Sound City Players Live at Stubb’s SXSW 2013

Dave Grohl has outdone himself this time. Utilizing the entirety of the Foo Fighters, various satellite members of Queens of the Stone Age and Krist Novoselic and Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen to name a few, this was a piece of rock-and-roll geek heaven. Members exchanged places at varying points in the set. For roughly five songs a piece, a different singer would come out and lead the band. It began appropriately with Alain Johannes who was in Them Crooked Vultures. He sang QOTSA’s “Hangin’ Tree” and his old band Eleven’s “Reach Out.” Next, Grohl Brought out Stevie Nicks. With her, Grohl sang along on “Stop Dragging my Heart Around.” He also performed with just her on “Landslide.” They also did impressive versions of “Dreams” and “Gold Dust Woman” the latter an explosive crescendo of desert rock cacophony. Chris Goss of Masters of Reality had the unenviable task of following Nicks on vocals. Performing almost entirely Masters of Reality songs, this was the evening’s low point. For an aggressive change of pace, FEAR’s Lee Ving took the mic next and starting each number with his trademark “1234 1234,” jumped into “Your Wife is Calling” and “I Love Living in the City,” “Foreign Policy” and “I Don’t Care About You” from FEAR’s catalog. Another complete left turn, Rick Springfield had the next set. “Love Somebody” and “Jessie’s Girl” the highlights of that portion. Then, a rare treat, the band became Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Krist Novoselic and Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen. They led first with the ultra moody “From Can to Can’t” and the changes up for the power pop of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender.” The set ended with John Fogerty. There was no other way to go out as they did a slew of American classics. In order: “Traveling Band,” “Born on the Bayou,” “Centerfield,” “Keep on Choogling,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son.” Dave Grohl never left the stage once the whole set.