So firstly lets get you some background music if you have the technology - goto http://pandora.com/ - you can cruise and investigate the site at your leisure, but for warned - new legislation is looming and cool, bad-ass services like this are on the verge of shutdown..another blog entirely - but do yourself a favour and do some research and contact your congressman/woman - immediately.(here's a good start = http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070427-internet-radio-equality-act-would-overturn-decision-on-webcasting-fees.html.
but for now, if your hear to read me, just goto create a station an type in Xavier Rudd and enjoy the tunes while you read me. It will start with an XR tune, but then it will take you on a lovely musical ride that only the deaf wouldn't enjoy. Its a lovely project of a web site that im sure if your a fan of music - your gonna spend some time on. I could blog its own blog, but not today. NOTE:SERVICE HAS SINCE BEEN DISSCONTINUED AS YOU WILL SEE ! were losing control people !
SO.....lets go...
I always like flying west over any other direction…not sure what that’s about, not sure I have any one explanation for it, I just know I seem to be the happiest when im heading west. This night kinda sucks though as I arrive into Vancouver on the typical Air Canada debacle (will they ever get it right?) Its the early morn of November 30th. A day after Mother Nature dumped some record breaking amount on the city. So I know it wasn’t just Air Canada that im sure was experiencing troubles. But im still gonna hack on AC when I can regardless. Our nations airline is a joke im afraid, its an example of a company who has grown into one of the largest companies in our countries history, and has just been swallowing itself for years. Union troubles, mechanical issue’s, customer service I think I remember being good when I was a wee babayyy, but its terrible today. I think if you polled most Canadian travelers id put money on a very high percentage saying we’d prefer to fly another airline.! Sorry early rant – focus kitchen, damitt ! So the west has been experiencing a crazy year of weather – but we all are really. Man I fear for our planet so much !! It seems to be getting pretty bad doesn't it. Needless to say – things are in rough shape as far as delays, and general city transportation headaches. Regardless I am here with a day to get my act together to be in Seattle for the show tomorrow. Im pretty excited to see whats happened over a weeks time with the shows. Dave Tolley has been on the road with Xavier playing/practising every night, and ive heard it’s a different show entirely compared to what I saw just over a week ago. So im real damn excited !
Xavier has pretty much always been a solo artist. Sure he plays the odd tune with special guests, and he did do some limited release stuff back home with a group called The Hum, but adding a musician on stage every night for half or more of the show is definitely a new direction for him. Ya gotta figure he’s difficult to play along with due to his style, speed, rhythm, etc. But adding a good percussionist with his own style, on a large percentage of the tunes, every night, it’s a different direction. I think im certainly beginning to see something unfold here…I can see a band behind this guy..which if ya asked me 3 years ago id say no way – this man is a solo show, and that's how i like it !. A common thought out there is many think you need that full band sound to hit the big buildings, I think this guy solo could, no problems, but a band is cool too, all depends on what your feelin at the time really, but we’ll get to all that later im sure..
So were road tripping again. Today in a most gracious friend, Lindsay’s Nissan Pathfinder. LINDSAY (25ish) is a home grown B.C. local gal & dmb fan, so she’s uber double cool with me! I met Lindsay on a previous tour last year and became dear friends over the past year. The type a soul she is – not only does she pick me up from the airport in the aftermath of Van City's big storm, her couch and truck were also graciously donated to my cause. We almost had her coming along but some heavy exams & work schedule, it was not to be for Lindsay. Alas the L.W spirit in her truck kept her along for the ride. Especially since she had a pet name that I cant recall & certainly had a couple issues, but the scary/funny kind, so she was a faithful perfect road-trip ride! I find myself wondering do all of us have names for our vehicles..? I could be generalizing here, but id be willing to bet, big music fans, as a group, probably have the pet names for there vehicles. I wanna go start a blog asking for names of peoples vehicles. There’s some beauty stories out there im sure !
Anywayz I had a bit of responsibility to start off this leg. I needed to get Dave to the venue in Seattle to meet the crew for sound-check. Since he flew in and was behind the tour bus. So myself, my wing-man Adam & Tolley are on the road to Seattle !
ADAM SHAPIRO (29ish ?) is someone I met threw the Nine Mile scene several years ago, and is probably the biggest music fan I have the pleasure of knowing, maybe even a lil more than me on some levels.;) His shit is a little tighter in some area’s – but then that’s what we do, were attracted to people that have same, yet different shit going on. He’s an import to boot, a California dude recently exported himself up to Van city, so he’s got some L.A. kinda cool dick thing, mixxn in with west coast Canada kinda vibe, so fast & cool, meets chill & cool, its an interesting dynamic & its good hangin with him, even if he does have the L.A. dick in him ;) hahaa Anywayz the kid knows his shit and im happy as a dancing nancy to be a friend of this dude !
