Texas

Picked up my copy at a TOFOG concert in August 2001. Not having a clue what it was about -- other than featuring the band -- I was amazed by how masterfully it was crafted. The technology employed for the many hidden surprises far surpasses anything I've seen to date, and the effort to 'crack the code' before the hints were posted on TOFOG's official website were well worth the time and effort.

This is a true 'behind the scenes' or 'on the road' documentary that doesn't seem contrived in the least. You really get the sense, that for the most part, the band members forgot the cameras were there.

The music is good, and the live coverage of the 2000 concerts in Austin almost give the sense that you're there with them. Since the band doesn't tour often, this DVD will satiate any fan's longing and help hold back the tide until the next live concert comes their way.

~Jaylen

While I loved the concert footage, which truly ROCKS, this film is more importantly a unique glimps into the personalities of the band members, their relationships with each other and what goes into preparing and putting on a concert. I've spent a little time with some of the band members and can honestly say that they are exactly the same as in the movie. Funny, fun loving, very nice people who take their music very seriously. As great as TOFOG's albums are, their live performances are 10 times better because they love to perform and that energy and excitment comes across well in the film.

The hidden parts of the DVD are wonderful. It's like seeing a different movie each time you watch it. Being able to change the camera angles and scenes keeps it fresh, new and exciting.

Russell Crowe was a musical artist for several years before turning to acting in 1990. He has maintained that interest, in various forms to this day. His current band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts, known to fans as TOFOG, has been together for about 5 years, but his lead guitarist, Billy Dean Cochran, has been with Crowe since they were teens in New Zealand. This documentary, narrated by Cochran and produced by Crowe, allows us an insiders look at the folk rock band as it gets together for a short tour in London and Austin, Texas in the summer of 2000.

Crowe is lead singer, growling out his own lyrics to an enthusiastic largely female audience. We see the guys, Cochran, Crowe, Dave Wilkens, Dave Kelly, Garth Adams and Stewart Kirwin as they perform, but most importantly, we see the off the wall comraderie of Australian based mates behind the scene. Crowe's "day job" has opened doors, increased interest and ticket sales, but also brought change. No longer able to freely mingle with fans without setting off a frenzy, he tries to remain just one of the guys. We see them kidding around in rehearsals, preparing for performance and trying to work around the demands of Crowe's movie making schedule.

This is a rude and unvarnished documentary, but great fun to watch. A tidbit of note; in the original limited release DVD, sold only at TOFOG shows in August of 2001 while on another tour, there was a glimpse of Crowe mussing the hair of Meg Ryan in London. That 2 second bit has since been removed in the Miramax release.

I love this DVD. It has great photography and the scenes with the group backstage really shows off their unique personalities. Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts is so much better when seen in concert; the CDs are great and their music is really great, but nothing compares to the concert experience. They're great performers and it is easy to see just how much fun they have playing the music. I wish all bands had this much personality on stage. The DVD allows for viewing on different camera angles and includes a large number of music videos from the band including "Circus" and "Photograph Kills." If you can't see the guys actually on stage then this is definitely the next best thing. The ability to switch the angles of the camera and to look at the song lyrics is great. Great concert DVD all around.

I bought the loaded DVD at one of TOFOG's Austin shows his past summer. It has loads of hidden features which can only be viewed using the clues provided at gruntland.com. For those of you not familiar with Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts [TOFOG] you will meet a terrific roots rock and roll band and see them preparing to perform, behind the scenes, rehearsing and kicking back.

In Texas, the language is raw and uncensored, the music rocking, the beer flowing, and the men antipodean to the core. Lead singer, song writer and driving force for the band is actor extroidinaire, Russell Crowe. But this is no vanity band. Crowe has been a musician longer than he's been an actor. This is a different and important creative outlet from his "day job", which just happens to involve creating characters on screen and winning Oscars in the process.

His music exposes the man, his thoughts, his heart and his soul. His band mates are also his friends. Lead guitarist Dean Cochran has been his closest friend since they were both teens in New Zealand.

Above all, this documentary allows us a look at how this unique band tries to pull it all together to perform and record, and the interaction with fans. It is one of the best Rock and Roll docu's I've seen. Fantastic cinematography, sound and cinema verite' style.