DVD Review: Foo Fighters – Skin and Bones

By Patrick Luce Dec 20, 2006, 13:57 GMT

Foo Fighters deliver several really great songs during the concert including stripped down versions of “My Hero,” “Times Like These,” and “Big Me.” Grohl sings his heart out on a solo version of “Best of You.”

Foo Fighters put a new spin on some of their classic songs and showcase some of their new material with the concert DVD Skin and Bones. The show (which was also released as a CD) demonstrates how good the band is live, and is something Foo Fighter fans will want to purchase.

‘Skin And Bones’ features the expanded eight-piece lineup of Foo Fighters including Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, and Chris Shiflett augmented by guest players Petra Haden (violin), Rami Jaffee (keyboards), Drew Hester (percussion) and former Foo Fighter Pat Smear (guitar). The concert debuts new live arrangements of several songs – including some of the band’s classics mixed with newer material from disc two of the platinum-plus ‘In Your Honor.’

Foo Fighters deliver several really great songs during the concert including stripped down versions of “My Hero,” “Times Like These,” and “Big Me.” Grohl sings his heart out on a solo version of “Best of You” – which, in my opinion, is probably the best song of the concert. The DVD also features 21 tracks to the live CD’s 15 tracks.

In between songs, Grohl jokes with the audience about the differences between this acoustic show and their normal rock concerts – where he said he spends his time running around screaming.  He also shares stories of his days with Nirvana, jokes with the other musicians, and plays up the how the fans always cheer for Hawkins.
 
Although some of the acoustic versions of the songs don’t quite work on the audio CD, every song is gold on the concert DVD – probably due to the increased audience presence and the ability to see the band’s interaction during the songs.

I have never seen the Foo Fighters in concert. After watching this DVD, I am hoping for the chance to see them live. Grohl and company have the power to capture their audience and truly entertain from start to finish.

The only real downside to the concert DVD is the lack of any special features. It would have been nice to have some interviews with the band about the experience and why they wanted to go the acoustic route (although Grohl does explain some of that during the concert). The DVD does include a “select song” option that allows you to skip to your favorite tunes, but I would suggest watching the concert from beginning to end.

If you are already a fan of the Foo Fighters, I would highly recommend picking up the Skin and Bones – especially if you have never had a chance to see the band in concert. The DVD captures the band’s energy, and is great companion to the live CD.

Skin and Bones is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD database for more information. The ‘Skin and Bones’ CD is also available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information.