As John Butler came on stage to grab the audience’s attention and introduce a brief performance and speech by representatives of the Nyoongar people, traditional owners of the land, the vibe ahead of his performance wasn’t what was expected of the Perth Concert Hall. For those still mingling outside, having a drink, or lining up at the merchandise desk it would have come as some surprise, but for those already seated, it further cemented Butler’s reputation as a humanitarian who strives to do as much as he can to involve his fans in his interests and beliefs; including the Oxfam and Wilderness Society stalls just outside the entry to the hall, the enrol to vote message at the merchandise desk, reiterated on one of his guitars during his band’s set.

Sydney’s Josh Pyke had supported for the entire tour, and with tonight being the final show, it was an opportunity to look back on the tour as a whole for all involved, including Pyke, happily proclaiming this to be the his (and one can assume, his band’s) favourite tour so far. And with a reasonable length 45-minute support slot, Pyke and his band of merry, well, bandmates, mostly showcased material from the current record, and saved two earlier singles Private Education and Middle of the Hill for the finale of their set, leaving even the most die-hard John Butler fan enjoying Pyke’s brand of acoustic folk laced with pop.

That being said, as much as the crowd had enjoyed Josh Pyke, they were there for one reason and one reason only – the John Butler Trio. On his second of two nights at the venue, the three were welcomed by a second sellout crowd. Not only tapping into their ears, but with a restrained use of visuals augmented by a tight light show, the act bombarded the audience’s senses from the get-go, entering the stage as the visuals proclaimed the show a carbon neutral event.

While the Trio opened with Used to Get High and Daniella, from the current album Grand National, the evening soon became not only about their songs (covering large sections of the JBT’s back catalogue as well as the current record), but the vibe itself. The catchy Pickapart was an early highlight, and the Sunrise Over Sea material managed to get a fair look-in. While there were solos and a lone Butler spell that might have tested some audience members’ desire to hear the hits as they knew them, Butler certainly seemed to have much interest in doing a show that he likes, as he does a show the audience likes.

The balance of an act entertaining themselves and entertaining the crowd is a tricky one, but by looking at the audience in the Perth Concert Hall at this show, the Trio seemed to have little failure, as people danced in the aisles, while punters with cherished front-row tickets had to slot in behind an impromptu standing area. Not that anyone seemed to mind; it was just too damn fun.

Nearly two hours later, and closing the set with Good Excuse, it wasn’t long before the obligatory encore. However, the encore was to be something quite special indeed. Welcoming Josh Pyke and his band back to the stage, the double-act performed a rousing version of the Paul Kelly/Kev Carmody-penned From Little Things, Big Things Grow – a track written about the 1966 Gurindji workers’ strike, and an appropriate choice given Butler’s respect for the indigenous culture. The performance was a startling reminder that there was often a wonderful surprise waiting for them at the end of a successful tour.

As the guests left the stage for the last time, the John Butler Trio closed out the night with Peaches & Cream and the double whammy of recent and current singles Better Than and Funky Tonight, as he thanked by name as many people invovled with the tour as he could possibly remember (as well as plugging drummer Michael Barker’s side project). While closing the encore with two songs the act were guaranteed to play ensured a lively closure to the night, it was possibly the only time during the entire show at which the Trio seemed at all conventional. A slight note of disappointment by the obvious nature of how it ended, completely dwarfed by the previous two hours-plus that cemented Butler’s position as a man who is fiercely independent and continues to connect with a large audience without compromising his own beliefs.