Aussies may have to deal with late release dates for U.S. movies, but Americans had to endure a full year of waiting before the stateside debut of The John Butler Trio's "Sunrise Over Sea," released in Australia last March.
The John Butler Trio combines a bevy of different genres to form their own distinct sound. Hints of blues, rock, reggae, funk, folk and banjo-strumming hillbilly melodies blend into a crescendo of noise to receive the rare and critically desired adjective: unique. There are even some Irish tap-dancing rhythms that Michael Flatley might enjoy.
At times they sound like the Soggy Bottom Boys, at others they recall John Mayer. The band throws all these musical genres into a giant paint-mixer creating something so distinct that it really only sounds like The John Butler Trio.
Last year at the Australian Record Industry Association Awards, the Trio won the Best Independent Release and Best Blues & Roots album awards. John Butler capped off their milestone night by winning Best Male Artist of the Year.
Butler is at the crux of the Trio, with synthetically long fingernails, strumming a guitar or a banjo, situated between drummer Michael Barker and bassist Shannon Birchall.
The songs seem to morph into different genres between tracks. In "Company Sin," there's a killer classic rock guitar solo, while the song, "What You Want" contains a symphonic overture with a collection of stringed instruments that move as the band does.
Butler's voice, though sometimes unintelligible, acts as another instrument in harmony with the rest of the band. It's reminiscent of Eddie Vedder in Pearl Jam's "Yellow Ledbetter." When Butler's Aussie-accented lyrics are understandable, his range of subject matter is as wide as the range of the Trio's styles. In "Old Man" there's an obvious reference to contemporary politics.
"Saw that TV become a religion/ The Wall came down and Big Mac beat the communists," sings Butler.
Many of his songs are religious in nature, with Christian overtones. But he doesn't get too preachy or fall into Jeremiads.
The Trio combines the best of established genres and perversely mixes them into one, creating their own colorfully unique sound.
If their success in Australia is any indication, The John Butler Trio should expect a following of fans on this side of the globe.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
