speed of dark

Xavier Rudd

Australian one-man band Xavier Rudd has been taking up a lot of my listening time lately. I heard a couple of tunes, and when I went to eMusic to see if anything else from his newly released second album White Moth was interesting, I quickly wound up with the whole thing. It is a smorgasbord of folk, reggae, Aboriginal elements, and rock that showcases Rudd's skills with a multitude of instruments: guitars, slide, didgeridoos, harmonica and other percussion instruments. "Footprint" provides some really good examples of the Australian sound and instruments.

Each song is skillfully woven into different patterns of a fabric that always returns to the celebration of the beauty of the world and being alive. Rudd's themes are concern for the Aboriginal people of his home land ("Anni Kookoo," "Land Rights"), the joy of family ("White Moth" and friends ("Twist"), and support of environmental activism ("Better People" and "Footprint"), which endears him even more to me.

Listen to the sound of the wind and surf at the beginning of the reggae-flavored "Come Let Go," which I listen to a lot even though I am not a big fan of reggae. It's the gentle instrumental tracks like "Anni Kookoo", "Whispers," "Whirlpool," and "White Moth" that attract me the most on this truly beautiful and inspiring album. Rudd has also been wowing live audiences, for example at Bonnaroo this year.

I will no doubt be checking out his earlier albums To Let (2002), Solace (2005), and Food In the Belly (2005).

From White Moth:
Xavier Rudd: Come Let Go
Xavier Rudd: Anni Kookoo

MySpace | Website | Label: SaltX/Universal Music
Buy at Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic
On tour in North American through mid-August and afterward in Europe
Jul 19 2007 - The Eagles Club, Milwukee, WI
Jul 20 2007 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
Jul 21 2007 - Lifestyle Communities Pavillion, Columbus, OH
Jul 23 2007 - Vogue Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
Jul 24 2007 - House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
Jul 26 2007 - Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
Jul 27 2007 - Highline Balroom New York, NY
Jul 28 2007 - Nightclub 9:30, Washington DC
Jul 29 2007 - 8 x 10, Baltimore, MD
Jul 31 2007 - Pearl Street Ballroom, North Hampton, MA
Aug 1 2007 - Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
Aug 2 2007 - Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
Aug 4 2007 - New England Dodge Center, Hartford, CT
Aug 5 2007 - New England Dodge Center, Hartford, CT
Aug 18 2007 - Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, Salmon Arm, BC
Aug 19 2007 - The Big Time Out Festival, Cumberland, BC

Tacks, the Boy Disaster

I have also been enjoying Texas band Tacks, the Boy Disaster. This is another example where hearing the first song led me to collect everything on their 2006 EP Oh, Beatrice because I liked it all so much. I find reminders of one of my big favorites, Nada Surf, in the vocals and some of the dreamy piano and guitar-infused song styles.

The sunshine-bright "Forget-Me-Not" has some dandy Ben Folds-like piano and harmonies. "Man With a Plan" could be a cousin to some of fellow Texans Midlake's work.

This is a group to get familiar with and see what goodness they will come up with next.

Tacks, the Boy Disaster: Frozen Feet from Oh, Beatrice (2006)
Also highly recommended: "Paris," and "Matilda"

MySpace | Website | Label: Ark Recordings
Buy at Howard Records, Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic

Shows:
Jul 29 2007 - Local Live at KVRX, Austin, TX