by Dan Harpaz

While the wordplay was an absolute necessity, I don’t think you’ll need much more convincing that didgeridoos, slide guitars, and psychedelics are just what the doctor prescribed for Tuesday night (8/11).  In the wake of Lollapalooza comes Xavier Rudd– Australia’s best selling, but more importantly, the most awesomest artist and multi-instrumentalist…ever.  Granted, I may very well just be as overly excited as you are (or should be) about Xavier’s arrival to Chicago.  We mustn’t get too feisty now.  But as cityfolk, how often do we actually get the opportunity to fulfill our annual quotas for Aboriginal-inspired folk-didge-blues-rock?

The man sings, plays the didgeridoo, slide guitar, and a slew of other percussion and stringed instruments.  Correction… he plays not one, but three didges live, as seen in the YouTube videos below.  While he lists old school folk artists Leo Kottke and David Lindley as some of his biggest guitar heroes, Xavier Rudd is far from old school.  Having toured with Dave Matthews Band and Ben Harper, he’s proven himself both a talented and relevant entertainer, drawing from folk, Aboriginal, African, and pop rock music.  Now, as the headliner of his own tour, fans can expect to hear songs not only from his latest album Dark Shades of Blue (2008), but rather from his entire catalogue.  In our interview, Xavier also made it a point to mention that his band’s international lineup, which now includes African musicians, is worth checking out in its own rite.

Although an Australian playing the didge, or yirdaki as it is referred to regionally, might seem like a blatant musical stereotype, Xavier explains, “The way I use the yirdaki is pretty unique even in Australia…yeah you hear the instrument more, but I think what I do is still pretty unique there.” But what do we know?  Why not judge for yourself…