Read this Foo Fighters review of their Fenway Park show and you’ll get all the details in the time it would take you to listen to “Big Me.”
I’m spoiled. I was on hand for the Foos Boston Calling headlining set in 2023, which was only their second live performance since the passing of Taylor Hawkins in 2022. That was a magical night full of memorable musical moments. I wrote about it here.
Flash-forward a year and two months, and here they are again, this time headlining Fenway Park. And here I was, pregaming at Bill’s Bar before crossing Lansdowne St. and entering the park via the wrong gate. I should’ve taken my own advice.
Foo Fighters Review: The Openers
I should’ve skipped Bill’s before the show, too. I missed the first opening act, Amyl and The Sniffers. Pity, as I’ve been a fan of the Aussie punks for years. My friend Jon said they were great. High-energy despite the low crowd turnout early on.
The Hives had the same issue, but also rose above. Frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist worked the crowd like the pro that he is and the Swedish rockers sounded as sharp as they looked in their black-and-white suits. Catch a clip below, courtesy of Steve’s Concert Corner.
Foo Fighters Review: Best of Foo
As a disclaimer, this Foo Fighters review has passed through two filters. First, the recency bias of seeing the emotional, all-time-great Foo set at Boston Calling last year. Second, the fact that I’m currently reading Dave Grohl’s 2021 book, The Storyteller.
The Foo’s Fenway setlist was similar song-wise to the Boston Calling gig. That’s how the band operates: they have a standard set and make small tweaks here and there. One of those small tweaks was “Generator,” a surprise from 1999’s There Is Nothing Left To Lose.
Another was keyboardist Rami Jaffe strapping on an accordion to accompany Dave on acoustic guitar for a unique version of “Skin and Bones.” Tiny changes, yes. But the type that create special moments for long-time fans and make you feel the show is special.
So while the Foo Fenway set wasn’t on par with Boston Calling a year ago, it was memorable in its own way. And the near-three-hour concert proved once again that the Foo Fighters are the best damn live rock band in the world today.
Peep some more pics below.