ThE MEATh EvEnT GuIdE
Films, Music, Events,
Gigs, Features, Interviews,
Exhibitions, Comedy, Theatre.
Xavier Rudd
Australian songwriter Xavier Rudd
performing in Time, Naas on Friday 05
December. Picture by Trish Keenan.
album reviews Trish Keenan reviews the latest album releases game review
Elbow Messiah J and The Expert Fallout 3
Seldom Seen Kid From The Word Go Xbox 360, PS3, PC
This is the fourth studio undertones, The Loneliness Like a combination of I recognise that song - and The year is 2270, 200 years wasteland, Fallout 3 very much
album in fifteen years by of a Tower Crane Driver The Beastie Boys and The you do because it probably after the nuclear fallout that retains the feel of Bethesda’s
English band Elbow. You may coming to mind here, it’s Streets with a pinch of an sounds like one of the afore turned the Earth as we know previous RPG Oblivion.
recognise their song Grounds got the sound of experience attempted Dan le Sac Vs mentioned 3 bands. Despite it into a radioactive wasteland. However it soon becomes
for Divorce from the trailer and there are definitely some Scrubious Pip with an Irish all this, there are definitely You emerge from Vault 101 obvious that this latest venture
for The Coen Brothers latest brilliant singles too. accent. This isn’t a bad some catchy tunes and it is (a huge underground bunker is a superior game in nearly
film Burn After Reading. album, although it feels a worthy of a listen, even if where the survivors of the every way. It features a more
Lines like “I’ve been working Trivia: The Seldom Seen Kid bit like they have lost their it’s just to learn some of the holocaust have been holding engaging story line, impeccable
on a cocktail called Grounds is a nickname of a friend of way a bit half way through lessons they sing about. TK up) on a mission to locate your presentation and hundreds of
for Divorce”, certainly give off theirs, and fellow musician, and they could probably do father. What follows is a hugely hours of addictive gameplay.
a different vibe to any other Bryan Glancy who died with dropping the TLC style ambitious game that gives Fallout 3 is a must have title
rock songs around at the suddenly a couple of years female voice on Amnesia. the player an unprecedented for all RPG fans, as well as
moment. Although it’s quite ago. The track Friend of Ours Many songs on this album amount of freedom. Despite one of the finest games of this
a solomn album with eulagic is a dedication to his memory. give you the feeling of - oh being set in a retro-futuristic generation. CC
MEATh EvEnT GuIDE
The MeATh echo. PAge 14
05 - 18 JAnuARy 2009
Trish Keenan talks with
Australian musician Xavier Rudd.
Illustration by Eric Greene.
I met with Xavier Rudd recently
to discuss his latest album
literally surrounds himself
with music from various types
“I try just to feel eye contact for the entire
answer. “We live in a time of
time. The next generation will
be too late and basically it’s a
I told him to try Achill Island,
for me Achill is like the edge
‘Dark Shades of Blue’ and the
end of what’s been a long time
of guitars (most famously the
slide guitar), harmonica, stomp
my music and realisation, I think, a time of
unbelievable responsibility
time of preservation. We can
preserve this earth for more
of the world. He smiled when I
said that “I feel a strong energy
touring away from home and box and various other drum let it come out. really. Without sounding too generations, if we choose to, here, it’s an old country, old,
his family. First I asked him beats, yidakis (digeridoo), morbid, I understand that our and time will tell whether we old, old spirits here, that’s
about the relationship of the shakers, chimes, the list goes It just comes earth will regenerate itself. Our do really. But simply living now without a doubt. And any place
first two songs, ‘Black Water’ on. great mother will take care of and being able to stop and pay in the world that has spirits
and ‘Dark Shades’ of Blue. He grew up in Bells Beach out and it’s herself, whether we’re here or respect to what we have and that old, there is a humbleness
The artwork on the front of in Victoria, Australia, a world- not. And I understand that that all the beautiful natural energy and Ireland definitely has that.
his album (a painting by his renowned surfer’s haven and
funny because process will come where she sources that we can draw off Same way as Australia and the
wife Marci Lutken-Rudd) is
called ‘Blackwater’ and Rudd
home to some of the most
beautiful Australian outback,
the new music will have to cough us away in
order to regenerate her system.
