It was hard to love the Foo Fighters during their BottleRock set
SFGATE • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Foo Fighters returned to BottleRock Napa Valley festival, addressing their infamous 2017 noise curfew incident with a promise to "squeeze as much as we can" from their set.
- The band performed with new drummer Ilan Rubin following the 2022 death of beloved drummer Taylor Hawkins, whose absence was deeply felt during the show.
- Frontman Dave Grohl’s recent personal controversies, including a public confession of infidelity, affected the tone of the concert, highlighted by an awkward birthday dedication to his wife Jordyn Blum.
- The setlist included classic hits, tributes to various figures including Jose Andres and Taylor Hawkins, and rare covers like Nirvana’s rendition of “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam,” though some performances felt uninspired.
- Grohl’s energetic pacing and confessional style dominated the show, with repeated hooks and false endings suggesting a desire to prolong the cathartic connection with the audience.