[SXSW 2011] Review: Foo Fighters: Back And Forth
Sharing names with a track from their upcoming album Wasting Light, the Back and Forth documentary tells story of how the Foo Fighters went from a demo tape during part of singer Dave Grohl's healing process after Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain passed away to the rock gods capable of playing two sold out shows at Wembley Stadium and fast-forwarding to them returning to their analog roots as they recorded Wasting Light.
The film is by far one of the most entertaining rock docs I've seen to date. Not only is it beautifully shot and put together, but it's genuinely as funny as the guys in the band. I was also impressed by how they tackle the "drama" that the band has experienced over the years. Grohl deserves a major hat tip for facing those areas of the bands history head on and not being ashamed to admit to the decisions he felt he needed to make. The lack of unnecessary finger pointing came as a pleasant surprise throughout the film. It seems as though for once we have a collection of level-headed rock musicians on our hands. How great is that for once?
When the band started to get down to business and work on Wasting Light during the film, it was just another moment for the Foos to shine ever so brightly. Since the album was recorded in Grohl's garage, it removed a lot of the typical formalities that normally come with recording. You see a lot of interaction with their families and an overall easygoing atmosphere amongst everyone involved, which I'm sure will somehow end up having an impact on the way the record sounds in addition to being recorded to tape. It should also be said that the interaction captured between Dave Grohl and his daughters is one of the most heartwarming yet entertaining things you will ever see. To see Grohl, the ever screaming firey frontman patiently let one of his daughters crawl all over him while he's attempting to track his guitar tracks is worth the admission price alone.
Anyone on the fence about how the Foo Fighters will be won over with this doc. Anyone already in love with them will feel all the more connected to an incredible band.
Bottle rating: 5 out of 5 bottles!
You can catch Back and Forth screening on April 5th at a theater near you below:
| CITY | STATE | SHOW TIME(S) | THEATER | |
| HOOVER | AL | 8:00 PM | RMP PATTON CREEK 15 | |
| HUNTSVILLE | AL | 8:00 PM | VALLEY BEND 18 | |
| MONTGOMERY | AL | 8:00 PM | RAVE FESTIVAL PLAZA 16 | |
| LITTLE ROCK | AR | 8:00 PM | RAVE COLONEL GLENN 18 | |
| SURPRISE | AZ | 7:00 PM | ULTRASTAR SURPRISE POINTE 14 | |
| PICO RIVERA | CA | 6:00 PM | VILLAGE WALK 15 | |
| LOS ANGELES | CA | 6:00 PM | RAVE 18 – LA (FORMERLY THE BRIDGE) | |
| RIVERBANK | CA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY 12-RIVERBANK | |
| TULARE | CA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY 10-TULARE | |
| BUENA PARK | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN PREMIERE THEATRES | |
| MONROVIA | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN 12-MONROVIA | |
| REDLANDS | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN PREMIERE THEATRES | |
| HOLLYWOOD | CA | 6:00 PM | CHINESE | |
| APPLE VALLEY | CA | 6:00 PM | ULTRASTAR APPLE VALLEY 14 | |
| CHULA VISTA | CA | 6:00 PM | ULTRASTAR CHULA VISTA 10 | |
| COLORADO SPRINGS | CO | 7:00 PM | CHAPEL HILLS 15 | |
| FORT COLLINS | CO | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE 10 | |
| BRADENTON | FL | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE ROYAL PALM 20 | |
| MELBOURNE | FL | 9:00 PM | RMP AVENUE 16 | |
| FERNANDINA BEACH | FL | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE AMELIA ISLAND 7 | |
| PENSACOLA | FL | 9:00 PM | RAVE BAYOU 15 | |
| PORT ST LUCIE | FL | 9:00 PM | RAVE PORT ST LUCIE 14 | |
| COLUMBUS | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 15 | |
| CONYERS | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE CONYERS CROSSROADS 16 | |
| SAVANNAH | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 11-SAVANNAH | |
| JOHNSTON | IA | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 16-JOHNSTON | |
| CHAMPAIGN | IL | 8:00 PM | BEVERLY CENTER 18 | |
| DEKALB | IL | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE MARKET SQUARE 10 | |
| PEORIA | IL | 8:00 PM | GRAND PRAIRIE 18 | |
| PLAINFIELD | IN | 8:00 PM | RMP METROPOLIS 18 | |
| EVANSVILLE | IN | 8:00 PM | EAST 18 EVANSVILLE | |
| MANHATTAN | KS | 8:00 PM | SETH CHILDS 12 | |
| BATON ROUGE | LA | 8:00 PM | RAVE MALL OF LOUISIANA 15 | |
| GRAND RAPIDS | MI | 9:00 PM | CELEBRATION! CINEMAS GRAND RAPIDS – NORTH | |
| NOVI | MI | 9:00 PM | EMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT NOVI | |
| BIRCH RUN | MI | 9:00 PM | EMAGINE HOLLYWOOD 10 | |
| OAKDALE | MN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE OAKDALE 20 | |
| WARRENSBURG | MO | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE UNIVERSITY 8-WARRENSBURG | |
| BILLINGS | MT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 10-BILLINGS | |
| MISSOULA | MT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-MISSOULA | |
| HICKORY | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 14 | |
| ASHEVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-ASHEVILLE | |
| FAYETTEVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE MARKET FAIR 15 | |
| JACKSONVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 16-JACKSONVILLE | |
| WINSTON-SALEM | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 12-WINSTON-SALEM | |
| CARSON CITY | NV | 6:00 PM | GALAXY FANDANGO 10 | |
| NORTH LAS VEGAS | NV | 6:00 PM | GALAXY CANNERY 16 | |
| LAS VEGAS | NV | 6:00 PM | RAVE TOWN SQUARE 18 | |
| MENTOR | OH | 9:00 PM | ATLAS CINEMAS GREAT LAKES STADIUM 16 | |
| COLUMBUS | OH | 9:00 PM | RMP POLARIS 18 | |
| WEST CHESTER | OH | 9:00 PM | RMP WEST CHESTER 18 | |
| STILLWATER | OK | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-STILLWATER | |
| CORVALLIS | OR | 6:00 PM | CARMIKE 12-CORVALIS | |
| CENTER VALLEY | PA | 9:00 PM | RMP PROMENADE 16 | |
| CHARLESTON | SC | 9:00 PM | JAMES ISLAND 8 | |
| FRANKLIN | TN | 8:00 PM | THOROUGHBRED 20 | |
| JOHNSON CITY | TN | 8:00 PM | JOHNSON CITY 14 | |
| MORRISTOWN | TN | 8:00 PM | COLLEGE SQUARE | |
| CHATTANOOGA | TN | 8:00 PM | EAST RIDGE 18 | |
| DYERSBURG | TN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 9-DYERSBURG | |
| KNOXVILLE | TN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 16-KNOXVILLE | |
| EDINBURG | TX | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 20 | |
| AUSTIN | TX | 8:00 PM | GALAXY HIGHLAND 10 | |
| FORT WORTH | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP RIDGMAR 13 | |
| HOUSTON | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP YORKTOWN 15 | |
| HURST | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP NORTH EAST MALL 18 | |
| TYLER | TX | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 14-TYLER | |
| PROVO | UT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 12-PROVO | |
| ROANOKE | VA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 10 | |
| FAIRFAX | VA | 9:00 PM | FAIFAX | |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE | VA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 6-CHARLOTTESVILLE | |
| GIG HARBOR | WA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY UPTOWN 10 |
