I have a high affinity for Dave Grohl, lead singer of rock band the Foo Fighters. He’s a man who is unbelievably dedicated and enthusiastic to what he loves. That enthusiasm is transparent in his directorial debut Sound City, a film about a lone recording studio in the outskirts of Hollywood that produced more bands than Livestrong.

Grohl aims to capture the personality and energy of the former recording studio named Sound City, which offered many musical artists their big breaks in the music industry, including Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, Nirvana, and Slipknot. The film captures the rise and numerous falls of the studio; all while being presented by some huge names in the recording business.

Along the way, artists like Trent Reznor, Rivers Cuomo, Lee Ving, Mick Fleetwood, Barry Manilow and Tom Petty chime in to share how Sound City shaped their musical careers. It’s a rock junkie’s Avengers to be quite honest, as all of these guys have come together to share their feelings about Sound City and how it affected them. And, just like a geriatric version of the Avengers, Grohl assembles them together to all record a new album on what made Sound City infamous: its sound board. Grohl has taken the sound board, once only found in Sound City, into his recording studio Studio 606.

Grohl has gone to show how the building and soundboard made Sound City so special; however, what you discover 20 minutes in is that it was really the people at Sound City that gave it personality and uniqueness. Grohl presents it in a raw, jubilant way that is reflective through his enthusiasm on screen; he is just in awe to be presenting the tale of Sound City to the public.

The studio churned out fantastic albums during the 70s, 80s, and 90s until it was forced to close.

Sound City wasn’t just a recording studio: it was an event, a monument, a place that brought musicians together and formed friendships with one another. It’s the story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It’s the story of how Nirvana changed alternative rock. And it’s the story of how a place as dumpy as Sound City was held together by the people who dedicated themselves to it.