The Dream Setlist for Foo Fighters’ 2023 Tour

4 days ago

The set kicks disconnected a engaged 2023 unrecorded schedule this week. Here's what we're hoping nan shows extremity up looking like.

Now much than a twelvemonth removed from nan tragic decease of drummer Taylor Hawkins, nan Foo Fighters return this summertime pinch a heap of headlining show gigs spanning 4 continents. Bonnaroo, Boston Calling and Riot Fest are each connected nan stateside docket, arsenic are Japan’s Fuji Rock, Germany’s Rock AM Ring and a brace of monster performances successful Brazil.

The roadshow will characteristic Josh Freese, well-traveled convention and touring vet (Weezer, Nine Inch Nails), connected nan kit, arsenic nan set confirmed during a streaming event Sunday. The schedule kicks disconnected Wednesday, May 24, successful Gilford, New Hampshire. As Dave Grohl and institution worker on, celebrating 1 of nan astir successful stone careers of nan past 30 years — positive nan upcoming June 2 merchandise of their bittersweet 11th medium But Here We Are — it’s clip to get nerdy pinch nan Foos’ hit-filled catalog.

Sure, location are nan twelve aliases much raging standards each instrumentality expects astatine a Foo Fighters show, but what astir nan remainder of nan alternatively prolific songbook — nan worldly that holds up but doesn’t ever make it to stage? And of course, arsenic nan set has consistently dropped worthy records since its debut successful ‘95, there’s worth successful nan newer cuts, too.

With each of this taken into consideration, we’ve devised what would make for nan astir epic Foo Fighters performance that could perchance beryllium successful 2023, showcasing wherever they’ve been, who they are and wherever they’re going. This harvest of tunes caters to fans some casual and profoundly committed and delivers immoderate deserved surprises.

While this database of 24 songs whitethorn tally a spot longer than nan mean Foo Fighters show group — we’d timepiece this successful betwixt 2 and two-and-a-half hours — fewer bands are amended astatine blasting past their sky-high expectations. Also, it’s our dream group and we do what we want. Let’s break it down!

“Doll”

Unlikely circumstances telephone for an improbable beginning. The show kicks disconnected not pinch fury but pinch Grohl solo astatine halfway stage. Single spotlight, azygous guitar, set waiting successful nan wings. He originates “Doll,” nan wistful prelude from 1997’s fan-beloved The Colour and nan Shape, strumming it unrecorded for nan first clip since 2003. The first verse takes connected caller meaning: “You cognize successful each of nan clip that we’ve shared, I’ve ne'er been truthful scared/ Doll maine up successful my bad luck, I’ll meet you there.” Thousands of men successful backward shot caps outcry for illustration children.
"Times Like These"

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for FF

Grohl finishes, shakes a tear from his scruff and nan set trots out. Grohl hammers his dissonant chords, yells his requisite “alright, you motherf–kers!” and Freese hits his kit — kick-kick-snare. All bets are off, arsenic nan set flies done its first of galore monster-rock anthems of nan night. It’s a caller section for nan set and it’s gonna beryllium a bully one.
"Monkey Wrench"

A classical early-set favorite, keeping nan reside ray and power high, arsenic fans of a definite property deliberation fondly upon nan days of Guitar Hero II and nailing that big, agleam melody 15 times successful a row.
“No Way Back”

Another deep-ish cut; a instrumentality favourite from 2005’s In Your Honor (overshadowed by nan runaway occurrence of “Best of You” astatine nan time). It’s nan first clip nan Foos person jammed it connected shape successful 15 years, and diehards roar arsenic soon arsenic they spot nan rollicking riff.
“Run”

Grohl and Co. return a breather arsenic nan frontman decently addresses nan crowd for nan first time. He calls them “motherf–kers” astatine slightest 3 much times, mentions really awesome it is to beryllium backmost and really euphony heals each wounds. He past asks nan crowd “will you motherf–kers tally for your life pinch me?” earlier swinging into nan lead azygous disconnected 2017’s Concrete and Gold, which starts slow but builds to loud, shouty punk mayhem successful owed time. A fewer fans effort to mosh, astir wouldn’t dare; they person to beryllium successful nan agency connected Monday.
“Rescued”

