Review Dan Maynard and Kerrie Maynard
Photo credit Brett Schewitz
It’s been a long time coming, after the cancellation of their highly anticipated tour last year, Brisbane largest venue Suncorp Stadium will be host to one of the worlds greatest rock bands to ever grace the planet, of course its none other than Foo Fighters. The crowd is pumped and the queues go as far back as the eye can see, people have lined up to get as close to their favourite band as possible.
After the shocking and sudden passing of their longtime drummer, Taylor Hawkins in early 2022, the Foo Fighters had no choice but to cancel the rest of their world tour, which would end here in Australia in December of last year. But in that time, the band have come out with what is their eleventh studio album ‘But Here We Are’, an album that saw Dave Grohl back on the drums for a full Fooies album since 1997. The album encapsulates the bands career, staying true to their sound and Grohl incorporating what Hawkins brought to the band perfectly.
As the South East Queensland sun blares down onto Suncorp Stadium, it doesn’t stop the masses from racing to the barriers and their seats to catch our opening act, hard hitting pop rock group Hot Milk. Taking to the stage, our main duo Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw race on ready to warm up the crowd. Hannah racing around the stage, giving it her all, she is the epitome of old school female rock n roll, Joan Jett vibes fill the air with her contagious chaotic energy. They’ve set the tone for the afternoon, it’s time to switch gears.
Here as the middle child, the second band for the night is the Sunny Coasts favourite Aussie punk rockers The Chats. Strutting on stage, sunnies ablaze and energy ready at the go. Vocalist Eamon Sandwith announces in his proud Aussie accent “This songs about Nambour!” As they blast into Nambored, followed quickly by ‘Billy Backwash’s Day’ and ‘Dead on Site’.
It’s quickly made apparent that Sandwith enjoys announcing the meaning behind each song, but no one’s complaining, the songs are hilarious and the meaning behind them are just as great to hear from the lead vocalist himself. “This song is about a really hot day in south Queensland, it’s called Stinker!” The quality of comedy is not lost. As the band jams through a massive set of fun Aussie bogan fun, the crowd lap up every moment loving the three piece Queenslanders. A great lead into what will be an epic night of rock n roll.
The time has arrived, this has been a long time coming. With the iconic ring out as the band walks on stage, Dave running back and forth psyching up the crowd, “this is the last night of the Australia tour mother fuckers!” He screams….”are you fucking ready?!” As red light bathes the crowd, he just as easily transitions perfectly into the staple opening track of any Foo Fighters set ‘All My Life’. A song that exudes energy out the wazoo from the moment it kicks in, the crowd is thrown into a frenzy and sings along to every word of the song.
Followed flawlessly by ‘No Son of Mine’, a track making its Brisbane debut, with quick snippets of Black Sabbaths ‘Paranoid’ and AC/DCs ‘Dirty Deeds’. Next up we get our first taste of the new album in all of its live glory, opening track ‘Rescued’ begins with its stunning chord progression that’s quickly accompanied by the band as Grohl begins the verse. The album itself can’t begin to do justice as to how epic this new music sounds in a live environment.
As we proceed through the next few songs, the lights dim and keyboardist Rami Jaffee and Grohl begin an intimate and drawn out start to ‘Times Like These’. Sending a wave of emotions across the stadium, tears evident in people’s eyes, before the entire band jumps on the wagon and the stadium is lit up like nothing else.
A medley of songs and solos proceeds tracks ‘Generator’, ‘ La Dee Da’ and ‘Breakout’ playing snippets of covers such as ‘Whip It’ and ‘Sabotage’. Grohl uses this time to introduce the entire band, including the latest addition to the family, world renowned drummer Josh Freese. Even ending on a massive sounding version of Nine Inch Nails ‘March of the Pigs’ which Freese originally drummed for. After an epic medley, we’re back to a dim, Grohl at the mic alone, singing one of the bands biggest hits ‘My Hero’. The crowd sings as loud as Grohl, at times louder than the rock god himself. A big long build up leads us into the full band play through of the song, an emotional song as myself and I’m sure the crowd alike can’t help but be overcome with images and memories of Taylor Hawkins.
The set is brought back to a more upbeat and dance vibe with ‘The Sky is a Neighborhood’ and ‘Learn to Fly’. Not a single song is less than infectious, catchy is Grohls middle name. (Well it’s Eric, but you know what I mean.) We’re treated to ‘Arlandria’ and ‘These Days’, both from 2011s massive album ‘Wasting Light’.
An amazing rendition of ‘Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners’ with the whole band contributing, followed by ‘Nothing at All’, an amazing slow rendition of ‘Big Me’ and none other than the high energy ‘Monkey Wrench’. From high energy, we take a turn as Grohl dedicates ‘Aurora’ to his late best friend, a stunningly heartfelt song, notably from the first album Taylor would appear on as an official member of the band ‘There is Nothing Left to Lose’. Again bringing emotions soaring. But we’re quickly back on high ground with ‘This is a Call’ from their selftitled album, an AC/DC cover of ‘Big Balls’ and followed by arguably the bands most epic and emotion driven tracks ‘Best of You’.
It’s encore time, blue lights rise, the band at the ready and Grohl grasping a gorgeous cherry red double neck Gibson. A very unexpected start to said encore is ‘The Teacher’, the closing track off the bands latest album. An almost ten minute epic build up of different segments that blend perfectly as one monstrous track, my personal favourite from the new album and the song I was most hoping to hear in tonight’s set. And to finish off the night, the cherry on top, what else could a Foo Fighters set be closed out with other than ‘Everlong’. It’s big….it sounds big, actually it sounds fucking massive. This song NEVER disappoints live, a song that manages to hold the most fun upbeat hit of life while holding such sincere and poetic lyrics. The crowd gives it their all one last time and the energy is about as present as it has been all night….and then some.
The night comes to an end. The band is officially offstage and it’s standard bottle necking time out the gates. It’s been emotional, it’s the first tour without Taylor Hawkins behind the kit. But even though the show missed those fun antics and the energetic love between best friends Hawkins and Grohl, the night still holds true to any Foo Fighters show. The energy is still there, Dave’s hyperactive behavior is still there and Pat Smears contagious smile still reigns supreme throughout the set. Foo Fighters may have lost a vital part of the team, but they’ve proved tonight that they’re far from done. With a mammoth new record at their helm and a crowd as large as ever, they’ll be back, just as big as ever. May Hawkins soul forever be present on that stage and Australia will forever welcome our favourite rock n roll group back with open arms everytime….anytime.