John Butler Trio - Good Excuse Tour

John Butler came into my life somewhere during Sunrise Over Sea. I remember hearing about him threw one of my music circle of friends i travel with. Then again seeing them live for the first time with his opening acts for a stint with DMB back in 05. But I didnt get fully into him years later - much later - until i got my hands on an early Grand National. Id like to disscuss

XAVIER LEG 2 : CONNECTIONS TOUR - WEST COAST CANADA/USA 2006

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/hivproductions

So 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 LOVE

MISC 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.

So i came up with this idea a few years back and have yet to act upon it. At first like most of my idea's, just a brief wave threw my mind really, like the light goes on that reads "you should do something with that idea kitchen". Most thoughts wave right on threw me. If i were on a surfboard i woulda shit the bed on catching many waves. But sometimes i spend a bit more time in development of that intial thought and then from there who the hell knows, thats another blog entirely. But ive let this thought develop a little more to pretty much this finished product in your hands/ears. So the content of this mixx cd, what it represents, and then how it not just gets in your hands, but how you then got to this blog, reading about its content. So it has a few different levels of thought development you see.

So what im gonna do hear, is give my personal input on each track of the cd in its listed order. Some having just musical comments, some having personal moments ive had with the music or the arists that perform it. Im just gonna let myself go with it and i think its gonna probably take you on a bit of a journey. Wanna come along ?

So getting to it i suppose..the following cd mix your listening to is composed of tracks from a variety of different artists from 4 different corners of the world. It is one of what id be willing to bet you've not heard too many of the tracks before. No dissrespect intended, this just being a respectfull piece of some either relatively unknown artists, depending on where you are, as well as some rareities for sure. Im kinda testing a few theories i have really. It consists mostly - to use one of our fave abbrv. these dayz. "indie" music . If your reading this i would think most of you would be very familier what indie stands for. Yet threw my journy's the past few years ive truly been learning what it truly means in many different levels of definition. But i think i might be giving this cd to many who essentialy dont know the full level of comitment of truly indie music, so no dissrespect again - actually - im gonna stop saying that, its just the polite words ive allready said, so anything from here on if i offend or missundertsood - reference the first 2 times ive said it !
So "indie" music,,,ok - the web defines it justly as..
In the context of popular music, the term indie (from "independent") is often used to refer to a number of genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic and cultural attributes, characterised by (real or perceived) independence from commercial pop music and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_music

Pretty complicated first couple of reads, i have problems with it still. I could break down the word indie into its own blog, but lets just get to this cd again..
Its compromised primarily of indie artists. Several now have deals with major labels, and have plenty of material to there credit, i think there's two artists that would be considered out of the indie class, but nothing like a deal you might be thinking of, i assure you.
Another motive of the mix, is its international touch. Of the 17 tracks, half of them are from Australian artists, 9 exactly. Nine of whom id be impressed with, if your failiar with any more than 3 of the 9. In fact myself id never heard of 8 of these 9 artists until just this year. This point im making is how this isnt a mix cd of favouite top hits your gonna know and maybe love or not, or that you know the artists that sing them. I love how i find much motivation in my travels of how i continue to stumble across incredible music all over the world, and how so much of it never finds its way out of its own back yard.

The other international half are compromised of artists from the uk, canada, jamaica, and usa.
Ive travelled pretty extensively this year specifically for live music.
February into March was west coast canada.
April threw into June i exprienced a great opprotunity of travelling to Australia for 3 months.
Two of those months on a Tour as the Tour Manager of the truly Indie act of Nine Mile. With the 3rd month travelling upon an solo adventure in a camper van into Northern Australia into The Territory of Norther Queensland. Much inspiration throught this trip is why half of this cd is from OZ.
Ive been creting this one a long time and just recently found its last puzzle piece to where i truly believe i have one of my most favourite mix's ive ever made. One with that not only im gonna be listening to as my favourite highlight year/years music, but one with purpose for others.

If your reading this - your are an important subject yourself. It has been sent to not just you but a limited # of copies have been sent to people in ...
Due to doing this project out of my own pocket and well if ya know indie then you know my pockets are pretty fuckn empty. Postage alone, never mind materials was a heavy burdon.
So whats my objective you ask ? Ive been asking myself that since the begining. I have problems i think with spending my energies on things that dont neccesarily get me ahead of any race. I suppose its my way of feeling good about sharing. I suppose i also have aspirations of somehow tracking if this cd's result will make it into others hands..will you share it with others - please do.., will you or others purchase materials or go see any of the artists as a result of this cd ive sent out..? Many questions of its possibilities..But ultimately the product is in your hands - results will either show themselves or they wont. Regardless of all that, and above all - enjoy
in its entireity andi thank you for coming along for the ride !

So anywayz that was a big ass introduction, so now = lets just get to the hot shit ok ! ..

1.) Hotel California - The Cat Empire: http://www.thecatempire.com
My ears came across Auzzie band TCE a couple years ago, and never looked back. If un-familiar - this 6 piece act has a big range of eclectic sounds. Chances are you've heard of them, as they had a big year. Opened up the Commonwealth games this past year. Lots of awsome horns, keyboards, percussion, accordian you name it, there hitting on it. I doubt you have seen this covered eagles classic done like this. And ya its french lyrics, from a bunch of mates from oz, i thought it just made for a purrrrfect opener for my Internationally indie mix of 2006. But these guyz - I wont miss a show if i can help it. Ive been fortunate to meet and hang a couple times. Nine Mile opened up for them when they were in Toronto at one of the best shows of the year many say ! The entire venue of the Mod Club was jumping - and i mean jumping ! I gotta say you need to see these cool kats live ! Expect to dance your ass off ! Its such a high energy show ! You wont be dissapointed !
Check out there site if your surfin around someday, its got there signature fun frog you can jump him about with sweet instrumental jazz beats while you surf the site. I kinda found it amusingly fresh. Its a good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2mR6eLznrI&mode=related&search


2.) When Doves Cry - Damien Rice:
I dig this solo kat. This irish dude kinda has been hiding down in james blunts shadow i think. Im pretty done & over blunt man arnt you ? But not critizing really - just that this Rice guy has a sweet voice with a real nice guitar/piano, among others. This tune is also a cover - dont worry - no cover-tune cheezy mixx theme going here- it just filled a great two spot with such a differently perspectived voice of art tune. He not only plays the shit out of an accousitc ghuitar on this gem, he pounds out vocals that should give the simplest of men the shivers ! This tune should make you women out there imagine a few nice things this guy would do to/for you. hahaa ok maybe a lil much there - but seriously i think a great job on this cover of another tune i doubt you have ever come across.
http://www.damienrice.com/index.html



3.) Jack(live) - Xavier Rudd: Now most of you i think have heard of this artist. Most of you also probably now that this guy is my most passionate at this point in my travels. I think this dude is the biggest man & spirit making music in the scene today. So sorry of my biased review maybe hear..hahaa But seriously XR is a special artist everyone familiar would agree, of his talent & belieavable passion for what he does and the life he lives with it. The tune is a rare-live version

4.) Further Down The Road - Bernard Fanning:

5.) The Atumn Leaves - NQ Arbuckle:

6.) Kingswood - The Vesco Era (uk):

7.) Pape Aeroplane - Angus & Julia Stone (oz):

8.) Walk Together - Iaasac Paddon & the Tides (oz):

9.) Black Fingernails, Red Wine - Eskimoe Joe (oz):

10.) Love is My Religion(accosutic) - Ziggy Marley (jam):

