Cambodia born filmmaker Daron Ker stays stateside for his second feature doc, I Ride, an infectious and entertaining doc about the best rock band you've never heard of ... the Fryed Brothers Band. Ker follows the band across America as they play concerts for motorcycle clubs and share story after story about their lives and the life of the band.

The Fryed Brothers Band brings to mind a delightful weaving together of ZZ Top with hints of Willie Nelson (Not so much a coincidence since Nelson has joined the band on the song shown above this review) and the Grateful Dead. With I Ride, Ker cements himself as a consummate storyteller who is also wise enough to stand back and let his subjects come fully to life. As I was watching I Ride, I found myself reflecting upon an old Cher movie called Mask. If you recall, Mask was about a mother and her son with a massive facial skull deformity. While he's ostracized by many, he's embraced by the biker community and it's this community that largely serves as his life companion. Ker beautifully captures the "other" biker community that doesn't often get all the publicity, and I Ride really brings to life that sense of camaraderie, brotherhood and community so often found in the biker community.

Beautifully lensed and filled to the brim with excellent music and entertaining interviews with the band along the road, I Ride is both authentic and sensitive to the community it portrays. Soon to be released on DVD by FilmBuff, I Ride is a must see for fans of independent music and slice-of-life cultural documentaries.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic