Xavier Rudd

On a week where Kevin Rudd was making headlines around the nation for his political stance, another Rudd was making his own policies known at the Fremantle Arts Centre. On a beautiful night, with a beautiful sunset, the few thousand who gathered on the lawns outside one of Fremantle’s oldest buildings were treated to a Xavier Rudd show that will last long in the memories of those who attended.

Surrounded with more musical instruments than you could hit with a stick, the man who has created a genre for himself sat content, happy to be a part of such a wonderful landscape, and played a show lasting two hours. This quite frankly, wasn’t enough. Rudd’s musical talent is one that can’t be comprehended by simply reading a review. To see the talent this great man possesses, one must front up to his concert and experience it for oneself. To see a man faultlessly playing a didgeridoo, while ripping up on a slide guitar is a sight to behold.

While many old favorites, such as "Conceal Me" and "Green Spandex" were sung with jest by the crowd, his lengthy guitar, drum, didgeridoo and harmonica solos whipped the standing room supporters into a frenzy of dancing and arm waving. He had half of the grass bank on their feet; such was the jovial mood of the concert. The only complaint for the whole night I could find is the need for the crowd to continue with the loud chatter through the quiet songs...a couple of times I was rudely interrupted by yelling whilst having a moment with Xavier and his music!

It was the way he finished off his show that left a lasting impression in my mind. Speaking about his roots as one of the aboriginal people, he pleaded for peace between cultures in this great nation. He spoke with despair of the conscription of the defense force to remote areas of the Northern Territory. And to make his point musically, he re-worded the Bob Marley classic, "Redemption Song". In no way did it detract from Marley’s work, and I have no hesitation in saying that everyone who attended this great gig felt the same way.

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