11.) Meds - Placebo(uk): I needed somethin to speed me up a litle bit on this mixx somewhere around this half way mark. Cause god knows i love to crank it up sometimes ! I mean i play a mean fuckin air guitar i gotta tell ya !! This tunes comes from certainly not a new act. Placebo has been around for years. In fact just celebrated there 10th anniversary. But they've kept it kinda indie and done a nice job at surviving the tides i think. With tunes you surley have heard think "pure morning" ohh ya that one rocked back in the day ! But this tune off there latest album stays true to placebo's roots. It was another tune playing heavy on Trible J when i was in OZ and i just got hooked in ! It makes my head jerk back&forth with violent but controlled bursts of agreement & enjoyment ! Now i dont have a lot of there stuff - dont even own an album, so maybe im cheating a lil bit on this tune. But i cant handle too much of this stuff in one sitting..sign of my aging ears perhaps ? :(
check out the video for pure morning - that shit was way ahead of its time !
http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/placebo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQQmAP9Poo4

12.) In The Waiting Line - Zero 7(uk):

13.) Toots & The Maytals & Ben Harper (jam&usa):

14.) Unnecesarily Blue - TZU (ox):

15.) Outside the Stars - NQ Arbuckle (can):

16:) Jimi/For What its Worth meddley - Nine Mile/Matt York/Melissa Larkin(can):

17:) Stay Young - Donovan Frankenreiter (usa): Dono has been around awhile. You've heard him im quite sure. If ya dont have any, you've been at a party im sure where Jack Johnson has been playing. He's one of those usa surf-rockers that Jack's old surfer connections is kinda how he came up. Several duets and tours with Jack and then he broke out pretty much doin his own thing. Well with a kick ass band too. Ive been a fan since back in the day of this guy right out of a 60's surfer movie but wil cool and phunk flowin threw him. I got re-energized back early last year on tour with him. His album Move By Yourself is just ree-dick-u-lously good - go get it ! you wont be dissapointed. There's a couple songs i wanted to drop on here, but my new excitement for the guy, made me find this kick-ass version of one of his too be classics - no doubt ! and ya ya - ok maybe i like to reflect personally a lil on this one. That fuckin peter pan again man !!

http://www.donavonf.com/
http://www.myspace.com/donavonfrankenreiter

Chinese Translation - M.Ward (usa): This guy got put on to me from a musician friend of mine just recently ! Like a month ag0 & yet this Portland, Oregon dude came out with his first stuff way back in 98. His latest realease made a lot of respectable mags/critic's top album of the year lists. and i aint never heard of him til just recently. Geeze i dig that shit of how discovery inspires & motivates. Anywayz..So M.Ward..I dont know shit about him really other than the general stuff on his site, and that i dig this tune hard and many others, but this one was the first to get multiple plays - so it gets put on here. Seems to have made a connection with Norah Jones and is since opening up her shows on her new 25-35 show tour in april/may of 07. Most indie's get there break obviously by opening up for the right peeps. Again im sadly reminded that a lot of times - t just aint about what ya know - its who ! But atleast in music there's still some purity in it as you do gotta have the "what ya know" to stand the test of time !
Anyway not sure what the first Intial M. is about, but the songwriting, the voice, he's a phee-nom-inal guitar/musician by the sounds of it..i cant believe i dont know about this guy - but im listening now ! thats fo-sure.
http://www.mwardmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mward


Brett Dennen Im hearing a lot of similar sounds with M.Ward & this guy Brett Dennen. Two west coasters, obviously chill kinda musicians that dig good songwriting & guitar playing with just suttle percussion. I stumbled across this kat opening up for Xavier in Seattle & Portland in December 06 and i havent looked back yet - he's in my ears steady right now. He's just a word of mouth indie success out of California thats on a pretty big discovery tour right now. He seemes to be an elcetic kinda odd-fellow that has his own thing going on. He's a picker of teh accoustic thats for certain. He's got some help from many talents also, like Keb Moe which aint no slouch. There's a long bio on his site, that kinda lost me to be honest..i think its the format, but if your interested in this kind of music. Im not all the way in with this guy yet ! But he's off to a pretty good start with me..I'll be watchin/listenin carefully for this guy. I swear ive heard this tune on a commercial somewhere, but i havent found evidence online to substantiate !


http://www.brettdennen.com/
http://www.myspace.com/brettdennen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sop1WRILcxk


Jesus - you wouldnt believe what i had to cut outta this list ! i should do a b-sides !
Anywayz..hope this mixx finds you with peace and love and wanting more ! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIMVxQy0mCU&mode=related&search=

XAVIER RUDD - 1st LEG

I need a road trip !

I have been on lotz of them ! It kinda seems to be what i do ! Its not the only thing i do, but its certainly the most frequent, one of the more self-serving, independant things. Following good music around different countries, meeting different people along the way..and well thats kinda what this piece is gonna be about !

In todays world, where blogs seem to be one of the craze's - I have put myself in motion to document this road trip...one that will take me on another one of those journey's of self-exploration i think.

- giving you the basic idea of whats to come..

I am road trippin - driving - 2,000 km's, (as the mapquest bird flies) in my trusty, elderly steed of a 1990 Volvo, 740, with 280,000 km's on it(hey its a turbo atleast). During this first leg, to the 4 Xavier Rudd shows in 5 days of his latest fall/winter tour across Canada & the u.s. 3 in Ontario, 1 in Quebec ...Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and finish the first leg up in London.
-I have no tickets for 3 of the 4 shows. (of this mostly sold out tour) I will purchase tickets for face or below face only, from upstanding souls who have extra's only ! No scalpers on this kids dime.
- I will be getting the story of the fans at the shows, including the people i get the tickets from. If i even get tickets - last night in Ottawa was a close one !
- There will be a venue review, crowd review, music new & old review, probably a few pretty cool experiences along the way too - id imagine. I know i missed one last night, due to my old bones telling me to go to sleep or i'll hurt you ! A big part of it will also be my personal state of mind at the time im sure..and that's because this is most likely just a story for me,, so im allowed to right ! ? blah blah anywayz..
you get the point there. I am also sure we'll both wish i had an editor, but hopefully it wont be too un-readable for you.

so lets get to it....

DAY 1; Friday, Nov. 17th, OTTAWA

On the road to my nations capital. Driving to Ottawa, Ontario(about 450 kms from Toronto) on the ol' 417 about 3 hours in the drive, witnessing just an un-real sky. The sun going down around and finally behind me, amongst a strange, creepy soft cloud cover, I cant really describe it, nor will my crappy camera capture it with justice. But I try anyway. ( turns out I didn’t get such a bad shot of the rear view mirror look after all)

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.

-ahh i came back to give you an order ! Well a recomendation at the least - ive got some fitting music for you - go ahead and stream this link, while your reading - i think ya'll gonna likee ! -http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1392978.htm

Ok so here I am – Ottawa - a lovely friend of mine has not only offered up her place for me when she’s not home, but also organizes her dog to be picked up from her home, before I get there. She’s afraid he’d eat me with out her there! Just my first example of the wonderful circle of people I have come to call friends along my travels. There’s gonna be lots of those examples in this piece. So as I settle in a lil after a 3.5 hour drive, some clarity sets in. I know I have no ticket for the Ottawa show. But not worried, yet! Until two things happen in succession – firstly- word comes from a pretty good source that its heavily sold out. So of course I over panic and rush down there to see about workin it out. I always panic and over react when outside sources call it in – but I'm a real good ticket karma guy. I credit it to mental preparation from years of training really. I don’t deal with scalpers. I'm fully prepared to pass over the show before I pay a scalper. But the thought of how much that would suck large ass, gives me my motivation. I deal with people who have extras and only want face or less or even maybe a miracle. That’s the world we all want, and can live in. It’s the way to do things people ! – for gods sake – don’t be greedy.