Sweet times on the road – like it should be. Talkin music, & enjoyin the scenery. We sweated a lil bit at the border, for no reason, as we hit the random pull over check and had to go threw the motions of the wheres & whys. So not really looking the terrorist type – after a delay of about an hour – were on our way to Seattle ! But why oh why - even if ya have nothing to worry about does a customs check make you nervous !? Ya find your self wondering if those parking tickets ya got in florida 10 years ago are finally gonna land you in a room with a big monster named Leroy with rubber gloves & smile on ! Fuckin customs !!
My body, mind & spirit was certainly right for this show as Adam & I, after dropping off Tolley and giving the venue a once threw, made our way out to my boy Bizz’z place, just outside of Seattle. The venue wasnt gonna be my fave i could already tell, but whatever the company will make it right.
BIZZ (30’s ;) originally from Fresno, California, now a Washington State boy, is someone I came across several years ago at the Gorge, Washington, during a Dave Mathews Band Long weekend that I traveled to. I went to this Gorge place solo – knowing nobody, and we’ve pretty much been brother’s from different mothers since that weekend. As well as an entire massive group of us spanning North America… This group labeled “Gorgeboarders” have there own community board – basically formed from roots of big DMB fans, but branch out over all arms of great music. Were basically a band of beautiful misfit, gypsy’s from all corners of a couple different countries, that just come together for the primary goal of sharing good music with good people.
Think about traveling across country & hooking up with a bunch of dear friends you only see sometimes once a year, which usually spins off to great times with the best kick ass music fans as you could imagine. I kinda think its like a trip to Vegas every time I hook up with these people. You share, you bond, you party, and I mean you really fuckin party. But its not just a party spot for people to escape from there regular lives. Its a spot where we all have traded music, been informed of new & old, we respect each others opinions to a point that if one of them tells me i need to go check this artist out or i need to listen to this - then you can better fuckn believe i do ! For example - i posted a research question on there sometime ago asking for some input from people on Xavier - questions like - When & How many times have you seen him live ? do you own his material ? traded it - bought ? etc.. At time of writing this - Between 7 valued responded members of "Statgirl, COLO_ROB, Melissa, kwmosser, hppyumanrayc, Greystreet24, and dmbuffer " they have gone to see Xavier a combined total of over 30 times, in over 20 different states, and 2 countries, bought & traded with an entire catalogue of live shows, with several of them meeting & getting pics. A few of them never hearing of XR if it weren't for the Gorgeboard. I could go on with this group and some day i plan on it but you get the picture i hope.Speakin of pictures this will help..just a small fraction of the larger group at the birthplace of the Almighty Gorgeboard.. Bizz & I are absent - most likely in the beer line !
Some even meet soul mates..
With a most definite honorable mention award going to my peeps AJ & AARON. This crazy couple in there mid-twenties, Aaron from British Columbia - AJ fromTexas, got married a couple years ago at the Gorge, at the yearly Dave Matthews Band Weekend. (I should dedicate an entirely different blog for this group really!) . But I make special note of these two souls, as it was Arron who was the instigator of turning me on to Xavier. Arron knew of X from living in Whistler, where X played a lot in his early development years. So after a fellow Canadian tells me about XR – it was quite clear that I needed to check him out. I think he tells a different story that Bizz and I were in no state of mind to pick who we should go see at the time at the Bonaroo Festival – so we just followed Arron and wound up at a Xavier Rudd show ! :)
So these two love birds of each other, of good music, good friends, and pretty good fucking times - made a last minute trip from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington for a weekend of Xavier shows and to surprise us all. I find this allwayz adds an element of excitement for me, when I know that people have traveled a very far distance at a great expense & inconvenience to witness any performer. Well that and it makes me feel like not such a hopeless romantic, nerd, for doing it.
Brother bizz and I classify it fondly as a “Superfan”.
Anywayz , check it - my group going to this Seattle show consisted of Austin, Toronto, California/Vancouver, Portland, Spokane, and a few local Seattle folk. Impressive I think. More states will be added to the list by tomorrow !
So after all the arrivals and some pre-party time and travel to the venue – ohh ya baby !! here we are…
SEATTLE , WA December 1, 2006
Ive never been a real fan of the all ages shows. I mean no disrespect, I love seeing the good kids getting a good musical experience and all, but there’s just too many other things in the mix with this subject that turn me off a lil. I really didn’t see too many under agers in the crowd anyway. But I do notice – all age shows in the US compared to Canada are quite a different animal. Again, no disrespect to Americans – you’re my third favorite people...i think..? well top ten anyway. It just goes to the legal age being pretty drastically different I think. The kids just seem to be more reckless. I mean we all are when were young dumb and full of cum, and booze sure – but the U.S. kids are definitely a lil crazier. I know its only a couple years difference, but she’s a crucial time as far as development goes and I believe the Canadian kids have been dealing with the legality of it all a lil earlier. I think it helps out in a big way..anywaz – enough of that, just my opinion, and that and a dollar should get you a coffee. You guyz take enough shit for the whole being allowed to vote but ya cant have a drink kinda subjects, so we’ll just move on. The kids buy the tickets & merch too. Actually it’s the kids who buy most of the stuff so ya gotta respect.
