Live Review: John Butler Trio, The Teskey Brothers, Stella Donnelly

Even blistering winds and the threat of a storm can’t keep John Butler's Brisbane fans away from the Riverstage. Stella Donnelly warms up the stage, deftly substituting violin solos for vocals as she works her way through old favourites and tracks from her forthcoming album, Beware Of The Dogs. Without the support of her band, she still manages to fill the stage with energy, and the fast-growing crowd show plenty of appreciation.

Soulful six-piece The Teskey Brothers take Donnelly's strong start and run with it, delivering punchy vocal runs and blasts of brass throughout set openers Crying Shame and Shiny Moon. Together with frontman Josh Teskey's smooth vocal runs, their energy and penchant for soulful blues gathers fans to the foot of the stage. The addition of a Black Sabbath cover is a smart move, but it’s their track I Love A Woman that proves unforgettable. Only by the set closer, Right For Me, does the strain finally begin to show in Teskey's voice, a testament to the power and drive in his performance, and the crowd is hooked.

John Butler is one of a kind, not only because of his trademark flannel shirt and dreadlocks, but because of his ability to move people, both physically and emotionally. From set opener, Wade In The Water, to crowd-pleasing closer, Zebra, Butler never leaves a finger out of place, swathing Brisbane in sporadic guitar licks and runs. When it isn’t the guitar, it’s the banjo in favourites like Better Than That and Ragged Mile, each catchy chorus accompanied by thousands of voices in the crowd. Against the complex blend of instruments in the set, the bold a capella intro to Betterman stands out, as do Butler’s powerful speeches about higher powers, leading into Faith, and then again into marathon instrumental Ocean. Always a set highlight, the wordless wonder unleashes Butler’s powers of improvisation, and without moving from his seat, he moves hundreds out of theirs. The intricate melody embodies the ocean itself, powerful enough to change minds and hearts every time it’s played.

Of course, the show isn’t all serious business, with playful tunes like Used To Get High earning plenty of love from the mosh pit, but Butler is a family man at heart. He dedicates old favourites Just Call and Home to his wife and children, and gets very real about the effects of being away from his family on tour for months at a time. As the set nears its end, We Want More cements the band’s synergy, while Butler’s energy keeps the crowd dancing.

As the set draws to a close, these seasoned performers come across even more confident and composed than they began, spurred on by the crowd’s renewed enthusiasm for old favourites Funky Tonight and Zebra. Even Butler’s manager can’t hide his excitement, dashing across the stage in a shaggy white chicken costume. Barring that, the most surprising and exciting feat of all is that even after over 20 years on the stage, John Butler Trio continue to exceed expectations.