Monday, October 17th 2011

Shows:  Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters Trace Their Heroes’ Footsteps at The Forum

By Johnny Firecloud

Dave Grohl somehow found a way to make it look passively casual when he filled in on drums for a 40 minute opening gig by Cage The Elephant at the legendary Forum in Inglewood, California on Friday night (after a tremendous set from Mariachi El Bronx, the costumed alter-egos of Los Angeles hardcore gods The Bronx), before blasting out a nearly three-hour performance with his own Foo Fighters that was the kind of high-energy, fifth-gear supercharged show that earns them the distinction of being one of Rock’s modern classics.

Backed by Nate Mendel (bass), Taylor Hawkins (drums), Pat Smear & Chris Shiflett (guitars) and touring player Rami Jaffe (keyboards, accordion), Grohl led his band – sky-blue Gibson in tow –  through two nights and nearly six hours of music between them on Thursday & Friday at the legendary venue where everyone from The Rolling Stones to James Brown to Prince and beyond made their mark over the years.

The Foos’ showmanship was exhilarating and genuine, the unabashed fist-pumping champion rock energy of the 70s mixed with a marathon run through a staggering number of hits to which most of the nearly 18,000 in attendance knew every word.

Antiquiet was there, and here is the photographic evidence.

Full review here.