on this time, on this earth is
unbelievable and I’m in awe
Aboriginal spirit there, it’s not
too far different.” Intrigued by
has spoken in the past of the worlds apart from ours. What that’s coming I think that’s inevitable. I think of it. And I’m so thankful that his stories about the Australian
relationship between the two was it like for him growing that’s a cycle. That might I live now.” His passion is bush, I pushed for more. I
songs. “A lot of my music has up there? “It’s just a gift, it’s through me now sound morbid but at this same moving and his celebration of told him I grew up across the
a theme of my family. Our so powerful. It’s a beautiful time, for me, that’s comforting. life is admirable. road from sheep, he burst out
journey together has been country, a very, very strong is completely I feel - wow that’s great, that I couldn’t help but think laughing and replied “The
pretty strong, I think they are country.” He feels a strong we can’t destroy this earth, as of how different his life is, Aussie bush is nothing like
in my music everywhere.” connection to the earth and is
different.” human beings we can’t, that’s growing up in a surfing town that!” He continued to laugh,
His music has often been a powerful voice for those who beyond us. It’s too powerful in the south of Australia. I advising me “Just be careful
classified as folk and he fight to save the planet. Many and it will come back. But we asked him what he thought when you’re sunbathing, I’ve
normally plays in the spiritual of his songs reflect his feelings have the choice right now, in of Ireland. “It’s beautiful, I seen plenty of Irish people
or mind and body areas of about people destroying our do these songs truly reflect the this time, in this generation, haven’t spent a lot of time in getting pretty burned! You
festivals he’s at. He plays so planet, but many also praise man behind them? He stopped that no other generation Ireland I want to surf on the gotta allow your skin to go -
many instruments at his gigs, those who give hope. for a while to think about before us has ever had and West coast. It’s one thing I wow what happened!”
which are as entertaining to I asked him about his own the question and when he no other generation will have want to do. I’ve been to Cork Xavier was adopted into an
watch as they are to hear. He philosophy on life, how much started to speak he maintained after us, because now is the and I’ve seen that coast a bit.” Aboriginal clan in Arnham
MEATh EvEnT GuIDE
The MeATh echo. PAge 15
05 - 18 JAnuARy 2009
Land six years ago and his song It’s a traditional song from the experience music because they within me, that’s been in all my
Guku is a beautiful dedication beginning of time, it’s a song need to let things go within ancestors and all my people
to his “wawa”, his late about the honey ant, which is themselves, and I think that’s since the beginning of time. It’s
Aboriginal brother. He recalls an ant in northern Australia been happening through time. all there and those spirits are
the inspiration for the song. where you can eat the abdomen Music has been connecting gonna dance with me”.
“Guku was a dedication to because it’s sweet like honey. people and culture together on His energy gives off such
my wawa, an Aboriginal man Guku was my wawa’s totem. the planet since the beginning a buzz as he speaks. He is
who passed away 2 years ago. So Banula, his brother, sang of human existence. You can inspired by and dedicated to
He adopted me into his clan that in the middle of the song, hear the same thing going on creating music. “It’s what I do,
about six years ago. He was to him, one take, tears in his with the birds if you listen to I couldn’t imagine if I didn’t do
from the north east of Arnham eyes. It fitted in there perfectly them long enough. It’s part of it, you know? It’s kind of like
land, a full on countryman, and it was the most emotional the whole cycle of the earth breathing for me. If I don’t do
his English was pretty poor, experience I think I’ll ever feel and we might not look at it it I’d probably choke. It’s part
his Yolngu language was his in a studio. But at the end of it that way these days, but music of my journey. I’ve been doing
first language. He could stand I asked him - wawa, what am I is one of the very few things it ever since I was a little boy.
in the water and spear a fish going to call this song, and he that’s left in our current society It was born into me and I have
with just a flash, traditional said Guku.” that’s so pure and so raw and to do it.”
style. He was super strong and Dark Shades of Blue is like it’s still the same celebration He has released an album
he came through my journey nothing we’ve heard on any of of people coming together and almost every year for the past
so powerfully, I was always Xavier’s previous albums. It’s letting themselves go. I think 7 years, be it a live album or
in awe of him. When he died, a completely different sound, and sometimes I do, but it’s laughs and starts doing dances people need to let themselves a studio album, where does he
I was in America at the time, there’s a different energy to the very strong and I don’t think I with his hands and makes go at musical events, they come find the time to write, record
I was playing my song called music. “It was a strong album, could ever understand the true a short reggae style sound. and they bring all their good and tour. “I write a lot of
Messages and all of a sudden it came up really, really strong. reason behind it. I try just to “I’ve got this whole righteous stuff and they leave their bad music, I don’t know why but
I just went into Guku. It’s the Every album is a reflection of feel my music and let it come energy coming through me, a stuff behind”. He shifts in his I do. I don’t find the time, it
same way that you hear it on my journey at different times out. It just comes out and it’s celebration.” If you have ever seat and really starts to feel his just comes through me and
the album, it just came through and spirits that are coming funny because the new music been to a Xavier Rudd gig, words, rhythmically clicking it always has. It’s just part of
me and I believe it was his spirit through my journey and that’s coming through me now you’ll understand when he his fingers to some music in me, maybe it will slow down
coming through me. So when I everything around my journey. is completely different.” talks about energy. He thrives his head. “They let it go in a some day.” He’s finished up
recorded it I had his brother I don’t think about the music So what’s in store for Xavier off the beautiful energy created positive way, they send it out his current bout of touring
Banula Marika come down I write, I just let it come, it Rudd fans next, what type at his gigs and often comments to the universe and they think in 2 weeks, he smiled when
from Arnham land and I told comes through me and it comes of energy is he feeling in his on it. I asked him about this and - f*ck it, I’m here and I’m just I mentioned this and said
him the story and with tears in the way it comes. Sometimes I music. “It’s really sunny, bright after a long pause he replied, gonna release what’s within warmly “yeah, it’s time for me
his eyes he sang the song Guku. don’t understand it until later and sunny, it’s reggae style” he “I think people are coming to me, what’s the primal rhythm to go home”.
