Shows > Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters Debut New Album At Surprise Show
By Johnny Firecloud
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Foo Fighters skipped town for some new scenery to debut their new album in its entirety for a handful of fans at the tiny Velvet Jones club in Santa Barbara Friday night, giving strong evidence to support to frontman Dave Grohl’s claims that their latest is the heaviest Foo Fighters album yet.
The northbound quintet sent fans on a wild goose chase to find the club gig, with Grohl having teased fans throughout the week prior by posting pictures on Twitter of the band in practice and exclaiming how eager they are to play the new album live after so much honing in the studio. This was followed by a picture of a festive party sombrero next to a Foo Fighters tour case, giving the clearest indication yet that a double-bill show was going to happen very soon.
Grohl posted pictures of himself Friday as he drove up the coast – one with the ocean to his left in the distance with Santa Cruz Island in the distance, another with the North 101 sign. By the time he got around to the official announcement, investigative guesstimators had honed in on the location and the line had grown to over 50 people.
Mariachi El Bronx took the stage to an initially depressingly passive crowd, most of whom had never heard of The Bronx, let alone their alter-egos, which appeared in full authentic Mexican regalia and employed an assortment of traditional acoustic mariachi instruments and horns to play original compositions with English lyrics. Fortunately for the sake of quality recognization, it took roughly a song and a half to fully captivate the room with a stylistic left hook that cheerfully defied preconceived notions of what a hardcore band (and a phenomenal one at that) could deliver in such an alien format to the genre. The band’s punk aesthetic shone through the meticulous discipline of the mariachi arrangements, all-out immersion in the style allowing for flexibility and personality flourishes that resonated powerfully with the 300-capacity crowd.
El Bronx refrained from debuting any new material, a shame for the fans but immaterial to the impact of the performance. Singer Matt Caughthran basked in the knowledge of having turned the tide so immediately, swaying to the Latin grooves and relishing the moment while the rest of the band remained intensely focused on their respective instruments. Tucked amidst the tales of love, longing and loneliness are thorny lyrical gems such as on album highlight Silver Or Lead, where Caughthran takes a swipe at the hands-to-heaven approach to life: “Quit asking Jesus for help, and go out and find it yourself.”
After closing their set, which ran through the majority of the first Mariachi El Bronx record (they’re currently putting the finishing touches on their second), the pride on Caughthran’s face in saying “coming next, the Foo Fighters” said enough about his sense of accomplishment and pride at having faced the fires of indifference and given rise to new musical love among the Santa Barbara crowd – not to mention the privilege of introducing such a rare moment in musical history.
When the Foos appeared and took their place among their respective instruments, Grohl bounded onstage, gave a gleaming, toothy grin and asked, “You guys wanna hear the new record?” – Cue roaring anticipatory enthusiasm.
The new and still unnamed Foo Fighters album, produced by old friend Butch Vig and recorded on analog tape in Grohl’s makeshift garage studio, is the band’s attempt to scrap their trajectory of studio progress and go back to doing things the hard way, more organically and as lo-fi as possible. Vig’s assertion that the new material is “primal” and “raw” was immediately proven as the band tore through their new album and an entire greatest-hits set immediately after. Grohl, lead guitarist Chris Shiflett, bassist Nate Mendel, drummer Taylor Hawkins and latest addition Pat Smear on guitar brought a furious precision to the task, surgically executing the album’s 11 tracks in sequential order, in just over 35 blistering minutes of pure Rock fury.
The 28 seconds of new material we previously heard from the band in which Grohl could be heard screaming “These are my famous last words!!!” is from album opener Bridge Burning, a track far more pop-rock friendly than the initial indications suggested. With the repeated line “Whatever keeps you warm at night…. whatever keeps you warm inside,” a bitter send-off leads to a furious follow-up with Rope, offering an echoing intro not unlike King Missile’s Detachable Penis before jagged guitar blasts kick the track into full gear. The track’s core adhesive is a slow-building melody, punctuated by howls, before a jaw-dropping drum breakdown and airtight rhythm riff leading into the final chorus.
