Xavier Rudd, Nahko Bear & Medicine For The People, Donavon Frankenreiter @ The Forum, Melbourne (02/10/2013)
If Australia could have a musical representative to our cultural identity, it would be Xavier Rudd.
Wednesday saw the first of two sell-out shows back in the homeland after touring the United States.
Xavier, accompanied by Donavon Frankenreiter and Nahko Bear & Medicine For The People wow'd the blended audience of hippies, bogans, and MILF's swimming in a marijuana infested Forum Theatre, Melbourne.
No Dice summed it up perfectly: 'Three voices. Three cultures. One love of music and the ocean'.
Nahko Bear and his band Medicine For The People opened what was going to be a night celebrating freedom, wholeness, and everything else spiritual you can think of. Similar to Xavier in lyrical content; singing about our global issues, mother Earth and finding your inner self.
Straight out of the surf was Cali-born, Hawaii-raised folk singer Donavon Frankenreiter to set the the mood to all the way down to chill. An entirely seated set did not stop the audience being in awe of the admirable instrumentation between him his and accompanying guitarist.
One lucky lady was pulled on stage during the closing track It Don't Matter, which, planned or not, shocked the entire theatre when she provided unexpected powerhouse, soulful vocals from someone who seemed to be shaking with nerves.
Following was the man everyone had paid to see. A projection screen displaying images of animals, wilderness and politics while he opened on didgeridoo. The multi-instrumentalist, accompanied by one of the best percussionist I've ever seen live, completely captivated the crowd. Not a single word was hissed during his set, unless you of course you were singing along with him.
Between his harmonica, guitar, didgeridoo and assorted percussion, this humble, gentle man made the hairs on the back of our necks stand up for the entire set, and he loved every minute of it.
Closing the set with the addition of Nahko Bear and friends, they danced around wildly as if they were chanting around a Navajo tribal fire on a high energy blast. The vibe he creates is undeniable and you have to witness it for yourself to understand. My standing ovation to Xavier.
Maddie Stephenson
Wednesday saw the first of two sell-out shows back in the homeland after touring the United States.
Xavier, accompanied by Donavon Frankenreiter and Nahko Bear & Medicine For The People wow'd the blended audience of hippies, bogans, and MILF's swimming in a marijuana infested Forum Theatre, Melbourne.
No Dice summed it up perfectly: 'Three voices. Three cultures. One love of music and the ocean'.
Nahko Bear and his band Medicine For The People opened what was going to be a night celebrating freedom, wholeness, and everything else spiritual you can think of. Similar to Xavier in lyrical content; singing about our global issues, mother Earth and finding your inner self.
Straight out of the surf was Cali-born, Hawaii-raised folk singer Donavon Frankenreiter to set the the mood to all the way down to chill. An entirely seated set did not stop the audience being in awe of the admirable instrumentation between him his and accompanying guitarist.
One lucky lady was pulled on stage during the closing track It Don't Matter, which, planned or not, shocked the entire theatre when she provided unexpected powerhouse, soulful vocals from someone who seemed to be shaking with nerves.
Following was the man everyone had paid to see. A projection screen displaying images of animals, wilderness and politics while he opened on didgeridoo. The multi-instrumentalist, accompanied by one of the best percussionist I've ever seen live, completely captivated the crowd. Not a single word was hissed during his set, unless you of course you were singing along with him.
Between his harmonica, guitar, didgeridoo and assorted percussion, this humble, gentle man made the hairs on the back of our necks stand up for the entire set, and he loved every minute of it.
Closing the set with the addition of Nahko Bear and friends, they danced around wildly as if they were chanting around a Navajo tribal fire on a high energy blast. The vibe he creates is undeniable and you have to witness it for yourself to understand. My standing ovation to Xavier.
Maddie Stephenson