Due to lack of options for venue’s in Seattle on this night – its said its the reason why the show is at Neumo’s. Probably my least fave venue of the tour. Just a bit of a smaller cramped up room with a set-up and feel that just didn’t sit right with me. Whatever im over it – im just excited to see what Tolley was talking about. Adam and I were gonna check out sound check – but were advised on the ride down by DT that it might be better if we don’t come and just wait for it. I know the set list will be pretty similar to what ive seen so far, but I also know that don’t mean squat once the lights go down. Which is a big motivator for me. I like that with this guy, when you see the set lists attached in this article somewhere, your first words/thoughts im sure, – well there all the same bloody show..and I say to you – nay nay nay my friends…On paper maybe, shows can look identical, but every show has there significant differences to a point where your not getting the same show even if the set list sayz you did.
I missed pretty much all the opener, but BRETT DENNEN, sounds like someone I wanna see in Portland tomorrow – make note kitch – get your ass to the venue on time for that !
So pretty standard beginning with Goomz coming out to do his thing, tonite in a full length house-coat kinda thing, pretty funny shit, not sure if theres anything profound there or if he was just cold. It was pretty chilly tonite. So after Goomz does his awsome thing it looks like solo X starting with A 3-peat of what ive seen every night so far – FORTUNE TELLER, FOOD IN THE BELLY, and MESSAGES. I recognize how small this stage looks and wonder how D.T. will fit up there, but im about to find out as he gets invited out for the first time on song 4 - DIJ JAM. The smiles between the two of them start immediately and it gets some crowd energy for sure. I start to see that DT was right – Fuck soundcheck – I have no idea whats comin at me – it’s a totally different show & im right out on the edge here ! Tolley pounds it out for 5 straight. Im convinced DT was right – can I get a hellz yes – Dave Tolley everybody!
The new tune TWIST fits right under Famine real nicely. Its so much more developed from just 2 weeks ago. I mean it flows right into each other so well. I like the style of undertone in TWIST – it also gets him a chance to get some crowd participation by asking the city he’s in for a shout out in the chorus, and thats allwayz fun. Just a really good fun loving song that’s he’s famous for. Think maybe a bit of like a rasta LET ME BE thing, but not really ??..i find myself doing more swaying like motions in TWIST instead of more of a stomp around kinda dance in LMB – but its the same feeling of warmth from the songs im talking about. Its my fave of the new tunes ive heard so far, but I’ll change that statement in a few months probably, so don’t hard quote me on that statement. So a nice TWIST into CONCEAL ME and ya gotta figure this should be good with DT, especially since I know he’s been doing the Ironman licks near the end of this tune – and by now if you've been with me this trip, you probably know I just love that shit ! This move is gonna be popular for him – bustin into a hard Black Sabbath Iron Man facemelter ! I mean it’s a facemelter – make no mistake ! and ya get a DT just pounding on it ! I mean this is a drum clinic type of song and its professor Tolley running this class !. This one really fires me up with X’s awesome playing of my favourite 1 of his 3 lap guitars he plays. It’s a great old song, in re-birth mode with the added percussion ! and I likee, I likeee a lot !DT exits, but im sure he’s back at some point. Xavier puts it into happy mode with LET ME BE, and the invite comes for the dancing stage crashers. Which surprised me on this small stage. But Im glad to see it out here in the West. I thought that would be a crowd difference between the east/west, where it could & would just get too crazy on stage if X did the invite, so i thought they might pull it off the schedule. But to a great testament to his fans I think, as he surveys the crowd on his own every night and decides if he wants it or not…I mean if ya think about it – it’s the dudes safety & well being were talking about..he’s not gonna invite up people if theres some scary drunkn crazy kids down front that would most likely hurt themselves, wipe some of his shit out, or worse him. So I don’t think we should get to used to it. But he still see’s the good in everybody up front there and if you can manage to be up there – chances are pretty good, if you wanna – your gettn up on stage to dance to LET ME BE right now. Every time ive seen it – I watch the crowd and everybody is smiling and or laughing. It’s a class act move on the perfect class act song. Just be kool for gods sake people – ya understand me?..even if ya are totally wasted and your thinkn about it - make sure ya have a friend at least beside you that wont let you up..because as kool as you think you are when your totally wasted – chances are your gonna make a complete ass outta yourself and may cause some damage around you and to yourself. Unless ya can dance like this guy ! then your ok with me..hahaa.. i linked this one in my first leg too - but i find when i need a good smile i watch it so im linkin it again. In secret hopes of finding this dude some day and going to a show with him. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avKT60Z_JyM
So into a nice CHANT, this one allwayz gets a few new ears perked up. I think It’s a real strong socially conscious written song. I believe the average song writer could write a socially conscious song without too much difficulty, however – try to write one any near as good as this – I think theres less than 10 maybe 15 musicians in the world that could do it with as much success & consistency than this man. Big statement perhaps, but once you take into consideration of being consistent over time, I think your gonna need to reconsider. He’s been writing them since his beginning and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon and there only getting better. It’s a familiar thing from Australian artists actually. A very socially conscious country. Ahh takes me back to the Midnight Oil dayz. Props to OZ for social consciousness ! We could all take a lesson from them.