However the second thing happens when I approach the venue – the line is down the street, around the corner, almost encompassing an entire block – big line! The biggest ive ever seen for Xavier in this country. I would have took a picture to document – and I realize this piece could be better with a few more pics - but goes to my jack-ass-ness (thats a word !?;) and the fact I'm only packing a cheap broken flash, $5 souvenir shop camera. But it was purchased in Cairns, Australia, when i was there so it adds a fitting symbolic touch..i think. I know I'm an idiot, I should have a digi, the kind of travelling i do – but lay off ! there’s a whole other story on the camera situation. (loosing my last digi at an xave show) But I’ll still score some good pics I'm sure. Anywayz..I'm parked in a sketchy free parking lot just down the street and I'm off to work my karma…

First encounter (and pretty much only) – a dude had a pair and wanted a hundo. I'm wantin to pay $30 (face) maxx. At the door for 1 its $30, $38.75 if ya bought from TicketBastard , I mean TicketMaster. No – I really do mean TicketBastard !! There’s $8.75 service charge – can you bloody imagine – id love to hear the justification for that – fuckin TM man ! dont get me started on those glorified scalpers ! that’s an entirely different piece. Anywayz - so I'm gonna try to hold out for a $30 tix. There’s some at the door – but that’s why a lot of those people in line are waiting and I'm not about to be a dick and weasel in, like i witness several doing. People waiting in the cold and dedicated to stand in the line – they get first crack ! If your one of those dicks that weasels in lines - then you need to stop reading this piece because i don't like you, and i don't want you around me, flat out - even in print ! You can seriously go F%&K yourself ! Im not a hater i promise people - but some things i dont let slide and thats usually one of them. A lot of you pretend you know someone, or maybe think your sly and just kinda blend in as the line starts to move, i know ive watched you and the different methods, and sure truth be told back in the day, we may have all tried it a few times when we were young and stupid. I do cut some slack to the kids i catch cutting, depending on there age. But if your post 16/17 years old.. no way dicks ! Im on to you - back of the line. haha -theres a rant for ya.

So If there’s any left at the box office when the lines done - that’s my last resort – but it will be sold out in a matter of minutes I'm certain. So I'm back to James for his hundo. But we end up chatting it out - I seem to be the only one buying – he’s the only one selling – at this time of the eve anyway.
JAMES (27) – from Peterboro, ON., came in for the show with friends. 2 friends couldn’t make it so he was trying to get there money back for them, plus a couple xtra bucks for travel expense coverage. Which im not so against and can sympathize. But i got along trip with heavy expense myself, so im not caving. He understands & respects. James heard about X threw an Auzzie friend he works construction with, and finally made it to his first show tonite at the Bronson Centre. Not bad – it’s a good 2.5 – 3 hour drive. Kudo’s my friend. This is a trend I'm sure we will touch on through out this piece about people traveling the distances to see a show.
So our friendly chatting leads to the deal of me buying his pair for $75. But we don't have correct change – I give him $80, James tells me he’s buying me a beer inside to make it square. I know its unlicensed and there’s no chance of that, but I don’t care, his offer is sincere and genuine so I'm cool with the $80 for the pair. Good point to throw a sidebar in ( I do that a lot) the $80, as well as every dollar I'm spending out here on the road, is on the creditors dime. Ive been traveling/stressing on credit card & line of credit for what seems like forever..sure we all do that I understand, but I don’t have a regular steady job/income to count on..another story entirely. (Jesus there could be multiple stories as a result of this piece I fear) but whatever maybe i can make money telling stories..? lol– back to this story – so I'm solo with an $80 pair – naturally I'm planning on selln the other one to try to get back to face.
So after the first deal with James went down and a quick trip to the car to warm up – there’s a crazy cold wind out here - I sell the single pretty quick to a dude that was ripe for a tix ! You could see it in him. I know the look. I had it just an hour before – the “sold out & no tickets to be had” worried look ! and no scalpers around either, which was blissful. But this dude woulda bought from anybody. His ass was freezing too, but I tell the dude face, but he shoots me $40 – and very cool with it, didnt even flinch, didn’t get his name, but little man with the colored beanie freezing your ballz off – mucho appreciato my friend - we exchange "enjoy the show" pleasantries, and thats that. End result = i paid $35 for Ottawa and I'm inside.

Oh ya - the math doesnt work does it - not yet - soon as i walk in James spots me, comes right too me and gives me that $5 and apologizes for it not being a beer.

Thats the kinda people your gonna find at XR shows ! Thanx dude - solid move. Solid !


STAGE SET-UP & VENUE:

Missed the opener – my bad – but I waited awhile to do the tix deal and partake in pre-show activities. Might be a routine on this road trip. But Im a big fan of openers – soft spot ya might say. So I plan on catching a few along this trip i hope.
The stage set up I find out is new from the shows he did previously in NY this tour. It’s a nice green background. There’s 4-6 nice full fern type plant assortments, there fake, but come-on, ya gotta figure they don’t have budget to buy, or worry about care of real plants to every show. There’s a white draped backdrop with the aboriginal flag of OZ secured up top centre. Not the recognized countries flag we see everywhere. X has used the aboriginal symbol since the beginning, from what I can recall anywayz. Its usually behind him or on the stage somewhere visible. I feel it necessary to say here – respect and love to those that have been with this music longer than I have. I fully state that I am, and do not consider myself anymore of a wiser sole than anybody out there– I feel I need to do the “only my opinions expressed” warning label here..lol.
Anywayz – stage is also lit right, with the green-ness and white drapery, with the soft light, it’s a very warm/inviting atmosphere – which I’ll get back too im sure.
Here’s where I’ll give ya my venue review with somewhat criticism, yet possible genius undertones. Im curious and excited about the stage, as im gonna be spending some time in front of it the next couple weeks. I notice a few little additions around him and on his riser..he's got a new phunky lamp, i dont recal seeing that boomarang before either..? I should also mention im not in the back taking notes or sitting in a balcony - im where the action is bitches ! lol - it’s the only way to fly ! No review from a stuffy snob sitting at the back, note taking, thinking he’s way to cool for any school kinda thing. That being said – I feel like a bit of a assclown takin notes during points of the show, with people all around me. I try to be inconspicuous as possible, but I can feel people making fun of me, but whatev – I gotta do it – not only because im quite possibly losing my mind/memory I fear as time ticks by – but its more about capturing the moment kinda shit – ya feel me!?

