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2008 > September > 28 > Entry
By Joe Gross
| Sunday, September 28, 2008, 10:52 PM
Of the modern rock stars who can say they were there when punk broke, Dave Grohl is the last man standing.
It’s been 20 years since he emerged out of the D.C. punk scene with the band Scream, 17 since Nirvana’s “Nevermind” pulled American indie rock subculture out of clubs and on to MTV, 14 since Grohl moved from drums to guitar to front his own band. Rock ‘n’ roll radio barely exists in reality, the pop music audience is fragmented beyond all marketing and record companies are this close to asking for a government bailout.
Yet, judging from a flame-throwing set closing out the smoothest ACL in recent memory. Grohl intends to go down swinging. After a taping for ACL-the-TV show Monday, the band’s dance card looks empty and rumors abound regarding a long-term hiatus. This set could very well have been the last time the Foo Fighters play in front of tens of thousands of their closest friends and they made the most of it.
As much as any band of the 1990s, Grohl and the Foos figured out how to translate grunge’s grimy chords into arena rock thunder. Opening with “All For One,” the band — including touring guitarist Pat Smear in addition to Grohl and guitarist Chris Shifflett — launched songs like “Times Like These” and “Learn to Fly” into the crowd, the energy stadium-sized and infectious. “Young Man Blues” harkened back to the ’70s blues rock Grohl grew up on in suburban Virginia. The band is enamored enough of those cliches to include a no-kidding drum solo from Taylor Hawkins in the middle of the set. Old school!
Old stand-bys such as “My Hero” abutted the acoustic-ish “Skin and Bones,” the Sonic Youthy classic “Everlong” was given a spare, almost solo arrangement, and the power pop of “Monkey Wrench” roared everything back to life.
The most explosive closer in ACL history? No question. If that was it, guys, you left it, as athletes are fond of saying, all out on the field.
Photo: Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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ACL 2008: Sunday, ACL Festival
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By jim chisolm
September 28, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this
You didn’t mention the triangle solo WTF? That was the highlight of ACL 08. The Ice Cream man was back again, he is such a needle, handing out free ice cream that he scrounges from hard working, legal, permitted, paying vendors, driving around in his free new mercedes ice cream truck hanging out in VIP and with all the bands giving them free ice cream and getting coverage and photo ops more than lance armstrong. Why does the ice cream man exist and why does he get carte blanche at ACL? C3 should stop with the all access pass for the ice cream man, he is annoying, doesn’t pay taxes, doesn’t follow health code rules, doesn’t have a permit. Ice cream man must go.
By Rob Price
September 29, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this
Foo Fighters remain one of the few bands that still know know how to rock their crowds with the inimitable combination of stellar performance, masterful musicianship, and perfect songwriting. Seeing them live is an event to behold. I feel fortunate to have been witness to some seriously hard rockin. Keep fightin’ the foo!!!
By Tim Shank
September 29, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
It was quite a performance indeed. Even throwing in some Focus (70’s Dutch Band who’s hit was Hocus Pocus and featured yodeling, which Hawkins covered with the drums) But in some ways it was distracting with all the banter, which considering the Foo Fighters catalogue, could have been filled with any number of other very fine Foo Fighter songs. “Young Man Blues” was every bit as good as the Who’s version, even if most the crowd didn’t seem to recognize it. I’ve seen Foo Fighters three times now and yet this performance left me ever so slightly disappointed. It was a great show, but in all honesty, from a strictly musical aspect, it could have been better. Finally, many thanks to Grohl, who was gracious to the point of asking security to not get rough with the “dork” who hopped the stage and tried to grab a microphone.
By 7-timer
September 29, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Best closing band of ACL Fest in its 7-year history!! FF rocked.
By Jaime Merkle
September 29, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Their opening number was called “All My Life”, not “All For One”.
By Chris Harris
September 29, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Best closer for ACL to date. I was going over them in my head, and I may have them out of order, but I think they are:
I watched every show, and looking at the list now, The Arc Angels and Dylan made the most sense on paper for this festival, but the Foo Fighters and Ben Harper easily put on the best shows, in my humble, totally correct opinion.
Oh, and I’m pretty sure the ice cream guy is sponsored…and since he gives away product, I’m not sure what taxes need to be paid. But yeah, he’s a needle, lol.
By chris
September 29, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
They were outstanding, but I’d have to give Muse the best ACL closer title. The energy for that was unreal. Really loved the Foos though and am super glad to have seen them.
By jR
September 29, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
FF’s were just ok… can’t compare to REM or coldplay….
Now the Raconteurs, they deserve to be the headliner….
By Jonathan
September 29, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Yes, many thanks indeed to Dave for asking security to be gentle with me! They were actually quite pleasant folks, and shaking Pat Smear’s hand was well worth the scrape on my leg. I’m sorry the song was cut short. I hope everybody had fun this weekend!
By stormyblew
September 29, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
After working in conert venues and attending concerts for the last 15 years I think it was one the best performances I’ve seen yet.I have seen bands like Tool,Chevelle,Perfect Circle,Evanescence all whom have amazing talent.The energy was overwhelming.The drum solo was over the top.I felt like I whitnessed something special last night.Dave has something people can’t touch, he is a true artist.From a fans point of view I feel like I got my monies worth.
By Jennifer
September 29, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
I’m a little amused at the minor lapses in detail in some of these write-ups. The Foos opened with “All My Life,” not “All For One.” I read another article that referenced Robert Plant singing “Battle of Nevermore” instead of “Battle of Evermore.” I know it’s easy to miss, but there are obsessive fans out there who are going to catch the mistakes.
The Foos put on an amazing set. Well worth camping 7 hours for.
By rick
September 30, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
For me, several extraordinary moments that i will never forget. When they launched “Let it Die” fairly early in the set, and then ended up with “The Pretender”…I’ve never seen a crwod go so nuts singing and jumping to the tunes. Best closing to any ACL htat I’ve been to, and I’ve been to them all. Adios and thanks to Grohl for bringing us that show.
By andrea
October 1, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
Best show I have ever seen.