Down with performers from down under? Experience singer/songwriter Xavier Rudd, who is the subject of this week's lead feature and will perform at Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. Writer Lee Zimmerman describes Rudd's laid-back approach to playing a shitload of instruments: "Surrounded onstage with a collection of guitars, banjos, bass guitar,
bells, percussion, and a didgeridoo (an instrument unique to the
Australian bush country), he captivates his audiences by deftly
switching from one instrument to another seamlessly." And yet, the guy is getting a lot of hate mail.
"People don't like me," he contends. "The industry doesn't like me. IHere's hoping for a slightly better shake on Saturday.have that sort of shit that follows me around. While some people
definitely respect me in the home country, I'm treated with caution in
the music industry. Australia's a funny country. There's a lot of shame.
The things I talk about have never been talked about. They've been
swept under the carpet. I stand up for some sticky issues because that's
what I do; it's part of my thing. And that threatens people."
For a rundown of some other concerts this weekend and beyond, here are the rest of the week's print music stories:
Toby Keith's "American Ride Tour" Should Fire Up Cruzan Amphitheatre Saturday, September 4
JabrJaw & DJ Dee Dubbs Celebrate Record Release at Propaganda Saturday, September 4
Exodus Brings Metal Mayhem to Culture Room Sunday, September 5
Snoop Dogg Leads Labor Day Festivities at Roxy's Sunday, September 5
Bane Tops Hardcore Bill at Talent Farm Monday, September 6
Apoptygma Berzerk Brings Norwegian EBM to Respectable Street Tuesday, September 7