One thing I’ll say about Madison and our vibrant music scene. It has a way of attracting experienced musicians who are looking for a great place to live and collaborate with other high quality players. Such is the case with recent arrival Dave Tuttle.
“I’m originally from the east,” explains Dave, “I grew up and lived in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. But then my wife at the time, who works in the horse industry, got us relocated over to Kentucky. I went to a songwriter round in Louisville and met Danny Flannigan, and then through that connection I met Robert Reynolds. That was about 3 years ago, and I started playing with Robert and his band 67 Sun.
“I play mostly pedal steel guitar and violin with Robert’s band, but I also play regular guitar, mandolin, you know, anything with strings. I grew up on rock, but I’m also influenced by Celtic and bluegrass. I have a history of violin players in my family.
“So anyway, I was rehearsing and playing with 67 Sun while still living in Kentucky, but Madison started to grow on me. I like the town, Robert has become a great friend, and I like the music scene. Things are really starting to work out.
“Now that I’m here full time, I’m getting a lot of session-type work, sitting in for specific projects. I’ve worked with Anthony Ray Wright on some stuff, I play sometimes with the band Radioface, and Rusty Bladen called me to help out on a Neil Young show he’s putting together. Plus I’m in a band called Bottom Feeders that will be playing at Mad Paddle soon.”
In addition to his musical talents, Dave is also a skilled taxidermist, with a specialty in avian displays for museums and nature centers. “I work in a speciality area of taxidermy, doing more commercial type work for educational institutions and natural history centers. I’ve even done props for TV and movies. There’s a scene from a Sopranos episode where a deer accidentally gets shot. That was my deer!
“Anyway, I’m really glad I made the move to Madison. I feel like there is something in the air here. Like we’re right on the cusp of something big, maybe. I want to be a part of that creative energy. Like it was in Laurel Canyon back in the day, when all those artists lived in the same place and fed off each other. I think we can have that here with our music scene and all the great players who are moving here.”
HOT TIP OF THE WEEK:
This Friday, Feb. 7, is kind of a big deal for Madison’s music scene. That’s the day that the new Unbroken Circle Music Festival will be announcing their full music line-up. By most measures, this will be the most impressive and popular band line up ever featured by any music event in Madison’s history, especially if you are a fan of the kind or alt-outlaw-real country and Americana music that is the festival’s emphasis. The 3-day festival is scheduled for Sept. 4-6, and tickets are on sale right now at UnbrokenCircleFest.com. Looking at this upcoming week in music you have a number of great options, including two opportunities to see the incomparable and always entertaining Matt Red Moore. If you are looking for something really special and original, make your way to Red Bicycle Hall on Saturday night for the Shelby Lore Band out of West Virginia. They played here for Mad Hop Music Fest back in November and they are the real deal. Oh, also on Saturday if you are a fan of the Rumors band, you can see them at Mad Paddle for a very reasonable cover charge. It’s warm again people, no excuse not to get out there and support live music in Indiana’s Music City!
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