Yup, he did. This isn’t terribly big news to me, but to other rasta-type dread lovers, it very well could be. He cut off his dreads, had for several years, got sick of them (understandably) and is now sporting a short cut. I love him and the guys either way. Just so you know….

John Butler Trio

******

 Your Friend Tracy - John Butler Trio (from Marking Time OST) [1:36m]: Play in Popup | Download

If you hang around the site long enough, you’ll see that the band we have the most posts about is the John Butler Trio, which is probably my favorite band. I’m not big on picking favorites, but its the only band I really follow and check out whenever possible. Some may wonder why; if you check out their music and message maybe you’ll get it. Doesn’t matter. But this is another reason: Ocean.

I’ve seen John play it live 3 times. At Bonnaroo, at the HOB in New Orleans, and in Alabama. Bonnaroo’s Ocean was a little disappointing, because he didn’t do his slap-tap version, which I like best. In Alabama it was the first time I’d seen them live, and had only heard Ocean on CD and seen a video of him playing it at Webster Hall in 2005 in Oz. So that time was amazing, because I was seeing it, and because he did his slap-tap version.

Thats why I’m posting this video. It’s 14 minutes long, and if you can bypass the crowd cheering, you can see why JBT has so many devoted fans and why this is such a favorite. Its entirely instrumental, very impressive, but more than that, it’s just beautiful. I think I know why its called Ocean, if there is a reason for it. I hope you like.

Link to this video.

And heres the video from Webster Hall, much shorter, only 5 minutes.

Handy dandy email has informed me that JBT is releasing a Live CD of their performance at Twist and Shout in Denver, Colorado at June 29th, 2007. Pre-order is 10 bucks in the U.S. Go grab it.

And many congrats to the guys for winning two ARIAS, Best Blues/Roots and Best Independent Artist.

JBT // MySpace

 John Butler - Message In A Bottle (from Like A Version) [3:49m]: Play in Popup | Download

Check out this video of John Butler playing with Keith urban on guitar and Michael Barker and Shannon Birchall doing rhythm for JBT’s performance of Funky Tonight on the Australian Arias. Pretty sweet, I say. Not Butler’s best performance of the song, but the dueling guitars at the end is pretty kickin’.

So, my copy of John Butler Trio's Funky Tonight EP arrived in the mail yesterday. Definitely worthy of review. It has 4 tracks: Funky Tonight, Good as Gone, Nowhere Man, and Funky Tonight (bootleg). The CD is excellent, to put it shortly. 'Funky Tonight' is a track they've played live at their shows for some time now, but have never officially released. It is the first single released from their new work; their new album will be released in Spring 2007.

I heard it for the first time in April of 2006, at a show they played here in the U.S. It ended the show, and it was bloody brilliant. Their new single is definitely a studio-version. Some of the lyrics have changed, and the chorus music has been altered, as you will hear when you listen to tracks 1 and 4 back-to-back. John Butler does an amazing job on the guitar, per usual, and the song is upbeat with lots of cutesy "Ooos" and fast drumming. Great track. 'Good as Gone' is a brand new track to my ears, and is stunningly beautiful. It's up for listen here. John Butler's wife, Danielle, contributes backing vocals to John's intricate, bluegrassy banjo playing. It soothes, and makes your mind go blank. The vocals and banjo bring the song to many crescendos, and it ends too soon. 'Nowhere Man' is my hands down favorite track from the album. Such a beautiful song. Put together so well, and leaves you wanting more. The guitar intuitively takes you through the story of the song, and Butler does an excellent job of keeping the vocals rhythmic and soft. It has a lullaby quality, and the trio brings the song together excellently with their respective instruments. 'Funky Tonight (Bootleg)' is a live version of 'Funky Tonight', or rather it is the original track before it was taken into the studio. You can hear the crowd participate in the song, and the song truly makes you 'get funky'. Overall: Again, I'm floored by John Butler Trio's talent. If you've never heard John Butler Trio before, do yourself a favor and buy this album. It's a great introduction to their music. It's beautiful, excellent, wonderful, all at the same time. The tracks are creative and experimental, they explore music and bring it to its fullest, brimming potential. Three talented musicians with the ability to express beauty through music the way they do leaves your ears tingling and will make you want more.

Related Links:

John Butler Trio

John Butler Trio on MySpace

Buy Funky Tonight EP (AUS)

John Butler Trio Videos on YouTube

Funky Tonight Video (New Single) on MySpace

Related Audio: 

Nowhere Man 

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Funky%20Tonight/03%20Nowhere%20Man.mp3]

Funky Tonight 

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Funky%20Tonight/01%20Funky%20Tonight.mp3]