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Tonight's opening act Disgraceland were like the soundtrack to their surroundings, trotting out a largely bland and un-inspired set which unfolded with all the excitement of one of those bloated John Wayne epics - just when you thought it was about to end, they played another song, then another, until it was all you could do to prop up your head on the bar and glance furtively at your watch while stifling a yawn. OK, so that's probably a bit harsh, but their take on Australian alterna-pop circa-1985 was hardly the best way to warm up the crowd for one of the most invigorating live acts on the circuit today.
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Well isn't John Butler a talented bastard. Blessed with guitar chops to burn, superb songwriting and improvisational skills, an seemingly limitless supply of between song banter which is never boring, and a voice which had my companion for the night barely containing herself, this man has it all.
A fairly decent Thursday night crowd had made it's way into The Zoo and was eagerly huddled front of stage waiting for the show to start. Butler strolled on stage to soundcheck and launched into a solo acoustic spot with little fanfare, warming up with some delicate slide guitar melodies on one of his arsenal of 12-strings before unleashing that voice - a voice which commands your attention, not only through it's soaring power, but the genuine warmth with which it invites you into the stories he tells in his songs. |
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Butler took us into his life as he chatted openly between songs (at one stage asking the audience if we wanted him to stop talking which met with a resounding "No!") about his move from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to a tiny community a couple of hours out of Perth, his affinity with the outback and political issues which he holds close to his heart. His engaging banter invited you to share his experiences, and his fusion of folk with Celtic and Indian flavours - particularly noticeable in the mantra-like instrumental which concluded his solo set - gave you an understanding of the performer which is rare in an industry where superficiality is the norm.
But when Butler's band hit the stage, the mood and tempo shifted significantly - the introspection was still there, but it was clear that The John Butler Trio are far more than a frontman with a backing group. Bassist Gavin Shoesmith and drummer Jason McGann proved to be every bit as innovative as Butler himself, alternatively laying a solid platform for Butler's inspired fretwork and going off on their own journeys - at one stage Shoesmith took to his bass with some distorted slide work which was simply awesome. The single "Pickapart" finally managed to lure some of the previously seated punters off their bums and onto their feet, and the improvised encore (complete with lengthy percussion jam!) saw the whole of the crowd flailing away wildly to the funky grooves being beamed off the stage. And like all good live acts, the John Butler Trio left us wanting more.
~Kris Swales~
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