On a perfect Thursday night (July 25) in Cincinnati, the Foo Fighters delivered an unforgettable performance as part of their Everything or Nothing At All summer stadium tour. With warm-up acts from Wolfgang Van Halen’s WVH and Akron native Chrissie Hynde’s Pretenders, the veteran rockers took the stage at Great American Ball Park and kicked off the night with an explosive one-two punch of “All My Life” and “No Son of Mine,” interspersing covers of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.”
The hit-filled setlist featured classics that delighted fans, with lead singer/guitarist Dave Grohl repeatedly shouting out the group’s long-time supporters. Favorites like “The Pretender,” “Breakout,” and “My Hero” resonated through the stadium, alongside an extended band introduction where members showcased their flair with covers of songs by the Beastie Boys, Ramones, and Nine Inch Nails.
A highlight for many was lead guitarist Chris Shiflett’s encore appearance, sporting a red “Cincinnati Invented Hustle” t-shirt in homage to the city’s controversial baseball legend Pete Rose. This nod was timely, coinciding with HBO’s release of a new documentary series, Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose, which explores Rose’s storied career and the betting scandal that led to his lifetime ban from baseball. Shiflett made sure the audience noticed his tribute, swinging his guitar to display the shirt during an emotional encore performance of “The Teacher,” a song dedicated to Grohl’s late mother, Virginia.
The show also included the Foo Fighters’ nightly tribute to their late drummer Taylor Hawkins, with Grohl introducing “Aurora” as Taylor’s favorite song by the band. The nearly three-hour concert saw the band oscillating between high-energy rock and intimate acoustic moments, such as Grohl’s solo rendition of “Under You.”
Grohl also shared personal connections to Ohio, mentioning his childhood in Warren and noting that bassist Nate Mendel’s wife hails from Cincinnati. “He married a Cincinnati girl,” Grohl remarked. “Fellas, if you want to find a good girl, you come to Cincinnati.”
The concert was a celebration of rock and roll, paying homage to local legends and connecting with fans on a deeply personal level, making it a night to remember for all in attendance.
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