Live Report: Foo Fighters dazzle at intimate Dublin show

It’s not even March yet and already we have a serious Gig of the Year contender.

Playing tonight to around 800 people – that’s a mere one hundredth of the crowd who caught ‘em at Slane 2016 – Foo Fighters do everything but spill blood in a heaving Academy, which turns into a giant moshpit the moment Dave Grohl and the chaps walk on to a heroes' welcome. Seriously, this is the loudest crowd Team Hot Press has been in the midst of since Taylor Swift fans perforated our eardrums in the Aviva with their air raid siren screaming.

 

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After Grohl performs a few warm up screams of his own - how does the guy not have permanent laryngitis? - it's straight in to 'All My Life', which alleviates any concerns one might have about new drummer Ilan Rubin. Simply put, the former Paramore and Nine Inch Nails man is a paradiddling monster with hair almost as impressive as his boss'!

"Having a new car, you want to drive it round the neighbourhood and show everybody how fast it goes," Grohl quips later when he insists on Rubin doing a drum solo.

With Pat Smear recovering from a bizarre gardening accident - no tittering, please - rhythm guitar duties are currently being handled by Jellyfish alumni Jason Falkner who's also well up to the task and looks absolutely delighted to be here.

Next up is the first of two newbies, 'Of All People', which sounds like it was recorded under the influence of early Megadeth and Slayer (this is a good thing). "I saw your face today/ I thought I'd seen a ghost" Grohl darkly intones as a large gentleman in a Nirvana t-shirt spills an almost full pint of Guinness on to your humble correspondent. My reaction? What a terrible waste of good beer...

Dave Grohl had warned Hot Press earlier in the day that "You might miss the last train home" and so it proves to be with a whopping 21-song set which ranges from the obligatory hits ('Times Like These', 'The Pretender', 'Learn To Fly', 'This Is A Call' etc. etc.) to deeper Foos cuts ('La Dee Da', 'Exhausted', 'Hey, Johnny Park').

It's very much a family affair with the balcony full of loved ones, including Dave's wife Jordyn who gets a big shout out before 'White Limo', the video for which she starred in waaaaaay back in 2011.

New single 'My Favorite Toy' does its best to blow the PA stack – Grohl doesn't so much sing as growl lyrics like: "Can't keep my glasses clean/ Candy and dopamine/ So sweet it's going to give me the shivers", which carry more than a hint of menace. It's only been out a week and already the crowd know every word.

What they're not expecting is the song to segue into a mini-version of Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak', albeit a somewhat under-rehearsed one. "We'll learn it properly for next time," the leader of the band promises. Several allusions are made to them coming back for a normal size, i.e. gargantuan, Foos show. We'll keep you posted...

The same trick is repeated on Grohl's suitably headbanging Lemmy tribute, 'No Son Of Mine', which towards the end has its evil way with 'Ace Of Spades'.

There are cheers and more than a few tears when Dave dedicates 'Aurora' to Taylor Hawkins who, for all of Rubin's dazzling skills, is very much missed tonight and forever will be.

Other highlights include a solo Grohl rendition of 'Big Me' in response to a fan request (how very Bruce Springsteen!); a rendition of 'Monkey Wrench' so heavy it defies the rules of physics; and a sustained round of "Olé, Olé, Olé"-ing which normally bugs the shit out of me but tonight seems entirely appropriate.

By the time the parting 'Everlong' comes around - the energy level hasn't dipped one iota BTW - that last train has indeed been well and truly missed.

Incidentally, the matching of tickets to IDs on the door worked a treat, with minimum delays getting in and no sign of touts hawking their grubby wares outside the venue before showtime.