Foo Fighters made their most public return since the sudden and heartbreaking death of Taylor Hawkins with their livestream rehearsal, Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts on Sunday, May 21.

It was a full band run-through of hits and new songs. It was a circle of music. An introduction and a visit with old pals. A chance to sit in the music in memory and weirdness and happiness and newness.

I’ve loved this band for 25 years. I’ve seen them live and bought socks as merch. I’ve got original debut album record store collateral framed in my office. I’ve played them loud on the radio, Spotify, YouTube, CD and vinyl. I’ve sung their songs at karaoke bars. I’ve introduced my kid to their catalogue. And we keep going.

And here we are now, starting a new chapter that doesn’t ignore or rewrite or edit the past but moves the story forward.

Here’s what I was thinking while I watched…

I’m Excited.

It’s Weird.

The Drummer bit was fun, cute – but also, I don’t know if I was ready for a joke about it. But the band likes to joke. And who am I to tell them not to do what makes them happy?

But also, yay an official full-time drummer in Josh Freese. Someone who grew up near Taylor, knew Taylor, knows the band, and now joins them.

All My Life is like a familiar old hoodie that I can wear and also bob my head to and I am not upset about that choice to kick things off.

Seeing Dave and Pat, and the rest of the band, smile and laugh, made me really happy like instantly. I needed to see that. After losing Taylor, a friend and bandmate and brother. After losing Kurt. After losing friends and family and peers we don’t know by name, they have made the decision to keep going. With joy.

Rescued and Under You are still weird to me as new Foo Fighters music, but they work. They fit here.

The banter and jokes and stories feel like a peek behind the curtain. And it’s not the first time we’ve had that from Foo Fighters. But it’s still fun. Still light-hearted. Still like it’s just a group of friends that would be fun to be in. To be around. To absorb their vibe by osmosis is as good as it ever was.

I miss Taylor Hawkins. I miss seeing him smiling and laughing and joking with his friends.

More new – Nothing At All. New is good. New is fun.

Watching and listening to Josh talk to Dave about Monkey Wrench feels like a moment that we didn’t need to see because it’s just band dudes talking about band stuff, but here we’re at and we get it and it’s just another reminder that this is a work in progress that we’re dealing with. It’s the real BTS stuff.

I like librarian Dave in his glasses being the dad-mode rockstar he’s transitioned into from the sweaty drummer kid in Seattle.

For a while here I just got sucked in. Watching. Listening. My favourite band is on my screen and it feels right.

The reality that every member of Foo Fighters is 50+ is a reminder that we’re closer to the end than the beginning. That this is my band, not my kid’s band. But I don’t care. I will have the music forever. Fans will listen to the new music and the old music. Fans will see the new shows and remember the ones they saw before.

I could have watched more. I was happy in this stream. I was happy watching this black and white rehearsal from 606. I’m selfish and want more.

If I have access to this thing for 72 hours, I’m going to watch it again. (note: I already have watched it again as you’re reading this)

Last one… I’m excited for the new album, But Here We Are, dropping June 2, 2023. I hope y’all are too.

Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts Livestream Setlist

‣ All My Life
‣ Rescued
‣ No Son of Mine
‣ Under You
‣ Workin’ for a Livin’
‣ The Sky Is a Neighborhood
‣ Nothing at All
‣ Monkey Wrench
‣ Aurora

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.