Back comes Tolley for the set closer TO LET. I could tell right away Dave is hittin it much harder these dayz. Cant believe the difference from last week ! That and the sounds probably turned up a lil bit, but still you can tell he’s pounding with more enthusiasm for sure.
The surprise for me came with a second encore tune of GREEN SPANDEX after GENRATION FADE. First time id heard it this tour, I thought this tune might have been put away for awhile. Its one of those crowd fan fave’s thats allwayz getting screamed out. Im not a fan of song requests getting screamed out all the time. I like the artist to do his own thing. The screeming tunes out at the show, disturbing, drunkn, silly fan, or maybe just a rude one that just doesn’t get it, but regardless, sometimes the artist is up for it, like the Jack in Ottawa for example, so I cant hack on it too much, its just not my thing. But its pretty automatic you can expect some chicks screeming this one out every show. Now dont get me wrong - i wont disscriminate - the guyz do it to - and i think there tools, buts it that high pitched shrill you women have that just fuckin irks me. hahaa. So I don’t know if there was a sign up front or if someone asked him to play it, but he busted it out. It was great to hear, as it is one of his most powerfull personal tunes. One that most of us can relate too. Basically a remembrance tune. This one being about his grandmother. Just a fantastic, and probably his most requested tune id wager. So regardless if the venue or crowd isn’t ready for it, Im pretty happy it came out !.
Tolley comes back for the new tune SET IT UP & then ENERGY. Closing with the WHITE MOTH was a lil different as its been Fire Chant up to this point.
So all in all – DT was bang on the money – what a different show from just 9 dayz ago. Its amazing what musicians can do together when there actually having big fun on the road and actually have some rehearsal time. I disliked the Venue and the sound within it making it my least friendly show im expecting, but the performance of the new DT and the Green Spandex addition, along with the reunion with many dear friends of mine – can I get a “GorgeBoard – hells ya” id say a pretty good time in all. (YFKI !)Looks like XR had a good time too..........
After the show I did some mingling with some fans; 2 superfan, girlfriends from somewhere..i unfortunately did not have my note pad with me and have yet to hear from them, so uncertain of where they came from or even there names – which is totally embarrassing, as we hung out the next night in Portland too. I think these chippy girlfriends took a bus up from somewhere real far with no plan at all of where there stayin or how there getting to the show, which intrigued me..California is what im thinkn.. ya out there gals ?
Regardless, Seattle is in the books, its back to Bizz’s for a few hours down before we head to Portland.PORTLAND, OR. December 2, 2006
The ride from Seattle to Portland isn’t too bad. When your on the road as much as some of us, getting to the next show can be a real bitch, but not today ! Especially with the crew im with. Im traveling with a great bunch of not just friends, but as ive mentioned - serious music fans. Which always makes the road trips that mucha’s mucha’s more fun. Nothin like being in a vehicle travellin with people that know there shit when it comes to music. When you can trust, without a doubt that if they tell you, ya may not have heard of this, but this is good you should listen to it, well Im in a car with them so im in – lets listen to it. We allow ourselves to get into it man – like the godfather sayz = we get into it man ! Playn the games of takin turns running the cd deck – ya I said cd deck not the ipod deck ! Back in my day ya see…ha lmao – just shittin ya its more likely the ipod deck these dayz, but not in our car quite surprisingly..were still pounding out the cd - it’s the new vinyl. Re-card-less ;) of what your working format is – im a big believer of havin the fun in the car on a road trip! Now what im sayin sayin ! Makes the trip fly by.
Were all are lil beat up though so we don’t go full ballz out on the ride down, we keep one tucked in, for she’s still a long night. Ive seen too many rookies blow a tire before they even get to the venue, allwayz a bad thing. I realize having this realization that it probably means I am growing older, but I think im gonna start saying wiser as opposed to its negatively associated relative, older. Pretty sure im gonna get called a vagina by a few of my peeps for saying such blasphemy on that one but what can ya do.
