The famed rock band Foo Fighters played a sold out show at The Nile on Monday Nov 3, it was a surprise show that was announced 2 days before. 600 tickets, no opener, and no set time to end.
Foo Fighters can sell out stadiums, so it’s insane that they came to Bakersfield to play at a relatively small venue that is The Nile. The band played a strong 2 and a half hour set, playing everything from the hits to extreme deep cuts for older fans. The band doesn’t officially go on tour until next summer so it’s safe to say that this show was very unexpected.
While waiting in line outside before the show, superfan Chris Carpenter was standing in line with no ticket, in hopes that someone would sell their guest ticket to him. “No, I don’t have one. I’m dying to get one, I’ve been a fan since 95’, they rock,” Carpenter said.
Acquiring tickets was a challenge, but instead of losing to a bot or a scalper you most likely lost to a true fan. Tickets were $30 dollars a piece, limited to 2 a person, and had to be bought in person with a physical card, and you were given a physical ticket that was tied to the I.D you purchased it with. This was done to prevent scalpers from buying a ton of tickets and selling them for insane prices. Dave Grohl himself even asked the crowd if they preferred this way of getting tickets and the response was unanimously yes.
Before the show began at 8pm, I had the chance to speak with the lead singer of the band Puddle of Mudd, Wesley Scantlin. Outside of the venue, I saw him check in at the band’s guest list, and I thought I wouldn’t get the chance to interview him but he ended up staying in the crowd with everyone else, and I was able to get a few words from him.
“I don’t know man, I’ve been with the Foo Fighters and Nirvana since I was little bitty like you, I love em, and I’m just here to learn a little bit from them which I’ve always had since day one and I love them very much,” said Scantlin.
The people of Bakersfield will always remember this night of legendary rock music. It’s a beautiful thing to see so many people come together for one shared reason. From dancing together, shouting lyrics, chanting “One more song!”, and even singing the Tom Petty hit “Free Fallin’” together before Foo Fighters even got on stage. Watching it happen and participating in it reminds me that everyone in the room has at least one thing in common. No matter our differences, music can always bring us together.