Watch Foo Fighters Break Out Rare Deep Cuts at Their First Show of 2026

Foo Fighters kicked off 2026 with their first live show of the year on Saturday night at the Feria de Leon in Leon, Mexico. The concert marked the band’s return to the stage after a short break and featured a mix of major hits and unexpected song choices that longtime fans quickly noticed.

The group performed without guitarist Pat Smear, who is currently recovering from a broken foot. In his place, Jason Falkner joined Dave Grohl and the band for the night, stepping in smoothly as Foo Fighters delivered a full-length set for the large festival crowd. Fans responded loudly, singing along and recording moments on phones throughout night.

A Set List That Mixed Hits and Surprises

As expected, Foo Fighters leaned on many of their most well-known songs. The show opened with “All My Life” and moved through familiar staples such as “Times Like These,” “The Pretender,” “Learn to Fly,” “Monkey Wrench,” and “Best of You,” before closing the main set on a high note.

Several songs carried special meaning during the night. “My Hero” was dedicated to Smear, and the band also worked in crowd favorites like “Aurora,” “Arlandria,” and “White Limo.” The encore ended with “Everlong,” keeping a tradition alive at their live shows.

Rare Tracks Make a Return to the Stage

Beyond the radio staples, Foo Fighters surprised fans by pulling out a few deeper album cuts. “Hey, Johnny Park!” from The Colour and the Shape was played for only the fourth time since 2021, making it one of the rarer appearances in recent years.

The band also brought back “Exhausted” from their 1995 self-titled debut album. While it appeared several times in 2025, the song had been missing from set lists for more than a decade before that. Its inclusion gave longtime listeners a moment they rarely hear live.

Pat Smear’s Absence and Jason Falkner’s Role

Foo Fighters explained Smear’s absence earlier in the week with a humorous message to fans. “In the classic tradition of rockstars having bizarre gardening accidents, Pat Smear has apparently rung in the new year by smashing the shit out of his left foot,” the band wrote.

“This means he’ll unfortunately be missing a few shows while the multiple broken hones in his foot heal. We’ll miss our beloved Pat as much as you will, but we want him fully healed and back on his feet as soon as possible. Beck and St. Vincent guitar wizard Jason Falkner will be filling in for Pat while he’s on the mend.” Foo Fighters are scheduled to play next at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on Wednesday.