Don't Follow Me

The 2012 documentary film "Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)" is an intimate look into the life of Bobby Bare Jr., a once Grammy-nominated musician grappling with the transition from a major label to an indie imprint while also simultaneously striving to maintain a semblance of routine for his two young kids. The film is both an intriguing examination of the music business and a deeply personal study of a committed artist coping with the complexities of everyday life.

Directed by William Miller, the film explores Bobby Bare Jr.'s journey through his fast-paced tour schedule, diving headfirst into the world of road-needy musicians, band members, and the numerous trials they face. Throughout the course of the film, viewers are handed a VIP pass to a life on the road, a life defined by constant movement, restless nights, tiny gigs, and the dizzying chaos that ironically serves as a breather from the musician's turbulent personal life.

Bobby Bare Jr. is not just any musician. Son of country music legend Bobby Bare, he grew from a child star into a successful indie musician, embodying both the shadow of his father's legacy and the shining glow of his own talent. Bravely stepping out of his father's shadow, Bobby Bare Jr. cultivates an authentic sound that sets him apart from the swarm of musicians swimming in the country music pool. Instead of being a carbon copy of his father, Bobby Bare Jr. is witnessed as a living cocktail of rock, roots, blues, and partly punk, keeping alive the spirit of "Outlaw Country" music.

The film portrays Bobby Bare Jr. not only as a musician, but also as a father, as viewers get to witness the musician's efforts to balance his demanding tour life with his responsibilities towards his two children. Oftentimes, the musician is tormented by the dilemma of choosing between his career and his children. The film brilliantly captures the musician's psychological conflict and how he grapples with the many paradoxes his life presents.

In the film, Bobby Bare Jr.'s personality unfolds through a mix of tour footage, one-on-one interviews, family moments, historical clips, and backstage sequences. This collage of scenes and moments paints a vivid picture of the musician's life, embedding viewers in the whirlwind that is Bobby Bare Jr.'s existence. The combination of concert footage intertwined with intimate glimpses of his home life results in a multilayered, nuanced portrait of an artist striving to find balance in chaos.

The documentary also gives the audience an in-depth look into the harsh realities of the independent music industry. Bobby and his band's struggles go beyond ordinary wear and tear of a life lived on the road, eventually touching upon the economic struggles and inner turmoil that go hand in hand with committing one's life to music. In one stretch of the film, viewers are taken through the humble bars and tiny stages where Bobby and his band perform, far from the glitzy realm of mainstream country music and into the gritty world of independent music misfits.

While the music itself impresses, the central character of the film, Bobby Bare Jr., remains the engaging hub around which the narrative revolves. His raw passion, vulnerability, love for music, and unwavering commitment to keep moving forward offer an authentic insight into the heart and soul of a musician.

"Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)" is essentially a road movie, a fly-on-the-wall documentary infused with the free and wild spirit of rock 'n' roll. Aesthetically pleasing with the filmmaker's eye for visual storytelling and the subject's enticing genre bending music, the film blends deeply personal moments with the broader themes of identity, independence, and the ecstasy and agony of one man's journey in music.

Essentially, "Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)" is an ode to the 'tortured' artist – it winds through joy and hardship, through exhaustion and exhilaration, and through the heart of what it means to dedicate oneself entirely to music. Far from being a sleek, polished celebrity memoir, the film engages on an intimate level as it unveils the beat and rhythm of Bobby Bare Jr.'s life, delivering an insightful portrait of an indie music artist for fans, critics, and newcomers alike.