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Season 1 – Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways Oct 2014 Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
To salute the band's 20th year and inspire its eighth studio album, Foo Fighters' founder/frontman Dave Grohl has produced "a love letter to the history of American music." His documentary taps into the styles and heritage of Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Each hourlong episode has Grohl and bandmates Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear recording a song in each city. Locals Buddy Guy, Joe Walsh, Dolly Parton, Rick Nielsen, Chuck D, Allen Toussaint, Gary Clark Jr. and others, contribute to tracks, illustrating how one's surroundings affect tonal/rhythmic traits and how music legends impact their hometowns.

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Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways — Season 1

Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dave Grohl makes for a lovable front man in Sonic Highways, a documentary series that sidesteps the pitfalls of the standard vanity project by delving thoughtfully into what gives each music scene its distinction.

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Critics Reviews

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Leor Galil Chicago Reader 06/30/2020
Grohl is a superstar, one with a certain meme-ified ubiquity that enchants the public more often than it revolts them, and his down-to-earth persona is a hell of a hook. Go to Full Review Jim Farber New York Daily News 06/30/2020
3/4
Grohl soars when emphasizing personal perspective. He grew up in Virginia and knows these scenes well. How he fares on upcoming episodes, in places like New Orleans or our own New York, remains to be seen. Go to Full Review Hank Stuever Washington Post 06/30/2020
The problem with Sonic Highways is the same as it is in any documentary or series where there's a lot more talking than doing... The good news about Sonic Highways is that it doesn't have enough time to bore us to tears. Go to Full Review Nick Harley Den of Geek 06/30/2020
Say what you want about the Foo Fighters or the album of the same name, but HBO's Sonic Highways was one of the most interesting television shows of the year. Go to Full Review Julianne Escobedo Shepherd Jezebel 06/30/2020
With each episode, it becomes more dismaying, and much clearer, that Grohl's version of that history begins and ends with men almost entirely. Go to Full Review Keith Spera Times-Picayune 06/30/2020
Is there more Grohl could have explored? Of course... But within the hour-long format of Sonic Highways, he covers a lot of ground. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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04/10/2021 A must-see for all music lovers. Dave should do more documentaries, he's great at it. Loved Sonic Highways and Sound City. See more 03/24/2015 Esta fantástica serie documental representa un agasajo para todos aquellos que no somos muy entendidos en el área de lo musical, y es que en base a lo mas conocido vamos construyendo un mapa mental de todas las raíces que a lo largo de los años han dado origen a esos músicos y bandas que han acompañado nuestra vida diaria. Estoy seguro que todo aquel que tenga una noción de la música popular tampoco se verá defraudado por este magnifico trabajo dirigido por el ex baterísta de Nirvana y actual líder de los Foo Fighters, quien sin duda aprovecha su conocimiento y contactos para darnos un recorrido por las bases musicales de los Estados Unidos. Sonic Highways es una excelente clase de historia y cultura pop que no tiene perdida alguna, y si usted es de conocimiento limitado en la materia le garantizo que terminará con una libreta llena de nombres y referencias que engordarán su acervo de música personal. See more 10/23/2014 This was awesome to watch. Plain and simple and I am looking forward very much to the new album from the legendary Foos. See more 10/22/2014 Uma vitamina do rock!! Muito foda!! See more Read all reviews
Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Foo Fighters

Actor

Dave Grohl

Director

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 17, 2014 Chicago The musical evolution of the city of Chicago from 1950s to the 1980s; the Foo Fighters connect with At Electrical Audio studio owner Steve Albini; Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen joins the band to record the first song on their new album. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 24, 2014 Washington, D.C. Dave Grohl sits down with Trouble Funk's Big Tony Fisher to discuss go-go, and explores its origins with Chuck Brown; interview with Inner Ear Studio owner Don Zientara. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 31, 2014 Nashville The band heads to Nashville, Tenn.; Dave sits down with Dolly Parton, Tony Joe White, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and producer Tony Brown to discuss Nashville's musical influences; the Foo Fighters prepare to record at Southern Ground studio. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 7, 2014 Austin Foo Fighters prepare to record at the Austin City Limits Studio; Dave Grohl chats with Terry Lickona, the executive producer of "Austin City Limits"; examining the roots of Austin's music scene. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 14, 2014 Los Angeles Dave Grohl visits legendary KROQ disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer, owner of a 1970s Sunset Strip club that became the hub for the glitter rock scene; Foo Fighters head to the desert to record with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh at Rancho de la Luna. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 21, 2014 New Orleans Dave Grohl discusses New Orleans' unique history with Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Cyril Neville and Trombone Shorty; Dave bonds with Ben Jaffe, leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 28, 2014 Seattle Foo Fighters prepare to record at Robert Lang Studio; Dave Grohl chats with Robert Lang, Duff McKagen, Chris Cornell and Nancy Wilson about Seattle's northwest sound; examining the city's musical heritage. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 5, 2014 New York City Dave Grohl explores the evolution of the New York music scene; interviewees include Paul Stanley, Jimmy Iovine, Nora Guthrie, Thurston Moore, Chuck D, LL Cool J, Mike D and Rick Rubin; the Foo Fighters record a single at The Magic Shop. Details

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Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways — Season 1

Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways View more photos

Season Info

Director
Dave Grohl
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 17, 2014