It’s been awhile since I went to a “concert.” Drum solos. A catwalk. Lights, camera, smoke machines and Dave Grohl. Bust out the weed brah! Well, not really in my case, but I did get to watch Against Me! and Foo Fighters together at Madison Square Garden.

Against Me! opened up the show to a barely-filled venue, sadly. The boys slammed through a set that only included songs from New Wave and Searching For A Former Clarity.

Halfway through the set, I became fascinated with the activity on the floor. I noticed a few kids trying to get into AM! by pushing around and putting their fists in the air. Needless to say, the pop-collared apes surrounding them didn’t approve of anyone rocking out to anyone but Dave Grohl. The best part…security was flipping out! They were acting like one of the kids was waving a knife in the air. About five guards were pointing and flashing lights in the dudes general direction. The guys actually got kicked out of the pit area. All the assholes surrounding the kids applauded too. For a second there, I forgot I was at a concert. What a fucking sham. If you are reading this and happen to be those kids who got kicked out, please reach out to me. Otherwise, AM! was great and I hope some young kid out there in the venue was impressed and bought a record.

Read more after the jump.

After a painfully never-ending set from Serj Tankian, the Foo Fighters graced the gigantic stage at MSG. It’s kinda weird that the band had never played MSG after all these years. The weird thing about the Foos is that even though they are one of the biggest rock bands of the last ten years, they don’t really have that “rock star attitude” if you will. Sure, a catwalk is a bit cocky. A video screen broadcasting their faces to the crowd before the encore? Dave Grohl running from side to side and jumping on platforms while playing a guitar solo? Most definitely rock star moves. But the Foos are a band you could see yourself at a bar with at 3 A.M. and not feel out of place when offering them a shot. Plus, it was their first show on MSG’s legendary stage after all these years. I think they could get away with some blatant, if not somewhat corny showmanship. The band sounded great and even moved out into the round for half the set, much to the delight of those with the cheap seats.

$45 t-shirts. Eight dollar beers. Plenty of dude rockin’ yuppies reliving their “college days.” Kids puking in the stalls and then slipping and falling in their/someone’s vomit. It was all there. It was the type of stuff I associated with live music before I came to my senses many moons ago. But hey, I had a blast.

Against Me! Setlist from Madison Square Garden, 2/19/08. Can’t really remember the Foos at this point. It was pretty scattered.

“Up The Cuts”
“White People For Peace”
“New Wave”
“Don’t Lose Touch”
“Stop”
“From Her Lips To God’s Ears”
“Americans Abroad”
“Thrash Unreal”
“Ocean”
*”Borne On The FM Waves” was played at some point.

Tags: Against Me, Foo Fighters, photos, show review //