We found a new venue in NJ that’s a lot closer than starland. Not quite the same atmosphere and slightly larger, but if they keep bringing in good acts, the shorter drive, free parking, and cheaper drinks will more than make up for it.

Filter was the opener and they started with 2 new songs. It was a poor start, but they really turned it up with their classics. The singer was really into it and crowd surfed for an entire song practically!

Their ZZ Top cover was kind of cool, too.

Next up was Chevelle, who we’ve seen before, and was about the same as last time.

Their backdrop was cool with blacklights on the lettering and the lady but then a sparkly backdrop further back.

I don’t really know any of their songs besides one single. They aren’t particularly interactive and their music isn’t particularly technically impressive.

Bush was pretty great, start to finish. A few tacky “new album” moments, but Gavin Rossdale is a great front man. He was totally into his music and couldn’t hold still. It’s no wonder he’s married to Gwen Stefani.

No fancy lights or set. Just in your face rock, played at you with unrelenting energy.

He sang one song just wandering around the crowd… which was really bizarre. A lot of times it seemed like he was kind of just stuck there with people all mobbing him.

The Setlist was pretty good, but lacked Mouth and Cold Contagious, which I found a little weird.

Not from our show, but ours was similar… maybe slightly different order?

Machinehead
I Believe In You
The Chemicals Between Us
Greedy Fly
The Sound of Winter
Everything Zen
All My Life
The People That We Love
The Heart of the Matter
All Night Doctors
Swallowed
Afterlife
Little Things

Come Together @Cover[The Beatles]
Glycerine
Comedown

All photos here.

There was a Mariachi rock band and Rise Against openers, but they don’t matter.

Because there was Dave Grohl.

He feeds off the crowd’s energy and in turn, they feed off him. The place was packed.

I really don’t know how to describe it beyond him being a complete performance junky.

They sounded really good and there really were no let downs, no “going through the motions” on hits.

A good example of how they engage the crowd is their introductions (Followed by Cold Day in the Sun).

Their set was opened from all sides with 2 large video screens up high, 1 on either side. But hanging over the set on all direction articulated arms were 12 teardrop shaped video cubes with screens on all faces but top and bottom. They also each “pod” also had 3 light houses which were also individually motorized. I can’t describe it beyond that too well. It was really really cool.

Krist Novoselic (yes, bassist of Nirvana) made a guest appearance playing accordion.

During the break before the encore, after a minute or two, the screens popped up night vision video of Dave and Taylor Hawkins (drums) mock arguing about how many songs to do after the encore. Taylor appeals to the crowd and gets Dave to agree to 6. They played 7.

To open the encore, Dave played acoustically solo on the remote stage before being joined again by the band. During that time he did a lot of talking with the crowd about how he loves what he does, etc.

Epic show, what else can I say. If you get a chance, go see Foo Fighters. ‘nuf said.

All pictures here.

Over the past couple of weeks we went to Starland Ballroom.

Seether was on a weeknight and we got there before Seether, but well after door time so we were in the way back. It has been 4 yrs since we first saw Seether and they have really changed. The singer used to be so subdued and self conscious. Now he was a lot more edgy and interactive. The setlist was pretty good except he skipped “No Jesus Christ” which is my fav Seether song so… No setlist, no pics. Yeah I suck.

Fuel we went with Dave and Liz and got there on time for Doors. We got a pretty good spot right at the top of a step. 3 openers provided some entertainment and opportunities for discussion. Fuel was pretty good, even though the singer had a cold, he was really a showman. Only 2 new songs, the rest were all their hits. Nothing glaringly left out. Again no setlist and no pics.

Long overdue….

Sadly we were late and missed Night Ranger completely and the first couple songs of Foreigner.

Foreigner was really good. They sounded good musically and the presentation was entertaining but not over the top. The set list was pretty fantastic.

The new singer for Journey is one of those energy freaks. He was all over the stage, jumping, running, dancing and posing. The rest of the band seemed like they were just along for the ride.

There was some epically loud crowd sing alongs, but all in all, I enjoyed Foreigner more.

All photos from the show can be found here.