The 2022 return of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was a joyous occasion for many, as it marked the first edition of the world-renowned cultural summit since 2019. The first weekend of the festival, held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, was also at times a solemn event, as those who attended remembered the many who are no longer with us. Among those memorialized was late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who Dumpstaphunk paid tribute to with a cover of “Best Of You”.

Dumpstaphunk’s set arrived on Sunday in the penultimate slot on the Festival Stage just ahead of Red Hot Chili Peppers, who replaced Foo Fighters three weeks before the festival in the wake of Hawkins’ passing. The late drummer’s widow and family were in attendance at the show, flown out as special guests of RHCP, and witnessed Chad Smith perform with a drumhead adorned with the name “Taylor” inside a hawk emblem.

“Foo Fighters were supposed to play here tonight,” Smith said at the end of the set. “We love the Foo Fighters and we love our brother Taylor Hawkins, so this means a lot to us to play for them, the guys in the band are here. They’re supporting. Taylor’s wife, Alison, is here, their family. It’s a beautiful thing… We love them. We love Taylor. So, on three I wanna hear everybody, ‘We love Taylor!’”

Following the performance, members of Dumpstaphunk caught up with Chad Smith as well as Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl who was in attendance.

Watch Dumpstaphunk cover Foo Fighters’ “Best Of You” for Taylor Hawkins and click here to revisit Live For Live Music‘s coverage of Jazz Fest weekend one.

Dumpstaphunk – “Best Of You” (Foo Fighters) – 5/1/22

 

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Jazz Fest will pick back up at the Fair Grounds on Thursday. In the meantime, Live For Live Music’s Fest By Nite concert series will keep music lovers moving through the week, including the first-ever Daze Between Festival set to begin today, May 3rd, and continue on Wednesday at Faubourg Brewery with performances from The String Cheese Incident, Snarky Puppy, Lettuce, Eric Krasno & Friends, and more. Check out a full schedule of Fest By Nite concerts below and click here for tickets.