John Butler Trio at The Capitol Theatre (Nov 20, 2014)  Notice Butler’s crazy long fingers…which is one reason he can fingerpick so damn well

A few years ago John Butler Trio‘s “Pickapart” at one of the early Bonnaroo shows caught my ear… it even made it onto one of the Thunderbird Ranch Boozing’ Tunes annual holiday giveaway cds.


For whatever reason, I never explored the band further…until last night when the Australian-borne John Butler Trio took their well rehearsed musical show to the magical Capitol Theatre.

Looking like a cross between John Cougar Mellencamp (yes, both John’s are short men with large heads, wavy hair and big voices) and Morgan O’Kane (a terrific pirate-ish banjo playing song-man I have seen a few times around NYC), John Butler is a very sharp professional roots musician who blends catchy rock songs (ala Dave Matthews) with acoustic instrumental jams (ala Leo Kottle or Jorma) and a one-man band mentality (ala Keller Williams) into a solid 2 hour show.  


Butler’s ability to mix up the songs was tremendous.


No filler tunes, no long booze breaks!! (See Chris Robinson notes from earlier stories.) 

In fact, when he pulled out his “oldest beat up guitar” I prepared myself for a beer run, but he launched into this great instrumental with several intense musical peaks and some of the most powerful acoustic strumming I have ever seen.


He is a hard working and talented guy that has figured out how to get a really big thick sound from his band of three.


Here is the set list:


Cold Wind, Used To Get High, Betterman, Bullet Girl, Anything, Ragged Mile,


Fire In The Sky, Blame It On Me, Pickapart, Ocean, Better Than, 


Don’t Wanna, Devil Woman, Zebra

E: Funky Tonight, Living In The City


There was a moment that I heard flashes of Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys, but it never took off. Wishful thinking.  If he had a stronger bass and drum man that kind of sound could happen.  (NOTE: If John Butler ever teams up with like an Oysterhead kind of  all-star band…I will be first in line for tickets.)


When he picked up his banjo though, the John Butler Trio soared like a Celtic rock show aboard a pirate ship.  (Yes, one of the heavily medicated John Butler Trio fans standing next to me told me he felt like he was on a Pirate ship with Captain John B at the helm.)


Me and my two show mates had a ball watching this guys wail their arms around and have a good ole’ time. (NOTE: Taking the train from NYC and having a few pre-show cocktails (in this case Jalapeño Margaritas) and the best tater tots on the planet at the Train Station beer garden is a big winner!! Sorry El Tio’s…)


By the way, I got a big kick out of the Marshall amp stack behind John Butler that had part of its iconic script letters removed.  


It stated just “MARS”.


Watching the fierce and devoted hardcore fans sing every word to the Butler’s songs, it was apparent that they would follow this guy to Mars (or at least Australia) to party with their acoustical guitar madman buddy.

Photographer Scott Harris caught some great shots of the show for Relix. (Two of his photos posted on Facebook are above.)


Here is a little of his music from the show posted on YouTube…enjoy and remember to Flap Your Wings (F.Y.W.)…peace.