"Foo Fighters" album "Sonic Highways" was released on November 10, 2014, and the captivating narrative of its creation during a road trip across the US is truly unmissable!
While some may view it as an interim album bridging the gap between the acclaimed "Wasting Light" and the invigorating "Concrete and Gold," the backstory of this record is just as intriguing as that of other Foo Fighters albums.
Dave Grohl strongly believes that the setting where an album is recorded plays a crucial role in shaping the music and the final outcome of the album. He strives to avoid replicating past recordings in each album by pushing the band to record in a new and unique way compared to the previous one. According to him, embracing greater challenges leads to enhanced creativity, which is evident in the music produced.
(Photo: Foo Fighters)
After wrapping up the recordings and filming for "Sound City: Real to Reel", the directors presented Dave with the film enclosed in a box along with a pen and notebook, inscribed with the words: "And now for the next project..."
Inspired by the interviews and recordings at Sound City, Dave decided to embark on a unique tour with the band across historic cities in the US. Collaborating with HBO, they planned to visit 8 cities renowned for their musical legacy, recording a distinct song in each location.
During their week-long stay in each city, the band, alongside the photography and production team, interviewed musicians, producers, and other influential figures in the music scene. They absorbed inspiration, energy, and creativity from their surroundings, channeling these into the songs recorded in each city at significant locations that resonated with them. Overseeing the album production was the experienced producer Butch Vig. The entire journey was captured in an HBO documentary series titled "Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways."
Interestingly, Dave penned the song lyrics right before the vocal recordings, drawing from the interviews conducted in each city after the musical recordings were completed.
Shall we start with the tour???
1. Chicago - "Something from Nothing"
The band embarks on their journey in Chicago, but why Chicago, you may wonder... Well, here's the explanation. In Chicago, Dave attended his first-ever concert, a performance by a local punk rock band called Naked Raygun. This experience inspired Dave to pursue a career in music, setting the stage for what was to come. Prior to the recording sessions, they conducted interviews with Rick Nielsen, a guitarist and songwriter from the renowned 70s rock band Cheap Trick. With a track record of over 5,000 shows, more than 20 million albums sold, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Cheap Trick is a legendary band. The band members have a longstanding friendship with Rick. At the end of the interview, Rick jokingly asked, "So, are you going to invite me to play on the song?" Without premeditation, the friends glanced at each other and enthusiastically agreed. This marked the inception of their collaboration with local musicians, recording a song with a different artist in each city they visited. The recording took place at Electrical Audio Studio, founded in 1997 by Steve Albini, serving as a hub for numerous local independent bands over the years.
2. Virginia - "The Feast and the Famine"
The song was inspired by the punk rock band "Scream", hailing from Washington, D.C. (which, yes, is in Virginia). The band had a direct tie to the "Foo Fighters" when guitarist Franz Stahl briefly joined them on tour after Pat Smear's departure. However, this musical partnership was short-lived as Stahl was eventually replaced by Chris Shiflett. The track was recorded at Inner Ear Studio, and to come full circle, Pete Stahl, Franz's brother and the lead vocalist of Scream, as well as Skeeter Thompson, the band's bassist, both participated in the recording session. Coincidentally, Dave Grohl, who was also Scream's drummer, completed the lineup.
3. Nashville - "Congregation"
This song was recorded by the band with singer Zac Brown. Dave produced an album with his band "Zac Brown Band". A country rock band that is considered to be very big in the province of Tennessee and even played at The Bluebird Café (mentioned in the song), this is where any artist who wants to succeed in Tennessee must go. If you have not passed the "Bluebird" test then you are not talented enough and you should look for another profession. Dave said that when Zack approached him to produce the album for him, he was surprised because he did not know him and when he asked people from Tennessee if they knew him, everyone told him he was a huge star.
4. Austin - "What Did I Do? / God as My Witness"
This song was recorded in Austin Texas at KLRU-TV Studio 6A with singer and musician Gary Clark Jr, best known for his blues and rock style with a combination of hip-hop elements. He has performed on stage with Eric Clapton, Bibi Kin,g and the Rolling Stones, among others, and has won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance
5. Joshua Tree - "Outside"
The song was recorded in the middle of the desert in a studio on the Rancho De La Luna farm. The song features guitarist star Joe Walsh who has a glorious career of 50 years in which he has played in several bands the most famous being the Eagles. Taylor said that when you add a guitarist like Joe, you don't let him play two, chords, but you let him explode and that's how it sounds. The song is also joined by Chris Goss who is a musician and producer (who also worked with Queens of the Stone Age) and is considered an important figure in the development of the subgenres Stoner Rock and Desert Rock.
6. New Orleans - "In The Clear"
Dave expressed that leaving New Orleans was a regrettable experience for him, as he had developed a strong attachment to the city's people, cuisine, music, and overall ambiance. His connection to New Orleans was particularly significant during the creation of this album. The track was recorded at Preservation Hall, a jazz club and non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding and supporting the city's music culture. Notably, the song features the club's own jazz band, known as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
7. Seattle - "Subterranean"
Seattle, where Nirvana, Grunge, and Dave (despite not being born there) originated...
The band revisits their roots and records the song at Robert Lang Studios, where Dave previously recorded the Foo Fighters' debut album alongside producer Barrett Jones. The track includes creator and guitarist Ben Gibbard, renowned as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie.
8. New York - "I Am a River"
The final track on the album, recorded in New York City, inspired the number eight on the album cover, which also features the infinity sign. Dave explained that the song served as a reflection of his observations, feeling like a river where everything is visible and all the water flows.
Furthermore, the song was recorded at The Magic Shop recording studio, which was constructed in a New York basement. During construction, the floor collapsed, revealing a river flowing beneath the entire city.
Dave expressed how he perceived a cosmic connection between the various studios they visited, envisioning a river flowing beneath them that united all music and creativity in an endless manner. This concept serves as the inspiration behind the symbol on the album cover.
By the way... when they first released the album cover, Dave was so excited that he went in to check out the reactions to the cover and the first response was: "Dream Theater called to ask for their album cover back!"
During numerous interviews, the band expressed that they embarked on a profound journey while recording the album, delving into spiritual experiences intertwined with the people, music, and history they encountered. The continuous movement from one city to another for recording sessions intensified their connection to the music-making process, leaving no room for breaks or distractions. The band found the experience binding and intense.
Conversely, they also acknowledged that despite the intensity and dedication, creating the album was a solemn yet remarkably enjoyable endeavor. Each location they visited taught them valuable lessons in recording, band leadership, and music distribution. The amalgamation of interactions with individuals, exploration of new places, and immersion in history rendered the entire process profoundly unique and extraordinary.
Now you are going to listen to the album 3-4 times and then search and watch the documentary. Spotify, Apple Music
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