So The Bronson Centre is from what im told is a gymnasium at a school complex. As I kinda found out earlier when asking for directions at a hotels concierge on the way. Ohhh I got funny looks and questions like – why are you going there you English dumbass – it’s a gym !? – they didn’t say that of course – there friendly concierge people, but they were thinking it in there inside voice I could tell. But props to concierge people regardless – as that’s where ya go for directions people ! Fuck gas stations - when have ya ever got great directions from a gas station..i mean come-on – even if ya get lucky and its in recognizable English, you can be sure it still will be flawed! Concierge is where its at ! They allmost allwayz have a map for you even ! We wont even mention what other good services they can provide. Im trying to keep this somewhat p.g. :)

Anywayz - turns out - intial 411 about it being a gym wasnt quite accurate, It’s set up as a seated theater style venue attached to a gym, that id guess fits 5 maybe 600 hundred seats, experienced guess only. With maybe 70% on a main floor, and another 30% or so up on a balcony platform type. With maybe 20 feet of free space between row 1 and the front of stage.
The show has an interesting intro that he’s been doing for a spell now. I was fortunate to see on a grand scale prior, at the Narana Festival back in his home land earlier this year. If you know anything about this guy and his family, he’s very much a conscious spokesperson of not only good healthy living, but the way things should be on this planet. From the earth to the creatures that inhabit it- he's real deal! Minus the preacher.

So a local aboriginal man comes out with X and Goomblar, aka – Goomz. Goomz has been touring with X for some time, and is someone who I will come to call friend as this trip progress’s. The local has a nice intro/explanation of some culture and wayz of the local ancestors of the land. Pretty moving stuff really. But it went pretty long and I think they lost some of the kids in the audience after awhile. Pretty hard to argue with its purpose however as its part of why your there isn’t it ? Ya gotta go for the whole experience with this kat - not just the music ! So after that, they leave the stage and there’s a small break where we get a new thing they just started... a few minutes of a great piece of what I gotta think is a big surround sound junkies wet dream. It’s a slowly building in volume sound of big waves crashing upon a break/shore. It just gives me the shivers. Right outta the gate if your a first timer at one of his shows - you know this is gonna be a different kinda show then your used to.
Im not gonna review each song of each set list, every show, this would be a damn novel if I did – I know, I know too late – your in for a long read !

So Show Time…
So out he comes with his signs of peace & love an respect to the crowd. He crawls in behind his enclosure of instruments up on a riser, where he’ll sit for the next hour and half or so. Going right into a FORTUNE TELLER opener. Upon which we got some Canadian love, we could expect this. Another thing about this dude if you arnt a fan yet (ya notice I said yet;) – there’s a special connection he has with Canada, which we'll get to later im sure. It was nice to hear right off the bat telling us how much he loves Canada and its good to be back. He’s not just selling it either, he genuinely lives it. I mean, I think the dude loves most every place he goes too yes, but Canada is his admitted second home.
There’s something not right in the building you can feel right away – and im not alone in thinking it. I share with some of my people around me. The sit down venue in my opinion isn’t this guyz best audience…but there’s some room up front so I know whats eventually gonna happen, but as for now – were still all pretty uptight and in our prospective G.A. seats. That’s until mid way threw FOOD IN THE BELLY. People start trickling up slowly and when he goes into DIDJ JAM, that puts all the right people out of there seats and up front. I started to understand a lil better here as I watched the crowd for awhile. The venue makes a lil more sense to me now, let me explain = there’s still a lot of people that are witnessing this artist for the first time as i mentioned. They aren’t really sure what to make of him. XR is significantly different than anything they have seen before – that much is clear - so a seat for them is a good idea to start. Also gives the ancient ones and the less outgoing personalities a place to just respect from afar in there own space. A safe haven you might say from the rest of the animal kingdom up front. So in certain markets – maybe it’s a good thing. There was a nice separation between dancers/standers & the seats. I didn’t experience any issues with it – if there were. But people – please if you are one who wants to sit – respect and all - but don’t be up front. Your heavily out numbered and I see some who have an attitude about people in front of them standing/dancing and such. You know what im talking about. Don’t be one of those people.

Personally im enjoying some of the little nuances in his play tonite that Ive picked up. Its been about 7 months since ive seen him and I know there’s new material and old tunes tweeked that im excited about. Like the lil IRON MAN riff he threw in CONCEAL ME. Ohh man im gonna enjoy that one down the road im sure. How about the invite from him on stage during a LET ME BE that brought up 10-12 people dancing around him joyfully and with respect. You could see the crew/security raise there stress level understandably. But there’s not to much to worry about at this guyz shows. There’s no stage crasher’s trying to upset his play. Ive seen Franti do this for a few years and I gotta think we’ll see a few more artists pick up on this gem of a concept. If they can handle it that is, or have a say in security. But it adds a great warm feel that goes to the artist & fan relationship. Anywayz we got a great TO LET closer that went an easy 15 minutes – I started timing a couple minutes into it when I realized its gonna be a long one, but my $2 blue light road watch special doesn’t keep very good time. lol He’s picked up his guitar speed and stamina on this tune, BIG TIME - his guitar play will certainly impress ! Ive never seen him play it this fast & long & hard!

Good time to throw in about his instruments.. one of this dude's selling features is he can play multiple instruments simultaneously - at one point - 5 - between all four of his limbs and his mouth. I should go count how many instruments he has up there with him, but its a lot ! I tried counting the mic's one day, but gave up somewhere around 25 and i wasnt even halfway there..he's got mic's everywhere ! So 3 or 4 guitars, between accoustic and lap, 3 dij's that i know of, he has multiple percussion instruments from a stomp box, kick drum - in bare feet of course - all the time - everywhere, to lots of hand instruments, harmonica's, wazoo's, a gong even. Several instruments unique to places he's travelled - i mean you will be in awe i gaurentee ! He keeps it fresh & unique. Which for both artist & fans - it clearly will go towards longevity of the artist. Anywayz - He took the set out real big, and with a big ass X smile on his face when he ended it. But that’s not new – he’s allwayz smiling & laughing.
So short break into encore – theres a hard curfew in the venue he tells us, which basically means he cant play however long he’d like to. So im figuring about 2 or 3 songs, maybe 20-25 minute encore. GENERATION FADE as the encore opener is a nice version, if you don’t have his latest comercial release, FOOD IN THE BELLY yet and haven’t heard the studio track of this song – you truly must.
My highlight of the trip to Ottawa hands down was what came next and im quite curious about it - bustin out a JACK! This is a tune he rarely plays from what ive witnessed. I discovered earlier this year that it’s pretty much a crowd fave back home. Its been around awhile, and is on a recording or 2 if you can find it. Let me story tell to give frame of mind and reference if ya don’t mind..I thought I had seen my fair share of shows of this guy, and you develop a sense of it, if ya know what I mean. Its not rocket science or anything, its just stuff that comes to you when you see the artist perform on many different occasions. You think ya know a guy basically. Well at Narana in the town of Geelong, his homeland stomping grounds, my attentions were diverted backstage. So with my back to the action I start hearing a big crowd chant. I had no idea what the crowd was saying. My exposure was very little to zero really of Jack. Well he busts it out to a roar that ive yet to hear at a X show. My god the sing along ! ohh man !! im not sure if it will become the powerhouse what it is back home, truthfully I think there’s many that probably hopes it doesn’t – I may be one of them. It just brings into play the whole identity subject. Regardless ive been listening to a live version of this tune a lot the last couple months and its blowin my mind EVERY TIME. There’s a suttle buzz on the forum section of X’s site about it that the local fans I think are starting to pick up on..so ya never know. I didn’t expect to hear it this tour trutfully. I was gonna request it out west if I hadn’t heard it 6 or 7 shows deep, maybe the closer in Vancouver possibly, or maybe up in Whistler ..but I got it tonight ! Goosebumps on this big kid – no shit ! Didn’t get the screaming end that i think he's famous for and ohh man its what gets me seriously hard ! – but he’s got lots of shows to do, so blasting out the voice in the version im familiar with - probably aint on his agenda. Im thinkn he’s realized he’ll need to have an alternate ending on this song if he’s gonna have any real shelf life. Get a version of the Jack im talking about – it will all be clear to you of what im talking about. If ya cant find it – hit me up – ill work it out for you. So I loved the “talkn about freedom” ending just the same, and makes me think im gonna hear it more than I first expected…maybe I can hope for those frogs to scream laddee da at some point in my travels. ;) (fully realize this point might just be for me, and maybe a select few fans that might read this that know what the hell im talking about)
The new song SEEDS & NEEDS comes next. I enjoyed, but I gotta have some time with the new stuff before I give an opinon..its kinda how I feel about all the new material of any artist im a fan of. I think were all like this somewhat. I do however think many people decide a lil to quickly/harshly on new music when they first hear it, but that’s another subject. Anywayz, perhaps I’ll develop my opinion within the trip as I’ll have a decent exposure to the new material, but til I get a feel for them, I wont really dissect anything new, too much.

