Early on in the Foo Fighters’ triumphant and very sold-out show at the Santa Barbara Bowl last week, some of us were surprised to learn that the '90s-launched post-grunge supergroup hadn't played an official Bowl show in many moons. After kicking off its explosive two-hour set with “All My Life,” leader Dave Grohl bellowed, “We haven't played here in 15 years. Let’s do it right,” before leaning into the soft-then-pounding popular tune “The Pretender.” (Actually, records show their last Bowl was in 2006, 17 years ago.)
Despite the Bowl hiatus, there seems to have been a quasi-adoptive hometown relationship between Santa Barbara and the Foo over the years. Periodic pop-up appearances in such spaces as Muddy Waters, Velvet Jones (both beloved venues now lost to history), and the Red Piano. Guitarist Chris Shiflett, born and bred in Santa Barbara and in the fold for almost a quarter-century, has made a habit of bringing his solo act to SOhO around Christmas. To boot, the band’s music — especially from its early years — is kept in the local airspace courtesy of KJEE radio play.
Still, there's nothing quite like the power and well-crafted riff ‘n’ hook energy of seeing and hearing the band live, especially in a venue as ideal as the Bowl. The concert had added emotional urgency given the current pivotal juncture in Foo history. The tragic death last year of incomparable drummer Taylor Hawkins — one of the greats in modern rock history — threw the group into a tailspin of mourning and redefinition.