Here’s something you should definitely go do tonight: “D tour,” the winner of BendFilm’s Best Documentary award last fall, is screening at 8:30 p.m. at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. It’ll cost you $8, or $6 if you’re a BendFilm member. Director/producer Jim Granato is going to be on hand to talk about the film, and you can read my colleague David Jasper’s interview with him by clicking here (if you’re a subscriber).
“D tour” is about Pat Spurgeon, member of the excellent Bay Area-based pop-rock band Rogue Wave, and his struggle to maintain his music career while also dealing with kidney failure. The film follows Spurgeon as he tours with Rogue Wave and performs daily dialysis while on the road, while also searching for a viable donor. It also includes live performances by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Nada Surf, John Vanderslice, The Moore Brothers and, of course, Rogue Wave.
The movie is supposed to be quite good, though I don’t know for sure, as I haven’t seen it. I can tell you this, though: After what I thought was a disappointing third record in 2007, Rogue Wave surprised the heck out of me this year with “Permalight,” which I think is one of the best albums of 2010 so far.
Bend’s annual film festival — the appropriately named BendFilm — runs from Thursday through Sunday, and the official guide came out yesterday in The Bulletin.
Last night, I flipped through the film summaries and saw a couple that might appeal to those of you whose obsession with music permeates everything you do. You read books about music. You see movies about music. Because you’re sick. Like me.
Anyway, “Drawing With Chalk” is showing at 3 p.m. Friday at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. Here’s a synopsis:
Drawing With Chalk tells the story of two factory workers, Jay and Matt who grew up together and had played in a rock band years prior but missed their shot at ‘the big prize.’ As they hit 40 they decide to give it one more try. Jay struggles between his artistic dreams and his responsibilities to his wife Jasmin and son Bryan. Matt has his own demons to contend with as he battles depression and a universal fear of simply being too old to make it in an industry that thrives on youth. Eventually, Jay’s fierce commitment to his music begins to take a toll on his family. He is ultimately faced with having to make a decision whether or not to say goodbye to one part of his life and begin a new journey with the other.
That one doesn’t look bad. I smiled when he said “I am doing something else.” But I suspect that was the goal of that part. Filmmakers! They toy with our emotions!
But I’m actually more interested in “D tour,” a documentary about a musician named Pat Spurgeon who’s dealing with health issues. And I don’t think that’s because I am a fan of his band, Rogue Wave.
Pat Spurgeon is a talented and professional musician who worked hard to be where he is today. As a multi-instrumentalist, Pat is an integral part of the indie pop band Rogue Wave. They have performed all over the world increasing their fan base with every tour. Pat has every reason to be excited about his band’s accomplishments, as well as their exciting future. In addition to giving the band everything he’s got, Pat has had to deal with kidney failure and the parameters that have been set for him by his situation. D tour chronicles Pat’s search for a living organ donor and the challenges associated with finding a viable match and also addresses issues with the U.S. health care system, the lack of affordable insurance, the importance of organ donation, and much more.
Whoever the musician and whatever the band, I think the topic of how self-employed musicians deal with the challenges and costs of getting health insurance is incredibly interesting.
“D tour” is playing at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at McMenamins Old St. Francis School, and twice on Saturday, at 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Movie House and at 8:30 p.m. at Regal Old Mill Cinema. I’m going to try my best to check one of those screenings out. You should too.
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