In 2020 the “incendiary rock band” Kills Birds were posed for a major year, only to have it brought to a halt due to the pandemic. 

Kills Birds’ publicity firm Big Hassle Media’s Leigh Greaney noted that the excitement garnered from the band’s debut album catapulted them to become “the number one band to see at SXSW,” only for South by Southwest, an annual media festival, to later be canceled due to COVID-19. 

Still, the band could not be stopped. They recorded their sophomore album at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 by invitation of Grohl himself. 

Grohl, a longtime musician who established fame as a drummer for Nirvana before forming Foo Fighters in 1994 following the passing of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, even let Kills Birds use the same Neve console that “Nevermind” was recorded on. “Nevermind” was Nirvana’s second studio album in 1991, featuring hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium.”

Grohl continued to dominate charts for decades with the Foo Fighters, and personally invited Kills Birds to record at his studio and later join the Foo Fighters’ tour. 

On the night of Dec. 9, Kills Birds joined the Foo Fighters onstage at the Save Mart Center for one of the final dates in that tour.

Kills Birds used the opportunity to perform several singles from their sophomore album “Married,” described by the band as “a document of our shared experience through the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Lead singer Nina Ljeti gave an electric performance, supported by guitarist Jacob Loeb and bassist Fielder Thomas. Songs such as “Rabbit” and “Cough Up Cherries” explored topics like abusive relationships and skewed power dynamics with a disorienting juxtaposition of instruments and vocals. 

The LA-based band took time to give thanks to the Foo Fighters for the tour invitation. 

“This whole set goes out to [the Foo Fighters] and their phenomenal crew,” said Ljeti.

“Before this tour we never played for audiences this big. It’s crazy, such an incredible experience,” Ljeti later said to the packed arena. 

The Foo Fighters later took the stage to thunderous applause, playing a collection of hits that spanned their vast discography as well as promoting their latest album, “Medicine at Midnight.” 

One final date remains in the Foo Fighters’ tour with Kills Birds on March 15, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. 

Kills Birds have several solo tour dates coming in 2022, and their debut and sophomore albums are both available on streaming services. Foo Fighters’ “Medicine at Midnight” can also be listened to on streaming services.