FOO FIGHTERS @ EARLS COURT

As another year draws to a close, another twelve months of eagerly awaited, as yet un-tapped, but ultimately explosive new music awaits us. This year has been justifiably memorable, an avalanche of new bands has appeared and have made a dramatic and everlasting impact. To witness a number of these bands -first hand- has only, personally, heightened the interest and intrigue for things to come in 2006! The talent at our, the music loving public's, disposal is colossal! Next year is going to be MENTAL! AND I CAN'T F*CKING WAIT!

YET, here amongst the new blood of today is one al-f*cking-mighty Rock Monster that just keeps on going, never falters, never ceases, constantly rocking! One giant of Rock who's insatiable appetite is overwhelming. A band so fucking huge you'd need a to be launched into space to fully appreciate the size of how big these guys are!

The name of these Rock Gods? Simple :- FOO FIGHTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight's gig was MENTAL! Dave Grohl and Co were on blistering form! From the opening track, where Uncle Dave was screaming his lungs off, to IN YOUR HONOR; to the ultimate finale to end the gig - ALL MY LIFE, Earls Court simply shook with a force so strong that you were simply blown away, yet felt utterly humbled at the sound of FOO FIGHTERS in full flow! The stage was designed to capture an 180 degree view of the band. Massive video screens engulfed the stage, giving the arena depth. The lighting effect was cleverly achieve. Bright, intense and spectacular laser beams and also strong strobe lighting effects were used. Thankfully situated in the rear left of the arena, and ultimately shielded by one of the massive speakers hung from the ceiling, we were sheltered from most of the intense brightness.

This was only my second time of seeing the FOOS live (the first was a brief 30mins stint at the Reading Festival). And it was the best gig I've ever attended. To end off 2005 in this way, rocking out to the FOOS was unbelievable. From the first note to the last line the gig was played at 100mph, it was a one way express train thundering towards Rock city. The intro to the gig was mad, as the moment Mr Grohl started to sing, the whole section of the crowd where we were sitting, rose up as if a puppeteer was pulling up his puppet, ready to perform! It felt as if Dave Grohl has this almost hypnotic presence, an almost tractor beam aura about him that when he performs EVERYONE listens! His presence on stage is, and later mingling amongst the crowd, almost colossal! With one yell, one guitar riff, one joke (interaction with the crowd was cool!) he can have the whole venue in the palm of his hand! It was amazing to see. On more than one occasion he would stand in front of the crowd and just chat, as if he was talking to you personally! "Who saw the Foos at the Wembley Gig? " Parts of the crowd responded positively... "Who saw the Foos at the Reading Festival?" This was my cue! "Yeeeeeeeessssssssssssss!!!!!!! I did Whooooooooooaaaaaahhhhhhooooooooo!!!!!"

The force at which the songs were churned out where so fast and furious, you were totally addicted to compulsively jump around like a loon, song after song! The Foos played songs from all five of their albums. From debut album FOO FIGHTERS there were Big Me and This Is A Call 1; from The Color And The Shape there were My Hero, Everlong and Monkey Wrench 2; from There Is Nothing Left To Lose there were Stacked Actors, Breakout, Learn To Fly and Generator; from One By One there were All My life, Have It All and Times Like These; and from current double album In Your Honor there were In Your Honor, No Way Back, Best Of You 3, and Hell. The One was also played, though I'm not sure if this was released by FOOS as a single! (someone's not done their homework! -Ed)

Carpet's Footnotes:

1. Complete with crowd-surfers & piggy-backers!
2. The last two of which were specially lengthened...
3. ...was dedicated to the people at the back! Awww...

There was also doubt spread over Dave's status as a "virgin" (and a duelling banjos-esque stint) after Times Like These; as well as Taylor "Barefoot" Hawkins singing his single Cold Day In The Sun in the encore.

This, unknown to the gig-going public, set list was just mouth watering to our lugholes. Seeing is believing and believe you me, you had to be there to see this! These songs are all anthems in their own right! Song after song you were compelled to party hard! And when FOO FIGHTERS throw a party, you KNOW you've been to a party! And what a party! I tried, unsuccessfully at times, to try and remember the words to the songs but was defeated on a number of occasions, but this I wasn't really that bothered about! Each song had it's own unique character and personality, but one thing united them all, the sheer brute force and power of the band to produce some much energy and passion! Long live FOO FIGHTERS! As the night progressed and more frenetic songs were unleashed, my voice was getting more and more sore, my lungs felt like they were going to burst and my legs were about to give way (jumping up and down for an hour and a half was the cause). All the while I was thinking when are they going to place ALL MY LIFE. This was to be left until the end of the set, the very last song and you just knew that it couldn't be anything else. What a way to finish! All that was needed were the first few guitar notes from Uncle Dave and that was it  SHOWTIME!

Support tonight for FOOS was supplied by Eagles Of Death Metal and The Futureheads. Due to the late arrival, and the fact that merchandise and beer had to be purchased we didn't get to see the first band, which was EODM [AND it was their last night on the tour! -Ed.]. Arse! The Futureheads were ace though! A lively, energetic, boisterous set, covering many a song from their debut album - Stupid and Shallow, A to B & Hounds Of Love to name but a few. New material from their forthcoming second album was aired tonight in the form of Return Of The Berserker! The one song I was really looking forward to was Decent Days and Nights. It was performed to perfection!!! The Futureheads are definitely a band to look out for next year!