We FINALLY make it to P-town in time for pre-show meet & greet of another group of the Gorgeboarders. Here is where San Fransisco, Denver, Eugene & Portland Chapters have now joined the group from last night, so were certainly not fuckin around tonite ! Some rushed pre party, cause navigating this city is bullshit lemme tell ya ! No diss-respect to Portlanders, your city’s cool an all, but damitt ! I mean ok, maybe it was the long drive or our state of mind, but all that one way shit in Portland that breaks up and starts up again, goes other directions, its just really enough to confuse foreigners. Im almost convinced it’s a Portland conspiracy to keep us foreigners out. Lol – The City seems super cool from the little I saw of it, but its on my list to check out further. I read it constantly on the best places to live in America kind of lists. This part of the country allwayz is up near the tops of stuff like natural resources & quality of life type of stuff. Much more my speed then the swallowing atmosphere of the big concrete jungles that too many of us choose to dwell in. Anyway – dig the city – don’t dig driving downtown , it made us a little tardy to our destination.The lil bit of the opener last night I heard, Brett Dennen, sounded real sweet and I wanted to get in and check
him out tonight. So we did..and oh boy do I like getting a nice surprise of a great opener. This young man out of Oakdale, California is just a treat. I grabbed a quick meet & greet after his performance and he’s got such a nice personality to match his talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it right out from the indie basement rather quickly. Go check him out, I doubt you’d be disappointed. Good guitar player, nice lyrics, with a good sense of humour..im a fan. I went and checked him out once i returned home and he’s got a heavy tour schedule I see from his myspace, and will most surely be in or close to your market in the coming year. I think he’s gonna be another example of getting a nice break from a tune being used in a commercial, as well as his music featured on a Scrubs episode I heard recently. Cant think of which commercial, but just check out the dude im sure you’ll recognize it & dig it ! http://www.myspace.com/brettdennen
This Venue is pretty rad, nice theater style, high ceilings, with a balcony for about 1/3 of the people, nice good sound, big stage, real big. Vending was small and inconvenient, but friendly as all get out ! Which is just the nice cherry on top for me, when I get real great friendly staff. Ya know what I mean – its like the ultimate complement almost. All of that made it a real treat to be in this building.
So after B.D. a small break and the crowd starts a bustling. We all got a pretty good spot together. Another nice bonus thing with travellin with a group, and if you get there early enough, your real estate claim is sufficiently greater in area then if your on your own. Sometimes good, sometimes not, but great to have it available to you. . If its done right ! ya hate the people that push there shit on ya if she’s already crowded with no place to go. I gotta be hangin with friendly crowd managers. Like I said that’s just a bonus – cause the real payoff is being surrounded with friends enjoying the shit out of the music together. I really noticed that at Xavier shows -there’s groups of us people, friends together, all havin a blast together with other friends that we might not now. Lots of good people mingling with other good people. Its good shit ! As opposed to a show where its mostly couples or older people, or just a crowd where people don’t really talk to each other, ya understand ?...
The show I’ll spare you my full rambling review, if your still reading then you’ve read the review of this show before really. It was a solid show with so much way better sound than last nights Seattle. With that big stage – there was lots of stage dancers for LET ME BE, and a couple cute little kids getting in on it brought some big smiles. Tolley was just killn it even harder tonight, it sounded so much fuller in that room. The show was a near replica of the night before. But ya can usually count on some kind of special thing to happen. Last night being the Green Spandex, tonight we get an awesome change of set-list treat of Brett Dennen coming out to guest on a killer Bob Marley cover of NO WOMAN NO CRY. Xavier has this in his library and is one of those tunes that doesn’t come out too much so when it does – its usually good shit ! It’s a good cover – one that also you can usually count on most artists & everyone in the crowd knowing obviously, so its not all that rare, but the two worked awesome together with there unique style yet playing Bob together – and a ton of people singn along. I bet they really dig that shit..im sure they do.Check the youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xua3-1LnZSY
The youtube links I pulled from XR’s website forum from member RKR who I unfortunately didn’t link up with, as he/she was at both Seattle & Portland shows and provided most of the pic’s you see here. Sorry mate, next time we hook up fo-sure !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBeJWRhFLhQ
The one picture brought back a memory, someone threw up that cap he's wearing in the 1 pic. That i read somewhere it was a knitted cap of the oz colours, X picked it up threw it on or a couple tunes. That was pretty cool i remember thinkn.
We do end up running into those two girlfriends that I couldn’t remember there names, who im sure told me again in Portland but again I didn’t write them down, so of course I don’t know there names, but Adam might – he autographed one of the girls boomerang merchandise purchase, pretty funny shit. Great fun girls that worked well with the group. Ya can usually count on meeting new people along the road if your open to it ya know. Too many of us are walking threw life being way too closed off and afraid to meet strangers. That’s just bullshit ! Another reason on my list of why I do, whatever the fuck it is I do..I meet new good people when im open too it, and most times when im travellin with music – im wide open to it ! So after some good bye’s to Tolley – we hit the bar next door for the after party. Allwayz fun no doubt – if you got enough people feeling the mood – in a bar with alcohol and more music, then its gonna be a good time. Its also when the sexy people show up, so that’s cool too. Well, i suppose they were probably allwayz there, but when the music's on i dont really notice them.lol No clue of the name of that place – I should have researched – but ill leave that open for Portland chapter to chime in – as the props go to that chapter for throwin an AFTER AFTER PARTY. Hey-zuez if someone screams after,after,after party – im in serious trouble ! But the after, after was the narrowing of just our group, at the Portland Chapters lovely gracious home of CORRIE (spazmom). Corrie another big music fan who im thinkn does more travellin to shows than i do - so i gotta love her. She's pretty fuckin crazy - but i lover her regardless. :) So with the fallen soldiers all about our feet, we continued to represent proudly. Not just as Americans & Canadians, but of good people from where-ever the hell any of us are from. Representing that is, until my Canadian compadre roared his ugly yet beautiful roar… It’s a not so little known fact that Canadians can make & drink RYE – I mean professionally- if it were to become an Olympic sport – we would most likely be the best odds takers in Vegas on us taking gold. Yup right behind hockey ! Im even pretty sure its proven both scientifically and religiously in fact that Canadians can drink rye like its there fucking job. SO anywayz my compatriot, who earlier in the trip I mentioned, I was on his ass for being an export..well his challenge of the almighty CROWN demon could not be ignored. I think its also a sad silly stoopid truth that when challenged by a fellow Canadian to chug Crown Royal straight from the 60 pounder – well im afraid, by all that is holy, we must ! It’s the chanting from the gallery that usually makes you think your indestructible and you chug way more than you should, but fuck it – its about being in the moment right !?
