Foo Fighters Play The White House For July 4 (VIDEO)

President Obama held a July 4 barbeque on the White House lawn in honor of U.S. troops, hosted by NBC late night host Jimmy Fallon and headlined by the Foo Fighters.

A YouTube user posted three videos from the evening's musical festivities -- the camera is a bit shaky but the audio quality is great. In the second video, the Foo Fighters play a new song, "Wheels."

Some more details from the scene via The Hill:

Dave Grohl, lead singer and guitarist for the Foo Fighters, grew up in Alexandria and said he used to "sweat his butt off" watching the fireworks on the mall. He said he never thought he'd be performing on a stage just yards from the Oval Office in front of about 1,500 people. [...]

President Obama, in remarks at the beginning of the evening, said the spirit behind the event was to throw a backyard party just like the ones being held across the county. ... "In small towns and big cities, folks are firing up grills, laughing with family and friends, and laying out a blanket in preparation for the big show," Obama said. "They're reliving the simple, unmistakable joys of being an American."

Comments

[Dynamohum]

What a gyp! They get Foo Fighters and us commoners get Barry Manilow, Aretha, Natasha Bedingfield and "The Jersey Boys" broadway cast. I have been hearing the 1812 Overture for 38 years in DC and they get FOO FIGHTERS at the White House? I know Obama did this for the troops, because all of the guest were Service members (1,500). They deserve the best, but what are the rest of us? Chopped Liver?

[NealHib]

Would you feel better if you knew they did a set of Barry Manilow songs?

Oh wait... they didn't!

[ranch111]

You know you're "cutting edge" when you play the White House.

[ainfl]

You're so right, Gene. It's far more "cutting edge" to slap your namesake on everything from condoms to caskets.

[jlab]

Depends a little bit on who is the current resident, don't you think?

[TwentyCharactersLong]

You do realize that this band has been popular for a decade, right?

[TheUnnamable]

yeah!! shirtless spandex bodysuits, blood capsules, and gaudy gold chains laid over freshly combed chest hair... now THAT'S "cutting edge," baby! [oh! and, being on The Apprentice.. that's the cat's pajamas, too!]

you're completely right, though.. playing at The White House for President Barack Obama's 4th of July Cookout is, "like.. totally lame, dude!"

[Bramble8]

Amazing!

[LaShanda Jackson]

It was streamed on the WH website, I watched. It was great!

[karma13612]

Bummer that it was wasn't televised. We got to see the one that PBS did which was cool, but ranged from the muppets to Yankee Doodle Dandy. Yes Natasha Bedingfield and Aretha were there, but man, I would have loved to see Foo Fighters. We got to see them ages ago in Ottawa when they opened for Bob Dylan. Incredible.

Anywho....

[yellowdoggie]

I opted for Craig Ferguson hosting the Boston Pops show which featured Neil Diamond! Fun and cheesy! But I agree that I wish they had televised the White House party.

[LaShanda Jackson]

It was streamed on the WH website, I watched. It was great!

[slats]

Saw them in NJ. Super concert.

[SiberianRat]

Wow, Obama is definitely cool. Bush would have had the remnants of Hee Haw probably...

[redhead61]

Ha!
Good one!

[phoenix58]

Didn't the foo-fighters play in the West Wing episode where Santos (who was roughly based on Obama) won the election?

[DaOne]

Affirmative, they were playing "Miracle"

[Gitmo]

Excellent choice, Pres Obama!

Nirvana was one of the greatest rock bands ever.

[scott the drummer]

Where was my invite!? Dave is God.

[j mcdouglas]

It's times like these...

that I miss Kurt.

[juxtapostle]

no effing doubt.

[Terrence0258]

I doubt Nirvana would have been offered the chance to play at the White House.

[Mainer36]

Kurt only held Grohl back.

[frantaylor]

Grohl rode on Kurt's fame. He was a drummer in Nirvana.

[frantaylor]

If that were true, then Grohl should have quit and formed his own band.