JOHN Butler’s main aim when he plays live is to give concertgoers the chills, and get them himself.
“I want to make people feel like magic is happening,” Butler said from his home in Margaret River.
“That’s why I’m in the game; I’m a total addict for that moment.
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READ NOW“It doesn’t always happen but it’s what keeps me going until my next fix. It might be 20 years since I started playing on the streets, but I’m hungrier than ever.”
Butler has spent more time on the road than off since the 2014 release of John Butler Trio’s album Flesh and Wood, and is currently taking a much needed break at home, doing a lot of gardening to replenish his spirit.
“When I’m doing an album I’m in a hyper-urban environment, in capital cities and living on buses and sleeping in cubicles,” he said.
“I have to recharge in nature and the reason I live in WA is because that’s where I recharge the best.”
John Butler Trio will treat WA fans to three special summer concerts next month: Belvoir Amphitheatre on January 22, Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River on January 23 and Quindanning Tavern on January 24.
“We started the album here but it’s been two years and sometimes I feel like WA gets the early bird with the first gigs for the album,” he said.
“But I reckon the best time to hear an album is later on and I just wanted to play in WA again.
“Sometimes people can’t make it to the first show and then when we come back we’re on to the next album already.”
Butler said the set list would feature half newer and half older material including Zebra and Better Than.
“You have to play the new stuff enough so people make a relationship with it, otherwise you become a jukebox of yourself and I’m not interested in doing that at all,” he said.
“I don’t want to be the band that only plays the hits every time I come to town… but I’m totally down with playing the favourites as well; they are still just as challenging to play.”
Butler said he continued to write songs and John Butler Trio would head into the studio later in 2016 to record their next album.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: John Butler Trio
Where: Belvoir Amphitheatre, Upper Swan
When: January 22
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au