"Foo fighter" was a semi-derogatory reference used in a World War II era comic book for Japanese fighter pilots known for their erratic flying and extreme maneuvering, and became a catch-all term to describe flying objects frequently associated with the UFO hysteria of the time-period.
Ah yes, it is the perfect band name to describe Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and his dynamic, changeable gymnastics and on-stage performance style last Friday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Combine the personality of Grohl with an electric mix of rock, alternative tinges of blues, melodic chords strummed softly—or as softly as the Foo Fighters can strum—with post rock-grunge effects and you get an amazingly grounded show. Having said that, Dave Grohl brings frenzy to his performance with his intense raw vocals, guitar dexterity, and working of the stage's long catwalk to get closer to more fans. He performs with a generosity toward the crowd in an almost "hammish" sort of way.
Like the band name, the concert entertained like fast-moving, erratically flying objects with many surprises in store for the crowd. An hour into the show, band member Taylor Hawkins (former Alanis Morissette drummer) took an impressive drum solo as the other band members cleared the stage. Then appearing out of nowhere, an unexpected Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of the enduring Canadian rock trio Rush performed a guitar duet to the delight of the crowd.
But wait, the Rush interlude had a double purpose, also serving as an excellent decoy! Faster than a speeding Foo Fighter, from high above descends a huge disc superimposing itself as a flying saucer as it levels into a stage equipped with eight musician posts opposite the catwalk. The crowd screams, filling the AC Center with cheers while Dave Grohl jokes, "Shh, Shh, we're going to be here all night if you don't shut up!"
Of course the crowd screams louder. The new stage quickly lights up with bandmates Taylor, Mendel, Shifflet, Smear (ex of Germ and a founding Foo Fighter) as well as three additional musicians to complete the ensemble including violinist and cellist Jessy Greene, extra percussionist Drew Hester, and Rami Jaffee on keys. And then there is always Dave Grohl. With eight accomplished musicians on stage, unexpected jam sessions blossomed, but of course things went right back to cruise control with the melodic hit My Hero.
Despite the huge staging and light presence, the Foo Fighters appear to be true to their grunge roots without the arrogance that accompanies some of the other touring acts of their stature. Instead they appear grateful for their fans' adoration.
Dave Grohl has come a long way since 1994 when his first commercially successful group Nirvana disbanded with the death of front-man Kurt Cobain. Grohl then stepped from behind the drum kit to front his new band in 1995. They earned a hit from their self-titled debut album with the single This Is The Call.
Fast forward 13 years to the Foo Fighters' sixth studio album release last fall, Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, which won accolades for its fuller sound with the added instrumentation that sets it apart from the older material.
Singles Long Road to Ruin and The Pretender have enjoyed solid radio play. The album has garnered two Grammys, for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Album, and the British music industry's most prestigious prizes—Best International Group and Best International Album—at the 2008 Brits Awards.
Despite all this success, it is a group that enjoys playing to the crowd and having fun.
Alisa Carraro is the founder and creator of
www.SoundOrbit.com
an independent music download platform.
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