The return of live music had Cincinnati buzzing, as Foo Fighters and Radkey brought the fire to the Queen City last Wednesday night for a sold-out show at the brand new ICON Music Center in the heart of downtown. The event, which sold all 8,000 tickets in merely ten minutes, was the first stop on the band’s 26th anniversary tour, and the energetic crowd in the home state of Dave Grohl himself certainly gave the band a warm welcome back to the stage.
I was lucky enough to win a pair of tickets through a local record store’s raffle (thank you, Shake It Records!) and getting to attend the show (and see Foo Fighters live for the first time) was nothing short of fantastic.
Hailing from Missouri, openers Radkey are a garage-punk trio consisting of brothers Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon Radke, who grew up homeschooled and cut their teeth on their father’s vast collection of rock, metal, and punk records. Fast-forward to 2021, after being featured in Grohl’s newest documentary, What Drives Us, the band jumped at the opportunity to open for Foo Fighters and be the very first artist to play Cincinnati’s newest venue. Listening to their set, which was chock-full of original songs such as the groovy “Dark Black Makeup” and energetic “Seize”, it’s no wonder the Missouri natives were chosen to open the show. The excitement and energy on stage was palpable, as the brothers gave it their all and put on an electrifying performance, with vocalist/guitarist Dee and bassist Isaiah at one point even playing back-to-back and on their knees during a solo. I was thoroughly impressed by their skill and floored by their stage presence, as was the rest of the crowd, for when the band left the stage after a phenomenal set, people in every direction instantly began Googling their name to find out more. It’s no secret Radkey gained plenty of new fans that night, and surely with each show, their fanbase will grow exponentially.
As soon as Foo Fighters walked on stage, the crowd went wild. Pure joy and gratitude shone through the facial expressions of all six band members, as they took several moments to just take it all in: the fans, the joy, the excitement, the experience. Opening with fan-favorite “Times Like These”, the band launched into a killer set, complete with jumbo screens, flashing lights, visual effects to boot and a raw, powerful presence that captivated the audience. Dave Grohl memorably asked the crowd, loudly, “Are you ready for some rock & roll?!?!” and proceeded to tell us we were in for a two and a half hour rock show, stating, “You know we have, like, a hundred and seventy-five fuckin’ songs, right?”
All night long, the band put on a stellar performance, playing their biggest hits from every era, as well as plenty of lesser-known tunes. In addition, for mostly newer songs off of 2020’s Medicine At Midnight, a panel of three talented female backup vocalists joined the band on stage, including Grohl’s teenage daughter Violet, adding a fantastic edge and dazzle to the already-epic show. Later in the night, the band launched into performing some covers, off their newest release under the alter ego Dee Gees, titled, hilariously, Hail Satin, where they tackle disco with a colorful flair. Seemingly everyone in the crowd was up and moving listening to songs like “You Should Be Dancing” and “Night Fever”. Doubling down on the covers, self-proclaimed “biggest Queen fan in the world” Taylor Hawkins even sang a lovely rendition of “Somebody To Love” to a crowd of all ages, who were clearly thrilled to hear such a musical treat.
After a long and entertaining night, the band closed the show with the classic smash-hit and crowd-pleaser “Everlong”. As the final notes rang out, I stood in awe of the spectacle I just witnessed. With my heart beating, ears ringing, and body sweating, I left the show feeling light, free, and full of good energy. Saying Foo Fighters puts on an amazing show is simply an understatement. Their performance was nothing short of phenomenal, and getting to experience it first-hand was truly a dream come true.
In conclusion, if you ever get the chance to see Foo Fighters live, take it. You will undoubtedly have the time of your life.
