M usic Notes
Hope Rocks Images associated with the word hope: a wife in the arms of her returning soldier, Martin Luther King delivering his “I Have a Dream” speech, a flag raised above the 9/11 rubble of the World Trade Center, Easter morning. An image not usually associated with hope: rock and roll. With rock and roll comes rebellion, drugs, old guys on “reunion” tours who should have hung it up long ago, kids getting into trouble. Right? Not quite. There are those rock and rollers who aim at a much higher target. For over 15 years, the Foo Fighters have been turning out albums that combine innovative rock artistry with messages of hope. Their latest effort, Wasting Light, is no exception. The title is significant—it reflects lead singer Dave Grohl’s outlook on life. “I don’t want to let one minute of this go,” he says, “without really feeling it.” Too many artists dip into narcissistic melancholy in order to be vulnerable—but not the Foos. These guys rock hard without ever stopping to feel sorry for themselves. The tabloids are ripe with rock stars acting like fools. The only place the Foo Fighters act like fools is in their videos, many of which are comedy routines meant to show that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Grohl and company maintain a surprisingly low profile in the media, and maybe it comes down to terminology. In an in-
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Levi Gangi terview for Back and Forth, the Foos’ 2011 career documentary, drummer Taylor Hawkins bristles at the question “What is it like to be a rock star?” “I’m not a rock star,” he responds. “I’m a musician.” Asked what sorts of things he demands on tour, he responds, “Instruments.” Full of himself he is not. Grohl maintains a grounded lifestyle off the stage. In a crescendo scene from Back and Forth, he stares out in disbelief at 85,000 ecstatic fans in Wembley Stadium in the wake of “Best of You” (written for his sister, an anthem against abusive relationships). The cameras slowly fade down. They fade up again in Grohl’s kitchen where he is making a bottle of formula for his youngest daughter. Wasting Light was recorded, literally, in his garage. Recording sessions were often put on pause when his daughter came in to get Dad for a swim in the pool. Wasting Light is straightforward, mature rock—it is explosive and accessible. It appeals to more than one generation. It isn’t vulgar. There are no gratuitous solos or cries of misplaced angst. The song structures use tight turnarounds, lyrical staccato, and surprise in flawless balance. It is a wall of sound. Don’t play this album on your tinny laptop speakers. The album opens with “Bridge Burning,” layers of guitar and vocal harmonies breaking out into a chorus made to fill a stadium. On “Rope,” another driving force, Grohl sings of holding on in a relationship: Give me some rope I’m coming loose / I’m pulling for you now / Give me some hope I’m coming through / I’m counting on you. “These Days” is a conversation between two people—one an arrogant voice, throwing out statements of doom: One of these days you will forget to hope and learn to fear. The responding voice is one of resolve, having already faced hard times: Easy for you to say / Your heart has never been broken / Your pride has never been stolen / Not yet, not yet. The album closer is “Walk,” which opens as a ballad but doesn’t finish without Grohl getting a good scream in.
These lyrics offer the clearest hope on the record: I’m learning to walk again / I believe I’ve waited long enough / Where do I begin? And the ending: I never wanna die / I’m dancing on my grave / I’m running through the fire / Forever, whatever / I’ll never say goodbye. Don’t mistake this for an immortality complex. Listen to the song and you’ll hear a plea to live each day to the fullest, to never give up hope for a new start. We need more of this in rock music. The Foo Fighters define themselves as an “adult” rock band. They are professionals, they love what they do, and they work hard at it. Grohl is outspoken about avoiding drugs, a staple in the music industry. He has steered clear of them completely since age 20, long before he thought of piloting his own band. In a 2009 anti-drug video, he states, “I’ve seen people die. It ain’t easy being young, but that stuff doesn’t make it any easier.” He addresses the issue candidly in Back and Forth, showing emotion as he talks about Hawkins’ near-death overdose a decade ago. Guitarist Chris Shiflett reflects a rare attribute among musicians of any kind—humility. “We’re all pretty lucky that we get to do this,” he says in Back and Forth. “You have to enjoy it while it’s here and make the most of it.” The Foo Fighters play music that reflects their gratitude for life without offering clichés or watering down tough subjects. Wasting Light offers hope because it is played by those who have it.
Levi Gangi is a seminary student, musician, and US Army Reservist in Rochester, N.Y. His band, The Lonely Ones, has released an album called Desire & the Aftermath. Find him at ReverbNation.com/LeviGangi.