This Week in Print: Xavier Rudd Is a Surprisingly Polarizing Figure

Photo by Kane Hibberd

​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. I 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."

Here's hoping for a slightly better shake on Saturday.

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