Confetti by Dave Boutette

The gifted Ann Arbor acoustic music scene provided an ideal environment for Dave to test his songwriter legs.

With bigger bookings requiring greater sonic support, Boutette assembled The Old Dogs in late 1999. The band's roster draws on a well of friends and great players that Dave has known for many years.

Before stepping out on his own, Boutette spent ten years with the Detroit-based alterna-rock bar kings The Junk Monkeys. The band toured the nation relentlessly, supporting acts such as the Goo Goo Dolls and Hootie and the Blowfish, while recording under the Warner Bros./Metal Blade label from 1990-93.

In recent years Boutette has performed at many Michigan and Ohio venues including the Acoustic Avenue Cafe Series, the Ark, the Barking Spider, the Blind Pig, Borders Books and Music stores, the Cadieux Cafe, Kejara's Bridge, MAMA's Coffehouse, Memphis Smoke, Greektown's Music Menu, the Trinity House Theatre, and Xhedo's Cafe. Music and community festivals Dave has performed at include the Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor's Top of the Park Series, the Dearborn Homecoming Festival, the Grand Marais Songwriters Festival, and Milford Memories. In addition to live radio performances on WDET and WCSX, Dave has also been a featured artist on the Detroit Underground television series.

Boutette's 2001 release, Dave Boutette And The Old Dog Songbook features Boutette's perspective on the weary and wiser musician's life amidst the confident playing of his band The Old Dogs. Songbook's characters and melodies blend into pop-smart demolition derby guitar tunes that easily give way to subtle pairings of lapsteel and mandolin, congas and twelve strings.

Recently

Boutette has found a new home on Embassy Hotel Records. Confetti is Dave's first effort for the Embassy Hotel organization. Information can be found at www.embassyhotelrecords.com.

Boutette is among a number of Michigan artists who contributed to Tell it, Think it, Speak it, Breathe it, a compilation cd to benefit the Ann Arbor Area Committee for Peace. Dave is also a regular participant with Dylanfest, a yearly concert to raise funds for the Ann Arbor Safehouse, a domestic violence shelter. Recently he has been busy assembling on a dare, the Sugarbeat Cowboys, an all-star-rockin'-zydeco party band.

Reviews

"Confetti is destined to become one of those CDs I cite for proof when talking about the world-class talent with which Ann Arbor is blessed. Ann Arbor-area favorite Dave Boutette sings here in a folksy style that's pure Midwestern - comfortable like a favorite easy chair." Roger LeLievre, Ann Arbor News

"A member of the legendary Junk Monkeys, Dave Boutette's solo material rocks and rolls around in quieter pastures on the alt-country side of the fence. An accessable, folksy style permeates a substantial passel of impressive tunes-some soft and warm as the sun in the Midwestern sky, reflecting a wry, hearty sincerity." Karen Fisher, MetroTimes, Detroit

"With all the fun, it would be easy to miss that Boutette's carefully distilled lyrics sparkle with a subtle, beautiful brilliance." Mark Ziemba, Ann Arbor Current

"Boutette's genial temperament and taste make each song durable, and he baits his hooks like a Zen trout fishing master." Bruce Martin, Ann Arbor News

"Boutette's originals are folky, down-homey gems with genuine swing and easy rhymes that move his stories along effortlessly, their gentle emotions dancing around larger truths." Todd Spencer, Ann Arbor Current

"Dave's cool confident stage presence and strong guitar playing are great aspects of his show." The Ark, Ann Arbor

"Dave Boutette is an optimistic songwriter, charming and funny in an easy, casual way. He's nostalgic, looking at the past and at times of transition with an eye for vivid detail." Erick Trickey, Ann Arbor Observer

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