Can I get a HELL YEAH about Butch Walker?

Butch Walker possesses a certain charm and wit that just does not come along every day. He is rock’s answer to Woody Allen. Unfortunately, Woody Allen movies do not earn $100,000,000 at the box office. And also unfortunately, I can’t see old Butch going multi-platinum any time soon.

Witnessing Butch live may help those “on the bubble” fans understand exactly why his fan base is so loyal to an almost freakish degree. Therefore, Butch Walker: Live At Budokan is a perfect exhibition of his talents. The first section of the DVD features seven songs that were filmed while opening for Avril Lavigne in 2005. It illustrates Butch’s ability as an emotional and charismatic front man. There are no obvious musical overdubs, so you really witness a Butch performance that is “warts and all.” The show has some flaws, but nobody ever claimed that rock n’ roll had to be perfect. Observe the look in his eyes during “The Best Thing You Never Had,” and tell me that you can’t actually see his pain. Butch connects with the audience, and the video just doesn’t lie. During “Mixtape,” you can’t help of think of those times in high school when you compiled all of your favorite songs onto one cassette. That maybe one reason why he has yet to connect with a younger audience, but the words “Mix CD” or “iPod on shuffle” just do not roll off the tongue in the same manner. Overall, I have not seen anything this compelling since the OJ Simpson trial. Okay, bad example. But I think you know what I mean.

Now turn the clock back to 2003. The second part of the DVD is an acoustic theater show that was captured in Atlanta. What I imagine are the first public performances of songs from the brilliant Letters, Butch starts of strong, but probably should have laid off the wine until later in the show. The last few songs are endearingly sloppy, yet could have benefited from just a bit more sobriety. No fear – it’s still worth the price of admission.
Okay class, now what did we learn today? We learned that the man they call “Walker” is one heck of an entertaining performer. Butch Walker: Live At Budokan is worth every penny (whether you are a fan or not). And it’s on sale over at Sony for less than fifteen American dollars. While you are at it, Amazon has Letters for less than $10.00. Break the piggy bank and show the Walker family some love. Please help make his momma proud!

Good night and good luck.