[rating=6.00]
Will Butler’s penchant for spontaneity is on full display on Friday Night, his boisterous second solo disc following on the heels of his 2015 debut, the ambiguously titled Policy. Recorded live on the tour that offered opportunity to tout that then-current album, it finds him playful, punchy and precocious, a far cry from the heavy lidded stance he takes along with his brother Win in Arcade Fire, his present full time occupation. At times seemingly off the cuff — evidenced in the announcer’s admonition to the audience to greet Butler with boos (really? Why?), the placement of “Tell Me We’re All Right,” an encore from a separate performance that for some reason here, precedes the main set, and Butler’s admission that that particular song had never been played in public before, much less even rehearsed — all contribute to that impromptu atmosphere.
There’s more to it than that, however. Butler’s offhanded stage patter and the rowdy revelry conveyed through his songs lead one to believe that Butler was winging his way to some elevated exhilaration. This is heard on the call and response back and forth between artist and audience on the aforementioned “Tell Me We’re All Right,” the yelps that punctuate “You Must Be Kidding,”and the steady stream of seemingly unhinged rockers that bring the set to a raucous conclusion. In the future perhaps, Butler might opt to reign in his revelry. For now however, it emerges as part of a celebratory style, oozing both charm and tenacity all at the same time.
If, as Elton John once stated, Saturday night is actually alright for fighting, Butler makes us believe that Fridays are all about the fun. Indeed, this is one of those records which not only extends the vibe, but actually makes one wish they had been there to witness it firsthand.
