When last we caught Santa Barbara-bred rock-star-next-door Chris Shiflett on a local stage, it was before 4,500 excitable Foo Fighters fans at the Santa Barbara Bowl in September. Booked on short notice, the crowd clamored and connived their way into the hot ticket show, the first time the band had played the Bowl in 15 years. The night was powerful and also poignant, the first tour since the tragic 2022 passing of their legendary drummer Taylor Hawkins. Hawkins was paid homage with Dave Grohl’s epic song “The Teacher,” from the band’s strong new album But Here We Are, played late in the set.
This weekend, on Friday and Saturday night, December 22-23, Shiflett — the Foo guitarist since 1999 — appears in solo mode at SOhO, for much smaller but nonetheless full-house conditions, for the third annual Hometown Holiday Hoedown. Although Shiflett now lives in Los Angeles, he maintains ties with friends, family, and a heap of fans in Santa Barbara, and is making the Christmas-timed gig a tradition.
Sitters-in will be in the packed house. Shiflett says, “We have a fantastic lineup this year — Jim Lindberg from Pennywise, Joey Cape from Lagwagon, Tom Curren, Gandy Dancer, [and] my old pal Marko from Sugarcult spinning records.”