REVIEW: John Butler Trio
- Posted on March 16, 2007 11:00 AM
- 1 comment
John Butler Trio
Fopp Instore - 14th March 2007
By Katie Spain
Whenever anyone asks me what my favourite musical memory is, I always answer "John Butler Trio in my home city - Adelaide". And now for a trip down memory lane...
I was a third year uni student at the time, had just been involved in a painful break-up and was living with my muso brother and his band mates. Ash (the sibling) had also just had his heart broken - it must have been something in the South Australian wind.
In a bid to lift our spirits I decided on the spot to get us tickets to see John Butler and his fellow musos. I called Ash with the fantastic news "I've spent the last of my measly uni allowance on a gig... tie that mop of hair back brother and pull yourself together - I'll be there in 20 to pick you up".
He resisted of course... but broken heart or not, Ash is never one to say no to music. If there's one thing that'll pull someone out of the love-sick puddle of love it's John Butler. As we flew along the streets of Adelaide towards our dreadlocked saviour (seriously, the man is tonic) my old shit coloured Toyota Corona shuddered with anticipation (or maybe old age).
The gig delivered... brother and sister got smashed in the upper tier of Thebarton Theatre while the sounds of Roots and Folk washed over us. It was a rare moment of bonding... awwww.
My second brush with the Australian band was at the 'Big Day Out' at the Adelaide Showground. Nothing beats an Aussie festival... the sun beats down on moshers with such intensity they often have to resort to fire engines - they're the only thing that can squirt water over the baking crowds. Not sure what they did this time... water restraints are pretty tight right now.
Anyway, back to the band at hand... JBT played outside, on a small stage while fans danced in the streets (and on shed roofs). Classic stuff.
After four years away from home I haven't had a chance to see John Butler Trio. After the release of their album 'Sunrise Over Sea' in 2004, they hadn't released anything - until now. 'Grand National' is due for release in late March and a sneak preview during an in-store at Fopp this week proved that the wait has been worth it.
People lined-up since 7am to nab the blue wrist bands that enabled them to get into the intimate gig. The accents mingling amongst the Fopp DVD racks indicated that my fellow expats were out in force. Never before had I seen so many dreadlocks in London. It was like a trip down memory lane... until the bouncers rounded the herd up with a stern "No wrist band no entry!" They meant it too.
When the last of the 'golden ticket' wielders passed through the doors, the barriers came down and the stragglers peered through the mesh, faces pressed up against the metal for a glimpse of the band. In true John Butler style, he acknowledged the fugitives immediately. "Awww, what is this - a lock out… or a lock in!?"
Luckily, metal barriers don't block out sound so all it took to enjoy the private show was a pair of functioning eardrums. Tunes such as ‘Funky Tonight’ and the laidback, ‘Better Than’ cruised between musical genres - folk, blues, funk, classic rock ‘n’ roll, you name it. A couple of rousing drum solos also rattled the CDs in their shelves.
Genuine appreciation towards the fans emanated from John Butler... that and the ever-present political issues confronted in his lyrics. One reference to the war and a united cheer from the crowd were a brief reminder of the messages behind the music; all the while, they never missed a beat. It was raw, it was real and we were all left gagging for more. We'll get it too - when they hit the newly refurbished Roundhouse in north London. The one-off gig is completely sold out... something tells me there’s a new favourite 'gig of all time' on the horizon.
Katie will be chatting with John Butler Trio next week and will join them for a gas bag on April 26th at the Roundhouse. If you have a burning question for the guys, please email them to her and she'll run them by the lads.
For a full list of Fopp instore gigs see their site.
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Comments (1)
Ash Spain
hey katie,
i love your article,
and i love your old shit coloured toyota corona.
ask john about his guitars..
im sure hed love to talk about them.. and id love to know all about em..
Keep us posted!
Posted on March 17, 2007 1:11 PM
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