Xavier Rudd: 1-Man Aussie Band

(Published by Planet JH Weekly)Besides being nominated for “World’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity” award in 2007 (you can’t make this stuff up), Australian native Xavier Rudd brings so much to the table when compared to the typical performing singer-songwriter. In a live setting, he takes a seat behind an assortment of didgeridoos, an Aboriginal stompbox, drums, banjos, harmonicas, bells, bass guitar, laptop slide guitar; the list goes on. Through his lyrics, Rudd shares ideas and philosophies on the environment, spirituality and humanity, and his world music is a melting pot of folk, reggae, funk and blues. On his 2012 album Spirit Bird, Rudd splices indigenous, pulsing sounds within sprawling song lengths, with occasional musings that are simplified to acoustic guitar and harmonica. If you haven’t been camping yet this summer, this is your escape to the woods. Portland-based trio Nahko and Medicine for the People open the show with acoustic thump-hop, driven by acoustic guitar and hand drumming. Xavier Rudd with Nahko and Medicine for the People, 10 p.m. Friday at Pink Garter Theatre. $27/advance, $30/day-of-show available at Pinky G’s, The Rose and PinkGarterTheatre.com.