"I haven't played a place with a clock in front of me in a long fucking time."
It's been 20 years since Dave Grohl recorded a demo tape as a one-man project that eventually became the Foo Fighters, and about 30 years since he saw Naked Raygun play at The Cubby Bear in Chicago, the first time he ever saw band perform live. On Friday night, he and the Foo Fighters played a sold-out show in front of an intimate crowd at probably a much cleaner, bro-friendly Cubby Bear in front of a "ticking clock."
From the onset, Grohl told the crowd that the band would play as long as possible-no breaks, no fake-outs to an encore-but hinting they might try to sneak a few past Chicago's strictly enforced curfew: "If there's one thing I learned about Chicago, there's rules. You got rules. But you can bend those fucking rules." The crowd agreed, insisting via chant that the band "fuck that clock."
With the exception of Grohl hosting a short jam session from atop the bar-and sharing a few beers with fans-Foos didn't really break any rules and abided by the curfew. But the two-and-a-half hour show, both a celebration of the band's 20th anniversary and a kickoff to the Grohl-produced HBO series "Sonic Highways" that accompanies the forthcoming album of the same name, more than satisfied every mega-fan in the room looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
EXTRA: LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE OFF FOO FIGHTERS' FORTHCOMING "SONIC HIGHWAYS"
Remember that time the Foo Fighters were a three-piece band? Officially a five-piece-guitarists Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear, bassist Nate Mendel, drummer Taylor Hawkins-parts of the Cubby Bear show had a whopping seven guys on stage at times, with special guests Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun ("That's the fucking guy right there," Grohl said) stopping through to carry on the theme of the "Sonic Highways" episode screened before the show began and play a few of their originals. The highlight? Hawkins swapping places with Grohl to do lead on magical covers of "Surrender" and "Stiff Competition" with Nielsen-sans the white suit he pulled out for "Late Show with David Letterman" on Thursday-because, damn, it feels good to watch Grohl on the drums again.
#foofighterspic.twitter.com/FTR5RCYTkD
- Jessica Galliart (@JessicaGalliart) October 18, 2014LoadingThe bromance between Rick Nielsen and Taylor Hawkins is a sight. #foofighters
The highs: Opening with "All My Life" (which Shiflett has said always has been his favorite to play live), lots of love for classics from the "Foo Fighters" album ("I'll Stick Around,""This is a Call,""Big Me"), standouts "Learn to Fly" and "The Pretender," shit-kicking picks from 2011's "Wasting Light" ("White Limo,""Rope") and perfect placement for favorites from iconic "The Colour and The Shape" ("My Hero" and "Everlong" as the set-closer). Foos clearly weren't here for the slow stuff (no "Times Like These" or "Skin and Bones," a few of my favorites).
LoadingFoos hit me so hard in the feels. First time seeing them was incredible, wish you were there. #foofighters
The lows: We only get the one song off the new album? You knew "Something from Nothing" was going to sound both beautiful and crushing live, and it was, but I wanted more from "Sonic Highways" at the big kickoff show.
With true rock show pacing, Grohl and crew chugged from hit to hit, bounced from album to album and paused for a few slow jam sessions for a truly balanced show that, despite almost hitting the three-hour mark, felt like a whirlwind. It's inevitable the band eventually will announce a larger tour after bringing the "Sonic Highways" episodes to the appropriate cities, but where will Foos play in Chicago next time? Grohl hinted at following friends Paul McCartney's and Pearl Jam's leads in playing just across the street-"Maybe we'll even play Wrigley Field one day ..."-but wherever it is, it's not going to be anything like the intimate set at the iconic Wrigleyville club. "We'll be back soon ... I hope. Might not be at the Cubby Bear."
EXTRA: CHECK OUT JESSICA GALLIART'S INSTAGRAM FOR MORE VIDEOS FROM THE SHOW.
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