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When I was travelling around Australia , I listened to a lot of my own music that I had brought over with me on the iPod - when you’re away from home for a long time, it’s a Godsend! Thankfully, I was also travelling with a laptop so I was in a position to update the iPod from time-to-time when I picked up a new CD in a shop. While I was out there I discovered that Powderfinger had released a new album - this is an Aussie band that I had got into via my brother who lived there for a few years. I also picked up a few other CDs from Aussie artists who I’d heard along the way, either from listening to Nova 969, TV or over shop PA systems, including Jet, Pete Murray and a band whose song Zebra was being played everywhere. That band is The John Butler Trio (or JBT for the purposes of Brevity).

I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect of JBT’s album "Sunrise Over Sea". I only knew one song, but it was a strong one. I was pretty quickly hooked on the bluesy/rocky/steel grass mixture, with the odd didge sound thrown in there for good Aussie authenticity measures, and it soon became a favourite album (a look at my iTunes play count will quickly confirm this).

I’ve since bought a couple of their albums, and am always asking people if they’ve heard of the band (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll appear on Later with Jools Holland one day!). They played at Glastonbury , and once again I was asking people if they caught the band. Those that did hadn’t intended to - but all say they were a lucky find, if not the best band there. I have to agree with the latter.

Last night I went to see John Butler Trio play live at the Carling Apollo in Hammersmith, London . It felt like being back in Australia - there we were, two Brits (me and my bruv, who’d previously seen them at a Big Day Out in Sydney) surrounded by a sea of Aussies. I mentioned to the chap next to me that we must be the only Brits here, to which he replied: "Well, I’m from California !" Once the show started, I discovered what I had always expected - that they really are as good live as they are on record/CD. Actually, make that much better. You really can’t beat the atmosphere of a concert venue full of people who are getting caught up in the whole thing, applauding, whistling and singing along to all the big songs. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a group of people sing along with such gusto.

If I were to pick out a few highlights from the show they would have to be:

• John’s rendition of Ocean - a 12-13 minute song that I only heard for the first time last night (although I’d heard of it before). He plays it on a 12-string guitar and I swear I’ve never heard anyone play an instrument like that before - and by that I mean it was like three different guitarists at once. Incredible. Absolutely awesome.
• The solo sections from the bassist and drummer in the breakdown of Betterman. Also, I gotta say respect to the drummer for turning up in just a pair of flimsy shorts, looking like he was just at home heading into the kitchen for a glass of milk in the middle of the night before realising he took a wrong turn and walked on to a live stage, with his middle-aged paunch on show for all to see! Boy could he drum like a mofo …
• The encore renditions of Hello and Zebra. The latter prompted one of the biggest sing-along moments of the evening (well, the lyrics are so simple!)

In summary, I would have to say that this was the best live gig I’ve seen, and it was amazing the sound that these three guys could produce. I am so glad that I finally got to see them live, and seriously thought about driving up from Swindon to Manchester tonight to see than all over again - it might be years until I get my next chance. If you get a chance to see the John Butler Trio live, take it - trust me, you won’t regret it!