Foo Fighters Rock the Dome

Nearly thirty years ago, in 1997, Fargo saw the Foo Fighters perform at the Scheels Civic Center. Nearly three decades later, roughly 19,000 fans packed in the Fargodome Saturday, Sept. 12, to experience their return.

The Foo Fighters have been in full swing since 1994, becoming one of the most recognizable garage-rock bands of the past few decades. Their reputation for marathon sets and total effort onstage was on full display as they brought their “Take Cover” tour to North Dakota.

The vibe inside the dome was nothing but lively, from the band running out on stage at the start of the nearly three-hour-long show all the way to the final bow. Much of that energy came from lead guitarist and singer of the group, Dave Grohl.

“Guess what? You’re going to get three hours of rock ‘n’ roll tonight,” Grohl exclaimed just a few songs into the show. Judging by the crowd's reaction, they were more than ready for the night. It seemed the energy and love between the group and their fans that’s been forming for more than 30 years has not fizzled out one bit.

The 27-song setlist started with “All My Life,” immediately getting the crowd moving and singing along. Just one song later, Grohl showed off his rock ‘n’ roll persona by throwing a cup of water over his long hair while he continued to play.

At around hour two of the show, each member of the band took a turn performing a song by the band that they had previously been a part of. Even though they weren’t Foo Fighters hits, the fans sang along anyway and enjoyed every second. When it was drummer Ilan Rubin’s turn, he and Grohl switched instruments, bringing Grohl back behind the drum set for one song.

Just like any other band that's not from the Midwest, Grohl continued to engage with the crowd by acknowledging and joking about the brutal North Dakota winters. Following that, he performed “Scentless Apprentice,” a Nirvana song he said was written in 1993 in Cannon Falls, Minn.

After performing “Teacher,” the guys appeared to bring the show to an end, walking offstage and out of view. Minutes later, as the main lights in the dome never came on, they returned to perform the last two hits of the night, “Exhausted” and, of course, “Everlong.” After the final note was played, the band gathered at the front of the stage for a bow before Grohl let out one final scream and ran offstage. Some other notable songs that were rocked through included “Pretender,” “My Hero,” “Monkey Wrench” and “Best of You.”

The Foo Fighters gave a much-needed rock ‘n’ roll concert to Fargo, a kind of show that doesn’t come through the area enough. Grohl’s constant engagement with the crowd and the band’s mix of new and old hits kept the Fargodome fired up all night. It’s safe to say that the group still knows how to put on a show.