Foo Fighters, The Struts, Palaye Royale + More: Sonic Temple
Two days of rock and metal all led up to Sunday, the final day of Sonic Temple, where the Foo Fighters were booked to cap off the weekend with a two-hour performance exemplifying the spirit of pure, uninhibited rock 'n' roll.
Fans at Mapfre Stadium had been fortunate enough to dodge threatening weather on Friday, but on Sunday, high winds forced some pauses in the day and, ultimately, resulted in the Wave Stage being shut down part-way through the afternoon. Bands such as The Distillers and Refused didn't get a chance to play their scheduled set, but made it up for a small crop of fans who caught wind of a secret show happening the bar Ace Of Cups in the area later that night. Dave Grohl found out, too, and turned up for a bit.
But before the club show, there was still fun to be had in what was still one of the most exciting days of the weekend. Palaye Royale and The Struts both dazzled with their own swagger-filled performances, and The Struts' charismatic frontman Luke Spiller reappeared on the Monster Energy Main Stage later that night to sing a duet with Foo Fighters drummer Taylow Hawkins as they honored Queen with their rendition of "Under Pressure."
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts closed out the Echo Stage after the festival resumed following the weather delay, proving that all these years later, the frontwoman is still the queen of rock.
For many, Dave Grohl is the king of rock, making for a royal way to close out the weekend. If you haven't seen the Foos before, well, as Grohl said, "What have you been waiting for?" Grohl's command of the stage and crowd is unparalleled and he's able to bring a cool, casual atmosphere to one of the most thrilling rock shows out there right now. The band jammed out some bits, giving a nod to '60s and '70s rock greats who built their reputation off fearless improvisation.
Comedian Pauly Shore introduced the band and also was the focal point of "My Hero," as Grohl and the stadium crowd honored Shore's father, who had passed earlier in the weekend. A somber moment like this brought extra meaning to the words of "My Hero" and reminded us all of why we cling to unifying moments like this, and, overall, the entire weekend at the Sonic Temple festival.
See photos from the third day of Sonic Temple below, and a recap video of the weekend below.