Dear Rosemary followed, a strutting clean-toned mid-tempo rocker with an atmosphere that morphs into a haunting range and rhythmic call/response with Hawkins in the bridge. We heard a snippet of White Limo from a Twitter tease at the beginning of the year, but three feet from your face it’s a pulverizing flurry of riffage and roaring that could be a highlight on The Colour And The Shape.
There’s a creeping strum intro to Arlandria that adds a strange anticipation, leading us deceptively into a very sing-song delivery that builds on lines like “Bang, bang, blown away, come again some other day,” rising to a huge chorus. Another deceptive beginning comes by way of Grohl’s pretty plucking-riff intro to These Days – an accusatory song that demands a little empathy, seething: “You say it’s over… that’s easy for you to say!” The song takes off pounding, less a revenge anthem than an accusatory “look at what the mess you’ve made, damnit.” See for yourself (thanks 64Piddy):
The percussive flurry in conclusion flowed right into Back & Forth, a bombastic chugger of a track with similar riffage to Eagles oOf Death Metal’s Cherry Cola. “I’m lookin for some back & forth with you / To feel the same things you do…”
With Hawkins sporting his typical shit-eating grin as he looked to Grohl for cues, the contrasts in member atmosphere was fascinating; while Mendel’s casual cool delivery was slightly upstaged by Smear’s playfully seductive grins, Shiflett was all business, sweating profusely as he determinedly tore through each lead.
Grohl, on the other hand, was a livewire of energy and among the upper echelon of frontmen. While Pearl Jam is known for their unforgettable live performances, frontman Eddie Vedder routinely guzzles a bottle of wine at shows, leading to slurring a disheartening amount of the time and reliably flubbed lyrics. Grohl, on the other hand, hits every word, blasts every note and gives it his entire all until the very last moment – all with a wink, a grin and a quick joke. Drenched in sweat and chomping unmercifully on a piece of gum, he’s a sharply-honed Rock machine with razor focus and an endless well of energy. Somebody give the guy a medal…. or put on a fresh pot of coffee.
The front row got a good hair-flinging sweat shower at the onset of Matter Of Time, a fairly standard Foo rocker with the repeated roaring refrain “It’s just a matter of time before… before!” At the end, Grohl wailed “What does it matter to you?!” four times over, a demanding dismissal of an offender’s token redemptive tactics.
The curveball of the album is without question I Should’ve Known, a harrowing hindsight moment that’s a roller-coaster of sadness and frustrated anger. Butch Vig believes it may have something to do with Kurt Cobain, and the idea’s not far-fetched, but we can only speculate… for now.
“I should’ve known I was inside of you / I should’ve known that was a side of you / With your hands in mine, feel me one last time,” Dave pleads, but concludes that he’s ultimately still hung up on the inflicted tragedy, screaming “I cannot forgive you yet” The song builds to a slamming close, accusatory and bitterly aware of the harsh realities taking place – a recurring theme on the album, interestingly. Discontented relationships and unresolved feelings dominate the subject matter of the record, considerably darker in tone than the majority of their previous work.
There are exceptions, however. In the chopping, healing anthem of album closer Walk, Grohl laments that “I think I lost my way,” before “I’m learning to walk again / I’m learning to talk again.” The renewal is clear, and the palette is wiped clean of the negative aggression with a fist as he screams “I never wanna DIE!!” twice over. The song’s gripping power is designed to crush radio, and it would be a surprise not to hear this track everywhere before the year’s out.
With that, the new Foo Fighters record had run its course, a fantastically searing and seemingly short return for a band who had begun to artistically work themselves into a corner before going back to basics. Judging by the roaring reception and the half-dozen goosebump moments I personally experienced as I watched the show unfold three feet away, it’s quite safe to say that the Foo’s latest is going to make some sizable waves.
