Xavier Rudd - White Moth Tour (Perth, 28 Nov 2007)

On a warm Wednesday afternoon, the picturesque grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre play host to Xavier Rudd, travelling the country on the White Moth tour.

Special guest Jeremy Fisher opened the evening, his melodic tones and sweet lyrics washing over the crowd in the late afternoon sun. A nice glass of red and an antipasto plate wouldn’t have been out of place, but this reviewer had to be content with his Red Bull and sun-dried tomato chipolata roll at this all ages gig. Fisher was a great opener for this event, drawing the crowd in with his mellifluous tones and catchy lyrics about love, life, and running guns, primarily from his latest offering, Goodbye Blue Monday. Fisher joked and chatted intimately with the crowd between songs, offering his tips for those considering a cross-country bike trip, something that he did himself to promote his first album, Back Porch Spirituals, in 2002.

Xavier Rudd took to the stage next as the lazy sun slowly sunk to the horizon. Seated behind his ever-expanding setup, Rudd was just visible to the punters, partially obscured by his three didgeridoos and vast array of instruments. He was joined onstage by drummer Dave Tolley, who contributed percussion to Rudd’s last two LPs. The extra rhythms added to the already expansive sound and provided some refreshing variation on songs from Rudd’s earlier catalogue. As the night progressed, the audience was treated to a nice mix of Rudd’s distinctive and thoughtful tunes, many tinged with his deep love for the Australian landscape and its indigenous people. The tribal rhythms on an instrumental breakout briefly inspired an abundance of enthusiastic dancing; parents and kids alike thoroughly enjoying the entertainment. In a more intimate moment, Rudd spoke about his grandfather who had made him the distinctive wooden tone drum that he plays on Light the Shade. The early finish allowed for a brief encore, Rudd delivering a cover of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song with the lyrics modified to speak about the predicament of the aboriginals from central Australia.

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