Let me feel my feet, let me be free...

My heart is completely overflowing with an incredible level of respect for Xavier Rudd, in so many ways.  He is an extremely capable and creative musician, a kind and caring soul, a fantastic entertainer, and an inspirational activist for the environment and for the rights of aboriginal people everywhere.  His concert was so amazing, on so many levels.  I hardly even know where to begin.

I was super excited on my way to the concert - I'm actually going to see him live!

When I got there I was pretty excited to have snagged myself a seat in the 2nd row.

The opening act was a Rastafarian guitarist/vocalist from Bermuda named Mishka.  I was thoroughly impressed with his lyrics and his catchy melodies.  I had never heard of him before last night, but you can bet I will be keeping my eye out for him from now on!

Before Xavier took the stage, an aboriginal Aussie didgeridoo player came out to demonstrate circular breathing and techniques for playing the native Australian instrument.  He was super funny in the way he dealt with his green shorts (loin cloth?) almost coming undone... "We don't want that... there are children in the audience... and trust me, they'd be scared."  This guy was also incredibly talented - he demonstrated how to imitate the sounds of the native Australian animals (the kookaburra, dingo, and emu) through a manipulation of the lips, tongue, and breath support through the didgeridoo.

The first number in the show was an instrumental - just the drummer (who is not appearing in these pictures, but was situated to Xavier Rudd's left on the other side of the stage).  This song (and many others that followed) were accompanied with powerful slideshow images of aboriginal people, the earth, and other interesting graphics.  Half way through the first piece, Xavier Rudd walked out in the darkness, with only about half of the crowd noticing him.  I was certainly one of them, as I had abandoned my 2nd row seat to make my way to the front of the stage, where I joined the growing crowd for some dancing and up-close Xavier action.  Most people in the audience were very understanding, and let me go in front of them because I was so short.  Hooray!  So for the next 2 hours (maybe?  I lost track of time), this multi-talented, completely lovable Aussie entertained the crowd - he even changed some of his lyrics to include "Saskatoon," which caused the entire auditorium to erupt into cheers every time - while also conveying some very important messages regarding the environment and respect for Mother Nature, and also the treatment of aboriginal people.

So speak out loud

Of the things you are proud

And if you love this coast

Then keep it clean as it hopes

'Cause the way that it shines

May just dwindle with time

With the changes it will confront

("Messages")

You people saving whales,

Giving your thanks to our seas

My respect to the ones in the forest,

Standing up for our old trees.

Them giving food to the hungry

Giving hope to the needy

Giving life to a baby

Giving care for free

There is freedom around us

We have everything we need

I will care for you

Because you care for me

We all have opinions

Some of them get through

But there's better people

With more good to do.

("Better People")

Come my brother, come slowly, come easy

My friend, come my friend

Come my sister, come easy, come breezy

On me you can depend.

Come my brother, put your hands up,

Take your heart out

Let go, come let go.

Come my sister can I hold ya,

Can I squeeze ya,

Let go, come let go.

("Come Let Go")

Everybody going to paddle out together

Any kind of weather

Because everybody's ok.

Everybody going to kick back together

Speak about each other

Because everybody's ok.

Some people going to twist up together

Help to feel better

Because everybody's ok.

Everybody can you sway to the music,

Let the spirit choose you

Because everybody's feeling ok.

("Twist")

I seriously don't know if I can ever have the words that will express what an incredible musical exchange I witnessed last night.  I went to the concert by myself, so as far as I'm concerned it was just Xavier and me sharing his music (despite the fact that the auditorium was full and there was a throng of people dancing and cheering at the front of the stage).  When the audience hollered and chanted for him to come back on stage after his last number, after what seemed like a full 2-3 minutes of incessant cheering he took the stage again, in his usual bare-(tattooed)-footed, earthy look, guitar in hand.  He invited a friend out with him to play the banjo, and together they played "Energy Song."  Incredible.  One of the most touching moments of the whole show, in my opinion, came near the end when he paid his respects to the Cree people by inviting an older Native drummer and a young Native man out on stage with him, and along with his aboriginal didgeridoo player, the 4 of them played and sang together.  It was a beautiful demonstration of the unification of cultures and music, and the humanity of the situation was overwhelming.

I LOVE THIS MAN.

I could go on and on about what an inspiration he is to me, but I hope you get the picture.

Oh, and did I mention that he grabbed my hand and looked me in the eye after the show, as he was just leaving the stage?  He really wasn't exaggerating when he said that "tonight we have made connections that you will take to your grave."

Thank you, Xavier.

(And in true R fashion, I shall be the judge.  I give this concert 80 million didgeridoos out of 5.  A true hit!)