It wasn’t until after Times Like These that Grohl took a moment to speak, explaining how it was Nate’s idea to play the album in front of people in a bunch of little clubs as opposed to their tiny practice space in the Valley. For the past few weeks, the band would blast through the album in one solid block in their rehearsal box, take a break and do it again. For the fans, however, that simply wouldn’t do – a little variety was called for, and it was served in spades through a closing set that included career highlights and rarities, as well as a hell of a lot of fun.
My Hero’s amped finale was extended lengthily, due in no small part to Grohl turning the mic to the audience for the chorus. The deafening response from the pit of the tiny club caused Dave to proclaim, “You guys sound so areeeena!” Our reward was a version of Wattershed so brutal, so perfect and incendiary that it’s going to be hard to listen to the recorded version ever again. The song has been given a depth, texture and impact that simply trounces the original on their eponymous debut.
An extended Everlong led to a short encore break, after which the Foo Fighters returned to end the night with a glorious triple shot of The Pretender, I’ll Stick Around and This Is A Call. Down to the very last moment, Grohl and company poured themselves into every chord, grateful for the love of a wildly enthusiastic audience witnessing something new to the entire world.
“See you next week” were Dave’s final words, an enticing open door for what’s to come. See you there…
UPDATE: Here’s a YouTube compilation of new songs filmed by squaresoflight:
Photos: Johnny Firecloud & Steve Keyes
You lucky bastard!!!!! I cannot wait for this album! No one shot a video of this?
Can’t wait to hear that! This will be the 2011’s World Best Album for sure…
FOO FIGHTERS Official Italian Fan Club – Click Here!
[...] of how amazing/insane/ridiculous the show probably was. For that, I recommend you head over to Antiquiet for their in-depth review as the took the show in a mere three feet from Dave Grohl and company. [...]
I respect this band, and certainly Grohl as a writer and musician, but I’ve never really adored them and pledged my undying, lifelong devotion like many other rabid fans of the Foos. I’m hoping something different has been brought to the proverbial table after his time with TCV. We shall see. I’m intrigued that Butch VIg producing. Hmmmm….
See you next week????!!!! My jealousy from missing last night, due to being more than an hour from SB, is strong. But now I’m hopeful. Record sounds just as killer as I was hoping….see you next week, hopefully!!!
I got to the part where it seemed to say that Dave Grohl was somehow better than Eddie Vedder, at which point I couldn’t take it seriously anymore.
Did it really imply that? I didn’t get that at all.
Nah, I think he was just using a ying/yang type of description, using 2 rock icons, to get his point across about how hard Dave works. Both Eddie and Dave, if we’re lucky, will be putting on shows when i am in my 50’s and able to take my kids to see the real music Daddy was fortunate enough to grow up with.
Great setlist. I don’t know about the new stuff yet…but it looks like it was a great show to be at.
shit eating grin…hehe
can’t wait to see Mariachi El Bronx at Coachella!
[...] which they played the entire yet-to-be-titled new album start to finish. The lucky bastards at Antiquiet made it to the show, and praised the new music as being everything that Dave Grohl had promised it [...]
For what it’s worth, “Rope” is going to be the first single. Apparently a few Radio DJs have already heard it.
I’m very psyched for this album. Never been a full fledged Foo fanatic (say that fast five times), but I think with Mr. Vig waving his wand, the band’s return to analog and the memories of his tenure with TCV , Dave’s gonna bring it this time. Thanks for the fine review, Johnny.
I’m watching the video and listening to all of the clueless-cooler- than- you audience members who insist on fucking chatting through the performance. Why are they there? They are at every damn show, intimate setting or not. And I think they should be dragged out to the parking lot and stoned to death with their own smart phones.
What’s with diss on Eddie Vedder? So not needed. I’ve seen both the Foos and PJ live countless times. I love Dave’s enthusiam and energy and think he’s great. No need to dismiss Ed, one of the greatest frontman ever, as a slurring and unreliable, to make your point. You lost some cred with that statement. That said, the show last night sounds epic and I’m looking mad forward to this new album.