FIRE CHANT is a nice percussion/vocal tune he ended with. He hits on a new clay pot he plays on his lap, called an UDU. It’s a slowed pace from what id expect for a closer, but don’t have complaints, im still sweaty from To Let. So its kinda the perfect kind of send off tune really. It’s a nicely written tribute/respect fire tune that he sings with clear passion. The UDU has a great sound to it, you can see he’s fond of it, and I wonder where its origin is, im sure he’ll tell us.

So night 1 is down ! almost – I need food. I rocked it out pretty hard..

So enters MARK (20) – I meet this kid in the pizza pizza down the street after the show – interesting dude – he's traveled pretty heavy around the world teachin english and 2 years ago a buddy in Taiwan put him on to Xavier. Mark credits X as a huge influence in his life of passion of travel and music. This is the kinda dude that ya wanna share a smoke with and shoot the breeze..that is only if your into enjoying life to the fullest. This is you’re A-typical XR fan. A pleasure Mark and peace to you my friend, thanx for the pizza dude.

So I say goodbye to some of my people that were there - Dari from Nine Mile, who will most certainly be brought up on numerous occasions along this first part of the journey im sure. Along with fellow Dreadrock Records artist Melissa Larkin, her cool kat bro T-Larkin, the lovely Mag-dawg and several other friends of that crew. Peace props to them ! So apparently there could be some post show hang time I find, but I gotta get to Montreal solo tomorrow, and get tonight’s show reviewed down whilst its fresh, so I sadly pass on who knows what, and off to a nice shower & bed for the eve..

DAY 2;Saturday,Nov.18th,Montréal !

Load my crap up in my trusty steed "darkie" and on the road I go mid afternoon – only about a 2 hour journey to Montreal and the only show in the Province of Quebec. Thank God ! So lots of time to get there and get settled. Roll in about 3 hours before show I figure. The Metropolis is a well known venue in this town. One that I haven’t been too, so im lookin forward to it. Doors arnt open yet but there’s staff out front so I ask the friendlies for a recommendation of a place I can eat and chill before hand, and then also get the skinny on the show – Doors at 6:30, JUSTIN NOZUKA AT 8PM AND XAVE AT 9:15. Real helpfull front door guyz!

Im gonna try to catch the opener tonight, if I do my ticket magic quicker today. Show isn’t sold out yet, but the line is beginning to form and it will no doubt be a sell out soon enough. Scalpers are out for this one. Of course they are – its Montreal – and naturally they speak perfect English oddly enough right. Yet im willing to bet if I met them in a different environment and they knew I was an Englishman, there English wouldn’t be very good at all – but don’t get me started on the god-damn frenchies !lol but fellow UNITED Canadians know what im sayin here !

Anywayz not a sell out yet – so its time to fuck with some scalpers. There attitude is quite different when its not a sold out show have you noticed ? So those guyz are unloading for $25 which is face. I did think about it for a minute as it was pretty damn cold – colder than last night. If I had a tix that I paid face for ahead of time, I coulda put away that stress and moved on. Nay ! I stayed the course, froze my ass off searching/waiting for the opportunity. Don’t think very many Quebecers are familiar with the 1 finger up in the air technique. If ya goto many shows you’d know that Its the un-aggressive way to say im looking for 1 ticket. Boy did I get stoopid looks on this night ! As I was looking for my admittance, the event sold out, so naturally I gotta see what the scalpers say now and see whats next for them.. – the one dude sayz - "i cant help you dick!" hehee – I actually offended the scalper. I basically got the – F-U buddy, I woulda sold you one for face – now im not even selling you one for any price. Ahh free markets & the capitalism with-in, aint it grand.

So to my joyfull glee - enter PHIL. PHIL(25) is an Auzzie from Yungaburra ( I tried asking him the spelling after I failed at it, and he just said hear let me do it – took my cold un-working pen outta my hand, got it to work, and wrote it down for me..lol – love the auzzies man – seriously ! So Yungaburra, in the Province of Queensland, is just outside of Cairns where ive spent some time, so him and his friend KATHY(25) from somewhere in Saskatchewan had a lil chat with me. Phil tells me I disappointed him sarcastically as I had my auzzie sweater on and he expected me to be one..i apologized for not, but smoothed it over I think, as im the next best thing right!?. Phil had an interesting twist – he moved to Canada about a year ago and didn’t hear of Xavier til he got here! Which i love to hear ! I mean can you imagine ! X is pretty legendary in his homeland, id think you people that know would agree. But music is such a large thing – yet this planet is a whole bunch larger ya know what im saying. You can have stuff at your fingertips right in your own backyard, but if your not exposed to it…well than you just don’t know. Kathy heard of him threw Phil and its her first time tonight. Lovely people and thanx for the ticket my friends ! So night 2 im in for face from 2 nice face’s, and another warm feeling comes over me telling me im doing the right thing as I walk in the doors 10 feet tall.

2 nights - 2 good people with face xtra tix's, helping each other. I think im on the right path !

VENUE - Metropolis.

This Venue is pretty wicked. It was originally an in-door skating rink back in the late 1800's, so theres some serious history here. A lil sketchy part of town at the far end of one of the more well known streets in town. Usually the best places are in a sketchy part of town I find – or - the venue themselves are sketch for that matter ..thats part of Rock’n’Roll, honestly though, aint it!? Anywayz if you’ve seen a show there you know, the METROPOLIS – she’s a big one. Im guessing maybe two thousand maybe a bit more. With a big flat sunken dance floor, with a couple raised sections, like big gradual steps, as you head to the back. There’s a balcony up top that also fills up pretty fast. This place is rammed and the energy is already in the air – a half hour before the opener even comes on. This ones not only sold out, its licensed, and its in Montreal, where the drinking age is pretty much birth, so it could get pretty dirty in here potentially. I make my way relatively close up, tucked in a corner against a back wall, stage right. Nice spot for me. I take great care in the fact that its gotta suck being stuck behind me, at 6’4”, its unpleasant being behind me, so I allwayz look for some separation type of obstacle, or wall. It cant happen all the time, and I usually let the people behind me know, that I sympathize and will help in anyway I can. Take my shoes off and go barefoot in the summer is an automatic, usually offer the 1 person directly behind me to move in front of me, or keepin the knees bent,(until the dancing starts that is) but generally just swell fella kinda stuff, ya feel me ? So my spot tonight I think is pretty good. Yet it’s a corner kinda spot so it was so damn loud, and some re-verb action kinda bugged me. BOB one of the security backstage dudes fixed me up kindly with ear plugs, that never got used, but still..very gracious. Don’t ever recall anybody ever doing that in my travel’s. Good segway for big props and love to this venues people ! From the guyz at the front door, to Bob, to the front of house sound guy, who's name I didn’t write down so naturally I forgot, (see what I mean about taking notes!) and how about Jean Sebastien nicest server I think ive ever come across – and bravest, this guy was wandering the front 20 rows of madness with full on trays of beer – bravo my savior – bravo – it got real hot in there and he was welcomed by this thirsty englishman. Made the re-verb problem go away too. Ya dont find this kind of staff in Toronto venues im affraid.

