The Foos, Tassie and a Little Bit of Magic
Foo Fighters. One of my favourite bands of all time. Right up there with Pearl Jam and INXS.
Their music has been woven through the fabric of my life in a way few bands ever are. Through raising three children as a single mum, their tracks were often the soundtrack to our weekends. The live album Skin and Bones in particular was on constant rotation. It played while we splashed in the pool, bounced endlessly on the trampoline, cooked dinner together or eventually collapsed on the couch to watch animations like Madagascar or Hoodwinked.
So the Foos do not just have a physical presence in my life. They hold a place in my heart and soul.
The harmonies. The energy. And of course the iconic Dave Grohl “yearrrrrhhhhhhh” squeal, which I have proudly attempted to master over the years. If only to feel like I belonged to the legendary band’s spiritual circle for a moment.
Seeing them play in Launceston was pure gold.
UTAS is a very progressive university up there with Austin and Penn. Recent upgrades to all facilities have made this one of the best univesities I have ever visited and every building holds an inspired facade and unique energy. With that, the local oval (next door) is set to draw in more events and of course my ALF favs Hawthorn, at least for the following year, until the local team gets up and running.
UTAS hosted the event, opening their facilities to the band and helping draw people to the northern end of Tasmania. It was a brilliant showcase of what a fantastic stadium and university Tassie has. You could feel the pride in the air.
Natalie, the deputy Vice Chancellor of UTAS, was absolutely beaming. While events like this are exciting on the surface, what really struck me was the deeper commitment behind it all. The drive to improve people’s status quo through education, community involvement and opportunity. That is what truly creates these seemingly “random” moments that end up meaning so much.
And then there was a moment that truly anchored the night in Tassie history. Dave took time during the show to dedicate a song to Brent, one of the survivors of the Beaconsfield mining disaster. You could feel the entire crowd shift. It was not just a rock concert in that moment. It was remembrance, respect and connection. A global rock icon acknowledging a deeply local story of resilience and survival. That is the kind of thing that stays with you long after the lights go down.
I felt incredibly grateful to be there. And honestly, anyone who attended should have grabbed a t shirt. This will go down as one of those legendary gigs. The kind where you say years later, “Remember that time I went to Tassie to see the Foo Fighters?”
But there is another Foo Fighters moment in my life that still gives me goosebumps.
Back in 2018, just after the massive earthquakes that devastated Lombok, I somehow found myself flying over there to help. Do not ask me how it all unfolded. One minute I was watching the news, the next I was on the island in the middle of recovery efforts, doing whatever I could. Nursing babies. Rebuilding floors. Buying food. Being welcomed into a community that had lost so much.
I did not sleep properly for five days because the earth kept shaking. Constant aftershocks. Adrenaline. Emotion. Exhaustion.
Eventually I made my way back to Bali and ended up at Old Man’s, completely sleep deprived and in need of release. So I did what any overtired, emotional human might do. I danced. First to Ash Grunwald then to the DJ.
That night Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana came on and I danced like my life depended on it. Apparently, while we were on the dance floor, another earthquake hit Bali. Hotels were evacuated. People ran into the streets.
Me? Completely unaware. Still dancing.
The next day I was at a favourite café and everyone was talking about the earthquake the night before. I casually said, “I was dancing to Nirvana and if I died to Dave Grohl while dancing at Old Man’s, that would have been perfect.”
The guy I was chatting to looked at me and said, “You know I was the manager of Nirvana.”
And that, right there, is the magic that seems to follow the Foos.
Their music shows up in the biggest stadiums and no doubt will continue to fill stadiums and our hearts for generations to come. In Tassie under bright lights and in Bali on a shaky night when the earth would not stop moving. Great event Utas and Utasstadium and everyone in Launceston who stepped up as gracious hosts.
And here’s is to you, Taylor Hawkins. We miss you, brother. And here is to the Foos, forever part of the soundtrack of my life.
