Stella Nelson | Writer
September 19, 2025
This past week, the popular rock band Foo Fighters reclaimed the stage in San Luis Obispo and Santa Ana, taking fans by surprise with local California concerts after more than a year away. With the intimacy of their gigs, they helped to introduce their new drummer, saying goodbye to Josh Freese and hello to Ilan Rubin. This marked a new start for the band.
With less than a day’s notice to fans, the band announced shows for September 13th and 15th at small venues, including The Observatory and Fremont Theater. The concerts took Instagram by storm with electrifying performances that were passionate and loud, completed with guitars and pure energy. The band’s long-awaited return left fans eager for more.
Rubin took to Instagram following the concerts with excitement “for all the volume and sweat that lies ahead!” This left anticipation in the air for more concerts and possibly a new album.
Those who live locally and follow the Foo Fighters on Instagram were shocked to see their last-minute concert announcements and eagerly traveled to claim their tickets to the exclusive shows. The “first-come, first-served” rule, along with inexpensive $30 tickets, proved to make spots scarce for fans as people came by the hundreds. Among the crowd was one of SCHS’s seniors, Hanalei Marshall. When asked about the recent pop-up concert, Marshall stated, “It’s more intimate with the band. If you really love them, you should be willing to wait in a five-hour line.” The Foo Fighters have an undeniable raw connection with their fans, being able to unite them through suspense and long lines once the music starts playing.
By going old school, Foo Fighters were able to avoid Ticketmaster and money-hungry resellers, leaving those who could attend to a crowd of loyal fans and lovers of live music.
However, for many fans, the concerts were too short of a notice to be able to secure tickets since the only way to buy them was directly from the venue. Senior at SCHS and local concert enthusiast Talani Camacho was unable to obtain tickets. Camacho voiced his disagreement with the band’s choices and stated that, “I know they’re trying to make it old school, but not everybody can go in on a Monday, on late-notice, and buy a ticket.”
With the spontaneous nature of the event, intended by the band, it was inevitable that some people wouldn’t be fortunate enough to get tickets. Those who were lucky enough to attend fought for their spot and were able to be a part of a special event, dedicated to the passion of live music.
In the age of overpriced concert tickets, presales, and scalpers, it’s hard to ignore that the Foo Fighters are bringing back the magic of live performances at affordable prices.
Does this look like the beginning of a revival of 90s concert culture?
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