If you’ve heard aboriginal roots music from Australia, you know that it uses quite a bit of talent; playing a didgeridoo is no small task. While you may have heard that, it’s almost guaranteed you haven’t heard it the way Xavier Rudd mixes those aboriginal styles with drums and guitar to create his own blues influenced sound.
Xavier Rudd first got his start in 2000 and released his debut album To Let in 2002. He went on to release Solace in 2004, a record he recorded all on his own, and Food in the Belly in 2005. During this time, Xavier Rudd had become a staple at music festivals around the world, one being Bonnaroo. He continued to tour and released White Moth in 2007 and Dark Shades of Blue in 2008. Though he toured around the States, Rudd’s popularity was slow to catch on but thrived in Canada and his native Australia.
While Xavier Rudd was more commonly known as a one-man band, he recently added bassist Tio Moloantoa and drummer Andile Nqubezelo. Appropriately named Izintaba, the Zulu word for mountains, they have been creating yet another dimension of Rudd’s already multi-faceted music.
Having just released their new album Koonyum Sun in April, Xavier Rudd & Izintaba went on tour with Rodrigo y Gabriela that took them through Denver on August 20, 2010 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. If the crowd wasn’t sold out, it was definitely pushing it and the night was perfect for a show.
He played several songs, both new and old, and closed his set with “Let Me Be.” His voice is so strong that you really feel what he is singing and his likeness to Paul Simon makes the lyrics that much more intriguing.
Xavier Rudd was right when he said in an interview (read the interview here) that his live show is like a spiritual ceremony as well. He always incorporated the crowd into his music and fed off the energy he felt from them. Xavier Rudd made sure to not only play his music, but also be a performer in a way that bridges the gap between crowd and musician.
If they come back through Denver, go share the power and love of music with Xavier Rudd & Izintaba.
Visit Xavier Rudd & Izintaba and Red Rocks Amphitheatre for more information.
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