If you've been following Foo Fighters for any decent amount of time, you'll know a few things to expect at the start of a new era - secret warm-up sets, new music clips, and teasers sent out on their socials as puzzle pieces for fans to fit together. In the year since we last saw them onstage, it was mostly quiet on the band front, and what that radio silence meant was open to interpretation (and spirited forum debates). But in the last week, the promotional engine has been cranking once again. On September 5, a picture was posted on their socials showing only their shows, with them arranged in a circle. This quickly became a guessing game in fan groups to try and match the Foo with the footwear. The following day, and two days after that, they shared photos from what was assumed to be from a rehearsal studio, showing Dave, Pat, Nate, and Chris. The drummer's kit was shown but their identity was still concealed. (While Rami has not been shown in any recent photos, the press release for 'Today's Song' listed him as a current active member.)

Then came a post that was as intriguing as it was disturbing - a gallery of photos, the first being a manipulated photo of Weird Al Yankovic's face replacing Dave's from a promotional shot. Scroll past that, however, and you were rewarded with a clue: The plaque outside the bathroom at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (or SLO CAL) where Weird Al recorded 'My Bologna'. The next post was of Dave himself, his face outside of the frame to highlight his t-shirt that also specifically referenced a location in SLO CAL. The 'old-school fans' as Dave calls them picked up what the band was putting down, and waited.

It turns out that we didn't have to wait very long - tonight, the band announced a surprise show at Fremont Theater in SLO CAL tomorrow, Saturday September 13!

Music news sites have specifically cited this as the debut show with drummer Ilan Rubin, although the band has yet to offer any official confirmation of this or any other name.

The announcement also came with an unlabelled audio clip, running just over a minute in length - but what can be heard in that time was as invigorating as another fresh pot (sorry). Interpolating recognisable elements of 'All My Life' (and ending with the rapid-fire drum and guitars as in the live jams), the instrumental cut riffs over the iconic dun-dun-dun - walking, then strutting, and full-pelt running. What we hear is something old with something new. The same can be said of their return to the stage.

The following details about the SLO CAL show are taken directly from the band's announcement -

Know before you purchase:

• In person box office sales only. You may line up to purchase tickets at the venue beginning at 7am PT on Saturday, September 13^th. Please be courteous of neighboring businesses and the community. Do not line up before this time.
• Fremont Theater is located at 1035 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
• Sales begin at approximately 8am PT on Saturday, September 13^th , no earlier.
• The person attending the event must be present at the time of the purchase with their physical ID and credit card.
• Tickets will be $30 per ticket.
• No Cash. No Contactless or Digital Cards. Physical Credit and Debit Cards Only.
• There is a 2-ticket limit per person.
• Please notify venue staff at the time of purchase if you require accessible accommodations.

Yay! You’ve got tickets! What to know now:

• You may line up to enter for the event starting at 5pm PT.
• When doors open for the event, your physical ID is required to enter the venue. No Exceptions.
• At the entry point, we check your ID and match it to the order in our system. Entry into the venue is dependent on your physical ID matching the order in our system.
• If you purchased 2 tickets, you and your guest must enter the venue together. If you enter without your guest, your second ticket may be forfeited.
• After your identity is verified, you will go through security and directly into the venue. Please review the venue FAQs and permitted items here.
• Once you enter the venue, there is absolutely no re-entry after you exit. That means no ins-and-outs. No Exceptions.
• The event is General Admission Standing in the front of the venue with limited first come, first served seating in the back. Please plan accordingly.
• For this event: Bags that are 4.5”x6” and smaller are permitted. No Cameras (Phones are OK). No Gum. No Sharpies. No Outside Food or Drink.

Click here to view the specific venue FAQ.

At the time of publishing, no additional shows have been confirmed other than by official channels. But the just-announced SLO CAL show is confirmation enough that we're at the beginning of a new chapter in the band's continuing story.

Update: The show is now sold out. Attendees in line were gifted a cassette labelled '1995/2025 Playlist', with the mixtape showcasing selections ranging from Fugazi, Sepultura, and The Prodigy to recent cuts from St. Vincent ('Flea', on which Dave played drums) and Billy Strings. Copies were also left to be found around the Madonna Inn, and others kept as giveaways by Boo Boo Records for raffle winners - along with copies of the 'Today's Song' 7" and two pairs of tickets to the show.