The Foo Fighters showcased new touring guitarist Chris Shiflett a few

weeks earlier than expected over the weekend.

Playing under the pseudonym "Stacked Actors," the band played a secret

show at Los Angeles' Troubadour club Friday night, debuting several songs

from its upcoming third album and working out Shiflett's kinks,

according to the venue's general manager, Christine Karayan.

The group, led by ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, insisted on secrecy for

the show, threatening to pull out of the gig if word leaked, Karayan said.

During the hour-long, 11-song gig, Karayan said the band opened with the

new song, "Stacked Actors," and cranked out a rocking version of "Learn to

Fly," the first single from the upcoming album There Is Nothing Left

to Lose (Nov. 2). The group also played the new track "Breakout."

"I think Chris fared pretty well," Karayan said of the 28-year-old

guitarist who previously played in the punk bands 22 Jacks and No Use For

a Name. "He seemed a little nervous, but he did OK. Dave introduced him

from the stage and mentioned that he used to be in No Use For a Name and

that he's only been in the band for five days. He also said it was his

debut appearance."

Though most of the audience consisted of music-industry professionals

rather than fans, Karayan said the several hundred concert-goers danced

and sang along to such hits as "I'll Stick Around" (RealAudio

excerpt) and "This Is a Call."

"I'm incredibly happy," Shiflett said last week in a statement announcing

his addition to the band's lineup. "The itinerary looks crazy but I'm

excited to be that busy. I can't think of any other band on earth I'd

rather be in."

Shiflett is the third guitarist for the band, which was formed by Grohl

in 1995 following the 1994 suicide of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain.

The Foo Fighters bowed out of Woodstock '99 in July, citing the need to

mix their upcoming third album and the defection of guitarist Franz Stahl.

He had replaced ex-Germs/Nirvana guitarist Pat Smear after Smear quit

the band in September 1997.

Shiflett had been expected to make his live debut with the Foo Fighters

on Sept. 12 at the Gravity Games in Providence, R.I.

The guitarist will not appear on There is Nothing Left to Lose,

which was recorded before he joined the group. Grohl and his bandmates

— bassist Nate Mendel and drummer Taylor Hawkins — recorded

the album at Grohl's Virginia home with producer Adam Kasper (Soundgarden,

R.E.M.). The band's most recent album, The Colour and the Shape

(1997), was produced by Gil Norton (Pixies) and featured the hits "Everlong"

(RealAudio

excerpt) and "My Hero" (RealAudio

excerpt).

"The new songs totally fit into the Foo Fighters sound," Karayan said.

"Dave was in good spirits and he was cracking jokes between songs. He

had a nice rapport with the audience. I think they were pretty tight

considering they've only been together for five days."

The setlist for the show, according to Karayan, was: "Stacked Actors,"

"My Hero," "My Poor Brain," "For All the Cows," "Breakout," "Learn to

Fly," "This is a Call," "Monkey Wrench," "Hey, Johnny Park!," "Everlong"

and "I'll Stick Around."