Foo Fighters
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston TAS
Saturday, January 24th
In 2006, in a small Tasmanian town around 30 minutes from Launceston, two mining workers were trapped underground for two weeks, after an earthquake triggered a rockfall in a local gold mine. During the rescue, when asked what provisions they needed, Brant Webb requested food, water, and an iPod loaded with Foo Fighters songs, seeking solace in the music of his favourite band.
Twenty years later, he was met with cheers from a crowd of 26,000 people at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium, as he introduced the band back to the stage for the encore, to perform a song Dave Grohl had written for him and his colleague Todd Russell: “The Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners”.
The story helps to explain, in part, why Foo Fighters decided to play a one-off show at a footy ground in this northern Tasmanian city. Much like the band’s 2022 gig at Kardinia Park in Geelong (which was part of the Victorian Government’s ALWAYS LIVE program), they were also enticed to do so with a chunk of money from the State of Tasmania. It’s an odd venue, currently undergoing renovations, with the entire bottom section of the western stand completely gutted and fenced off. But it’s also beautiful, sitting on the city’s outer edge, the Tassie countryside providing a stunning backdrop to the stage setup.
Local acid rock trio Spooky Eyes are out first, still pinching themselves over the fact they’ve landed this gig, a week before the release of their debut album. They’re followed by Brisbane act Full Flower Moon Band, who bring their textbook raucous rock and roll energy, ensuring the masses are fully warmed up for the act they’ve all been waiting for.
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“Are you guys fucking ready?” asks Dave Grohl, bolting across the stage. “It’s going to be a long night motherfuckers!”
The sun is yet to set as Foo Fighters launch into “All My Life”, kicking off a jam-packed production compiled from ten of their eleven studio albums (all except the experimental Sonic Highways). “Times Like These” and “The Pretender” are up next, both setlist staples encouraging big singalong moments from the audience.
“La Dee Da”, from 2017’s Concrete and Gold is introduced as a track for, in Grohl’s words, the “deep cut motherfuckers,” but the casual fans don’t seem to mind — they’ve got plenty to look forward to, with big hits “Learn to Fly” and “This Is a Call” just moments way.
“Now you know, we’ve been a band for a long time, it’s been thirty fucking years,” says Grohl, although with this particular touring outfit, that’s really only true of himself and bassist Nate Mendel. Longtime guitarist Pat Smear is missing from the show following a “bizarre gardening accident,” which Grohl insists isn’t just a Spinal Tap reference (“He actually broke his fucking leg gardening!”) before honouring him with a rendition of “My Hero”.
Later in the set, “Under You” is dedicated to the legendary Taylor Hawkins, whose absence is notable for anyone who had previously seen him perform with the band before his death in March 2022. This is their second visit to Australia without Hawkins’ cheeky smile, teasing banter, and showmanship behind the drumkit (and sometimes behind the mic). Current drummer Ilan Rubin has the technical proficiency, making each song sound exactly as it should, but he can’t match his late counterpart’s charm.
Without Hawkins to battle for the crowd’s affections, Grohl no longer has to compete to be the star of the show. Just like it was when the Foo Fighters first emerged as a solo project back in 1994, this is his band. Mendel, Rubin, lead guitarist Chris Shiflett, keyboardist Rami Jaffee, and touring guitarist Jason Falkner (filling in for Smear) are merely there to serve him, providing the live backing track for his one man show.
The Motörhead-tinged “No Son of Mine” makes no attempt to disguise its inspiration, pivoting into Ace of Spades. “This one’s for Lemmy,” Grohl screams.
It’s clear the band love Australia — they’ve been here so many times over the years — and during “Best of You”, they admit to being captivated by Tasmania.
“I hope that every fucking rock and roll band watches this on the internet tomorrow and looks at this place and says, ‘Next time we come all the way down there, we should play this fucking place too,’” declares Grohl. “This is a righteous fucking gig that we’ve got going on.”
He promises Foo Fighters will return soon, before his next birthday, in fact (that’s January 19th), but whether that’s specifically to Launceston, or Tasmania, or just Australia as a whole, is not clear. We’re also treated to the news they finished recording an album “just the other day,” the first public confirmation that a new record is on the way.
After around two-and-a-half hours, just shy of the three hours promised when the gig was announced, the show closes with fan favourite “Everlong”. And as the bandmates take their final bow, they’re joined on stage once more by Brant Webb, who is embraced by Grohl in a bear hug.