So Show Time….
So im expecting to get the same setlist for most of the tour, pretty much, with the odd surprise thrown in. My show count is pretty high for this guy, so other than the difference’s in versions, im focusing on some other things a lil more this show..like the venue & crowd. X has said he really enjoy’s the Montreal crowds, and this is my first X Montreal show – so im in observer mode ! Well you can tell the energy in this room is un-deniable. I got maybe half of the opener JUSTIN NOZUKA – seems young with a rockin screemin voice. Can’t comment on him too much, i missed him last night too, so other than his voice, and a decent myspace layout,I didn’t get a good enough look/listen to review him fairly. Didn’t recognize him right away as he came right beside me during X’s show. Justin had never seen him before – and was so damn excited, I just smiled at him and shook his hand saying enjoy the show man ! This kid and his brother were alive with energy – I mean he was vibrating. Pretty sure this woulda been Justin’s biggest crowd he’s played too, and quite a different experience from his last nights show i bet. Didn’t get a chance to talk to him too much as I pointed out the door where he should go and get a lookee lookie backstage as i was standing beside it – and just like that - he was gone.

Anyway back to the crowd – Xavier tells us its his favourite place to play, which is a familiar statement, but anybody could dissect that if ya wanna be a dick about it. You could tell he was speaking from the heart. I think he always does actually. But i cant explain it - Montreal energy is just different than anywhere else in Canada. Pretty dark in there, couldn’t take very diligent notes, but that’s ok, I wont have problems remembering tonight, I hope...the beers are pretty cold though!

There’s an overpowering smell of sage in the air i notice, they are clearly burning it on stage, which I didn’t get in Ottawa. Its quite soothing I find, goes to atmosphere again which these guyz clearly care greatly about.

We got big love from the big man. He certainly loved the energy in this room. Another invite during LET ME BE was of course a hit. X came out from behind his cave & in front this time to embrace the fans/dancers - he got a big group hug – that just made everyone in the place feel like they were part of it. Again with an iron man lick - this one a lil bigger and longer – im really lovin how I think im gonna get my fill of that one probably at every show. This time with a couple beers in, the hard rock Sabbath licks from my fave lap guitar that im sure i'll comment on again, brings the goosebumps back.
Same set list so far, but no way am I gonna get Jack again, so there’s maybe something im thinking in encore, but I heard a few Jack chants, and he did say last night the banjo would come out tonight. His main man JMEZ (guitar tech & stage genius extrodinare) plays a mean banjo from time to time with X and also plays in a band called PATCHWORK FIELDS when he has spare time..hahaa which is pretty much never i think. But we got another JACK as a second song encore – I think he’s liking the “talking about freedom” part. So two nights in a row- im pretty damn happy and think im getting it a few more times this tour maybe..? Not a lot of people in this crowd know the tune either, but its a hit regradless.
So the set list ended up being a replica of last night, yet different enough to make the biggest fan proud. I cant imagine Toronto having this much energy. Im familiar with Toronto crowds, as I am with the venue & staff – and I just dont see it !

I meet MIKE(28) after the show, a dude who works for CTV in Montreal, that he sure made a point of saying how F’ing cool he is with his job. But he did have a pretty crazy story of a car crashing into his bedroom while he was asleep in his bed. Mike heard threw one of his buddies out west a couple years ago of X. He was pretty buzzed out and quite chatty, nice enough dude i suppose, but not sure he noticed my series of questions towards his character. When he told me he has downloaded everything from this guy, and that he doesn’t buy music, telling me like he’s damn proud of it. I am respectful of everybody and this guy was drunk of his ass so I let it slide – but sorry Mike you’re a tool. I don’t care how cool your bedroom crashing, party favorite story is, or how many celeb’s you’ve filmed with your job. I download music just like everybody else, but not entire library’s. And dude – even if ya do – ya sure don’t wanna go around admitting the fact and being proud of it. I wanted to punch him right in the baby maker, straight shot, but im all about non-violence these dayz . So whatever, I need people like him too make me feel better about myself.

Big merchandise night for these guyz, as the merch counter is rammed well after the show. Kids still doing shotz, drunk college boyz & cute girls running around all over the place. Ohh my, my, Montreal has no shortage of those ! haha. HANNAH if you weren’t so drunk and could actually function we just may have had a nice conversation instead of you getting dragged out the door. Lol - I love Montreal, and back in the day, im probably one of those drunken kids wanting to party til dawn, and dragging Hannah out myself, lol - but its time to move on, but ohh man do I feel the urge to party hard – this town sure does that to ya. I seem to be getting more responsible with age, as after visiting some automatic night ending poutine – ohh man the French can make the shit out of poutine ! I’ll tell you what! So I make my way to my steed and gear myself up for the long haul home. I have people here in Montreal but there the married with new children type, so as happy as they would have been to see me, im not an imposer of that degree. So its operation "darkie get me home !" I don’t expect to make it the entire way, especially after the night I just had, but were gonna give it the ol road trip kitch try.
If you’ve done that drive – you know when I say, that drive sucks some long hard hairy ass ! 2 laner, lots of trucks, no scenery, its just a dull boring drive, that’s very easy to speed on, and thusly get in trouble on. Rough spot a few hours in, just before Kingston, as a truck tire shoots across my view and just about wipes me out permanently. That shit happens all the time on this highway..Its the main truck route between the provinces. So that’s somebody telling me I should have a lil rest stop.
Couple hours later and to the creepy sound of crackling bottled water freezing, my cold ass is awake. Some doubt appears in my mind a lil bit..like what the hell are you doing kitchen ! Don’t get me started on my doubts !
Anyway – up I get & back home the rest of the way I go as the daylight slowly shows itself.

DAY 3 - Sunday, Nov. 19th, off day !

DAY 4: - Monday, Nov. 20th, - TORONTO;

