Toronto Unplugged

Live Review: Xavier Rudd | Mishka - Danforth Music Hall

by Mike on February 12th, 2008

Trying to explain Australian Xavier Rudd to people can be a tough task. He plays a bunch of instruments (including a selections of didgeridoos), he has a soft acoustic vibe, his shows offer incredible and unique lengthy jams and he never wears shoes - a full-time barefooter, claiming not to own or wear footwear.

Xavier Rudd was rounding out his last of three shows at the Danforth Music Hall - a great venue for a gig of this nature. The old theatre has padded seats, good acoustics and lends itself well to sing-a-longs.

Rudd flowed through his set which included camp fire type acoustic jams like Better People, hypnotizing drum/bongo/didgeridoo jams, and a personal favorite, the folksy Paul Simon Graceland inspired Messages.

I was particularly excited for the show because of the group I was with. There were four of us in total - two Rudd fans and two had never heard of him. Seeing Xavier Rudd in concert is a very unique experience because his performances are unique to any other show you will see. Rudd’s influences are mainly Australian Aboriginal tradition, a healthy dose of folk and his overwhelming whirlwind of talent. The two friends I was with who had not heard Rudd before were floored by how unique and hypnotizing the set was. I have listened to Rudd for years, but watching the multi-instrumentalist entertain the sold-out Music Hall allowed me to re-discover Rudd all over again.

The opening act was B.C./Bermuda native Mishka. The acoustic/reggae/soul singer songwriter who has just signed to Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ label soothed the crowd as they wandered into the Hall to find available seats. He was greeted with a very warm reception and exited with an even warmer one.

The Danforth Music Hall has undergone major renovations since opening its doors in 1919 as Allen’s Danforth Theatre. The venue has hosted a plethora of events from the world-famous band Oasis to its first major production Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance. This unique venue on Toronto’s popular Danforth strip has seating for approximately 1, 150. The Music Hall is a great venue for intimate gigs. Be sure to show up early as most shows are G.A. Arrive, find a few seats and head back into the lobby to enjoy a few locally brewed beers before the show.

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