JOHN BUTLER TRIO plays Humphreys By the Bay Jul 2 and The Observatory OC Jul 3
American-born Australian award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist musician, songwriter, record label owner and producer, John Butler returns to southern California playing songs off his latest recording “Flesh and Blood.” He will be performing with the John Butler Trio at Humphreys By The Bay Jul. 2 and The Observatory Jul. 3.
As front man for the John Butler Trio, his grooves are roots and jam-band inspired sounds formed in Fremantle, Perth, Australia in 1998.
“I grew up in a small town called Pinjarra and there wasn’t a lot of folk music, so everything I have been inspired by has been outside of my local region,” Butler said. “I, like a lot of people, thanks to technology, have been getting influences from anywhere and everywhere, anything that turns us on. Whether it is listening to Jimi Hendrix or Bill Monroe or listening to a classical violinist or a breakbeat house DJ. Whatever works I am going to be influenced by, like Woody Guthrie to Easy-E. My music kind of reflects that.”
This is the trio’s final tour backing up the songs off the new “Flesh and Blood” album.
“We wanted to reach all the places people want to hear it,” explained Butler. “We have already been touring North America with this album, but the country is so big that we can pretty much tour there year round and still not reach every place.
“I see our new album to be an evolution in some way, whether lyrically or musically or both, and as a songwriter I am trying to get deeper to the core of the story and the core of the emotions.
“In the early days I used to write about how I felt angry about this or that, and I want to more explore underneath the anger. What does the anger come from or what does the anger look like or feel like or smell like or taste like? Just get a little more visceral with the song writing.”
Butler’s Trio made up of Butler (guitar / vocals), Byron Luiters (bass) and Grant Gerathy (drums / percussion), has recorded five studio albums including three, which have reached No. 1 on the Australian charts: “Sunrise Over Sea”, “Grand National” and “April Uprising.” His recordings and live performances have garnered awards from the Australian Performing Rights Association and Australian Recording Industry Association.
“Byron and Grant, whom I am playing with now, are extremely versatile musicians,” Butler said. “The people I play with are usually far better musicians than I am as far as how much they can do and how many different styles they can play. They are hard-working musicians.”
According to Butler, his music germinates inside him. When he presents his music to the other musicians the songs are like toddlers that grow as they are recorded and played live. By the time the songs have a world tour behind them, they are like adults ready to be in the world on their own.
Butler plays harmonica, didgeridoo, drums, lap-steel, banjo and amplified acoustic guitars and his custom-made, 11-string Maton guitar. To achieve his unique finger picking style, Butler uses long, pointed fiberglass fingernails.
Butler is also an active advocate of promoting peace, environmental protection and global harmony causes throughout the world. He has supported The Wilderness Society and the Save Ningaloo Reef campaigns in his homeland.
“I want my fans to be aware that Now is the only thing we have and that the past and the future virtually don’t exist and that life is good so get the most out of it while you can!” Butler concludes.
JOHN BUTLER TRIO plays Humphreys By the Bay Jul 2 and The Observatory OC Jul 3