Bend News

Saved By The Beatles

Butler, Dennen Concert Fails To Blow Minds In Bend

By Joseph Friedrichs, 12-06-07

It was hyped to be the best concert in Central Oregon since The Shins concert back in August. Yet, for various, and mostly minuscule reasons the Brett Dennen and John Butler Trio show last night at the Midtown Ballroom didn’t deliver the knock-out punch I wanted.

The positives of the concert far outweigh the negatives. A typically obnoxious crowd at Midtown - who often times gobble up tickets only because it’s what their friends are doing - was in great spirits and seemed to have an actual connection with the music. Twice during the evening a passerby left the stink of patchouli in the air, a scent I hadn’t smelled in something like five years. I found it comforting to know there’s a small collection of hippies who still haven’t given up on patchouli. The Midtown sound crew had their act together, as both musicians’ vocals were choice, less so in Butler’s case. My ears were pleasantly ringing when I sat down to write this review, and I was content with the concert as a whole. However, I wanted to have my mind blown by the experience, and aside from a couple Butler guitar solos, it simply didn’t happen.

It started with Dennen, who with three other talented musicians that comprise his band, opened for JBT. The band’s guitarist, who had a load of skill, had the appearance of a hoodlum Dennen picked up in La Pine because they needed someone to fill in. The 6’4” Dennen had a nice stage presence, floppy red hair and all. And although I enjoyed Dennen’s message of enchantment, he’s really nothing more than another Ryan Adams from California.

It could be that my ability to enjoy Dennen’s raspy, high-pitched voice has been tainted by Eugene’s National Public Radio station obsession with playing his tracks. Whatever the case, Dennen didn’t come across as anything spectacular. His lyrics were cliché and didn’t stir up any emotions that I couldn’t have done by simply tossing on a John Mayer CD at home. Example: Love will come set me free, I do believe / Love will come set me free, I know it will.

Most of Dennen’s songs made me feel like yawning, something I detest doing. 

After Dennen’s set, which was lasted longer than a typical opening act, JBT took the stage. Butler’s ability to flash between subtle and brazen styles on his 12-string was the show’s finest attribute. First taking the stage wearing a hat that covered his trendy dreads, Butler was sweating and his hair free flying by midnight, when the show came to a conclusion. Throughout the evening Butler hammered his message of peace, love and ecology to the packed house at Midtown. Yet at the end of a long day, isn’t it more comforting to hear about other people’s misfortunes than it is about flowers? I don’t know, maybe it’s just the Tom Waits in me.

What struck me as a negative about Butler was that he’s a mixing bowl of too many musicians and not enough originality. Every action the Aussie-raised 32 year old performed reminded me of someone else. One moment he was Ben Harper, the next Robert Randolph. I couldn’t reach a point where I felt like “oh, cool, there’s John Butler on stage.”

The highlight of the night came when Butler invited Dennen and his crew on stage for a killer version of the Beatles “Come Together.” Although the bands have been playing the song at most of their shows on the current tour, they still seemed to be having a good time with it.

Last night’s concert wasn’t nearly as good as The Shins last trip to Bend, nor did it leave me yearning to listen to either Dennen or Butler unless they happen to come on the radio. And given the aforementioned NPR obsession, that’s likely to happen very soon.

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