The caller lead azygous from nan band’s upcoming LP tugs astatine nan heartstrings arsenic nan crowd shouts pinch Dave “are you emotion … what I’m feeling?!” The opus slots successful easy pinch crunchy, nosy guitars and a towering chorus — it’s arsenic Foo Fighter-y a azygous arsenic nan set has released successful its past fewer cycles (no shadiness to Medicine astatine Midnight; it was fine).
“Learning to Fly”

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for FF

Fans are rewarded pinch a world-beater, which nan set typically slips successful earlier than later successful sets, redeeming nan much melodramatic sing-alongs for later. “Fly” is each summertime breeze and looking for nan entity to prevention you. A fewer cans of Michelob Ultra are heaved heavenward, floating crossed nan show successful triumph.
“Long Road to Ruin”

The 2nd azygous disconnected 2007’s Echoes — generally forgotten by casual fans, well-loved by diehards — was a group staple until astir 2015 past lopped disconnected successful favour of newer tunes. But nary more! “Long Road” is back, longtime guitarist Chris Shiflett nails nan solo and each is well.
“Breakout”

Another quintessential “oh yeah, this song!” from nan Foos’ catalog — moreover though they’ve played it consistently since its merchandise almost 25 years ago. “Breakout” is simply a bully time, almost pop-punk successful its velocity and sentiment.
"Rope"

Grohl pauses again, hurls a fewer much lukewarm expletives complete nan crowd of tens of thousands, and asks rhetorically really galore fans retrieve 2011’s Wasted Light album — everyone cheers for what might’ve been nan past genuinely awesome Foo Fighters album. The nerdiest fans show their friends really nan medium was recorded successful Grohl’s car shed and it was their first to pat Butch Vig arsenic producer, nan drummer for Garbage who celebrated produced Nirvana’s Nevermi— the opus mercifully kicks in, nan chorus is killer, nan geeks are silenced.
“These Days”

The Wasted Light suite rambles connected for 2 much tracks, first different victor successful “These Days,” pinch Grohl’s excellently serrated hook: “Easy for you to say, your bosom has ne'er been broken/ Your pridefulness has ne'er been stolen, not yet, not yet!”
"Walk"

One more, nan astir anthemic of nan bunch, laid complete an opening guitar riff that sounds a full batch for illustration Tal Bachman’s “She’s So High.” Then nan dense chug swoops successful arsenic nan crowd croons “I judge I’ve waited agelong enough.” The way builds to its incendiary finish: “I ne'er wanna die, I ne'er wanna die, I’m connected my knees, I ne'er wanna die!” Catharsis abounds.
“This is simply a Call”

Image Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images

Grohl takes it each nan measurement back, to nan first album, nan first single, nan first way immoderate early adopters of nan Foo Fighters ever heard. It still plays for illustration a McCartney-meets-Cobain pop-grunge banger (as does truthful overmuch of Grohl’s songbook).
“Hey, Johnny Park!” (acoustic)

The romp slows down for a while here. Grohl, Smear and Shiflett drawback acoustic guitars. Freese leaves nan main kit for a smaller set-up. Maybe there’s a cajon. God, fto location beryllium a cajon. The set gets closer, a tight semi-circle for a 15-minute, stripped down mini-set, opening pinch a instrumentality favourite disconnected Colour, which has seldom (if ever) gotten nan three-guitar, acoustic-chug treatment. Warm lamps ray nan stage, it’s a vibe.
“Wheels” (acoustic)

They pivot to this deeper cut, included arsenic a promo azygous for nan 2009 Greatest Hits compilation. The caller statement gives nan Tom Petty-ish trim an almost countrified lean. More cursory fans tally to nan brew tents and port-a-Johns. Hey, each group needs a bath moment!
“Big Me” (acoustic)

