GIG: BUTCH WALKER

Date: 17th September 2012
Artist: Butch Walker
Venue: Night & Day Cafe, Manchester
Photos: John Cooper (Zoooomphotos)

As we got to the Night & Day cafe the support act Amy Holford was already on the stage playing an accoustic guitar and singing some pretty good songs - I will (as she suggested) check out her music some more online. It was already getting quite busy in there and Amy recieved a solid round of applause. Just after 9pm Butch came to the stage and played the first two songs on an organ - during the first song he hit a bum note and confessed to being "a fuck up". Butch Walker is a very American singer - but he's certainly not quite the clean cut all American guy - with his tattoos, fondness for whisky (a fan had even bought him a bottle and handed it up to him onstage during the gig) & general rocker image - he has a bit of a snarl about him. He is also very funny - not only with his banter with the crowd, but it also comes across in a lot of his songs. He normally tours with his band the Black Widows, but tonight it was just him and his bass player (who came onto the stage to the sound of the Spice Girls Wannabe - the last song I expected to hear tonight) - I think the 2 of them are only doing a couple of intimate UK gigs this time, but might be returning with a full band sometime in the future. Despite the crowded venue getting very hot and sweaty, it was a most enjoyable show & the crowed clearly loved every minute of it!

Here is a clip of Butch Walker with his band for you to check out: http://youtu.be/ZxMlvAxX8ME