Ed is definitely one of the best frontman ever. However as a massive fan who’s seen them over 40 times I can personally vouch for the fact that fans simply have come to expect Ed’s total disregard of precision in performance over the past half-decade, and it’s directly tied to the ever-present wine bottle. Often in the third act of the show, he’d much rather get the *feeling* across and have fun with it than hit all the lines, get the lyrics right or even put his all into the delivery. It’s disappointing – especially when compared to the 110% he put into each and every performance in the first half of the 90s – and the contrast was made distinctly clear last night. Grohl was fun and loose, but the utmost professional in execution. I’ll happily take a “cred” hit for speaking the hard truth every time – particularly about my favorite band on the planet (Pearl Jam).
Im with johnny on this one. Every single early PJ performance Ive ever seen had eddie bouncing off the damn walls and singing with the fury and passion of a madman. I cite the Unplugged show for this.
And look at dave. Still playing with the same fury and energy he always has had. I cite the Wembley stadium show this time.
I like eddie more then I like most of my family members, but his lifestyle has taken a toll on him and his performances.
I really like the intro to “These Days”
I watched a 9 1/2 minute video from the show and wound up watching a lot of the back of you and Steve’s heads.
Any video of The Bronx?
Not that I’ve seen. But goddamnit they crushed it.
surgically executing
jagged guitar blasts
unctuated by howls
jaw-dropping drum breakdown
airtight rhythm riff
a strutting clean-toned mid-tempo rocker
an atmosphere that morphs into a haunting range
pulverizing flurry of riffage and roaring
reeping strum
pretty plucking-riff intro
bombastic chugger of a track with similar riffage
Smear’s playfully seductive grins, Shiflett was all business, sweating profusely as he determinedly tore through each lead.***********
routinely guzzles a bottle of wine at shows, leading to slurring a disheartening amount of the time and reliably flubbed lyrics. WUT
Drenched in sweat and chomping unmercifully
hair-flinging sweat shower
curveball of the album
harrowing hindsight
inflicted tragedy
chopping, healing anthem
half-dozen goosebump moments
solid block in their rehearsal box
My Hero’s amped finale was extended lengthily
dude seriously…just tell the story or put on a fresh pot of coffee and sober up.
You’re the most complimentary troll we’ve had yet.
I’m not a troll hackass. I like your site but had than review been reduced to two paragraphs of solid info rather than a shit load of egomania filler I’d have been much happier. I for one am glad they seem to be returning to their roots. Their self titled album is the only thing if theirs I listen to.
btw I’m rooting for you guys, I tell loads of folks about this place and I visit daily, but this review was excruciating.
If you’re looking for two paragraph reviews you’ve taken your troll gloss to the wrong place – we’re thorough. We remember what attention spans are, and use our colors of reference accordingly. You could tattoo Antiquiet on your face and that still wouldn’t change.
see, that was better. Only “troll gloss” made my skin crawl, nothing else.
Johnny! Let the boy have his hater-aide lol ….awesome piece! cannot for this album!
I have just two words…
FUCK – YEA!!!
I’m not with Fartso, I thought this review was just as packed full of adjectives and decriptionary (not a word, but deal with it) embellishments that I would have included in my own review, had I been fortunate enough to be at Velvet Jones for this night.
Maybe this will be the album that pulls me back into the Foo… we shall see. I’m eager to hear the production quality that Vig undoubtedly brings to the table. Good review – I’m amped!
[...] Santa Barbara, der dei spelte gjennom heile plata frå fyrste til ellevte (og siste) låt. I følge dei som var tilstades, støtta konserten opp om Dave Grohl sine påstandar om at dette er det hardaste Foo [...]
[...] última sexta-feira, a banda Foo Fighters realizou um show surpresa em Santa Barbara e apresentou algumas músicas do seu novo álbum que será lançado em março. O show contou com o [...]
