Mainstream ’90s rock isn’t as good as we remember it. A few albums hold up, but it’s mostly nostalgia that keeps us revisiting it. Most of those bands that scored modern-rock-radio hits are long gone. The ones still around are pale imitations of what they once were — usually one original member trying to cash in on a couple hits. Few are still making music. Even fewer are making music that people care about.
Foo Fighters are a clear exception to this. While their peers are trying to grow old gracefully, Dave Grohl and his band aren’t growing old at all. Wasting Light, their seventh studio album, is the group’s heaviest yet.
Grohl and his bandmates — Chris Shiflett, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins and Pat Smear — give all their energy on the fast-paced album. Instead of sounding like overcompensating, it’s refreshing. First single “Rope” is an instant Foo Fighters classic. Other highlights include “Dear Rosemary,” featuring legend Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü). Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic also makes a guest appearance, playing bass and accordion on “I Should Have Known.”
On the closing track, “Walk,” Grohl sums up the album’s no-holds-barred attitude: “Never wanna die/Never wanna leave/Never say goodbye.” Wasting Light is one of the band’s strongest albums, and Foo Fighters show no signs of slowing down.
What was your favorite ’90s rock band? Are they still good today?
Free Energy took the stage shortly after. Almost all of their songs are upbeat and perfect for singing and dancing. As performers, they have an undeniable swagger — always moving and looking like true rock stars. Catchy anthems from their debut album Stuck on Nothing like “Free Energy” and “Bang Pop” won over the crowd, and a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” turned into a massive sing-a-long.
They closed their set with “Hope Child,” and stuck around for a bit, mingling with students and selling merch. Drummer Nick Shuminsky even played a game of one-on-one basketball on Bob Lanier Court against junior Chris Radey. The day will surely be remembered by Bonaventure students as one of the most entertaining concerts the school has had.
