M'Lou Elkins
Crowd Critics [Fan Submitted Review]
By Gina Lyster
All Photos & Videos © Gina Lyster
I’ve seen Dave and the Foos many times alongside thousands of screaming fans. But tonight, I’m here to see Dave Grohl: The Storyteller at the Ford in Los Angeles. With a mere 1200 seats, it is quiet and intimate, and I’m in the center of the SECOND ROW. This night was going to be very different.
When the house lights go down, Dave enters the stage to the Beatles,’ “Eight Days a Week.” He gets down on the floor and plays guitar along with the track. Next to him are his pillow drums, bringing to life a scene from his childhood. Not being able to afford a drum set as a kid, he crafted a drum set out of pillows on his bedroom floor and taught himself how to play with vinyl records as his teacher. Over the next 3 hours, he brought to the stage a brilliant one-man show that wove tales of life and music. All while chain-smoking. When did he trade the gum chewing for cigarettes?
Next was a story about a visit to see “cousin” Tracey, who has become a punk rocker since their last summer visit. She introduces him to her vast collection of punk music on vinyl and even allows him to tag along to a small club to see a local band called, Scream. He is transformed and awakened (he eventually leaves high school to become the drummer of Scream). Seeing all of the young punk kids at the show, he finds his tribe and for the first time, is content with being different, an outcast, not one of the cool kids. This music was now going to define him and set him on a trajectory for the rest of his life.
The night continued with vignettes of touring, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, and encounters with other musical heroes. A particular highlight was when he played drums along to a recording of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” He left us with an acoustic version of “Everlong.” Normally, at the arena shows, everyone is singing along, but tonight, the crowd is absolutely silent. If everything could ever be this good again, indeed.
Check out the photo gallery for all of the photos from Dave Grohl: Storyteller.
