Xavier Rudd

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Xavier Rudd


Img_capt = Xavier Rudd (March 3, 2005) live at the Tower Theater, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = solo_singer
Born = 1978
Died =
Origin = Flagicon|Australia Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar
Harmonica
Didgeridoo
Banjo
Lapsteel
Genre = Blues'n Roots
Alternative| Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 2000 - present
Label = Universal Music Australia
SaltX Records
ANTI- Records (US)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.xavierrudd.com/ Official website]
Notable_instruments = Weissenborn slide guitars
Didgeridoo

Xavier Rudd is an Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was born in 1978 and grew up in Torquay, Victoria. He has developed a strong reputation for playing live performances at musical festivals and concerts in Australia and in North America. His following is particularly strong in Australia and in Canada, where he has recorded several albums.

Many of Rudd's songs incorporate socially conscious themes, such as environmentalism and the rights of Aborigines. In addition to playing the didgeridoo in many of his songs, he has also included both Australian and Canadian Aboriginal vocals in some of his songs.

History

Xavier Rudd showed a keen interest in music growing up and learned to play the didgeridoo by practicing on a vacuum cleaner hose. Before his solo career he began playing music as part of the band 'Xavier and the Hum'.

"To Let": 2002-2003

Rudd's first studio album, "To Let" was released in 2002. It was self produced along with Chris Thompson, who also recorded and mixed it.

"Solace": 2004

"Solace" was released on March 28, 2004 and debuted in the top twenty in the Australian album charts. With time, the album was certified platinum by ARIA. [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=9795 "Xavier Rudd: Them Belly Full"] . "JamBase". February 21, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.] [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/album/s1497572.htm "Xavier Rudd "Food in the Belly" Review"] . Triple j. Retrieved January 7, 2008.]

The album was released on June 7, 2005 in the United States on the Universal Records label. To support the album in the U.S., Rudd embarked on a 25-date tour of the country throughout the summer of 2005, starting on June 3 in Boston and ending in Chicago on July 31. [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=6688 "Australia's Xavier Rudd to Release "Solace"] . "JamBase". May 20, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2008.]

"Food in the Belly": 2005-2006

After Rudd released the live album "Good Spirit" in early 2005, Rudd's third studio album, "Food in the Belly", was released on October 27, 2005 in Australia. When describing the album, Rudd said:

"Food in the Belly" earned Rudd an ARIA Music Awards nomination for Best Blues and Roots Album at the 2006 ceremony. This was Rudd's second nomination in this category, the first for "Solace". In addition, the album was soon certified gold by the ARIA. [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=10043 "Xavier Rudd: White Moth"] . "JamBase". March 1, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.] "Food in the Belly" was the first album by Rudd released in the United States by Epitaph's ANTI- record label. Rudd chose to release the album through an independent label in the States, instead of through his Australian label, Universal. [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=9795 "Xavier Rudd: Them Belly Full"] . "JamBase". February 21, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.] The album was released on January 31, 2007.

Touring followed the release of the album, including a string of European dates with supporting act Keller Williams. [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=9163 "Keller World Wide"] . "JamBase". September 18, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2008.]

"White Moth": 2007

In February 2007, Rudd stated that he was "in the studio right now recording the next album, which should come out sometime in the next year". [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=9795 "Xavier Rudd: Them Belly Full"] . "JamBase". February 21, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.] Four months later in June of 2007, Rudd's fourth studio album, "White Moth" was released. It was Rudd's first album with the ANTI- record company. The album peaked at #30 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in June. [http://www.soundchronicle.com/concert-news/xavier-rudd-is-going-to-us-and-canada-with-tour-in-2008 "Xavier Rudd is Going to US and Canada with Tour in 2008"] . "Sound Chronicle". November 17, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.] The first single from "White Moth" was the first track off the album, "Better People".Heisler, Brian. [http://twangville.com/658/xavier-ruddwhite-moth/ "Xavier Rudd :: White Moth"] . "Twangville". September 21, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.]

"White Moth"'s success earned an ARIA Music Awards nomination for Best Blues and Roots Album at the 2007 ceremony, but lost to John Butler Trio's multi-platinum "Grand National".

To promote album, Rudd performed as both a headlining act and as an opening act for the Dave Matthews Band in a portion of their summer North American tour. In addition to the Dave Matthews Band, Rudd toured with Canadian singer-songwriter Jeremy Fisher for much of 2007, stopping in North America during the summer and Australia later in the year. As a headlining act, Rudd performed at many music festivals in both the United States and Australia such as the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Bonnaroo, and High Sierra. In November, he was featured in the MySpace "Rock for Darfur" event in Sydney. In the same month, a North American tour starting in 2008 was announced. It started in January in Santa Clause, and the last date was in the end of February in Vancouver. [http://www.soundchronicle.com/concert-news/xavier-rudd-is-going-to-us-and-canada-with-tour-in-2008 "Xavier Rudd U.S. Tour"] . "JamBase". November 16, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.] [http://www.soundchronicle.com/concert-news/xavier-rudd-is-going-to-us-and-canada-with-tour-in-2008 "Xavier Rudd is Going to US and Canada with Tour in 2008"] . "Sound Chronicle". November 17, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.] Rudd also performed at various Australian festivals such as the West Coast Blues & Roots and East Coast Blues & Roots festivals in March, before a brief European tour spanning from August to September.