And next - well that’s about all I got to tell ya about Portland.
Somethin about passing out on the kids playroom floor is all I got. But hey its been a long road and ive kept my shit real tight..until the Crown I suppose.
Fuckn Canadians !
The next day was a big drive. A Sunday and about 350 miles ahead of us in our shape, no small feat. But we, after 2 great shows, fond farewells and until next time lovin, we pound out the miles & get it done. Back in my country with no worries & so looking forward to a day off before the finale in Van.!VANCOUVER, B.C. - December 5th, 2007
Originally there was suppose to be a show up at the Whistler Conference Centre before this show in Van, but due too venue issues it was cancelled pretty late in the game. Word was they were demanding an unrealistic security deposit after the fact, or some shit that nobody in the right mind would agree to. Im bettin its one of those corporate decisions from venue management saying, in a not so nice a business manner, they don’t want the show. I dunno – I could just be talking out my ass. But whatever – as much as I would have loved to get up to the Whis, im pretty ok with it. It would have been a big undertaking to make it all work. Not to mention it gives me 2 days of real R’n’R before my final R’n”R of another kind, on this trip anyway. Rest & Relaxation please !
Im pretty sure I would have to say, Van should be the show of the tour, in my humble opinion only ! ok there I said it. Im not one who likes to associate any such kinda statements, for it would mean to say that the shows previous have been less than. That’s not the kind of critic I am.. Its just as far as the xtra smile quotient goes - we should get our fill is all I mean by that. But maybe not. But ya most likely. hehee
Last show of the year, last show til who knows when for me..so I try not to be a pussy about it on the exterior – but on the inside I put some emotional attachment to this show b4 it even happens. Some say I may not be objective due to my biased opinions of this artist. But I will disagree and pretty much take on any challenger wishing to step up to me on what I think this guy is doing in the indie music scene right now – socially & musically. Those that know me – know my musical tastes range all over the map. I try not to rate any artist in any kind of harsh critical manner. I like to consider myself as an un-biased, positive critic...if such a thing makes sense. Meaning, sure we all like what we like and I’ll tell ya so. But truthfully I believe there’s allwayz some musician or group of, sitting in there basement somewhere, in any country, corner of the world that would blow my mind and change opinions for better or worse. I could ramble on about this subject for dayz, but I feel im loosing focus on the subject manner again – so back to just the review..;)
So again Dave Tolley tells me – stay true all the way threw kitch and skip soundcheck ! – there’s new & exciting stuff ahead. Which ya could kinda figure, as would any above average fan. Vancouver is a place where this crew has spent serious time. Without getting into personal privacy issues of family and such, with respect of course. Xaviers Management & Soundmaster extrodinare all hail from the B.C./Van vicinity, with deep family ties to boot and several of his albums being recorded in the area…well you get the picture that there are countless connections he & his crew have here . In both the land and the people living on it id bet. Next to his homeland of OZ, its pretty safe to say its his second home. Thusly I expect to notice the energy not just from the stage but the crowds also. Im expecting it to be more significant than other shows ive been to this tour.From what I gather, the ORPHEUM BALLROOM will be his largest headlining crowd as yet here in Van-city..? I might have that wrong..but I think I got it. I am unfamiliar with the venue, but have been told I will love it. Well in-deed I do friends.
The Orpheum is quite un-impressive and almost kinda sketchy looking building from the street. However opinions quickly change as you walk in threw the doors and into the lobby. Its got history as it was built back in 1927 for big screen movies. This is a big spot with a touch of almost elegant class. Very ol’school theater/opera style. A small bar/vending area off to one side and the washrooms down in the basement. Staircase’s off the side to the upper balcony, with a rather large forum style of lobby, thats all marble floored. Thats before you even open the doors to go in. Its quite hard not to be impressed at this room. Very high cathedral like ceilings with artwork/paintings through out. A large chandelier in the centre, high enough to not get in the way of balcony views,but be low enough to give the room a nice warm feel. Im sure there’s great history in here. Anywayz the stage is a biggin ! with a room out front that fits about 2800. I reflect and can already see this will be the largest group of crowd dancers were gonna see up there this tour – ohh ya there’s gonna be lotz getting up on that baby fo-sure!.
