‘America is back’: Foo Fighters show hits 100% capacity at Madison Square Garden

For the first time since COVID-19 decimated the live concert industry, New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden was filled to 100 per cent capacity on Sunday night for a Foo Fighters show.

The rockers played a long and animated set; concertgoers raved about the three-hour runtime, especially since it’s been about one-and-a-half years since anyone has been able to see a live performance on such a grand scale.

The Foo Fighters invited surprise guest, comedian Dave Chappelle, up on stage, where he sang Radiohead’s Creep along with the band.

Earlier on in the show, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins switched places with the band’s singer, Dave Grohl, for a cover of Queen’s Somebody to Love. The band also covered the Bee Gees’ You Should Be Dancing, a little taste of what’s to come — the band plans to release a disco album in the near future (yes, you read that correctly).

The concert was the first in more than 15 months that had no mask requirement, no social distancing protocol or capacity caps, and all concertgoers had to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.

Fans posted photos of the concert to social media, showcasing the crowd size and expressing euphoria at being able to attend a packed show again. Many also used the opportunity to encourage others to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

A small group of anti-vaccination protesters gathered outside Madison Square Garden before the show, saying it was unfair for those who choose not to get vaccinated.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced in May that venues in the state can fill to 100 per cent capacity if all attendees are fully vaccinated.

The concert was confirmed at the beginning of June.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for over a year,” Grohl said in a written statement at the time. “And Madison Square Garden is going to feel that HARD.”

Grohl certainly lived up to that promise.