Foo Fighters Honor Taylor Hawkins During Historic Hollywood Bowl Debut

On Saturday, the Foo Fighters played the Hollywood Bowl alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic, delivering a concert that paired deep cuts with hits, according to reporting by Rolling Stone. Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic Partnership

The concert also served as a dramatic send-off for Gustavo Dudamel, the beloved longtime music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. According to Rolling Stone, the performance fell on Dudamel’s penultimate night with the ensemble before his upcoming move to New York. West Coast fans can expect him to return regularly as a guest conductor. The dozens-strong orchestra added significant musical drama to the rock catalog. Emotional Deep Cuts and Special Guest Collaborations

The setlist pulled from both rare tracks and crowd favorites, highlighted by the band playing the softer song “Home” for the first time since 2007.

Whenever we played that song, there’s no way I could make it through without just bursting into tears, Grohl told the crowd, as quoted by Rolling Stone. Grohl also reflected on the unique collaboration, adding that he wished the band could perform with the orchestra every night for the rest of their lives. Additional depth came from a gospel choir that injected harmony and joy into performances of “The Sky Is a Neighborhood” and “Run,” according to Rolling Stone. Tribute to Taylor Hawkins and Finale

The band paid tribute to their late drummer, Taylor Hawkins, during a short and effective set, featuring an emotional, extended run-through of the song “Aurora,” according to Rolling Stone. The group has regularly dedicated the track to Hawkins since his passing.

He would have loved this, Grohl told the audience while surveying the packed venue, as reported by Rolling Stone. The night culminated in a grand finale featuring “Everlong.” The orchestra and gospel choir delivered a massive musical crescendo while synchronized fireworks blasted over the Hollywood Bowl.