2016 Riot Fest, Chevy Metal/ Foo Fighter Drummer Taylor Hawkins

Photo By: Evan J. Thomas

​Some photos are technically perfect. Others capture a moment you'll never forget.

For me, this one takes me back to Riot Fest 2016 in Chicago.

The festival was already packed with legendary performances, but there was a special buzz surrounding Chevy Metal. If you know, you know. This wasn't just another side project. It was a chance to see my favorite band, the Foo Fighters and drummer Taylor Hawkins doing what he loved most playing rock and roll with zero expectations, no giant production, and no arena sized spectacle. Just pure fucking rock music.

Standing in the photo pit, camera in hand, I remember watching Taylor attack the drums with the same passion that made him one of the greatest rock drummers of his generation. Every hit felt explosive. Every smile looked genuine. He wasn't performing because he had to; he was performing because he loved it.

As photographers, we're always chasing that perfect shot, the split second where emotion, energy, and timing collide. During Chevy Metal's set, those moments seemed endless. Taylor was laughing, smiling, interacting with the crowd, and completely immersed in the music. The joy coming from the stage was contagious.

At the time, it was another incredible festival performance to document. Years later, it became something much more.  Following Taylor's passing in 2022, photos like this too.