Chicago has been a mecca for such diverse acts as Cheap Trick, Etta James, Smashing Pumpkins, Herbie Hancock, Chicago and Kanye West. This episode chronicles the city's musical evolution from the blues of Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters in the '50s and '60s, to the quintessentially midwestern rock of Cheap Trick in the '70s and the punk rock of the '80s, as exemplified by Naked Rayballoon. At Electrical Audio studios, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters connect with owner Steve Albini, a Chicago musical icon as a founding member of Big Black and Shellac, who produced and recorded Nirvana's third album, "In Utero". Later, they're joined by Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen to record "Something from Nothing", the first song on Foo Fighters' new album.

Sonic Highways Season 1 Episodes...

• s01e01 - Chicago
• s01e02 - Washington, D.C.
• s01e03 - Nashville
• s01e04 - Austin
• s01e05 - Los Angeles
• s01e06 - New Orleans
• s01e07 - Seattle
• s01e08 - New York City

Sonic Highways Show Summary

Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl directs the series, which taps into the musical heritage and cultural fabric of eight cities: Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington D.C. and New York. The band based themselves at a legendary recording studio integral to the unique history and character of each location.

One song was recorded in each city, and every track features local legends. Even the lyrics were developed in an experimental, unprecedented way: Grohl held off on writing them until the last day of each session, letting himself be inspired by the experiences, interviews and personalities that became part of the process.