cinema reviews dvd reviews recommended
Frost/nixon Che: Part One Gonzo: The Life and Work of The dark Knight Star Wars: The Clone Wars Lord of The Rings:
PG, 122mins, Biography/Drama 15, 126mins, Biography/History dr. hunter S. Thompson Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, PG, 98 mins, Animation / Action The Two Towers
Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bichir 15A, 120 mins, Biography/ Aaron Eckhart. 15A, 152 mins, Ian Abercrombie, Anthony Daniels, 12s, 179mins, Fantasy /
Michael Sheen Documentary Action / Crime Samuel L. Jackson Adventure
Frost/Nixon not only re-creates The story of Ernesto “Che” Guevara For hard core fans this does Action-packed from start to finish, The Clone Wars (an adaptation of Legolas, Aaragon and Gimli are
the historical on-air interview as never before told. Che is, by far, just skim the surface, but you the latest installment in the the TV series) is set during Attack Of in pursuit of the stolen hobbits,
between Robert Frost and Richard one of the most recognisable faces can’t expect more from a 2 hour Batman movies is dark and gripping. The Clones: before Anakin (Lanter) Merry and Pippin, who have been
Nixon, but it reveals the end- in pop culture. This is a different tale documentary. It’s objective, it’s raw It wows with its cinematography, begins to succumb to the dark side taken by the Urukai and are on
less hours of behind-the-scenes to the pre-revolutionary days of The and it’s an in-depth look at some stuns in it’s direction and shines but after the discovery of the Clone their way to Isengaard. They
strategy between them and their Motorcycle Diaries. Now we are told private moments in the life of one with an acting talent tragically cut army. Just to set that straight, it stumble upon the White Wizard,
organisations as negotiations the story behind the revolution. The of the greatest literary geniuses of short. Stepping up to the crowded can get confusing. There aren’t any and proceed to Rohan where they
were handled, deals were made Argentinian doctor who was referred the past century. He was, to use Comic-Book-Movie plate, The galaxy shattering revelations in this receive a not so friendly welcome
and secrets exposed. Every action to by Mandela as an “inspiration his own words “too wierd to live, Dark Knight is deeper, darker and movie but there was never going from Grima Wormtongue, who’s
leading to the moment when they for every human being who loves too rare to die”. Compiled from instinctively untamed. Heath Ledger to be. Granted it revives the old loyalty to Saruman has allowed
would sit opposite one another in freedom” and regarded by Sartre as tapes and manuscripts found at is the definitive joker. If you haven’t nostalgia but it yields nothing more King Theodan to fall under his spell.
the court of public opinion. Highly “the most complete human being his Woody Creek home, along with already seen this, I recommend than a mediocre movie which is is Sam and Frodo follow Gollum into
reviewed throughout, this is an of our age”. Part one of a two part interviews with those closest to buying or renting it on Blue-ray, as more endured rather than enjoyed. the Dead Marshes and behold the
engaging and intellectual film and documentary, Del Toro is uncanny him, his ex-wife, his widow, his son, the movie was shot with a special This movie recommend I would not, wonder that is the Black Gate of
an eerie reminder of a world we in his likeness and inspiring in his Ralph Steadman, Jann Wenner and HD camera and the quality is top bad it is. TK Mordor before they take another,
still live in. TK performance. It falls down with more, all bring us closer to knowing notch. TK more perilous, route to Mount
it’s 90210 portrayal of handsome the man behind the two thumbed Doom in their journey to destroy
revolutionaries... TK fist. TK the One Ring. TK
more reviews Don’t just take our word for it! Here are how this week’s films are scoring elsewhere...
Excellent. Get your Good. Maybe leave
ticket, some popcorn this one until you Total Film Rotten Tomates IMdB.com entertainment.ie
and enjoy. can rent it. Frost/nixon - 90% 8.2/10 -
Che: Part One ★★★★★ - 7.9/10 ★★★
Great. Make sure Poor. Catch this one Gonzo: The Life and Work of... ★★★ 86% 7.9/10 ★★★
to catch this one on the small screen,
in the cinema. if at all. The dark Knight ★★★★★ 94% 9.0/10 ★★★★ *IMDB reviews are based
Star Wars: The Clone Wars ★★★ 18% 5.3/10 ★★ on user ratings. Ratings
LOTR: The Two Towers ★★★★★ 96% 8.6/10 ★★★★ correct at time of print.