Reviews > Shows

John Butler Trio, Bowery Ballroom, NYC – 2/10

Despite putting on a show at 7 pm when most people are just leaving work in the evening, John Butler Trio wowed New York City in the intimate Bowery Ballroom. John Butler emerged onstage looking clean cut, wearing a short sleeve sweater and scarf, and seemed thrilled to be in New York. The Aussie politely apologized to the crowd for the early time of the show and their one, hour-and-a-half set. Before the audience had time to react, the band enthusiastically got down to business winning the crowd over with a catchy opener “Used To Get High” into the classic “Better Man,” both off Grand National.

With their new album, April Uprising, due out in the United States on April 6th, the Trio mixed in some of their new songs with their older classics. The third song of the night, “Revolution,” was the first new song they introduced. The politically charged song, which is undeniably Dispatch-esque, is sure to be one of _April Uprising_’s major hits. Other new songs cover a range of sounds from “Don’t Want to See Your Face,” where Butler’s voice almost mirrors Dave Matthew’s twang, to the finale, “One Way Road,” a folky-rock song where Butler lays the guitar across his laps and plays it like a piano

The encore, “Funky Tonight,” roused the most encouragement from the crowd, many of who, unaware of the early start, showed up a bit late. However, “Funky” pleased all, lasting for over 13 minutes and including an all three member drum jam solo.