Last night I spent the evening with Xavier. This has been the fourth time that I have seen him live with every time being so incredibly different. The concert was held at the Forum—a groovy little place that looks a lot like the atrium at the U of L (it even has the statues from above)! With an opening speech from a man from “Sea Shepherds”, a company dedicated to saving whales in Antarctica that are being harpooned by the Japanese, I knew that this was going to be an especially moving, and environmentally aware concert.
Although the traditional Aboriginal Chief was not there to join Xavier, he played one of the most amazing sets that I have heard to date. With openers like, The letter, Messages, Twist, and Food in the Belly the show started on a high.
Images of global warming, poverty, animal rights infractions, and spirituality lit up the background, displayed in black and white on silk fabric that was draped from the ceiling.
Perhaps one of the highlights for me was when Jeremy Fisher and friends joined Xavier and his percussionist on stage to complete the concert. The emotion and energy on the stage was so contagious that the entire venue was uncontrollable. I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as the final sounds of the dij echoed through the forum, and my body. It was UNREAL.
However, that all aside, it was the finale that got to me with Xavier coming out with his guitar alone to play a remade version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. All the lyrics had been changed to ask questions about the Australian government, the lack of respect for Aborigines, and the demise of our environment on a global level. The song was so powerful and left me covered in goose bumps. How long will it be before we can each take responsibility for our actions inflicted on our Mother Earth? Our Earth is too precious to have it being continually disposed of by man made forces.
“Won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? Cause all I ever have, Redemption Songs”—Bob Marley
Although the traditional Aboriginal Chief was not there to join Xavier, he played one of the most amazing sets that I have heard to date. With openers like, The letter, Messages, Twist, and Food in the Belly the show started on a high.
Images of global warming, poverty, animal rights infractions, and spirituality lit up the background, displayed in black and white on silk fabric that was draped from the ceiling.
Perhaps one of the highlights for me was when Jeremy Fisher and friends joined Xavier and his percussionist on stage to complete the concert. The emotion and energy on the stage was so contagious that the entire venue was uncontrollable. I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as the final sounds of the dij echoed through the forum, and my body. It was UNREAL.
However, that all aside, it was the finale that got to me with Xavier coming out with his guitar alone to play a remade version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. All the lyrics had been changed to ask questions about the Australian government, the lack of respect for Aborigines, and the demise of our environment on a global level. The song was so powerful and left me covered in goose bumps. How long will it be before we can each take responsibility for our actions inflicted on our Mother Earth? Our Earth is too precious to have it being continually disposed of by man made forces.
“Won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? Cause all I ever have, Redemption Songs”—Bob Marley
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