"Dark Shades of Blue": 2008

On June 18, 2008, Rudd announced via his official website and MySpace that he was preparing to release his fifth studio album, "Dark Shades of Blue", two months later on August 19, 2008. [http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/53483/xavier-rudd-releasing-dark-shades-of-blue-august-19th.html "Xavier Rudd Releasing Dark Shades of Blue August 19th"] . "Glide Magazine". June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.] [http://www.xavierrudd.com/bio/index.php "Bio"] . xavierrudd.com. June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.] According to Rudd, the bulk of the album is "darker", but on the contrary, that "there is a lot of sunshine in the record." He also said that he thought "we captured what we do live, the thickness of it, the tone. I think we finally achieved what I’ve always wanted to hear on my recordings." In addition to the album, an upcoming tour announcement was unveiled, with stops in Europe and Japan over the summer, the United States in September (including the Austin City Limits Music Festival), and an Australian tour in the fall. In between touring, Rudd has been busy writing the score for the upcoming Tarun Tikoo surf film "Surfer Dude". McConaughey, a Rudd-fan, said that "the score he lays down, like our film, will be anything but typical". [http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=12074 "Xavier Rudd U.S. Tour"] . "JamBase". November 16, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2008.]

Live performances

Rudd has become a fixture at music festivals worldwide including the A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise (2006), Falls Festival (2002, 2003 & 2004), the Meredith Music Festival (2003 & 2004), the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, & 2008), the Woodford Folk Festival (2003 & 2006), the Melbourne International Music Festival (2004), Womadelaide (2004), the Winnipeg Folk Festival (2004 & 2005), the Bonnaroo Music Festival (2004, 2005, & 2007), the Ottawa Bluesfest (2004, 2005 & 2007), the High Sierra (2004 & 2007), the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival (2004, 2005, 2007, & 2008), the Wakarusa (2005), FloydFest World Music Festival (2005), the Pyramid Rock Festival (2006), The Great Escape (festival) (2006), V2006 (2006), Rock Werchter (2006), T in the Park (2006), Oxegen (2006), Optimus Alive (2008), Bumbershoot (2008) and the Austin City Limits FevitalsBeautiful Days (festival) (2008).

He has also worked extensively in North America including a support slot for Ani DiFranco, a support slot at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and a Moonshine benefit at Laguna Beach, California with Jack Johnson and G. Love & Special Sauce.

Personal life

Xavier is married to a Canadian, Marci, whom he met while she was backpacking in Australia. He has two sons, Joaquin and Finojet. He carries his son's sock (Joaquin) with him on tour.cite web|url=http://www.incendiarymag.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=907|title=Xavier Rudd interview|publisher=Incendiary Magazine|date=March 28, 2006] Rudd has a management company named Thompson Management based in Vancouver. [cite news|title=Rudd found doing what he loves|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=3f47ba78-ab4c-4ddd-a007-5215252a0dca|first=Tom|last=Harrison|work=The Province|date=June 1, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-03]

Rudd describes himself as a full-time barefooter, claiming not to own or wear footwear. [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/22/1082530289806.html?from=storyrhs|title="Ridgy didge"|first=Katrina|last=Lobley|date=April 23, 2004] Rudd is also a vegetarian, and was awarded PETA's annual "World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity" award for 2007. [ [http://www.goveg.com/feat/sexiestveg2007/ "World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities"] . "PETA". Retrieved February 18, 2008.]

Instrumentation

* Vocals
* Weissenborn slide guitars
* 6 and 12 string Acoustic/ Electric Guitars
* Yidakis (Didgeridoos) [Rudd notices that he plays a yidaki, and does not refer to it as a didgeridoo: http://www.incendiarymag.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=907]
* Stomp Box
* Harmonicas
* Aztec Drum
* Slit Drum
* Dobro
* Bass Dobro
* Strumpet
* Aztec Organette
* Djembe
* Shakers
* Slide Banjo
* Ankle Bells
* Bass Guitar

Discography

tudio albums

*2002: "To Let"
*2004: "Solace"
*2005: "Food in the Belly"
*2007: "White Moth"
*2008: "Dark Shades of Blue"

Live albums

* "Live in Canada" - Independent (2001)
* "Live At The Grid" - Independent (2003)
* "Good Spirit" - Independent (April 11, 2005)
* "Live Bonnaroo 2005"
* "Live Bonnaroo 2007"

References

External links

* [http://www.xavierrudd.com/ Xavier Rudd web site]
* [http://www.yourgigs.com.au/artist/?2206 Xavier Rudd Tour Dates and Gossip]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/XavierRudd Live Recordings on archive.org]
* [http://www.fabchannel.com/xavier_rudd_2007_concert Live concert from Amsterdam on Fabchannel]
* [http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2003/20031218_xavierrudd.html Undercover news story]
* http://www.livejournal.com/community/xavier_rudd/
* [http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=8147 Xavier Rudd Article]
* [http://www.weeklydavespeak.com/wds_stuff/interviews/an_interview_with_xavier_rudd_at_bonnaroo_2007 Xavier Rudd interview at bonnaroo 2007]
*
* [http://www.jesuswillsaverockstarstoo.com/ High quality pictures of Xavier by Thierry Bucco]
* [http://www.clifgreennotes.com/band.php?id=21 CLIF GreenNotes]