A musician with a genuine story for everyone is a musician who will carry the ultimate in honesty, emotion and audience captivation. Archie Roach is currently touring in some of Australia’s top venues with some amazing support acts. I was given the opportunity to review Archie Roach at one of his live performances. A gift that I would proudly repeat again. Music as fact, a man with a true story, a man with the courage to tell it to the World, just as loud and as proud as he can.
The tour is in support of Archie Roach’s album Journey, a realistic and spiritual album centred in Aboriginal life and past. A truthful account of fact and a heartfelt message to all people. An album and musician to relate to and understand. An album that remains the core of human nature and what we all need to exist. The earth and where we came from. A genuine roots album that maintains its structure and solid form from beginning to end. Not only an album but a “Journey”.
Archie Roach remains a timeless musician who inspires all who see and hear him. Without doubt, a musician who carries cultural pride and strength for his indigenous people, both past, present and future. An icon within the Australian Music Industry and beyond. To see Archie Roach live is a treat within itself; he carries a persona and stage presence that compels and captivates his fans and listeners. It is easy to be carried to a place far from what we know, into a view of Aboriginal stories, not only Aboriginal stories, but, fact for us all. An insight for us all to witness and behold, to take on board and respect. A breath of fresh air and truthfulness in a somewhat unforgiving and judgemental society.
Archie Roach proudly stated: “If you are Black or if you are White, and from this Country, you are all my people.” Within a few seconds of Archie stating this, the audience burst into clapping and cheering, which showed the need for unity and an icon for us all, the statement, a reminder of the simplest groundings in life. A statement from a musician who carries the strongest of messages. Not to judge, to respect your younger people and also respect your elders, to watch where you step and to respect the land and all cultures. Time can heal wounds and Archie Roach holds the key when it comes to uniting cultures and tells this from a persons perspective who has not only learnt and studied, but lived the life of his stories.
Archie Roach began his set at 10pm alongside his gifted and long term musicians. My eyes scanned the stage to see Archie with the most genuine and sincere approach to his factual musicianship. It soon became apparent that the room itself was unearthly quiet. I glanced around to see a room full of captivated and mesmerised fans. Not one person was talking, all eyes in the room solidly fixated on the stage. There was not a whisper in the crowd – the ultimate gift to any musician. People standing, people sitting, but all fixated, star gazing and being sent to another time, visualising sequences and faces to the songs Archie was singing. I felt proud to see Archie gaining such respect from the audience. I thought to myself: “Yes, he’s done it. He has that factor to genuinely pull a crowd, this is what people want and need an escape from reality even if only for a while, thank you Archie.”
Before every song Archie would explain the roots of the song, hence guide the audience through a visual journey. Spiritual meaning was and is an important factor to Aboriginal culture and Archie’s music. With songs such as ‘John Pat’ and ‘A Child was Born Here’. That, relate to the sadness and theft of human life, while also bringing to the forte, some of the respected spiritual beliefs, hence be careful where you step. Archie went on to explain the meaning of the song ‘A Child was Born Here’. That is, “do not tread where a Child was born.”
Archie Roach has shown that he remains in his own league, no competitors or rivals, an artist that leaves similar in his footsteps. Reason being, Archie places his musical talent at such a high personal and spiritual level, he sings the most touching of songs with ease, while placing his emotion solidly into the heart of every song. A song is not a song when you hear Archie Roach; it is a multitude of dimensions. Personal dimensions along with many spiritual dimensions, grafted and branching from a pure and lyrical mastermind who has the ability to relate to all and hypnotise the soul. This is where Archie Roach makes all the difference. While many learn and perform, Archie’s performance is through living. Archie cuts to the heart and tells it exactly how it is and how it has been. He lends himself to the world and, through his experiences and beliefs, can keep the heritage alive while his music and story is an eye opening educational tool.
It seemed that Archie Roach’s one hour set flew by in a blink. A fleeting glimpse into the life of Archie Roach. Even though only one hour, I felt completely privileged for Archie to share a fraction of his life with me. During the course of Archie Roach’s performance I found myself skimming over the many famous Aboriginal people that have existed or are living at the moment and their trials and tribulations, such as Albert Namatjira. To be opened to new dimensions and relate to parts of culture that I had never purely taken on board in whole. A performer who not only shows factual happening to the World but also lets his fans contemplate themselves at the same time.
For me, during Archie Roach’s performance, money, concrete, electricity and modern society in general did not exist. I was drawn to a remote region I had never been to, a place where laws were different, the people were peaceful and free and the hardest item was wood. Maybe I was really there, going back in time to a better place, or maybe it was my imagination, but, for just a while it was real and I was there, every part of my body released from daily stress and related to another calling.
In all, from time to time, there is an artist then leaves no words of explanation. Archie Roach is one of these artists. His courage to share his stories and spirit with the world, his beautiful lyrical ability and haunting songs that capture the essence of life, while letting his fans be transported to another time and to also let them think about themselves is a pure gift. Not many can bottle this much and send it your heart in one sentence. This is only the beginning of the “Journey.”
Check out the photos from this show here courtesy of LWPhoto.
