The Buttertones melt hearts on fall U.S. tour

The Buttertones won fans on tour in the Midwest last year and were back to melt hearts once again on a cold autumn evening at Omaha's Slowdown.

This year has been a bit of a whirlwind for the Buttertones, with the band playing South by Southwest, debuting at Coachella, putting out a new album, and seemingly touring nonstop.

Just more than a year had passed since the band's last stop in Omaha. (Review: The Buttertones prove they're the next big thing) On Oct. 1, the band played highlights from its deepest album yet without overlooking its past.

After an energetic set from opening band Wild Wing (which sounded a little like the Black Lips), the Buttertones' Richard Araiza set the tone for the night. He thanked the opening band, calling them "beautiful people," and then added that the audience were beautiful people, too. The crowd, of course, ate it up.

Photos by Christopher Windle.

It was a dreary Monday night, but Araiza and the band turned on the charm nonetheless. Guitarist Dakota Böttcher mentioned after the show that just a couple weeks before he'd been working on his car in sunny California, picking up a tan, and wasn't quite ready for the cold weather. Araiza was even wearing a sweater.

But the weather didn't get the band or the crowd down. The audience danced to songs like "Two-
Headed Shark," "Neon Cowboy," and "Sadie's a Sadist. 

With four timeless albums in its repertoire, the Buttertones managed to touch on some the best moments from each of them in the 18-song set.

"American Brunch" was well-represented. The band opened with "Life Coach" and sprinkled others throughout: "Dak's Back," "Baby Doll," and "Colorado." The band even went all the way back to the beginning with a rousing "Orpheus Under the Influence."

The Buttertones played the singles from and a couple of other songs off its fourth and latest album, "Midnight in a Moonless Dream," while breakout album "Gravedigging" dominated the setlist.

Araiza's voice sounded better than ever. He channeled the Cramps' Lux Interior on "Baby C4" and went deep for "You and Your Knife." London Guzman's saxophone and keyboards and Sean Redman's bass added a welcome new wave sheen to the track. On "Winks and Smiles," Araiza seemingly sang "zigzag my way through a Monday night," instead of "Saturday night." Nice touch.

A couple of additional track offs "Midnight in a Moonless Dream," like "Jungle" and "Darling, I Need Time But Don't Really Know Why," were missed. (New record reviews: Duran Duran, the Buttertones ...) But the Buttertones know it's good to keep the crowd wanting more.

The band showed off its multiple facets, with Böttcher singing lead on "Don't Cry Alone" and "I Ran Away," played back to back. The band closed things out with "Gravediggin'," but it turned out the crowd did still want more.

For the encore, the Buttertones asked for requests and happily obliged, playing one of the band's best, "Matador," and an electrifying version of "La Bamba," sung by drummer Modeste Cobian.

A fan shared her setlist, signed by Dak, for this snap.

After the show, the band wasn't selling its own merch this time, but mingled with the crowd nonetheless. Böttcher shared hugs and autographs with adoring female fans. Araiza took time for a chat, promising to be back in Omaha in a year.

There will be a lot for fans to look forward to in the next year as the band continues on its upward projectory. Maybe a new album? Only time will tell.