All in all – quite fitting that its my fave venue of the tour. Next to Montreal’s energy and style of show, this room will be a lil different, its theater seating as opposed to standing/bar style like Montreal. But there’s 10-12 feet between row 1 and the front of stage – so there will be some action there im certain. Thankfully friends im with this night – some old – some new. (which weve covered that I allwayz dig new friends on a show night )
Well they have front row seats – centre stage !
Big Shapiro jew love going out to that kat !!Adam introduces me to MARK LABRIE (27) earlier in the eve as we goto his sweet pad for pre-social bevys. Mark works in the film bizz, as a producer/director so we hit it off nicely, as its a bizznezz im currently working in back in Toronto. Turns out were friends with some of the same people and the 6 degrees conversation comes about again in fine form. So Mark show’s me a piece he produced with G-LOVE that you must go check out. Adam P.A.’d on it also. It’s a sweet piece, keep your ears/eye’s open for this guy! Take a couple minutes on his myspace and watch that G-Love piece !
http://www.myspace.com/hivproductionsSo on to the start of the show. It’s a full house of course. I heard it’s a sold out show, but don’t have official confirmation, as i saw people buying tix’s at the door. Its an awfully big room – probably almost twice the size of the Commodore where he played last year. But it sure looks sold out. I expected the smell of weed and it showed up pretty early, I mean its Vancouver after all people !! But I also witnessed security working hard – but nicely mind you - at shutting it down. With a pretty big no smoking ban & with carpeted floors I can understand and appreciate the mandate to be hard on the smokers in here. But the staff that I witnessed and spoke to, for the most part were very polite & professional in there actions. I did notice one over achiever trying to bust ballz up front pretty agressively, but for the most part, it’s a blissfull thing being in a live show in this city. Toronto ya almost get your head cracked open if your caught with a doobie these dayz. Here in Vancover..not so much, not even bloody close !
I missed the opener – AGAIN ! so cant comment at all – my bad.
Goomz was in usuall fine form tonite. Wearing a Santa Claus hat ! He knows he’s going home tomorrow morning to his family, so he’s in good spirits. Well the guy allwayz is, so I suppose nothings different with his spirit. He makes the crowd erupt in laughter several times with his story telling, and I get the first taste of the deep sound with his dij playing, its gonna be a great sounding room.
Here’s a great you tube from the balcony, little tuff to make him out, but if ya listen close you’ll get his humour …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUMQrIeUOHc
X comes out with big applause and it sure feels like a good crowd. He’s clearly also in great spirits. Ya gotta figure all the crew are excited about this show..everyone gets to go home soon. Which being on the road for awhile, on a bus, in Canada, in December..id think there probably looking forward to getting home. But not after they kick us in the head one last good, hard time.
The show sounds familiar with the set list being the same as im used too deep into the show. The crowd stays in there seats for pretty much the first 2 of FORTUNE & FOOD. Then as expected people loosen up and the 10 feet I was speaking of between row 1 and the stage is pretty much stacked right up. But so far the crowd energy is a little less than I had expected. TOLLEY comes out on que on DIJ jam.
12th OF SEPT, FAMINE, & TWIST all pretty standard sweet stuff. I notice the crowd is a little mellow here tonight in Van.
CONCEAL ME brings out a nice surprise guest that we coulda guessed was coming out at some point. PANOS GRAMES is an interesting kool kat. He’s been around the XR camp for several years. Like Dave, he guessed stared on Food In The Belly on THE MOTHER track. Panos works with the admirable David Suzuki Organization. If ya don’t know who David Suzuki is then shame on you – and go spend some time on his link. Probably one of the most respected minds, not just in our country. He’s one of our treasures for sure !
http://www.myspace.com/davidsuzuki
So when Panos isn’t working with David, the musician in him kicks so much ass on the part time, that he moonlights too. He’s a PHAT keys player – yes P H phat !. Go check out the sick organ on The Mother. Thats Panos ! Dirty, ohh so deliciously dirty !
So he comes out for a killer C.M. and into a bad ass MOTHER.
LET ME BE comes next & it brings a bunch of people up this time. It’s a big stage so there’s plenty of room. Adam & I gave each other a look and thought about it, but it was more than just a little bit of madness so our better judgment kicked in and prevented it. Woulda been nice to finish off this tour with a lil stage dance though..I think I earned it ! But my ballz weren’t big enough on this night im afraid.
So D.T. & P.G. are still playin too and are loving the energy you can tell with big shit eating grins on there faces. Great LMB all around. Finishing the set with a CHANT & TO LET.
A pounding TO LET, the hardest pound ive heard out of both X and DT all tour. Kinda what I was talking about the last show on the energy thing..last time there playing together for a lil while…(something tells me not too long though) So they sure take us out big on that one. The encore makes me curious and the mind wonders…ya figure a surprise or 2 is coming. Maybe Jmez on the banjo is a good guess..but who knows. Just a short break, and action starts happening on stage right, as mic’s & stools get brought out..i have no idea !?
