From comforting trapped miners to protesting Westboro Baptist bigots, Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl consistently proves to be one of the most endearing musicians on earth. Just when we thought we couldn’t love him more, he appeared at CityLab DC to discuss the importance of local music scenes with The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg.
It’s an issue close to Grohl’s heart — and it’s one catching a spark with a number of city officials nationwide. There’s even a startup, Sofar Sounds, that will help elected officials get music scenes established in their communities. The aim is to foster social cohesion and community pride, while boosting tourism and tax revenue.
Grohl got his start as the drummer of Nirvana, one of many legendary bands that emerged from Seattle, Washington’s world-famous grunge scene. Together with bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Nirvana put Seattle on the artistic map. Needless to say, Grohl understands the transformative power of music on communities.
“Wouldn’t you love it if your city was famous for music?” he asked attendees at City Lab. “A rich and vibrant music scene brings a lot of happiness. It’s like air—it’s important. You need to have that in your life just to remind you that life’s worth living.”
The drummer turned frontman had some advice for those wishing to lay the groundwork for a rich artistic culture: create more all-age venues and other spaces where music can thrive.
Grohl pointed to the culture of New Orleans, where second line parades regularly erupt on public streets. It’s comfortable, it’s natural, and people flock from all around the country to be a part of it.
That’s the power of music. And cities can help bring it to it to life.
See also:
Vibrant Music Scenes Are Good for Cities. How Do You Make Sure Your Town Has One?