Foo Fighters - The Troubadour (2.15.2011)

After Dave basically saying during the last show that the final gigs were to be at the Echoplex and the Troubadour, I was awaiting clues all weekend (although I honestly planned to skip Echoplex and go to the final show). Arcade Fire (Grammy Album of the Year winners!) were having a secret show. I thought about trying to get to that, but it involved camping out overnight which wasn't going to happen. I had already fun myself down a bit over the previous few days and wanted/needed to chill.  Word got out that the Echoplex show had been canceled due to Dave's voice being strained (which I'm not surprised about at all.) With going to Europe, he needed to be rested and ready to rock. My friends and I discussed that we had been lucky to see the ones that they had done and perhaps around the time of the album release they'd do one more show.

Sunday, they debuted a homemade low-budget music video they made for a song on the new album, featuring Lemmy of Motorhead driving the now infamous white limo. The fact that they are big huge rock stars, but can still goof around with a video like this is why I love them. They never get too full of themselves or adopt your typical "rock star attitude." Even the crew guys are very nice and down-to-earth. You honestly couldn't find a better group of people as far as rock bands/roadies go.



Monday evening the Foo twitter came back to life (much to my surprise!):

This came in about 8:30 Monday evening. There was a band lined up to play that night at the Echoplex along with five other bands listed as the Super Secret Midnight Band. Some people freaked, thinking that this was Foo. They hurried to get their bills from their Valentine's dinners and go to the venue. I doubted they would announce a show that late, but figured there were more than a few upset significant others being ditched on Valentine's Day!

I went into work at 7 so I could get in full-day and get off in time for the show. I was nearly positive it was going to be a Troubadour Tuesday, but was waiting for a confirmation. That morning, they posted a link to Donna Summers' "Last Dance" (indicating the last show).  They also tweeted:
"Another day...looking forward to another beautiful night..."
My boss asked if I had seen them anymore this weekend. I said that I had not, but mentioned awaiting clues for the show that evening. He's been more than accommodating and actually has encouraged me to go ahead and just leave in order to make the show. I stayed to finish up my whole shift, but really appreciate his flexibility! Very cool!  I had several friends on the way so I headed out as well.  We weren't allowed to line up in front of the venue, so had to circle around a park next to the venue.

We were about 100 people back. Capacity was 500, but knowing that it's in West Hollywood there's bound to be a huge VIP list.  Several other friends arrived and I met some new friends. We saw their gear truck behind the venue, but they didn't seem to be unloading anything. There was a rumor spreading that this was a hoax and they were going to switch venues (which I totally support when the word gets out so early, but know that it's not an easy task!)  The truck started to pull away. We already had a plan....smartphones in hand..in case we had to jump in the car to get tickets elsewhere. A friend walked behind the venue though and could tell they were soundchecking. They just couldn't the truck back there so pulled it around to the side. Whew!

There hadn't been any actual clues regarding the venue so everyone was there on a leap of faith. Several picture clues began to come through. All were typical except the map. We wondered if it indicated a different venue (ironically the location where the crosshair is is very close to my apartment), but then I recognized the next picture as the route I had taken through Laurel Canyon (another area with a great amount of rock'n'roll history).

At 5 a verbal clue was released saying that the show was indeed at the Troubadour and that Mariachi El Bronx would be opening. They opened the first show in Santa Barbara so it was fun to see them again!  The crowd had grown so much that it wrapped around the park (almost 600 people). We happily received our wristbands, but found out they were only giving out to 150 people. 

We had agreed to go have dinner at the Abbey down the street. One friend that I'd met at the Roxy remained in line. He kept me up to date via text message. Apparently the 450 people who didn't get wristbands were pissed enough that they basically charged the front of the Troubadour. Four security guards tried to calm everyone down using a megaphone which didn't get them too far. Eight police showed up (including the West Hollywood sheriff for a reported "insane fan") and threatened riot police if those without wristbands didn't disperse. I've never been to a Foo show remotely that intense!  I also think that's just not the way to go about things. I've had a lot of friends not get wristbands, chill, and once the venue sees how many VIPs show/don't show they'll let a few more in if you're cool. Charging security "Braveheart-style" is not smart!!

Although I was second to enter the venue, I lingered about 5 or 6 rows back. Majority of the seating is on the balcony. It's quite a small venue - only about 200 people can fit downstairs. It's yet another venue with a lot of history. In the 1960s, it was a major center for folk music. In 1970, Elton John played his first U.S. show here. Steve Martin was discovered here, as were Guns n' Roses. Janis Joplin partied here the night she died. Other alumni include the Eagles, the Byrds, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Carole King, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, George Carlin, and Arlo Guthrie. It's still thought of as one of the better clubs in L.A. to find new up and coming talent. 

Interesting Troubadour History Highlights

Foo played through the new album, and then really mixed up the remaining set. They added Long Road to Ruin and Best of You. During the encore (typically three songs), they played their three standards and kept going. By the end of the night, they played 33 songs (record longest Foo show!). They also played Butterflies which Dave recorded in 1992 solo and hasn't played live in 16 years. It was very special to see that!  This show was 15+ so there was definitely a younger crowd (who needs to learn concert etiquette a bit better). I quite enjoyed this article today from LA Weekly:

Guide to the pit

The kids indeed to learn that deodorant is good, you don't need to mosh to every song (it's no longer the 90s) and slow-dancing in a mosh pit is a very poor idea. Words to the wise. 

Before coming to L.A. I'd seen Foo seven times, and now have seen them 12 times. And still love 'em. It's been cool to see them transform as a band and musically, but they're still incredibly talented and put on an incredible show regardless of whether you're seeing them in a 290 person venue (Spaceland) or at a 65,000 person venue (Milton Keynes Bowl in England - two sold out shows this summer). 

The official premiere of their documentary will be in March at South by Southwest in Austin (which I would love to attend...perhaps next year). There has been a rumored release in L.A., as well as a record release party. I've also heard that the production for this tour is going to be incredible, and that whenever they play a bigger venue (Staples Center / the Forum) that it's going to be a must-see show. I've gotten quite a good Foo fill for a bit ... but always await my next show!