The stakes raise a small pinch “Big Me,” a well-loved sing-songy stalwart disconnected nan 1995 debut, which is fundamentally a Beatles opus and successful this unassuming mounting feels for illustration a Foos type of Get Back. It’s unclear who Lennon is successful this scenario.
“Waiting connected a War” (acoustic into afloat band)

The night’s lone trim from Medicine is utilized arsenic a superb modulation backmost to mega-rock spectacle, arsenic nan tune earthy builds from humble beginnings to a very “Free Bird”-like jam session, arsenic nan remainder of nan set plugs backmost successful and goes off, dueling short solos — a tech tosses Grohl his Gibson conscionable successful clip for nan final, piercing notes.
“The Pretender”

It’s each gravy from present connected out. Grohl is simply a alloy for perspiration arsenic he hammers his guitar, screaming “What if I opportunity I’m not for illustration nan others?!” The assemblage barks back, happily relinquishing usage of their vocal chords for nan adjacent 48 hours.
“My Hero”

Remember past fall, erstwhile Taylor Hawkins’ 16-year-old son, Shane, emerged during his father’s tribute concert to play “My Hero”? Well, nan teen beast is backmost again, trotting retired for a impermanent spot successful dad’s honor, arsenic nan crowd cheers (between heaving sobs). Shane crushes nan song, nan night’s biggest infinitesimal truthful far, arsenic nan chorus reaches Earth’s thermosphere. Even nan information guards are singing along. And location better, Hawkins is smiling.
“Everlong” (with “February Stars” intro)

Image Credit: Scott Legato/Getty Images

Shane jogs off, 20,000 dads usage their t-shirts arsenic handkerchiefs and nan set finishes nan main group pinch its calling paper — but pinch a twist! They statesman pinch a fewer telling lines from “February Stars,” which precedes “Everlong” connected nan album. Solo and sad, Grohl whispers: “Watched you travel and go/ How was I to know/ You’d bargain nan show.” Before astir fans moreover recognize what’s happening and really typical a infinitesimal it is to perceive nan snippet (the set hasn’t played it unrecorded since ‘06), nan acquainted riff begins. Then nan second, louder guitar. And it’s alt-rock euphoria. Dave bless us, everyone.
ENCORE: “All My Life”

The shape darkens, nan set leaves, Grohl discards his sweat-soaked achromatic tank-top for an identical achromatic tank-top. They return to a roar, but nan lights enactment down. Then you perceive it: “da-da-da, da-da-da,” that unmistakable riff. “All my life I’ve been searchin’ for something, thing ne'er comes, ne'er leads to nothing…” It’s very large and it’s freaking awesome. “Done! I’m done! And I’m connected to nan next!”
ENCORE: “The Colour and nan Shape”

The set stays dense — arsenic dense arsenic they’ve ever been — connected nan mostly screamed, garage-punk title track, performed unrecorded for nan first clip since ‘98. New fans don’t cognize it and that’s okay, nan dudes who’ve been connected nan Foos train since nan Clinton management go feral.
ENCORE: “Live-in Skin”

One much gem for nan existent fans, who will everlastingly beryllium capable to opportunity they saw nan first-ever unrecorded rendition of “Live-in Skin,” an awesome medium way from 99’s There Is Nothing Left to Lose, which has developed a benignant of mystique connected nan Foo Fighters subreddits, chiefly for its scarcity. “I’m amazed that I’m still standing” Grohl sings successful nan hook, nan lyric meaning truthful overmuch much now.
ENCORE: “Best of You”

Grohl slugs down a beer, acknowledgment nan gigantic crowd for sticking pinch his set of misfits for astir 30 years and shouts, “Oh, and 1 past point — I GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!” One much titanic sing-along for nan road, arsenic nan opus extends pinch other guitar breaks and nan fireworks roar above. The shrewder fans book it for nan parking lot, each but floating connected their precocious of witnessing 1 of nan past monster-rock bands unleash nan group of their lives — and find redemption successful tragedy.