John Butler Trio. Again, a cheap, close up Sonar show in Baltimore that verifies what I hear on the cd. I really like both of his widely released cds. The latest, Grand National is quite enjoyable. This guy is an incredible guitar player, good singer with a unique style. Most people think that a 12 string is a clunky instrument, only fit for jangly chords, but Butler thinks it's a vehicle for a virtuoso performance. He plays with 11 strings (one removed because it gets in his way) and a variety of other guitars, as well as banjo. No wonder he's the hottest thing in Australia. His dreadlocked, surfer, hippie, eco-freak vibe is easy to take. For a sample of his amazing skills, check out the youtube view of "Ocean", a song left from his busker days.
