Last June 10, 2026, during a Foo Fighters show on the Take Cover Tour, my favorite band of all time started introducing each member (well, other than the mighty Dave Grohl) by performing songs from their bands and side projects.
The first few songs were “Invincible” by No Use for a Name (a band connected to lead guitarist Chris Shiflett), “Seven” by Sunny Day Real Estate (connected to bassist Nate Mendel), “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers (connected to keyboardist Rami Jaffee), and “Manimal” by The Germs (connected to guitarist Pat Smear). To cap off the introductions, the band introduces their newest drummer and youngest member, Ilan Rubin, with a role switch: Mr. Rubin taking over guitar and Mr. Grohl behind the drum kit, and the whole band performing “Tap Dancing in a Minefield”, a song from Rubin’s own band, The New Regime. When I saw the live videos, while I was going through a rough patch, it was so glorious to see Dr. G almost destroying the drums like a caffeinated monster, and the multi-talented millennial showcasing his guitar-shredding skills. I’m a bit jealous of not seeing Mr. Grohl drum live like the Nirvana days at the Singapore GP show last 2025, but I’m happy for those who have at the recent Take Cover shows. (Also, they got three hours of Foo! That’s Herculean levels of rock, I must say!)
I must admit: I was familiar with the other bands introduced except The New Regime. I only knew Ilan Rubin’s connection with Nine Inch Nails, the band he has served since 2008. After seeing him become a beast on the drums last year and discovering his own band recently, I wanted to check out the studio version of “Tap Dancing in a Minefield.” After several weeks of turmoil, recovery, change, and return to stability, I finally did, and it sounds catchy as hell! The instrumentals (all performed by Mr. Rubin himself) pack a lot of punch, similar to the first Foo Fighters album. No wonder the band hired him!
Also, I believe that reading the lyrics came at the right time because every line encourages what I’ve been doing in recent weeks: moving forward through every smooth and rough road ahead. To quote the chorus:
I can’t waste my time
There’s just no letting up
I can’t waste my time
I won’t stand down, no no
That is why The New Regime’s “Tap Dancing in a Minefield” is my Song of the Moment.
To Mr. Rubin, if ever you’re reading this, you’re fucking incredible. I will check out your project’s first album, Coup, tonight.
To everyone else, see you in the next post.
Header image: Jay Brand.
The Diary of The Deranged Writer 