Until I see the kids. First thought maybe it was his kids and/or lil brothers as they came out in Geelong back in OZ. But I clearly got that first thought wrong. Four kids come out ranging from ages, im guessing 5 or 6 up to 12 maybe. If you have Food in The Belly, you will recognize GENRATION FADE. What a great treat, I researched this a lil bit and turns out these kids are 4 of the 8 that were on the album and man it sure sounded great. Ya could tell it was there first time in front of a crowd of that size. Three of them were a lil shy/timid about the whole thing, but 1 of the gals, the eldest im guessing by her size – well she got right into it and a real joy to watch. Took her a couple verse’s but by the end of it she was flashin the devil horns and fist pumps – it was classic. Probably the highlight of the show id say. X came out from his perch and hugs for all. The set-up was diss-assembled and from there, a sweet ENERGY with Dave & J-mez comin out on the banjo – so that was the sweetest Energy we got on the tour no doubt.
A WHITE MOTH and a FIRE CHANT to close off the tour on this piece of land very nicely. A big standing ovation of course. Great love in the room, and XR gives it back in his usuall peace & love’s out to us all.
This time it feels a bit more larger than anytime before and very real, very. !
And just like that – its over ! for now !!
Because you can be sure that another thing im lovin with this man and his posse is he knows when to ride a good wave, and Xavier Rudd is rippn the shit out of a real beauty !A small break over the holidays and there right back at it. In the studio for “WHITE MOTH” the latest release due in June, and from what ive heard so far – its gonna be just ree-dick-u-luss !. Then a world tour to support it, that if ya ask me will bring him his greatest year yet in 2007 ! Another Bonaroo and 9 or 10 opening spots for DMB’s 2007 tour – so you can be sure I’ll crack up some miles myself in 2007. That is if I don’t put myself into bankruptcy first ! Im pretty much there already.
I could go on further about whats happened between the end of this past tour im writing about and when ive finally got it posted, but i need to put closure to this one- so my tour here is done.
If your wishing a place for a great,keeping up to speed with the man and his peeps - keep an eye on this blog from his man jmez - its the shit ! He's way more professional and shorter to the point then my hack ass !
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=6059331&blogID=248028457&MyToken=3e7b009a-a5c3-47af-a237-981b1ebf9a12
Hope you enjoyed the joyride..
Im doubtfull any of you are still with me reading this, but I thank you regardless for your commitment to my ramblings. As I mentioned I think these blogs are more for me than any of you. Pretty sure if everybodys honest with themselves thats what most blogs are if ya ask me..but whateve - I suppose it helps me justify and gives me purpose. I find its leading me to something bigger, so im not gonna argue with it.
I wanna thank, from the bottom of what i am, to everybody that helped me along this journey. Too many to list out if i didnt mention you in this blog - you know who you are and are loved.Im out = Enjoy life people, for tomorrow we die, and there wont be any music you can hear when your takin the big dirt nap in the sky. Atleast I aint taking any chances !!
PEACE & MUCH LOVEMISC PIC'S & LINKS:
XR in the forests of Tasmania.
Goomblar drinking tea the proper english way.
XR & DT in the studio recording "White Moth"
http://www.myspace.com/jameslookerphotography
* peace & respectfull thanx for use of some pic's & links used throught this article. I dont know all of you as i would have asked permission, yet im sure you have no arguements and for that i also thank you.
It brings me my first wave of familiar feelings that I'm doing the right thing. Let me see if there’s any way I can explain that statement – every Xavier show I've been to – the weather is never what one would call the norm… it’s an unexplainable wind or sky, there’s always something going on with mother nature when i travel somewhere for this guy. Not going all witchy on you I promise, Its just a profound reality that I experience, and cant seem to dismiss even if I want to. This just goes towards a mood setting, so i enjoy the moment ! Speaking of mood setting - you should settle in - get yourself a drink, throw on some good tunes - and come-on for the ride if you dare..she's gonna be a long commitment i warn you ! ive been known to ramble.
nice 12th of SEPTEMBER, the invite comes and the jolly giant has arrived. With a nice easy start of the Toots and The Maytals tune he likes to play - FAMINE. This tune flows so nicely into the new song TWIST. Your gonna love this tune. I love this tune. Its your typical X fun time song that if FAMINE didn’t have ya swaying with the music – this tune sure will ! (anybody thats heard this song notice what I did there ? haha;) But if ya were at Bonaroo this year the little ZIGG ZAGG song we heard might sound familiar. So out comes a nice pounding CONCEAL ME, and this one is where were gonna see DT pound ! and he does !. Dave stays out for LET ME BE which surprised me as 
balcony section, surrounding a general admission, standing floor section. It’s a pretty nice room with decent acoustics. It is here where I was suppose to meet up with another one of the big fans from X’s website Forum YIDAKI DAVE. This kind, married man with children who is actually very involved in the forum community, was going to meet up with me so we could meet & greet and exchange some music. Forums are also the place where true fans can share the good, not so easily available music, with each other. But due to timing issues and I think Dave being so damn excited to be up front, 