So a much needed day off spent mostly sleeping off the last couple days, preparing for Toronto on Monday Night. Missing out again however, on some good Sunday night action. Due to my Nine Mile connection, I coulda had some good personal hang time that went down with the NM gang, X and a couple of the crew. But between being bagged out & the advice of my NM guyz, saying don’t sweat it Kitch - you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised in the show if i didn’t make it down Sunday night. I knew id get some qt eventually, and rest was more important right now. So Monday morn brings some good news that in-deed the show will be a lil different then what I saw the past 2 nights. Here’s where some of my past work comes to show a few rewards as I get down to the Koolhouse – AKA –kraphouse, I’ll get to that in a minute. I get down for 4ish where I meet my peeps at the venue for soundcheck. Here’s where my surprise shows itself as DAVE TOLLEY is up on stage jamming it out on a small drum kit with X. Dave is the Percussionist from Nine Mile and dear friend. They were just jamming the night before and X decided it would be cool to put Tolley up there for some songs. I assure you that wasn’t planned or practiced out well in advance, that shit went down only 12 hours earlier ! I dig that kinda shit man ! I mean there's some previous history with DT playing snare on ENERGY SONG on the record FOOD IN THE BELLY, but this was certainly unexpected. So after some quality time meeting with Goomz & some of the crew, I hit the outdoors to resume my quest for dedication of the story! Its real damn cold tonight and earlier I had met some great fans that had gotten there pretty early to be first in line. Turns out most of these kool kats are from the XR website Forum that I spend some time on when time allows. Id imagine most of the people still reading would know what the forum concept is about, but for those that are not, the quickee 411 is that its basically a place where fans new/old/far & wide can communicate with one another about a variety of subject matters, artist related and otherwise – it’s a community of fans. If you’re a music fan of any degree, you’ve probably been on one at one point or another. I am a big promoter of such forums. Belonging to I don’t know how many myself, but its basically where the heartbeat of any artist really is. I would probably say that the myspace frenzy is certainly an example of the modern day forums and is taking its place a little bit, and i certainly praise the myspace on many levels. But id argue the dedicated purists still remain in the individual artists fanclub forums. Anywayz, so I do some chatting with these guyz who are first in line - DIDGELUNG(screen name) from Brantford who drove the 45 minute drive in earlier that day, is right up there with his peeps, and has some great memories of running into the crew at a local record store appearance and actually purchased one of Goomblar’s didj’s in the process. This kid was jacked up man ! Don’t think there’s to many guyz from Brantford Ontario that not only have the chance to buy an authentically home made didj, but end up meeting and buying it from the Australian aboriginal elder himself. Who also just happens to be on tour with the guy who is bringing the instrument much popularity. Great fan moment for this guy and his people that were with him also.
So after they froze there arse’s off in line for hours, Goomz and I thought it would be nice to bring them some coffee when they got in. Naturally there right at the front of the stage. Hope that helped you guyz start warm the night up. I watched you from afar later in the night, jammed right up against the front row fence– they did X fans everywhere very proud I assure you - rockin the shit right out of that show !

VENUE; The Kraphouse;

Ok Im sorry but the koolhouse..in my opinion is probably one of the worst venue’s in the city. Its just a block of concrete floors and girders, that for some reason the sound just doesn’t work well in that room. I mean, a good sound tech can make it ok – so I know were fine – because KENNY, X’s guy, is one of the best ive ever seen/heard. And don’t get me wrong – ive seen some kick ass shows in here ! But still the room blows – hard ! It does have a nice big stage and nice access points to places backstage. So for load in/out and general band & crew purpose’s, its kinda ok. But front of house doesn’t work so great. This is a pretty big room that’s also licensed, but its not sold out and its Toronto, so im not expecting an energy show like Montréal. But with Dave Tolley pounding on some percussion – well im pretty Fuckn excited I cant lie to ya ! This is not only my back yard, ive got a man on stage too boot ! I resisted sitting in on the set list meeting cause I just like the surprise factor as opposed to cheating and knowing what im getting before the lights even go down.

So Show Time…

Goomz comes out to great applause and does his thing well. Its difficult to understand him some times in big rooms like this. His accent is pretty thick, so I think many missed much of his words of wisdom, but the humor and genuine intent was understood by most. Im hangin out back by the soundboard where I can get a grand view of the heads in front of me, so we’ll see what happens. I could be a backstage snob on this show but that aint me no thanx – the action is out front ! The waves crashing segment does sound pretty nice in the building with all the echo’s. Out he comes to pretty big applause and busts into the standard set. But I feel here I’ll share a moment of the opener of FORTUNE TELLER. His most common opener this year of GBA and last year of Conceal Me in tours past are great openers that gets you rockin right outta the gate, but with Fortune being of his latest album they have CM buried a little deeper in the meat of the set list im thinkn. So im ok with FT as the new opener. I do miss GBA though, it seems to be put away this tour.

Anywayz Im at the back pretty much tonight by choice – its easier to walk around the crowd and mingle and such at the back – but I gain a new respect for a FT opener as im viewing the crowd. It’s a good tune for him checking out the vibe of the crowd. There’s lots of opportunity for him to look up & around and see what’s what out there while he's strumming away. FOOD, MESSAGES, & the DIJ JAM are pretty standard and I notice what I expected from the crowd, the T-Dot is no Montreal, but whatever were doing ok. DIJ jam is allwayz a good one as he’s blasting on 2 of his dij’s, which im pretty sure it’s the only tune he plays 2 separate dij’s during this tune..? don’t quote me on that one..but I think im right.. So im wondering when TOLLEY is hittin the stage, and after a

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 the stage dancers showed up of course..including Goomz tonite ! Which was funny shit. First time he's come out and jumped around. The big stage and the easy access backstage vibe I was speaking of before has its advantages. Xavier spotted him as he was kinda being inconspicuous with his hoodie on, but it got a great laugh outta X. The Nine Mile duo got complete too as Dari and fellow Dreadrock Artist Melissa Larkin also got in on the dancing. I realized I coulda & shoulda also, but was too caught up in the moment at the back of the house hanging with friends that I found there. Enter DAVE/CRAIG/ANNA&SHAUN (early/mid 30’s) The fella's of this quad are big MOE fans and heard X for the first time several years ago at MOEDOWN, another festival style setting. These guyz are big music fans and goto XR shows when possible. XR is a big festival guy. I could speak in length of the Festival Circuit, as i also am a big festival guy. Its his thing and he admittedly prefers the outdoor venue style of show. But thats its own blog. So Tolley was excused to great applause and with XR’s Tour Manager, Glen had a nice little birthday celebration/embarrassment go down on stage, with a cake and Dari leading the happy b-day sing along…well it kinda just made the night a pretty special one. Weather the general public noticed it or not.
The show continued once the stage cleared and back to the set list of CHANT & TO LET closer.

So a quick break before encore brings me to another nice fan story; Enter ANGELA(35). Was someone who was quite into the show I noticed earlier. You can always tell from the expressionist dancer types. You know the kind of free spirits that don’t give a shit who’s watching them dance - there just into the show on there own planet!. We are in-deed a special group. Like this kid for example : take a minute and have a nice smile - god i love youtube ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avKT60Z_JyM

So there’s some strange ones out there no doubt, and the drug scene unfortunately gets related to this group, with many of the hippie variety that P.C. people shit talk about, but for the most part I haven’t met anyone of the type that I haven’t enjoyed talking to. Angela is no exception. This delightful gal found X at The Hillside Festival in Guelph last year where she was volunteering at. If your unfamiliar with this festival its one that should be on your radar. Its not your everyday kind of festival, and it deserves its own blog. For time being I’ll just provide the link for you to check out at the conclusion of this blog. Anyway Angela tells a nice story of how she was just working away when she heard the unique sounds coming from the main stage, way on the other side of the festival of where she was working. She followed the sounds to where she discovered the source. Needless to say she’s a believer and quite the fan. Angela has her own blogs respecting the artist, as well as some interesting stuff ya might wanna read. Her link will be available at the end of this piece also.
After the short break, the encore was pretty standard stuff. Same 3 tunes we got in Ottawa & Montreal, minus the Jack. I thought we might have got something else thrown in there, but I think between curfew & a busy press day, 3 tune encore was just fine for him. But he finished with a big ovation that’s for certain. The energy was no Montreal and this venue wasn’t for him, but all in all - a good night in the T-dot !
The staff was pretty un-friendly getting people out, or should I say pushing us out. Where it kinda just made things uncomfortable to a point that I wasn’t in the mood for much of an aftershow party. I realize staff of these places go through some shit, and I’ll probably catch some shit for saying this - but for god sakes – your in the wrong line of work if you have the tuff guy ego and are a just dick about it ! But whatever im not dwelling, but its why I don’t like most places in this city as its a city wide problem. So im out cause tomorrow night we needed to be down the road a couple hours to London, Ontario, where its bound to get a lil mor e interesting. So after some peace outs to friends, the night was done.


