Pop Dee-Lite : Foo Fighters : Target Center : Minneapolis, MN : 2/27/08

I think it's safe to say we all have at least one major rock star crush. No, mine isn't Mr. Clean Cut Justin Timberlake. I prefer the long-haired, bearded, disheveled Dave Grohl. You might say I have a thing for guys who otherwise look kinda homeless, until you slap a mic in front of them, sling a guitar around their neck and put them in front of thousands of screaming fans. I saw the Foo Fighters on tour with Weezer more than two years ago. After that, I vowed I would do my best to see them every time they came to town. Their show at Target Center (where good concerts go to die), certified them as the arena headliners they are and essentially have been for years. Grohl served as the ultimate smartass ringleader of the Foo's Circus. And even though he did a lot of talking, he was hilarious and made sure to throw in plenty of rock star curse words to rattle all of the parents accompanying their kids in the audience.

The band opened up by blasting through Let It Die and The Pretender. Dave's voice sounded a bit ragged at first, most likely due to all of the guttural wails/yelps he's been responsible for on the tour thus far. Eight songs into the show, a second, smaller stage was lowered from the ceiling at the other end of the Target Center where the band did acoustic versions of Skin and Bones, Marigold, Cold Day In the Sun, But Honestly and My Hero. Dave took this time to give a shout out to Minneapolis' own Jessy Greene who is touring with the band, playing cello and violin and singing backup. He also thanked all of us for living in the town that produced Husker Du, which led the six 15-year-old-ish dudes in front of me to look at each other in utter confusion and say "Who is Husker Du?" Let's hope they went home and Googled that and learned about a crucial part of music history. Minneapolis shout-outs continued when Dave dedicated Best of You during the encore to Prince, who played it during his 2007 Superbowl performance.

The two-hour show was a treat with plenty of old and new songs to keep everyone happy. Next time they come through town, I'll be there. Finally, I have to thank the Foos for playing My Hero. My mom, who is my hero, passed away three years ago yesterday from breast cancer. Hearing that song on the eve of that difficult day was fitting. Long live the Foos!

Foo Fighters on The Late Show 2/20/08:



Find Foo Fighters' music via The Hype Machine.

Set List:

Let It Die
The Pretender
Times Like These
Breakout
Learn to Fly
Cheer Up Boys (Your Makeup Is Running)
This Is A Call
Stacked Actors
(acoustic stage)
Skin and Bones
Marigold
My Hero
Cold Day in the Sun
But Honestly
(main stage)
Everlong
Monkey Wrench
All My Life
(encore)
Big Me (duet with Jessy Greene)
Long Road to Ruin
Best of You

Remaining tour dates in the U.S. on current leg of tour:

Feb. 29 : Barnhill Arena, Fayetteville, AR
Mar 2 : Jobing.com Arean, Glendale, AZ
Mar 3 : Cox Arena, San Diego, CA
Mar 5 : Forum, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 6 : Forum, Los Angeles, CA

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