Foo Fighters Intimate NJ show

The Foo Fighters once in a lifetime experience

at The Starland Ballroom

Photos by: Nicole DiBenedetto

(nicoledibphotography)

Words by: Evan Albuck (theebuckshot)

If you were one of the dedicated fans who waited overnight outside Starland Ballroom for $20 tickets, you were rewarded with one of the best intimate performances the venue has ever seen.

Foo Fighters announced on April 29 that they would be playing two intimate shows: one on April 30 at Irving Plaza in New York City and the other on May 2 at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. Both shows came with one simple rule: all tickets had to be purchased in person at the venue’s box office. Almost immediately, lines began to form as fans settled in for the wait.

Foo Fighters

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By May 2, the Foos had fully settled into their “Rock-and-Rollers of the Wasteland” show at the iconic Starland Ballroom. With a 25-song set lasting nearly two and a half hours, fans were treated to a massive variety of songs spanning the band’s entire catalog. The night included classic hits like “This Is a Call” and “Monkey Wrench,” alongside deeper cuts and covers such as “Winnebago” by Late!. At one point, the band even dedicated a cover of “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)” to a fan wearing a W.A.S.P. T-shirt.

During the show, Dave Grohl referenced a pre-show conversation with Philadelphia music pioneer David Uosikkinen. Grohl shared that the drummer of The Hooters had inspired him with a vibrant yellow drum set, which ultimately led Dave to purchase one for himself.

Left to Right: David Uosikkinen, Ilan Rubin. Dave Grohl

Photo Credit: Dallyn Pavey Uosikkinen (@dallynpaveyuosikkinen)

Video Credit: Dallyn Pavey Uosikkinen (@dallynpaveyuosikkinen)

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The performance gave fans a rare opportunity to experience the band in a setting that has become increasingly uncommon as Foo Fighters’ popularity and venue sizes continue to grow. The idea of major bands playing smaller venues with low-cost tickets available only through physical box office purchases gives genuine fans the chance to experience shows in a way that scalpers have made increasingly difficult over the years.

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Set List:

The 25-song setlist included the following: 

  1. Winnebago

  2. All My Life

  3. Times Like These

  4. Caught in the Echo

  5. Of All People

  6. Stacked Actors

  7. La Dee Da

  8. The Pretender

  9. My Hero

  10. Learn to Fly

  11. Window

  12. This Is a Call

  13. No Son of Mine

  14. Your Favorite Toy

  15. These Days

  16. Walk

  17. Aurora

  18. Monkey Wrench

  19. Hey, Johnny Park!

  20. Best of You

  21. A320

  22. Exhausted

  23. Everlong

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