XAVIER RUDD plays El Rey Theatre May 30 and The Coach House May 31
Xavier Rudd brings his newly assembled full band, The United Nations on tour for the first time in 2015. They will play the El Rey Theatre on May 30 and The Coach House on May 31 in support of his latest album, Nanna.
Rudd is a self-taught musician who seemed to always know deep down that making music was something he wanted to do. “I had a connection to the yidaki (didgeridoo) since I was little. I used to play it on the vacuum. It’s just in my blood I think,” Rudd said. “I always wrote songs since I was a little fella, even before I knew what I was doing and taught myself to play different instruments all my life.”
Often performing as a one-man band typically surrounded by three didgeridoos a guitar, a stomp box and an assortment of drums, banjos, harmonicas, bells, and even a bass guitar. This time the iconic Australian solo artist has a lineup of musicians that come from around the world forming a one-people musical force.
Rudd doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite instrument but he likes playing them all. Each instrument is hand made and has a story, making each one special in its own way.
Many of Rudd’s songs have themes such as spirituality, humanity, environmentalism and the rights of the Aboriginal peoples. According to his website, the 2012 album, “Spirit Bird” contains hypnotic ceremonial rhythms that ease effortlessly into tender folk songs. Gritty guitar blues sit perfectly alongside entrancing yidaki passages.
Nanna, mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, is Rudd’s ninth studio album, but his first with The United Nations. Once again he dives into new musical waters, while still holding true to the music in his heart, solidifying his place as one of Australia’s greatest artists, activists and spirits.
Although Rudd has been coming to the states for over 10 years, he says he’s “just lookin’ forward to groovin’ wit da good folks of the west coast!”