It is rare for a musician to play a significant role in one defining band of a generation. It is almost unheard of for the same person to do it twice. Yet that is precisely what Dave Grohl has accomplished. Having emerged from the shadow of Nirvana, he transformed Foo Fighters from a one-man studio project into one of the biggest rock bands in the world, a feat that seemed far from guaranteed when the group first appeared in the mid-nineties.
Their success is easy enough to understand. Foo Fighters have spent two decades refining a formula that blends the immediacy of pop with the energy of punk and hard rock. More importantly, they have amassed a catalogue packed with songs that translate perfectly to an arena setting. Add to that Grohl's relentless work ethic and his reputation as one of rock's most likeable ambassadors, and the result is a band with remarkably broad appeal.
The release of Concrete and Gold provides the latest excuse for another world tour, and another opportunity for Grohl to do what he does best: entertain enormous crowds. The set stretches across the band's entire career, mixing new material with fan favourites and radio staples. Unsurprisingly, songs such as "Learn to Fly," "Monkey Wrench" and "Best of You" generate the loudest reactions, but the audience's enthusiasm rarely dips, regardless of the era represented.
If there is one note of concern, it is Grohl's voice. Years of relentless touring and an aggressive singing style are beginning to leave their mark. There are moments throughout the evening when the strain becomes noticeable, a reminder that even seemingly inexhaustible performers are subject to the same limitations as everyone else. It never seriously undermines the concert, but it is difficult not to wonder how sustainable this pace will be in the long run.
For now, however, such concerns feel distant. Foo Fighters have reached a point where they no longer feel like the heirs to anyone's legacy. They have become a legacy of their own. Their audience now spans multiple generations, and their concerts function less as ordinary rock shows than as large-scale celebrations of a catalogue that continues to resonate with an astonishing number of people. Few bands are better positioned to carry mainstream rock into the next decade. Judging by the scenes inside the arena tonight, that future is already well underway.
