Will Butler at Baby’s All Right (November 12, 2014)

You may know Will Butler best as a member of Arcade Fire, brother of frontman, Win Butler. Make way guys, Will is stepping out on his own, grabbing some spotlight as a solo act. He’ll release his debut album Policy on March 10 via Merge Records

Last month (before the album was announced) Butler stopped by Baby’s All Right for a first look at the album, playing 10 tracks, which we can only assume are all off the record (though no official tracklist has been shared). Will rocked the stage along with two female singers, one of which was his wife Jenny Shore. His son Alvin was also watching within the crowd (with a cute set of ear-protecting earphones – photo below).

His material was unsurprisingly varied, from the rock-stomp of recently released single “Take My Side,” to the contemplative balladry of “Finish,” which sounds like it could have been an outtake from the Neon Bible sessions. There were some songs that do reflect (or, reflekt…ahem) moments of Arcade Fire, but for the most part, Butler is marching to the beat of his own drum. Take “Sun Comes Up” has was piano-based but had some moments of a ballad from say LCD Soundsystem or The Rapture.

It was a varied and exciting set that quickly established Butler as his own man. But if you heard the incredible work that he did along with Owen Pallet on the Her soundtrack, you shouldn’t be surprised.

I’m excited to see what the recorded forms of the songs sound like come March. For now, enjoy “Take My Side.” It’s posted below, along with the setlist and a bunch of photos to go along with it.

Jenny Shore, with their son, Alvin.

Setlist:

1. Cold
2. Son Of God
3. What I Want
4. Finish
5. Sun Comes Up
6. Surrender
7. Witness
8. Fields
9. Take My Side
10. I Don’t Know