вЂњI have a real connection to Vancouver,вЂќ says Rudd, вЂњso itвЂ™s gonna be a great way to finish the tour. Whether Grames will make it out for RuddвЂ™s Canadian-tour-ending performance in Vancouver remains to be seen, but those holding tickets to the sold-out show can expect the main attraction to be in fine form-as long as heвЂ™s healthy. But he works for David Suzuki, and unfortunately he canвЂ™t tour with us, which is a shame. He was amazing, so I got him to do White Moth as well. My manager at the time hooked it up, and he came in and recorded with us. вЂњI met Panos when I was recording Food in the Belly, and, uh-geez itвЂ™s cold out here, man. Another major contributor to the CD is VancouverвЂ™s Panos Grames, formerly of local bar faves the Grames Brothers, who provides Hammond organ on several tracks.

He uses his вЂњstomp boxвЂќ (a homemade foot-percussion tool) to keep the primal rhythms on songs like the Bob MarleyвЂ“ish reggae number вЂњCome Let GoвЂќ, but also employs the ace drumming abilities of TorontoвЂ™s Dave Tolley throughout. RuddвЂ™s array of hand-carved didjeridus helps convey an authentic Aboriginal vibe on various tunes, while his soulful Weissenborn and Resonator slide-guitar work brings the bluesy shades heвЂ™s known for, especially on tracks like the driving вЂњStargazeвЂќ. The majority of the CD was recorded with coproducer Dave Ogilvie (who has worked with David Bowie and Marilyn Manson) at Farmhouse Studios in Gibsons, although parts of it are recordings of indigenous vocalists and schoolkids made in northern AustraliaвЂ™s remote Arnhem Land.

ItвЂ™s the material from White Moth that most concerns Rudd right now. вЂњI just basically jammed a bunch of different grooves,вЂќ Rudd says, вЂњand now theyвЂ™re just sort of dissecting them and putting them in places where they seem to fit.вЂќ at the request of actor and celebrity hunk Matthew McConaughey, who personally sought him out for the project. He recently spent two days recording for the Surfer Dude soundtrack in L.A. RuddвЂ™s artistic exploits donвЂ™t focus solely on serious issues. He is the minister for art and environment, and heвЂ™s letting a lot of things go through that are a contradiction to what he said back in the day with his music. вЂњI appreciated what they were doing at the time,вЂќ says Rudd, вЂњbut IвЂ™ve got a lotta questions about Peter Garrett at the moment. Although he wasnвЂ™t closely connected to the band, Rudd recalls how the OilsвЂ™ chrome-domed frontman, Peter Garrett, called for the giving back of land to Australian Aborigines-via the huge international hit вЂњBeds Are BurningвЂќ-and spoke out against the logging of old-growth trees in Clayoquot Sound in the вЂ™80s. When you think about Australian musicians with a cause, one group that springs to mind is Midnight Oil, the hard-hitting guitar-rock quintet that gained a lot of respect among the socially conscious and environmentally minded. But I sing about what I feel, and IвЂ™m very inspired by activists and friends that I get to connect with.вЂќ The music industry is not set up well at all, environmentally. вЂњI donвЂ™t think I am one,вЂќ he relates, вЂњbecause I live in a toxic world of travelling around, you know, in an industry thatвЂ™s really hard on the environment. It opens with an upbeat ode to doing good deeds (вЂњBetter PeopleвЂќ), and goes on to highlight the threat of global warming (вЂњFootprintвЂќ) and the historical struggle of AustraliaвЂ™s Yolngu tribe against bauxite mining (вЂњLand RightsвЂќ).ДЄlthough itвЂ™s clear from his subject matter that Rudd has an abiding concern in getting people to sit up, take notice, and do the right thing, he notes that вЂњplaying music is pretty much what I do,вЂќ and downplays his role as an activist.

His lyrics commonly invoke kindness, justice, environmental concerns, and humanitarianism, and his latest album, White Moth, is no exception. вЂњWeвЂ™re here, so IвЂ™ll do it,вЂќ he says, вЂњno worries.вЂќ That kind of easygoing attitude has served Rudd well in his career, and translates into the folksy, peace-and-love vibe of his music. Rudd is scheduled to play SaskatoonвЂ™s Lakeview Auditorium in five hours, and though he sounds like one sick puppy on the phone, he has no plans to cancel the show. вЂњIвЂ™m not used to this kinda weather,вЂќ he explains, en route to the doctorвЂ™s office. His road manager says to call back in three hours, and by then Rudd is up and seeking medical attention. The Aussie singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist isnвЂ™t coping well with the sub-zero bite of the Prairies in fact, when the Straight rings him up for a scheduled interview, heвЂ™s sick in bed with the flu.

Saskatchewan in the middle of February isnвЂ™t a place where a fellow raised on the balmy beaches of Australia can feel too cozy.

Xavier rudd stargaze live