Institute History
Description
Despite the inevitable interruptions of a now-prominent actor's schedule, tow mates have managed to maintain a musical relationship for more than 15 years. In 1984, "Billy" Dean Cochran and Russell Crowe, two lads with a real flair for "fashion," struck up a friendship that developed into a songwriting/performing team that took the musical world - well, at least Market Place - by storm. After experiencing satisfying success as street buskers, the two musicians formed a band that , by 1992, had six established members and, in 1995, took the name 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
Texas begins in 2000, when TOFOG decides to find somewhere to record that will remove the band members from their everyday concerns and allow them to concentrate on their music. With an obvious affection for his subjects, Billy takes us along with the group from Sydney, Australia, to eight days of rehearsal in London, working around Russell's "day job," to the summer heat of an Austin, Texas, recording studio and three sell-out performances at Stubb's Bar-B-Q. This no-frills band, matched nicely by the spareness of the film's style, gives its all for an audience that definitely knows much more about TOFOG and their music than just who their famous lead singer is.
With nervous reflections by band members who work together less than they would like, silly antics when guards are down, and preperformance speeches by a particularly vehement "Coach," Texas is a documentary refreshingly devoid of celebrity personalities and groupies that gives us a look at men who share a common passion and refuse to let image get in the way.