3x John Butler Trio - Aussie vibes

‘Home, home, hoooomeee….’, that’s what John always makes me feel like at his shows. Whether it was in Australia where I saw him for the first time at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, or the past two shows in Paradiso Amsterdam.

‘Home’ is also the title song of his beautiful arranged new album. A song that really hit me, as it sort of tells my own story: About being away from home so long while residing in Australia for 6 years. 

About being torn apart between our laidback lifestyle in Australia and missing our friends and family on the other side of the world. And about making our final decision, the most extensional decision I’ve ever had to make. Choosing between a beautiful country where the sun always shines, with the amazing beaches and easygoing lifestyle and my dear family and friends (and my precious Europe with its different cultures). We finally choose the latter as that’s what life is about for us: sharing our experiences with our loved-ones and caring for them in good times and in times of need. 

I wanna go Home
I can’t find my direction
Home
I’m loosing connection

John’s explanation of this song was that being on tour all the time makes you miss out on a lot back home not being with his beloved kids and wife. About the latter, he wrote a beautiful love song ‘Just Call’, about how he met his wife in this beautiful town Broome in Australia. One phrase hit me as well in relation to the above 'Home' story:

Of all the people I could find, I found you
Our families crossed the oceans
So we could share this space and time
You just stole my heart and cracked me open…

Somehow the emotions and the vibes of this love song crack me open…

Enough about me, this show really stood out for me from the other two shows I have seen, as this one was so heartfelt and almost spiritual in a way. His new album is all about trying to find some positive energy in this screwed up world. About spreading the good vibes resulting in everyone singing along out loud during a golden oldie, tatatatada, datadaadadaaaaaa….

The show was built up quite nicely, starting of with not 2 but 4 ‘assisting’ musicians on drums, key board, base and as backing vocals. This whole arrangement lifted the songs into a new dimension. The new songs were even better live. And the new drummer made me smile as he shook his head on the beat of the drums looking like The Fozzie Bear with his cap on 😊

But as soon as John was alone on the stage, the real magic happened. Creating a song by looping live voice samples into a beat and backing vocals, he got the whole crowd to silence and we listened in awe while he was 'unfolding' this song. As I wanted to stay in the moment, I didn’t capture this amazing one-manband song, someone else fortunately did on Facebook (skip to 1:10 mins).

​And that’s what I love about John, I could listen to him for hours playing the guitar, standing up close in this amazing venue. For a couple of hours, I felt the Aussie vibe running through my veins again, standing side by side my sister-in-law who has lived there too for a couple years. Dreaming about the promised land, that once felt so empty as I was home sick...