I tried to attend his first show but had to sneak out to catch Amy Winehouse’s set and wasn’t able to make it back on time. I’m still kicking myself on that decision for The Nightwatchman had special guests that included Slash, Perry Farrell and Les Claypool. But hey it’s impossible to see everything at SXSW anyway.
On Saturday, the last night of the festival, I had one last chance to catch The Nightwatchman. So after a chance encounter riding down my hotel elevator, I bummed a ride from a pizza deliverer and arrived downtown to of all places, the Central Presbyterian Church. You read that right a church. I find it strange too but every year they rent out their house of God and allow artists from all walks of life to come out and perform. It’s actually a pretty cool place to see a show, just imagine the rows of wooden pews, the stain glass and a big massive cross on the back wall.
I arrived a bit early expecting a big draw and experienced a quirky opener that called himself simply, One Umbrella. After his brief set it was time for The Nightwatchmen, One of the first things Tom Morello announces is Slash isn’t coming. I have to admit I wasn’t happy but in my defense I was here first as a photographer and second as a fan. From that perspective there isn’t going to be the photo op I had hoped for this evening.
I foolishly expected to see Tom Morello that evening, the guitarist that creates these amazing crazy wonderful noises from his electric guitar, instead I heard a voice more reminiscing of a Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan or even Johnny Cash. He looked like Tom Morello but in fact he had successfully transformed himself into, The Nightwatchman. From the very first song, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, Morello showed us what he was truly made of. Gone is the foot pedal trickery that he so heavily relies on in concert as his “Rawk Guitar God” persona and instead he brought his soul to The Nightwatchman.
I have to say I was blown away by not only his stark political stories but by his voice as well. The Grammy Award winning guitarist can sing and Morello who has never shied away from his opinions now has The Nightwatchman to help him get his message across. Each song weaves a tale of injustice, struggles and at times revenge. Morello even closed the show with shockingly a great rendition of the Rage song, “Guerrilla Radio”. Believe me he pulled it off and had everyone singing along in the house of God.
The Nightwatchman’s album entitled, One Man Revolution, hit’s the shelves in two week on the 24th of April. But if you can’t wait that long he is scheduled to make an appearance tomorrow at the House of Blues participating in the 2007 Coalition Of Immokalee Workers Truth Tour, a rally and concert for fair food. It’s for a good cause and is sure to draw a crowd since not only is Morello schedule to appear but he will be joined on stage for the first time in seven years with Rage singer, Zack del la Rocha. So grab your picket signs and come out and support the cause.
If you would like more information on the Truth Tour go to www.ciw-online.org.
• Random Noise appears monthly, exclusively in Lumino Magazine.
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