The Chicago Tribune published a review of Foo Fighters’ first show at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and criticized Dave Grohl and company for the show getting too bloated at times.
Unfortunately, Grohl’s other percussion stint went to waste on an over-the-top cover of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” crooned by Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and Luke Spiller, singer for openers the Struts. It stood as one of multiple instances of bloat that arrested momentum, courted cliche and bordered on laborious.
At times, it seemed Foo Fighters kept testing the waters for a potential prog-rock comeback. The group stretched songs out with added midsections and codas — often to excessive degrees. A backing-vocal trio further bogged down the failed fusion of “Dirty Water.” A drum solo, elevating drum riser, protracted introductions and encore schtick all smelled like filler, lest Grohl and company put on greasepaint and stage a Kiss tribute.
“I love rock ’n’ roll,” Grohl declared in the middle of “The Pretender.” Indeed he does, even to the extent it occasionally turns his tireless passion into comical overindulgence.
The Chicago Sun Times wrote in their very positive review, contradicting the Tribune:
A set may only have 20 or so songs, but each one gets its own director’s cut on stage. There was, for example, a trio of backup singers for “The Sky is a Neighborhood” and “Dirty Water,” which helped cool off Grohl’s exhausted voice; a cabaret version of “Big Me”; and an aggressive, extended session for “Rope,” which led into a five-minute drum solo by the incomparable Hawkins (on none other than a 20-foot towering platform). But the most impressive may have been “Best Of You,” which featured an improvised instrumental ending featuring some of the most beautiful guitar work ever from Grohl, who slowed down if only for a few minutes for even more intense concentration.
Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen joined Foo Fighters onstage at Wrigley Field. You can watch video below.
