Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994 by Dave Grohl following the abrupt ending of the band Nirvana, due to the death of frontman Kurt Cobain. Following Cobain’s death, Dave Grohl had said “After Kurt died, I really couldn't even turn on the radio, and I put the instruments away – even hearing music hurt, and it was that way for a few months.” After many months, Grohl got back to work channeling his grief into his next project.

Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the lineup now consists of Grohl (lead vocals, guitar), Nate Mendel (bass guitar), Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear (guitars), Rami Jaffee (keyboards), and Josh Freese (drums). Foo Fighters, who get their name from the World War II term Foo Fighter which was used to refer to unidentified flying objects, was never intended to be a long term project. Lucky for us it wasn’t, after his demo gained studio interest. Grohl said, “Had I actually considered this to be a career, I probably would have called it something else, because it’s the stupidest fucking band name in the world.” At the time of the band’s formation, Grohl was reading books on UFO’s, a subject he finds fascinating. Foo Fighters has released 11 albums since their first album debut in 1995; Foo Fighters (1995), The Colour and the Shape (1997), There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999), One by One (2002), In Your Honor (2005), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), Wasting Light (2011), Sonic Highways (2014), Concrete and Gold (2017), Medicine at Midnight (2021), and But Here We Are (2023).

Their eleventh album, But Here We Are is the subject of this review and their first album released since the passing of long-time drummer, Taylor Hawkins, who Grohl considered a brother and his best friend.

Dave Grohl is no stranger to picking up the pieces after loss, and this album has seemed to be a beautiful tribute to his lifelong friendship with Hawkins; his grief palpable in every note he sings starting with the first song on the album Rescued. “It came in a flash. It came out of nowhere. It happened so fast, and then it was over.” His distinctive powerful, raspy voice rings out in this incredible song. For 4 minutes, I was transported to the Foo Fighters of the 90’s, and everything in the Universe was right again. I loved that about the song. Even though the song was uplifting and transported us back to Foo Fighters signature dynamic, lyrics like “I’m just waiting to be rescued, bring me back to life” remind us of their loss and grief, and that they are healing together the best way they know how…through music. Music has the amazing ability to heal, and I join Dave Grohl in not being able to listen to it when I’m sad.

The next song on the album is Under You, and it might be my favorite Foo Fighters song to date. It’s sooo good. This is a must listen for anyone who is going through any kind of loss. This song is an anthem for that. What I love about the Foo Fighters is their ability to take something like loss and make it an incredibly uplifting rock song. That moving forward is not only essential, but possible. I think the message that this song conveys is a reminder to us that we will get on the other side of our grief. “There are times I think it’s over. There are times I can’t recover. Sometimes I just don’t know what to do. There are days I can’t remember. There are days that last forever. Someday I’ll come out from under you.” The lyrics are so when written and performed, and the band’s instrumentals are so incredible. Grohl’s grief is on the forefront of this song and references Hawkins with lyrics like “Someone said I’ll never see your face again. Part of me just can’t believe it’s true. Pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes, this is how I’ll always picture you” giving us an inside look at the bands loss. They remind us that even though moving forward is necessary after their loss, “There’s no getting over it” even though there are days that they feel they might be. It’s a truly special song.

Show Me How, the seventh track on the album, slows the tempo down considerably. Its soft and wispy, and relaxing. I was elated to find out that the female vocals alongside Grohl’s are none other than his daughter Violet. These vocals are beautifully harmonized with each other, and I enjoyed the softness of her voice in this. I had thought that this song may be about his mother’s passing, just a few short months after losing Hawkins, and with the addition of Violet on this track I believe that to be true. This song is a beautiful tribute to her, and gives little details about things that remind them of her “You watched the hummingbirds, naming every one.” It also reminds us that no matter where we are in our lives, or how old we are, we still want or need, guidance from our parents. “Where are you now? Who will show me how?” Such a sad, poignant, beautifully done song.

The album closes with the saddest song on the album Rest, stripped down to just Grohl’s vocals and a simple guitar in the beginning of the song. Midway through the song the electric guitar and drums jump out to accompany the sad vocals. They lay their loved ones, and this album to rest.”Rest. You can rest now. Rest. You will be safe now.”

But Here We Are is an album centered around loss, grief, and trying to recover from it. I am in awe with how the Foo Fighters turned their grief into an amazingly uplifting album, not just for their losses, but for everyone to have something to grief to…that doesn’t necessarily make them cry. When someone’s grief is channeled through their music, it seems strange to say that I enjoyed the album, but I truly did. This really humanized the Foo Fighters for me, by making them so much more relatable, and of course reinforced my crush on Dave Grohl.

Give this album a listen, especially if you’re grieving the loss of someone, but that’s not a prerequisite for listening. The Foo Fighters are currently on tour through 2024. If they’re coming to your area, be sure to get your tickets quickly as they are selling out fast!

- Allyson Romano | f28 Music Journalist

FOO FIGHTERS | BUT HERE WE ARE ALBUM

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