[Review] KROQ Weenie Roast 2011 – The Surprise Foo Fighters Set and More

Dave Grohl (Photo: Alex Rauch)

[Photo Gallery] Weenie Roast 2011 Main…This year’s Weenie Roast went with down like a shot of good tequila -  fast, dirty and bold.

The day kicked off on the Bud Light Stage 2 appropriately with Young the Giant, who conveniently are Irvine locals. While we were bummed that Lykke Li had to cancel due to sickness, the benefit was all other sets on Stage 2 were extended out longer. We jammed in the heat to Foster and the People’s infectious beats and Airborne Toxic Event’s soaring builds. Airborne’s lead singer Mikel Jollett sure knows how to work an audience – throwing out a political rant and then jumping off stage into the crowd with ease.

By the time Neon Trees closed out the side stage, the crowd was sweaty and buzzed – as boisterous, flamboyant lead singer Tyler Glenn who played preacher, sinner, and mo-hawked cheerleader all at one time.

Bad Religion (Photo: Alex Rauch)

As the sun began to descend, and people had their fill of  weeners and brew, California punk legends Face to Face and then A Day To Remember kicked off the main stage.

Cage The Elephant (Photo: Alex Rauch)

Per the usual, Cage The Elephant’s frontman Matt Shultz crowdsurfed, before Bad Religion launched the California crowd in a high-energy fit. Next up, The Strokes played a mellow set that had the crowd singing and dancing along. Then Rise Against took it up a notch, with their brand of brash punk.