Original video located here. Accessed 1st August 2022
Song title: Took the Children Away
Artist: Archie Roach
Year: 1990
Why I like this song:
R.I.P. Archie Roach
I did manage to see Archie Roach live when he was playing support to Rodriguez. I recall after his set he was out in the foyer of the DEC. I saw him chatting to fans, signing autographs and looking genuinely happy.
And that's how I wish to remember him.
Original video located here. Accessed 11th August 2018
Song title: This Is Not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, the Establishment Blues
Artist: Rodriguez
Year: 1970
Why I like this song:
Recently Hobart was graced with the presence of troubadour Rodriguez.
Now normally when I go to see acts live I will go watch names I am familiar with. This is not the case: I knew the man not for his music but his extraordinary story of how he achieved success in South Africa without knowing it. As such, this was an act of exploration. To have ones home town visited by this figure was an opportunity too good to miss. So maybe I will find something to enjoy?
First the support act: One Archie Roach. He did all right but I was concerned: He hasn't being doing to well lately what with having a stroke and his life partner Ruby Hunter passing on. So on stage he did talk about the song he was going to play - nothing wrong with that but it drag on a bit. Indeed, I swear I heard someone nearby say afterwards that he may be going senile.
As for Rodriguez himself, he was great: He was charismatic, engaged with the audience and certainly seemed to be enjoying the second wind to his career. His songs managed to have power, after all these years, and they clearly still resonated. Which says a lot seeing as I went into this gig knowing the name and not the music.
It should be noted that when I got my ticket, I paid extra for the DVD of the documentary. Seems I have seem further exploring to do....