Un-foo-getable

And so the day has arrived. Back in November, the Foo Fighters completed a sell out UK arena tour with a double salvo at London’s O2, and by the end had Britain’s vote for the best band in the world.

Clearly, we’re a nation that should be entitled to more than one vote in such a contest - I’ve always thought Eurovision to be a bit unfair, for instance (with all due respect, what have Estonia ever given to music).

But from that moment on, the Foo Fighters were Britain’s nomination, and have continued to be, with nothing able to break the spell they have cast over the vast majority of us. So when Radio 1 announced that they were to bring Dave and the boys back to London to headline Wembley Stadium, there was mass delirium. Sadly, the wait was over 7 months, and so as the 7th of June dawns, mass hysteria begins to set over West London.

The streets of Wembley are buzzing long before the clock strikes midday, and as 4pm arrives and the throng is allowed to pile into this magnificent stadium, the long wait becomes a reality. The Futureheads do a sterling job with very limited sound, and veteran Britpop heroes Supergrass spend a fruitful hour working the massive crowd towards the main attraction.

Then at 7.45pm, rock’s new uber-gods hit the stage, and 86,000 people go crazy. The Pretender is the perfect opening track for a stadium show, displaying all the required pomp, and from then on the hits flow like an unstoppable torrent - Times Like These, Breakout, Cheer Up Boys, This Is A Call, No Way Back, all in the first 40 minutes. Now that’s a show.

Following on from the 2007 arena tour, the set is punctuated by a 6 song acoustic set, which sees the Foos throw in stripped down versions of hits like My Hero and Everlong, alongside more naturally acoustic numbers such as Marigold and Big Me. This is a great showcase for the multi faceted talents of Dave Grohl and his band, who are as much at home with the intricacy and subtlety of these acoustic interludes as they are with the thrash and force of the main set.