Dave Grohl made one of his first public appearances since the March death of Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins, appearing tonight (Aug. 16) at the tiny Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles to sing the iconic guitar riff to Seals and Croft’s yacht-rock classic “Summer Breeze”Beck was joined on stage by Jack Black and Kyle Gass from Tenacious D, as well as Greg Kurstin, producer, and John C. Reiley, actor-musician.
Judd Apatow organized the benefit show that featured this seemingly spontaneous sit-in. Organization Victims FirstThe theater has a capacity for 280 people. Apatow organizes ongoing benefits at the theater that include donating money to families of victims of mass casualty incidents.
Beck was the only performer announced for the night, which was already star-studded before the Grohl appearance: comedian Pete Holmes and Apatow bantered back and forth to open the show, followed by a short set by Tenacious D culminating in a faithful singalong of REO Speedwagon’s “I’m Gonna Keep on Loving You”To rapturous applause
Sarah Silverman was trying out new material prior to Beck entering, with an acoustic guitarist in tow. The set featured some of his deep-cut favorites, including “Cyanide Breathmint”(Played as an invitation to Eric Andre). “Debra,”Keys with long-time collaborator Kurstin.
Black and Reiley were able to help out with a run-through of the facility in its ramshackle state “Mellow Gold”Cut “Truckdriving Neighbors Downstairs”Before the gang got into “Summer Breeze”Grohl came in just in-time to sing the short part of the guitar solo, which was met by stunned whoops and a semistanding ovation by the stunned audience. Grohl was absent from the performance of the Rolling Stones classic. “Dead Flowers,”Reiley takes over the lead vocal duties.
Grohl will next appear at two tributes to Hawkins events in London and Los Angeles in September, before appearing as part of the James Gang reunion on November 13 in Columbus, Ohio.