BRIAN BUTLER
songwriter, blues singer, guitarist
Reviews

Review of BUTLER'S BLUES by Kristina Olsen, singer, songwriter, guitarist
www.kristinaolsen.net
Every time I hear Brian Butler play solo, with his triple threat talents, (great writing, great playing, great voice) I’ve been wanting an album of just that. Unadulterated Brian Butler. And here it is, Butler’s Blues. Just him, playing and singing. It’s the perfect setting for his modern yet deeply rooted in the blues style of songwriting. All those jazz tinged blues riffs, and a beautiful blend of butter and cement mixer voice. This is a man who isn’t afraid of strong women and not afraid to look honestly at the make up of his character. This is a man deeply sexy, yet not sexist. He has songs that draw the listener into a moving story (The News About Billy) songs of environmentalism, (Snow River and River Roads). How does one write a song in that vein without sounding preachy or pedantic? Yet he manages it with writing deeply connected to his adopted city of Seattle. He even has a quirky blues paralleling nuclear disarmament with a relationship. (Atomic Bomb)
He chooses a few covers and they are unique and fresh and well chosen for this album, (Nickel and a Nail, Lead a Horse to Water). The guitar playing throughout is exquisite, always serving the song, always unique and mind bendingly exciting. There are no shortage of white men playing and singing the blues, and that almost makes me sad, worrying that this album might get lost in the mess of them. But this album is very special, and needs to be heard.

BUTLER'S BLUES
Malcom Kennedy – May 2019, Washington Blues Society Bluesletter
Brian Butler has been on the local blues scene for some time and his last CD, Wait All Night, was nominated by the membership of the Washington Blues Society as Best Blues Recording as is Butler’s Blues for this year’s awards. The album features 13 selections including 10 originals. In addition to solo gigs Brian is one of Brian Lee’s Orbiters and playing the new Spencer Jarrett Blues Band. Brian is an exceptional musician playing guitar and blues harp, his singing is top notch and his song crafting is also notable. Brian opens with "Johnny Young", a song about a mandolin player who was a regular on Chicago’s famed Maxwell Street playing with Sonny Boy I and Muddy Waters in the early 40’s and in clubs with Little Walter with few sides of his own and was rediscovered in the 1960’s.
One of the standouts on Butler’s Blues is "Mississippi Woman". This song is the real deal and deserves major radio play. Two of the covers are fairly obscure, "Lead A Horse to Water" by R&B/blues singer Earl Thomas and "Yonder Comes the Blues" by the sparsely recorded folk rocker Fred Neil. The third cover is "A Nickle and A Nail", a song sung by O.V. Wright which Butler does in a beautiful mellow bluesy style. "Oxbow Blues" is a solid finger picking instrumental and "News About Billy" is a heartfelt song of the loss of a friend and life’s lessons. Brian closes out the CD with "Place Pigalle", a song about a Pike Place Market venue steeped in Seattle history that ranges from the Klondike Goldrush to a blues dive in the 70’s affectionately called the "Pig". Ask any musician around town who was active at the time on the blues scene and they will have tales about "Place Pigalle". I give the album my highest recommendation: An instant classic.

