Friday, June 27, 2008

The Tour

Current Itinerary (subject to change)

Sat. August 16 Bellingham
Sun, August 17 Anacortes
Mon. August 18 Port Townsend
Tues August 19 Seattle
Fri. Aug 22-24 Astoria Festival
Mon. August 25 Cannon Beach Bonfire
Tue. August 26 Tillamook
Thu. August 28-31 Portland
Tues Sept. 2 Corvallis
Wed. Sept. 3-4 Eugene
Sun. Sept. 7 Coos Bay
Tue Sept. 9 Pistol River
Wed. Sept. 10 Brookings
Fri. Sept. 12-13 Arcata
Mon. Sept. 15 Standish Hickey Peg House
Wed. Sept. 17 Mendocino
Thu. Sept. 18 Gualala
Sat. Sept. 20 Marin
Sun. Sept. 21 - 27 Bay Area
Mon. Sept. 29 Santa Cruz
Tue. Sept. 30 Monterey
Wed. Oct. 1 Big Sur
Thu. Oct. 2 San Simeon
Fri. Oct. 3 TBA
Sat. Oct. 4 TBA
Sun. Oct. 5 Santa Barbara
Mon. Oct. 6 Malibu
Tue. Oct. 7-10 LA
Sat. Oct. 11 TBA
Sun. Oct 12 TBA
Mon. Oct 13 San Diego
Tue. Oct 14 Mexico

The Film

In May 2008, we (Max and Emily) flew out to Portland, Oregon. Emily's job had sent her to a conference and Max came out for a long weekend. We were hoping to explore Portland and see our friend Ryan. Ryan had bad news though- his band had three shows on the northern coast and he would be out of town all weekend. Exploring the coast seemed like even more fun than staying in Portland anyway, so we tagged along.

The first gig was a 10am Cinco de Mayo blowout at Israel's old high school.
Watching from the back row of the classroom, we witnessed a group of otherwise apathetic teens grow more and more engaged as they played.

Afterwards, over some excellent tacos and virgin margaritas, we talked about their plans to tour the coast by bicycle, and remarked that following Blind Pilot's bike tour was the documentary we had been looking to make. We traveled with them to Astoria and Seaside, and fell in love with the joy and energy that these four musicians travel with. We saw people moved by their music everywhere they went.

People talk a lot about doing things that never get done, but we were determined to not let this opportunity slip away. So we sold most of our worldly possessions, gave our jobs notice we would be leaving, bought a tent, tuned up the car, and are about to head out to follow some wonderful people on bikes as they play their way down highway 101.

The Band

Blind Pilot was formed in the summer of 2006 by Israel and Ryan. After touring the west coast from Vancouver to San Francisco by bicycle, they returned to Oregon to record 3 Rounds and a Sound, recently released on Expunged Records.

Along with band members Luke and Kati, Blind Pilot is kicking off their second west coast tour on bicycles. Leaving Bellingham, WA on August 16, 2008 they will wind their way down highway 101, playing shows along the way until they reach San Diego, CA.