ACL @ 40: Foo Fighters

Enduring rockers the Foo Fighters return to town this week to tape an episode of Austin City Limits and promote the local installment of Dave Grohl’s documentary series Sonic Highways.

This will be the second time around for the ubiquitous Los Angeles troupe, led by the former Nirvana/Scream drummer and featuring Germs six-stringer Pat Smear. They previously appeared on season 34 in 2008, strip-mining their catalog for hits and peppering in material from the previous year’s Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Friday’s taping at the Moody Theatre winds down the program’s 40th season, which has featured Beck, Nick Cave, and, coming next month, the Black Keys.

Dave Grohl leading the Foo Fighters through the band’s previous ACL taping in 2008. (Photo by Gary Miller)

The Foo’s set, which will be preceded by a private screening of Sonic Highways the day before, coincides with the Austin episode of the cable network series. Grohl’s eight-part documentary delivers musical history lessons on various cities. The local installment premieres Friday 10pm on HBO.

The hour-long doc rolls interview footage with ACL Executive Producer Terry Lickona, the Big Boys’ Tim Kerr, Butthole Surfers singer Gibby Haynes, Roky Erickson, Gary Clark Jr., David Yow, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Billy Gibbons, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, and Jimmie Vaughan. It also features the Foo Fighters performing at the show’s former Studio 6A with Butch Vig engineering. Their cover of Erickson’s “Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer)” from that same session was used for the Austin City Limits 40th Anniversary special that aired last month.

Grohl’s follow-up to his acclaimed Sound City doc, which made a big splash at South by Southwest 2013, Sonic Highways features the Foo Fighters writing and recording a song inspired by each city. The Austin tune, “What Did I Do?/God As My Witness,” avows Grohl’s concern for the local music scene amongst rapid growth. His question is our question: “What can I do to preserve you?”

Tickets to the taping here.