Fortitude Valley and Eumundi: He was the child-star musical prodigy from TV’s “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” in the 90s (pictured) but it was a gig which could have killed him.
While Nathan Cavaleri is still respected by Australian music industry leaders as one of our best blues and rock artists, his road to fame wasn’t just brushing shoulders with US music legends and free tickets to Disneyland.
Following his stints on national TV, Cavaleri shot to international stardom, touring with legendary US blues artist B.B. King, even playing at the Kennedy Centre in front of The Clintons, and other musical greats Etta James and Bonnie Raitt.
Cavaleri was even at centre of a label-bidding war between Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna.
And if that wasn’t enough, he also fought and overcame leukemia.
All this by the age of 16.
Perhaps it was his body demanding rest, but as his career changed into adulthood, Cavaleri described having issues such as “paralysing anxiety and insomnia”, which meant his career would be put on ice.
The now 41-year-old said it got to the point where he didn’t trust that he could successfully tour with his mental health battles.
However after several years away from the spotlight, Cavaleri overcame those demons by tapping into his musical roots with the therapeutic output of songwriting.
His “Miracles” tour, which brings him to Brisbane on Thursday and Sunshine Coast on Saturday, promises both an intimate and wildly-powerful performance, highlighting Cavaleri’s person journey as a child-musician, and his epic personal life battles.
With a new album, also titled “Miracles”, Cavelari has cultivated who he is at his core – an artist, musician, and most importantly, a person.
Cavaleri said while making the album he criss-crossed the pain of his past, and went well beyond his comfort zone, with high expectations at every turn, testing his connection to his inner-truth.
“The stage is now the remedy not the challenge,” he said
“The gig is now an anchor of love and presence that I get to experience with thousands around the country.
“The courage it took to create this album has been like no other.
“I had to face my creative insecurities head on and challenge all aspects of the past that attempted to block the flow of authentic expression.
“All songs (were) pulled, ripped, cried, laughed and loved from the depths of my emotional dwellings.”
Not only will this performance be a big hit for his blues and rock fans, but Cavaleri will also show off some of his newer musical scope incorporating some alt-rock, psych-blues, surf-rock melodies, and funk, all with his usual stage swagger.
But loyal fans are assured that while he’s ventured off into new musical territory, they will not miss out on any of Cavaleri’s famous, mind-bending guitar solos.
“I can’t not go back to my roots (without) a few five or twenty minute solos!”
Nathan Cavaleri plays at Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, on Thursday, September 14. And at Sunshine Coast’s most famous hinterland hotel, The Imperial Hotel, Eumundi, Saturday, September 16.
This show is for ages 18 and over. Tickets: Oztix.
Photo: ABC.
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