By: Chris Middleton
It’s not too often that the subject of a benefit concert is on stage playing music alongside the rest of the artists – especially one with a failing kidney. Pat Spurgeon, drummer of Oakland-based Rogue Wave, did just that at a charitable affair held in his name in 2006 at the Independent in San Francisco. Spurgeon, who was born with one kidney which failed and was replaced in 1994, needed a second replacement at the time. Despite being on dialysis during the band’s tour that year, Spurgeon played with his band to close out a bill that included John Vanderslice, Nada Surf and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.
Music from the show is used as the back-drop for “D-Tour,” a documentary shown prior to Rogue Wave’s performance last Thursday night at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The film tells Spurgeon’s gut-wrenching story, and delves into problems with our health-care system and the need for more donors (which inspired at least one Loudvine writer to become one). The documentary also speaks to the power of music, tracking Spurgeon’s struggle to perform dialysis daily during the band’s 2006 tour. “I believe what carried Pat through all of that really tough touring was the fact that we were playing music each night, and he had a release and he had something to just get through all of his emotional turmoil,” Zach Rogue, front-man of Rogue Wave said after Thursday’s screening.
Watching the documentary prior to Rogue Wave’s set made for a performance unlike any that I’ve ever experienced. On one hand, you’re extremely happy because Spurgeon, the funny and charismatic man you have no trouble rallying around during the film, eventually receives a new kidney. It comes with a tragic twist, however, as you also learn of the passing of Rogue Wave’s former bassist Evan Farrell, who you also become a genuine fan of. With everyone in the audience being brought through this bittersweet ride together, it left something extra in the air and, at least for myself, a new appreciation for the band’s music. Their melancholy brand of indie rock felt more uplifting and meaningful, and everyone lucky enough to snatch a ticket to the sold-out show was in on this.
Being at the MOMA, the intersection of music and art continued on as the band played in front of dueling projectors displaying everything from flowers to the Golden Gate Bridge. Rogue Wave didn’t rely on the film’s momentum or the museum’s atmosphere to win the crowd over, though, as they put together a well-executed acoustic-ish set. Three guitars were used for a selection of songs, making for strong, yet subtly played melodies. Spurgeon brought his sticks too, so things weren’t too quiet, but overall it was a very relaxing and intimate set. They finished the show with “Cheaper Than Therapy” which is sort of an anthem for “D-Tour.” Rogue’s resounding lyrics “the music that I want is cheaper than therapy” seems to be a testament to Spurgeon’s relentless pursuit of making music despite his medical hurdles. As Spurgeon says himself in the opening to the film “I have never thought of a back-up plan (to making music). If you have a back-up plan, you’ll take it.”
Tags: MOMA San Francisco, Rogue Wave Concert
