RIGA (Latvia)
21 June 2017
21 June 2017
I'm on Foo Fighters mailing lists, I'm also constantly on the look out for bands that I like playing near to where I live. The Foo Fighters are one of my favourite bands, in fact, on my list they're only second to U2. You would think therefore, if they were to be playing in Riga, Latvia, that I would have been ALL OVER IT.
Looking back to Christmas 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia. Inga and I are exchanging gifts and in a moment of inspired Pictionary Inga decided to draw a vision of my gift on a piece of paper.
That's pretty much what it looked like, and then she added, they're playing in Riga!
In fact, just rolling through my various folders I managed to find the actual drawing that Inga did!!
My Christmas present before my eyes - Belgrade - Serbia
Foo Fighters on paper - Belgrade - Serbia
I think I fumbled few several words before coming out with this gem, WHY? I was literally dumbfounded. My response encapsulated several elements, the fact that I'd not picked up on the band actually setting a gig for Inga's hometown, and then, the fact that actually decided to do a gig in Riga! I mean as much as I love Riga it's not an enormous city, in fact estimates say that it's home to about 650,000 people. Although with that said, it is the largest capital in the Baltics and sits in between Estonia & Lithuania, so as a location for a Baltic show, it made sense.
Foo Fighters in their way - billboard in Riga - Latvia
So we were set. The only issues that we had was logistical. Guns N' Roses were playing in Gdansk on June 20th, what this meant for us is that we would need to do a 700km+ run from Gdansk on the day of the show. We estimated that including stops it would take in the vicinity of 11hrs. In order to get back home, have a bit of a sleep and head out to the show we set ourselves for a 5am departure from Gdansk.
The run to Riga actually progressed quite smoothly and I think we made it there by 4pm. Enough time for a bit of food, some sleep and a couple of inspirational drinks to get us ready for some good 'ole fashioned rock!
Now when I say that the Foo Fighters were going to be playing in her back yard, I'm saying that they were literally in the same suburb, within 2kms walk from her place. As a kid, living this close to a concert venue was just some far fetched dream, although these days we live within 1km of Marvel stadium, so perhaps that dream has become a reality for me.
What you need to know also about this time of year in Northern Europe is that the sun never sets in the conventional 'see you tomorrow' sense. In the height of Summer you always have the afterglow of the sun lighting up the horizon and its quite spectacular. What that also means for 'showtime' is that the starts are later. Little did we know that the Foo Fighters would be kicking off proceedings at 10pm!
....But when they came on, boy, didn't they just give it everything. The crowd estimate was in the 30,000+ vicinity, and hey, wasn't Inga absolutely correct with her drawing when she said that we would be right at the front. We were in fact 1st ROW!!! Right on the barricade. Close enough to have Dave Grohls' hair waving in front of us when he was head banging, close enough for me to give Pat Smear a thumbs up and for him to smile and return one to me, close enough to be jumping up and down like lunatics when they started All my life and to look back at a wave of jumping Latvians going absolutely nuts also.
What an experience it was. Despite the cold in the midst of Summer the boys cut through song, after song, after song. As midnight came and went they just seemed to be playing better and getting stronger. Amazingly to me the show didn't end until a little after 1am!!!! I've never been in a situation where the band playing has finished their gig the next day!
What a show!
What an EXPERIENCE
Thank you to my wonderful wife Inga for a fantastic Christmas present, and,
Thank you to the Foo Fighters for turning up and playing in our backyard!!!
Foo Fighters Set list
Performer: Foo Fighters
Tour: Concrete & Gold
Location: Lucasvala, Riga, LATVIA
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
....But when they came on, boy, didn't they just give it everything. The crowd estimate was in the 30,000+ vicinity, and hey, wasn't Inga absolutely correct with her drawing when she said that we would be right at the front. We were in fact 1st ROW!!! Right on the barricade. Close enough to have Dave Grohls' hair waving in front of us when he was head banging, close enough for me to give Pat Smear a thumbs up and for him to smile and return one to me, close enough to be jumping up and down like lunatics when they started All my life and to look back at a wave of jumping Latvians going absolutely nuts also.
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
What an experience it was. Despite the cold in the midst of Summer the boys cut through song, after song, after song. As midnight came and went they just seemed to be playing better and getting stronger. Amazingly to me the show didn't end until a little after 1am!!!! I've never been in a situation where the band playing has finished their gig the next day!
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
Foo Fighters - Lucavsala - Riga - Latvia
What a show!
What an EXPERIENCE
Thank you to my wonderful wife Inga for a fantastic Christmas present, and,
Thank you to the Foo Fighters for turning up and playing in our backyard!!!
Foo Fighters Set list
Performer: Foo Fighters
Tour: Concrete & Gold
Location: Lucasvala, Riga, LATVIA
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(Ted Nugent / Queen snippets… more )
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(with Alison Mosshart)
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(Slow version)
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(sign request)
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- Encore:
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(with Alison Mosshart)
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(Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover)
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(live debut)
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Note: first Foo's show in Baltics, 3hrs long
