know too much of their music beyond their greatest hits.
However, it's impossible to not be swept up in the energy of a Foo Fighters gig, as the band's stirring riffs and rousing lyrics combine to provide the sort of cathartic experience that only live music can offer. It's easy to see why Foo Fighters have developed such a revered reputation as one of the most reliable live bands out there, as the show hit all the beats a gig should.
The hits were blended with special moments that made the live gig feel unique, most notably when a man from stage was invited up to perform with the band if he could complete a Rubik's Cube. Incredibly, he did just that before jumping behind the drumkit to perfectly play along with Rope. However, all was not as it seemed, as Dave later revealed the man was his daughter's boyfriend, Max, who was celebrating his 18th birthday. Although it may not have been quite as spontaneous as it appeared, the segment gave the gig an energy that meant it was different than seeing an act just simply churn through their best known songs.
Fireworks light up the night sky at the end of Foo Fighters Liverpool gig on Thursday June 25
Fireworks light up the night sky at the end of Foo Fighters Liverpool gig on Thursday June 25(Image: Andi K Taylor)
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The Liverpool surroundings didn't alter the set too much and there weren't any nods to Dave's friendship with Sir Paul or a Beatles or Wings cover that many may have expected (There's always Saturday for that). But this prompted no complaints from anyone in the crowd as the group have enough of their own songs to get through and they powered through their catalogue to huge fanfare.
There was, however, a couple of subtle references to the city they were playing in, as red smoke to start the show - and red fireworks to end it - felt particularly fitting at the home of Liverpool. After the band exited the stage and the lights went up, You'll Never Walk Alone played over the system, which was welcomed by many Reds supporters and roundly booed by those on the Blue side of Merseyside.
This was one moment of playful division that veered from the norm of a concert that had united the thousands in attendance and certainly sent home everyone happy. Just like the former Nirvana drummer, the stadium is certainly ready for night two to do it all over again tomorrow. Here's hoping for more of the same, if it can just remain a little bit cooler this time. Foo Fighters play Anfield for the second night of their Take Cover tour tomorrow. You can see all the ECHO's coverage here