DAY 5: Tuesday, Nov. 21 - LONDON;

So enter some Kitch /Tour Manager, last minute planning time with plans of execution for London. Its allwayz last minute scrambles with this bizz ! As my steed and I, road-tripped with some of my peeps to the K-W - Kitchener/Waterloo. Its about 45 minutes from the venue in London and is where home base will be for the next couple of days. Thankfully and love to Dari P. from NM and his lovely Mother who calls the KW home. It is here where the plan gets formed. Turns out, there’s more than 1 carload needing to get to London. So with compadre Den-Digitty, (NM's old Tour Man) coming by bus from Toronto, and new friend and big X-fan BROOKE(25) who lives in the K-W agreed to drive Denis & I, while Dari & fellow Dreadrock artist Melissa Larkin take my car on ahead.

Brooke has a nice story. She discovered XR several years ago, seen him 5 times live, and her parents 3 times. Yup first parents ive heard about, turns out there's a nice story about her grandmother's death and X's tune Green Spandex. Brooke wrote X some time ago and had explained the story with thanx & love, Her parents played the tune at grandma's funeral, and she's never looked back since.
Brooke & Denis & I road trip in her car & arrive with enough time for a lil parking lot tailgating & to pretty much miss the opener of KO KAPCHES. Another opener missed. But I seem to be ok with it, as I have good people with me once again.

The London Venue I could see great potential. This is the only show where I did in fact cave in too TicketBastard and purchased a ticket in advance. My theory being,, first time playing in London, a big University town, one of the biggest in Ontario actually. With several colleges and the University of Western being in this city. I figured a sell out or at least a tuff ticket to get.

But after talking with some fans, combined with the time of year and school schedules, it was not a sell out. In fact just about 2/3 full it looked like, maybe 5-600. With a seated 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, and also having a free pass from the wife & kids ;) it was not to be for him & i. However were pretty sure we may have crossed paths back stage as Dave made it back there to get not just a sign autographed but pic’s & his Dij also. Ya he brought his dij to the show. Ive enclosed a couple pics outta love & repect for the guy who was probably the biggest X fan I didn’t get the pleasure of actually meeting, but who we’ll probably exchange some good tunes still threw the mail, and who we will probably eventually meet down the road somewhere.

I don’t have a step by step of this show, which im sure your glad;) other than just a few comments. The set-list was the same as previous nights. No surprise’s really. No Dave Tolley and the venue didnt allow for the sound quality to be the best. But X was himself, There was some fans in the crowd no question, and he definitely fed off there energy. A big ovation for him upon conclusion and the smiles everyone was wearing, tells me I think if he comes back to London, the house would be a full one ! That is a trend I see with this guy..It might take 2 maybe 3 visits to a city – but he’s gonna pack the house eventually ! Word of mouth definitely is this guyz best promoter. X doesn’t need a slick salesman promoter – unfortunate – because I think id be a good one. :) But take Toronto for example,, The Horeshoe in 04 was his first solo performance. Took him awhile to come to Toronto, but when he finally did – he sold out the small venue of about 400. Next time wasn’t really his own show – The Big Summer Classic tour with the likes of Franti, & Keller Williams, and a couple more, but due to a venue snafu last minute, it still did well enough to make Xaviers demand move venues to the much bigger Pheonix concert theater the next time he was to return a year later, selling it out. Basically the tracking of this guyz progression is one that screams success. But any number of us could have told you that I suppose.

Anyway after some chit chat with fans out front the venue after the show, Im continually amazed how many auzzies truly are in our country. Its no secret that there’s a bunch out west, shit they pretty much run the ski mountains out there. But there’s quite a few here in Ontario also. I met SAM(25) & his lovely girlfriend SUSAN(24). Sam was your poster boy auzzie surfer from Bondi Beach. Curly shaggy blonde, golden tanned kid who pretty much fell outta some surf magazine im sure. A cool dude that pretty much any Canadian gal would love to have on her arm, enter Susan. When my theory comes to me that no wonder our Canadian hot women are difficult to find – all the damn auzzies come over here and steal them ! Not sure were getting the best deal on the Free Trade agreement there ! Good thing you fuckin auzzie men are nice blokes or id have some deep issue’s with ya’s ! But im just kidding really as the auzzie woman are equally as beautifull and they like us Canadian men so I guess were on common ground ! So familiar story here- Sam came over to goto school and snowboard and introduce auzzie music & culture to his new Canadian friends. He musta had 6 or 7 Canadians with him this night. Nice to meet all ! your good peeps !

So the nights done with and theres some planning to work out, a sthe next day

a visit with the local Aboriginal affairs office was had to where Goomz had befriended the lovely ladies that run the office on one of his previous visits. It was quite a highlight to actually have quality time with these native people of our country, that we so easily dismiss into negative stereotype. Our native people’s story is similar to that of the Australian plight. However at this moment, in a local towns aboriginal office, we have two white Canadian men, a black man from Jamaican descendants, an Australian aboriginal elder and 2 native’s from this land..and..well - were all just sitting drinking coffee laughing, sharing, loving one another. So ok going a lil out there maybe for some of you – but I tell you – it was a special moment for me, and it brings me some clarity of what im doing on this journey. As sometimes – ok lots of times - I wonder when the hell im gonna stop being a kid and join the real world ! I think im ok at this moment right here in Guelph that’s for sure !

Later that day..its decided that X wants Dave to come west with him and play some more dates ! Xavier has been talking/planning to play with a few percussionists as the next album is on the horizon and he wants someone on it with him. After a few calls to crew & management, Dave is booked on the same flight west, just like that. It is here where again I am reminded how important good management is with indie acts. Ya gotta have a personalities that can handle not just all the details of international tours, but the last minute madness of such things. Thompson Management in Bristish Columbia has got to be one cool group of people, as this Xavier band of brothers must certainly keep them buzzing!

So thats that really. Leg 1 complete ! 4 shows & 2,000 km's later off i go the next morning to return to my paying gig/normal life(whatever that means) for one week to help subsidize my madness to come. As the boyz fly west to meet there crew... I wonder when I'll see them in 10 dayz time, what surprises lie ahead..

i have no idea - but im sure its gonna be pretty damn sweet !

see ya on leg 2 on west side !!!

have a look at some pic's and the links below and stay tuned for Leg 2.

Peace & Love

RTK

Yidaki Dave's pic's of London.

X on stage @ Narana with his bro's & son.

LINKS:

TRIPLE J XAVIER RADIO SHOW ! : http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1392978.htm

Montreal review:
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=3755

OPENERS:



LEG 1;


OTTAWA & MONTREAL: http://www.myspace.com/justinnozuka


TORONTO & LONDON :http://www.kokapches.com/


LEG 2;


SEATTLE & PORTLAND: http://www.myspace.com/brettdennen


VANCOUVER:http://www.ndidi.ca/



HILLSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL- GUELPH, ON.: http://www.hillside.on.ca/

ANGELA'S BLOG PAGES: http://sassinak.blogspot.com/2005/07/bliss.html


Be sure to check out: http://www.myspace.com/kitchee for further adventures.