[...] Johnny Firecloud at Antiquiet has a full review of the evening that you’ll want to check out here. [...]
[...] (Foto do site Antiquiet.com) [...]
Well god damn it. I was even talking to friends on Friday night about the Velvet Jones and how many awesome shows I’ve seen there. I’m literally 25 minutes away from these! I’m not on Twitter but this almost inspires me fire it up.
Without fail, I always miss these bad ass secret shows. I don’t get it, I fancy myself “up on things” when it comes to the latest music news and shit. I’d say the Foo Fighters are one of my favorite rock bands (up through “Nothing Left To Lose” they were flawless) but I’ve never seen a proper show. Saw them open for The Police at Dodger Stadium but I want to be able to feel the sweat…..kinda like that Velvet Jones show I missed.
Johnny – your review made me feel like I was at the show. Bravo, brother.
That’s the best motivation I can get (besides all your money), so thank you.
[...] All the news stories can be found at the RiO!B website. Foo Fighters review [...]
[...] To read a complete review of the gig visit Antiquiet’s blog. [...]
This thing is gonna be FAR from “Lo-Fi”….
Thank you for the brief preview of the new album to all the lucky Foo fans that were fortune enough to be there.
Thank you to all the Foo fans that gave us this brief preview of the hardest Foo Fighters album yet!
[...] band came onstage to a crowd of 300 in the packed club, according to Antiquiet, with Grohl jumping up to the mic and asking, “You guys wanna hear the new record?” The [...]
[...] him: for one, he’s reunited with Nevermind producer Butch Vig. Secondly, we watched them debut the entire damn thing three feet from our faces. As of January 3rd, the album is finished, and we’re looking at [...]
Being a long time Foo Fighters finatic, from what is posted, I’m already in love. Dave… your smokin hot!
Just because the Foo Fighters went with a garage and analog tape does not automatically mean that this album is going to be “as lo-fi as possible”. Dave Grohl has explained to me during the rehearsals for “There Is Nothing Left To Lose” that he did numerous A/B comparisons of digital multi-track recordings to recordings made on the Studer 24-track tape machines, and he felt that the analog tapes sounded better every time. He also explains in a recent video tour of the garage studio that the garage itself made his “super sh*tty drum set” that he used to record demos with sound “so good”. Plus the fact that they have Butch Vig on board as a producer, who is notorious for his high-gloss (MY characterization ;) production methods, I really think we are really in for a super HI-FI sounding album.
Where can the video tour of the garage be found?
It’s on Youtube. NME did the video. Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PljU-A0MFsY :)
also here: http://www.antiquiet.com/news/2011/01/dave-grohl-studio-tour/
Awesome review, thanks again antiquiet! I agree with rob, vicarious goose bumps all round…
I just can’t stop starting at Jerko and Firecloud in the vids!
*staring
Rock out Foo Fighters!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to buy the new album.
[...] Thanks to Antiquiet’s review of last week’s gig for the setlist reference). #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 [...]
[...] our live review of the new Foo Fighters record, and pick it up at their official site on April 12. [...]
What’s with the jab at Vedder? Grohl isn’t a pimple on Vedder’s fanny in terms of being a frontman.
Grohl isn’t a pimple on Vedder’s fanny.
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[...] a surprise “secret” show last night in Santa Barbara, CA. and you can read all about it HERE from [...]
[...] reviewed the album as it was debuted in front of an audience for the very first time in January, but naturally the [...]
[...] For an in-depth review of the show, go here. [...]
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[...] others) of the Foo’s string of secret shows debuting their Wasting Light album. Check out our review from that shitkickin’ [...]
[...] alter egos Mariachi El Bronx will rock the hell out of us once more, just like they did that unforgettable night up in Santa Barbara, where Dave Grohl & Co. debuted the entirety of their new album Wasting Light to our [...]
[...] others) of the Foo’s string of secret shows debuting their Wasting Light album. Check out our review from that shitkickin’ [...]
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