Foo Fighters Bring New Album Energy to First-Ever NPR Tiny Desk Concert

In mid-May 2026 the six-member Foo Fighters performed a five-song set at NPR’s Tiny Desk in New York/New Jersey. The set opened with “Spit Shine,” a raucous track from their newly released album *Your Favorite Toy*, and continued with “Learn to Fly,” “Child Actor,” “My Hero,” and “Everlong.” While navigating the cramped office space, frontman Dave Grohl joked that the microphone is “the hardest instrument of them all to play.” The performance was recorded for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, a long-standing platform for stripped-down shows.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

Tiny Desk Concerts, hosted by NPR, feature artists delivering intimate renditions in a modest office setting. Foo Fighters have long cited the series as a favorite, mentioning past shows by D.C. go-go legends Trouble Funk and rapper Juvenile. The May performance coincided with the band’s promotion of *Your Favorite Toy*, which they have been supporting through appearances on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, a club show in New York, and a web-series cameo. The concert served as a promotional milestone ahead of a 2026 stadium tour with Queens of the Stone Age.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

• Dave Grohl – vocalist, guitarist, and primary spokesperson for the band.

Foo Fighters Celebrate New Album with First Tiny Desk Concert

• Foo Fighters – American rock group, currently promoting *Your Favorite Toy*.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

• NPR – public radio organization producing the Tiny Desk Concert series.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

• Set length: Five songs (two from *Your Favorite Toy*, three classic hits).

NME | New Musical Express

• Album charting: *Your Favorite Toy* debuted at No. 3 on Australia’s ARIA Albums and Vinyl Albums charts.

Foo Fighters Celebrate New Album with First Tiny Desk Concert

• Tour schedule: European stadium tour begins 10 June 2026 in Oslo, includes two nights at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium later June; North American stadium run starts 4 August 2026 at Rogers Stadium, Toronto; Australian/New Zealand stadium leg slated for November 2026–January 2027.

Billboard

• Band composition: Six members performed at the Tiny Desk.

Billboard

Grohl repeatedly expressed gratitude, stating it was “an honour to be here” and noting the band’s admiration for previous Tiny Desk performances. He highlighted the challenge of adapting a stadium-scale sound to a confined space, referencing the band’s pre-show rehearsal where they “taped out the dimensions of the Desk.” Grohl also referenced personal anecdotes, joking about inhaling a lock of hair during a recent SNL UK performance and assuring listeners that he “didn’t choke.” NPR’s description emphasized the band’s meticulous planning for the “close quarters” setting.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

Sources differ on the exact date of the Tiny Desk appearance: NME reports the concert occurred on 13 May 2026, while Billboard cites 23 May 2026. No additional discrepancies were identified regarding setlist or personnel.

Billboard

• “You know I don’t really give a damn,” — Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman (Rolling Stone)

Rolling Stone

• “It’s an honour to be here.” — Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman (Tone Deaf)

Foo Fighters Celebrate New Album with First Tiny Desk Concert

• “I didn’t choke!” — Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman (Consequence)

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

• “And then when you come out to perform you realize that you haven’t had a haircut in a year and it becomes really hard to see the fretboard,” — Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman (Billboard)

Billboard

• “the hardest instrument of them all to play.” — Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman (Rolling Stone)

Rolling Stone

The Tiny Desk set demonstrates Foo Fighters’ ability to translate their high-energy stadium sound into an intimate format, reinforcing the relevance of *Your Favorite Toy* and generating buzz for the upcoming global tour. By referencing influential Tiny Desk acts, the band situates itself within a broader musical lineage, appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners.

Foo Fighters Play New Songs and Classics on Debut Tiny Desk Concert: Watch

Following the Tiny Desk concert, Foo Fighters will headline the Bottlerock Napa Valley festival, launch their European stadium tour in June, commence the North American stadium leg in August, and later embark on an Australian/New Zealand stadium circuit. The band’s schedule underscores a year of extensive live engagements supporting *Your Favorite Toy*.

Billboard