Foo Fighters take their stadium show to a smaller NYC venue for a surprise concert
Nearly two years prior, the Foo Fighters came close to marking a triumphant return to New York City. The band played to a packed audience one summer at Citi Field in Queens, a massive baseball stadium that could accommodate nearly 42,000 fans. Unfortunately, their energetic performance was abruptly cut short due to inclement weather — a powerful downpour coupled with ominous lightning made it unsafe to continue.
This unexpected turn of events foreshadowed the tumultuous couple of years that lay ahead for the band. Back in 2024, the band’s frontman, Dave Grohl, made headlines when he disclosed that he had fathered a child outside of his marriage. Additionally, in 2025, the Foo Fighters bid farewell to drummer Josh Freese after only one tour, quickly replacing him with Ilan Rubin.
Fast forward to the present day, and the band has turned over a new leaf. Just last week, they dropped their twelfth studio album, “Your Favorite Toy,” a high-octane compilation of tracks characterized by a blistering punk style, gritty vocals, and at times, a bit of over-compressed production. As noted by Dennis Waszak Jr. of The Associated Press, the new songs found their natural home at Irving Plaza, a much more intimate venue in Manhattan with a capacity of around 1,000 attendees.
Surprising their eager fanbase, Foo Fighters announced two impromptu shows last Wednesday: one at Irving Plaza on Thursday and another at the Starland Ballroom in New Jersey on Saturday. Priced at a reasonable $30 per ticket, fans lined up for hours to secure their spot. Those fortunate enough to snag passes for the Irving Plaza gig showcased their love for the band by donning vintage Foo Fighters gear and engaging with fellow enthusiasts, sharing stories and speculating about the band’s performance on the cozy stage.
Promptly taking the stage at eight minutes past 8 p.m., the band wasted no time diving into their electrifying set. Grohl greeted the jubilant crowd, alluding to a mix of new tracks and nostalgic fan favorites. From early 2000s hits like “All My Life” and “Times Like These” to late ’90s classics such as “Monkey Wrench” and “My Hero,” the Foo Fighters kept the energy high, peppering in new material like “Spit Shine” and “My Favorite Toy.”
Despite the scaled-down setting, the band refused to compromise on their trademark enthusiasm. While there were no elaborate stage effects or grand gestures, Foo Fighters didn’t skimp on surprises — offering the live debut of “Window” and kicking off a five-song encore with “A320,” featured on the overlooked 1998 “Godzilla” soundtrack.
One memorable moment saw a dedicated fan shouting “Taylor Hawkins forever!” in honor of the band’s late drummer, to which Grohl responded in solidarity. With the show clocking in at two and a half hours, Grohl playfully hinted at future gigs matching the intimacy of the evening. As attendees dispersed into the rainy April night, thoughts inevitably drifted to where the Foo Fighters might turn up next, likely in a venue dwarfing the cozy confines of Irving Plaza.