BUTLER'S BLUES
Chris Lunn – Winter 2018-19, Ancient Victories
In addition to being a superb solo blues guitarist, harmonica player and soulful big-voiced singer, Butler is a commensurate writer and tunesmith. A couple of his originals are among a body of songs that I always want to hear. Butler is also a solid blues backup and lead guitarist. So now (like Steve Beck; see previous issue) he has over the past few years acquired his own studio sound recording equipment and learned the programs and techniques to create his own recording. Of the thirteen songs, all but three are penned by Butler. The first is "Johnny Young ", about a blues mandolin player from the 40s and 50s in Chicago as the electric blues scene developed. He takes this in the harmonica/guitar style closely associated with Broonzy, McGhee and Terry. The sound is clean; singing is direct and clear. The pulse of Butler’s guitar moves as Butler sings of this Chicago bluesman at his greatest and who hit hard times. Guitar solo rolls back and forth with solid hesitations and quick holds that draw the listener in the rhythm. The ballad "Snow River" is a song about a Northwest river starting out in Monroe that now runs in a ditch; you would not recognize her now. His line "twisted the natural thing" as developers take over. Powerful song and one of my favorites. He made the guitar backup a bit more bluesy to fit this collection, but I preferred the more ballad guitar on his previous recording of this song. Butler take the Earl Thomas tune "Lead a Horse to Water" with a jug band and Dan McKinstry-like sound. Words in this loping tune spill out and one is totally taken in, shuffling along to the guitars and touches of harmonica. Superb rhythm. Back to his own song in "Taking the Train." Butler has a run that weaves the rhythm as the blues works almost into minor line. He talks about taking the train to get some money, but all things are going wrong. This is blues with its slightly modern feel. Read more...

Randy Williams, Entertainment Director
Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival
"If you're an Entertainment Director and want to look good - hire bluesman Brian Butler. Nobody's going anywhere while this guy's on stage. I shook almost as many hands for hiring him as he did for his performance. "

Washington Blues Society Bluesletter
Eric Steiner reviews Wait All Night

"Brian Butler's new self-produced CD is one of my favorite local acoustic releases of the year. Scott Ross crisply captured Wait All Night's 12 tracks at Elliot Bay Recording, and I particularly liked originals like "Inconsequential", "Second Line Beat", and "Serious Business"." Read more...

Paul, Willow and Dave, hosts
Unbound Blues Jam, The Madison, Everett
"Brian is a fantastic guitarist and singer who happens to be another longtime Northwest favorite. Steeply versed in the blues, Brian also likes to venture out and explore other styles of music. When performing on stage, he truly enjoys entertaining people, and his choice of material lends itself to telling stories set to music."

Ancient Victorys
Chris Lunn reviews Wait All Night

"Blues based singer, guitarist and composer Brian Butler showed up at some acoustic open mikes in the 70's and 80's. He was also pursuing and making a name in the electric blues-based band scene. " Read more...

Lance Haslund, Director
Burien Jazz Walk
"The next time Brian Butler & Paul Green play our festival we'll be sure to put them in a larger venue. They had an SRO crowd spellbound. Great vocals, great players, and brilliant audience engagement. Do yourself a favor; hire these guys."

Mike Ogliore, Vice President, Events & Operations
Bellevue Downtown Association
"The Bellevue Downtown Association has hosted Brian Butler (solo, duo & band) at numerous events over the years and we continue to be impressed with his connection to our audiences and professionalism. He always puts on a great show and his blues guitar style is spirited & soulful!"

Kevin Callan, Beach Party Host
"I first saw Brian Butler play solo back in the 80's. Then a few years later I caught him with the Brian Butler Blues Band and was blown away with his guitar work and great blues rifts. Brian plays a lot of his own original material and it's really great stuff. I asked him to play at my 40th birthday party and Brian and his band were fantastic. Then he played at my 50th party and brought the roof down! He's been playing for our annual summer beach party for the last 5 years and he never disappoints, he's the main reason people don't miss it. Brian always puts on a great show and gets people out dancing in the sand. If you get a chance to see Brian, solo or with the band don't miss it! "

Victory Music Review
Heidi Fosner reviews Wait All Night

"Brian Butler has been on the Seattle music scene since the 70's and his newest CD Wait All Night can only add to his already excellent reputation." Read more...

Washington Blues Society Bluesletter
Mark Dalton reviews Restless Street

"Brian Butler is one hell of a blues guitar player. Has been for many years. I've got a tape of Butler playing "Sweet Little Angel" at Pig Alley around 1976 that is as intense and authoritative as anything I've heard Robert Cray to do date, for example." Read more...