Skin And Bones

Performer: Foo Fighters
Engineer: Nick Raskulinecz; Nick Raskulinecz
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Foo Fighters: Chris Shiflett, Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins. Personnel: Petra Haden (vocals, mandolin, violin); Pat Smear (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Danny Clinch (harmonica); Rami Jaffee (accordion, piano, organ, Mellotron); Drew Hester (vibraphone, percussion). Additional personnel: Pat Smear, Petra Haden, Rami Jaffee, Drew Hester, Danny Clinch. Audio Mixer: Nick Raskulinecz. Recording information: Pantages Theater, Hollywood, CA (08/2006). Recorded during Foo Fighters' 2006 acoustic tour, SKIN AND BONES finds the perennially popular alternative-rock band drawing from its decade-plus history, even going so far as to include a spare rendition of "Marigold," a tune by frontman Dave Grohl that was originally issued as a Nirvana B-side. Augmenting the group's usual guitars/bass/drums line-up are pianist/organist Rami Jaffee (the Wallflowers), violinist Petra Haden, and additional percussionist Drew Hester, who add subtle flourishes to the stripped-down renditions of revered FF tunes such as the emotive "My Hero." While this concert release (also available on DVD) inevitably showcases the more sensitive side of the typically revved-up ensemble, it also reinforces Grohl's status as one of the most sincere and committed rock performers of his generation, as best revealed on the Foos' raw, intense take on "Best of You." Though SKIN AND BONES is a must-have disc for fans, its unplugged setting makes the album inviting to newcomers not as partial to Foo Fighters' rocking sound. Given that the Foo Fighters released a double-album comprised of one electric record and one acoustic album, it's no surprise that they performed several acoustic concerts on its supporting tour. One of these, a stop at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, is documented on the 2006 live album Skin and Bones album, which culls 15 highlights from the show. Although the Foo Fighters are performing on acoustics and are buttressed by such guest musicians as Petra Haden and Dave Grohl's former Nirvana running partner Pat Smear, the band doesn't sound radically different here, nor do they reinvent their material: they merely play their music, culled largely from the last album plus the hits, with the skill of professionals and the heart of true believers, which makes this an engaging show if not necessarily a truly compelling one. Part of the problem is that the production is too crisp and clean, which only accentuates the group's seamless performances: there may be grit in Grohl's voice, but not in how it's recorded. This isn't a deal-breaker, but it makes an album that could have been special into one that is merely good. One for the fans, then. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone (p.127) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he mostly guitar-and-voice opener, 'Razor'; the plaintive, folky take on 'Big Me'; and the climactic, slow-building 'Everlong' -- illustrate how Grohl's songwriting gift moved him out of Kurt Cobain's shadow in the first place." Q (p.141) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t adds extra dimension to familiar songs. The title track -- an obscure B-side from 2005's DOA single -- is both gently cantering and creepily off-centre." Alternative Press (p.139) - "The sound quality is top notch and includes the appropriate audience reactions to create a great concert atmosphere." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.56) - "[V]iolins, harmonicas and percussion twinkle in and out, adding depth, changing perspectives."

Unbeknownst to most Nirvana fans, drummer David Grohl was also a singer/guitarist/songwriter who wrote numerous songs on his own during his tenure with the band. After Kurt Cobain's death in 1994, Grohl decided to head out on his own and formed the Foo Fighters; he recruited sometime Nirvana consort Pat Smear (ex- of the Germs) and swiped the rhythm section from early-emo gods Sunny Day Real Estate and assumed frontman duties. The delightfully silly debut single "This is a Call" was a good indication of where the band's intentions lay as the Foos reflected Grohl's former band's melodic-punk-pop, but with a somewhat lighter attitude, a sound they would ride to over a decade of pop superstardom.

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