It happened. I saw Sound City last night. My life is different now. Initial reactions are:

-Rick Springfield… What a badass! How come nobody told me about him?

-The theatre’s speakers were banging. I need a better sound system in my apartment.

-Love the “butched wig” label on Butch’s chair in Dave’s studio.

-Rick Rubin could be my Ghandi.

-MUST HAVE PAT SMEAR’S PURPLE TRINI NOW PLEASE!

But obvi I walked away thinking about way more than that. Sound City is clearly a celebration of music and the power of what happens when people and instruments join together, however I feel the larger message is to get off your ass.

You want to start a recording studio? Get off your ass and do it.

You want to make a movie? Get off your ass and do it.

You want to write, play, and record songs? Get off your ass and do it.

There couldn’t be a better person to deliver this message than Sound City maker, Dave Grohl. He is a person who never runs away from an idea. Dave wanted to play drums, so he made a kit out of pillows and taught himself how. Dave was restless post-Nirvana, so he made the first Foo Fighters album. And finally, Dave wanted to share the story of a legendary recording studio, so he made Sound City. The interviews leading up to SC’s release are straight-up Tony Robbins-style odes to following through with your creative urges and not letting the fear of failure get in your way.

“Go to the fucking yard sale, buy a fucking guitar, start a band with your fucking friends, get in the garage and fucking suck and work on it until you fucking make great music, and become the biggest band in the world.”

-Dave Grohl (WTF podcast w/Marc Maron)

According to the film, Sound City was constantly on the verge of failing. Bankruptcy was always looming in the background and the question “what are we doing here” seemed to come up a lot. But based on the passion and ferver with which everyone at the studio worked, you’d never know it. They were there cause they wanted to make music, and a hallway that always flooded, “outdated” technology, and lack of funds weren’t going to stop them from getting off their ass and doing it. It’s like learning to play guitar with crazy-high action. You can either quit cause your fingers hurt, or you can just suck it up and press the strings fucking harder. And because Sound City never quit, we have Fleetwood Mac, Nevermind, Rage Against the Machine, Rick “my new favorite person” Springfield,” and so many more.

Even if you have no interest in music whatsoever (if that’s possible) Sound City is worth your while. It’s an inspirational film and I urge you all to get of your ass and go see it.