On Friday, Foo Fighters performed their highly anticipated frame at the Harvard Athletic Complex as a part of this year’s Boston Calling festivities. The performance brought forth 20 choice numbers and the surprise addition of guests during the latter half of the set. Included were Dave Grohl’s daughter, Violet, and the late Taylor Hawkins’ son, Shane, who filled his father’s role behind the kit during “I’ll Stick Around.”
After reaching the midway point of the festival set, which commenced with a mix of fan favorites, Foo Fighters invited Violet to the stage to assist with “Shame Shame,” which featured a riff of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.” The younger Grohl stuck around for an ensuing take on “Rope” to cap her festival appearance. Following Violet’s stage time, Dave Grohl cut into a solo electric “Cold Day in the Sun” off In Your Honor and dedicated the choice tune to Taylor and his family.
Before breaking into their next song, the Foo Fighters frontman stepped up to the mic, addressing the audience: “He just told me, ‘Hey, say something. I gotta fix this snare. [Laughs.]” Dave trailed off, allowing time for Shane to perfect his setup. Eventually, he returned to Hawkins’ son, asking, “How’s it going there, Shane?” Rather than respond, Shane’s elated claps indicated the snare was ready, and it was time to rock.
“This is an old song from our first record…” Dave began before Shane’s swift hit of the kit cut off the introduction and started “I’ll Stick Around,” a song that first appeared on their self-titled debut record. On the sidelines, Alison Hawkins, Taylor’s widow, could be seen recording her son on her cellphone, capturing a meaningful moment for fans, family, and the band.
Watch a fan-shot video of the sit-in featuring Shane Hawkins below.
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