L.A.-based Therapy Studios editor Doobie White helps director and rock icon Dave Grohl pull the plug on soulless, laptop-generated music for Soundgarden’s new 4:00 video, “By Crooked Steps,” produced through Partizan, L.A.  The comical and stylish video features the band commandeering a stage occupied by a single DJ, reintroducing the club—and America—to the unbridled power of rock n’ roll.

The video marks Therapy’s second collaboration with Dave Grohl, the first serving as co-production company on his debut feature documentary, Sound City, which premieres at the ’13 Sundance Film Festival later this month.  Coming into his own as a director, Grohl used much of the same crew he used on Sound City.  Says White, “Dave was exceptionally well prepared, meticulous even.  Very specific shots and transitions were planned down to the second.  It made cutting the video together fun and seamless.”  Being a longtime fan of Soundgarden was an added bonus for the editor.  Continues White, “This new album is a throwback to the early recordings I grew up on.  It’s raw and passionate, and Dave did a great job of capturing that with his offbeat sense of humor.”

“By Crooked Steps” opens on the band playing a fierce game of poker.  As with all high-stakes poker, the game ends with bad blood, sending the band into the streets on Segways.  Somehow the band makes the decidedly geeky mode of conveyance cool enough to attract a crowd of adoring fans, who chase them down the street—possibly due to their ‘Cooked Steps’-emblazoned leather jackets.  The band reaches their destination, the bar Paladino’s, and enters to see a thin, milksop of DJ almost hiding behind his laptop.  The band gently closes the DJ’s computer and overtakes the stage with rock and a raucous crowd to match.  A woman spits booze into a brawny bartender’s mouth and meets his mouth with her tongue, a tattooed crowd waves their hands in the air with joy; everyone is under Soundgarden’s spell.  Meanwhile, the ousted DJ has fetched the police, who invade the bar sending the band and revelers back to the streets.  The officers finally catch up with the band to cuff them.  The video closes with a quick shot on one of the arresting officers, who incidentally is famed electronic music producer, deadmau5.

About Therapy

Amidst the anxiety and occasional insanity of commercial, feature, music video, and interactive projects, Therapy Studios offers refuge.  Led by founders Joe DiSanto, John Ramsay, Wren Waters and Doobie White, the award-winning team is constantly achieving breakthroughs in creative editorial and post-production for clients like Playstation, Chrysler, Sony, Wells Fargo, Activision, PBS, and KIA.  Housed in a calming, state-of-the-art West LA space, Therapy features custom-built editorial, finishing, design, audio, and color grading suites.  www.youneedtherapy.tv

Credits:

Client: Soundgarden

Title: “By Crooked Steps” 4:00

Album: King Animal

Director: Dave Grohl

Production Company: Partizan, L.A.

Editorial & Post: Therapy Studios, LA

Editor: Doobie White

EP/Partner: John Ramsay

Label: Universal Music