Ann Arbor Songwriters in the Round featuring Dave Boutette, Chris Buhalis, Brian Lillie and Timothy Monger

          Dave Boutette's Midwest is full of passion, humor and shaken grace. Influenced by songwriters that span from Chuck Berry to Lyle Lovett, Dave Boutette documents the trips and triumphs of life between the coasts. With a full band or just a guitar, Boutette calls up images of parking lots, college towns and Camaros to reveal a Midwest experience worthy of space in any collection of latter day American songwriting.
         Last Fall Dave released his second CD for Ann Arbor's Thursday Records, Dave Boutette And The Old Dog Songbook. Written for anyone who's lost too many afternoons hanging around guitar shops or record stores, Songbook features Boutette's perspective on the weary and wiser musician's life. Before stepping out on his own, Boutette spent ten years with the Detroit-based alterna-rock bar band, The Junk Monkeys. The band toured the nation relentlessly and recorded under the Warner Bros./Metal Blade label from 1990-93.

         Chris Buhalis is not only a songwriter, but an accomplished performer; having appeared on radio's Acoustic Cafe and performing live at such venerable and respected venues as the Ark in Ann Arbor, MI. In his endless series of gigs throughout the Midwest, Northwest and beyond, Chris has shared with great artists like David Bromberg and Catie Curtis and opened for such luminaries as Dave Van Ronk. Chris also recorded with the legendary Townes Van Zandt who makes a vocal appearance on Chris' debut CD, Kenai Dreams. This is Chris' second visit to Trinity House.

        Brian Lillie has performed in everything from avant-garde rock bands to Sufi-inspired dance groups, but his first love has always been playing simple, heartfelt folk rock for humans. The message of Lillie's latest album, Good Luck Fire Chief, is one of musical joy. The overall feel ends up somewhere between the chamber folk pop stylings of Revolver-era Beatles, the alchemical group playing of Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, John Prine at his finger-picking best, and Pavement (!). Brian had some of Ann Arbor's best players guest appear on Fire Chief, most notably The Original Brothers and Sisters of Love, who act as the band on the title track and two others. Also featured are David Mosher, KC Groves, Jim Roll and more.

       Timothy Monger sings and plays guitar, accordion, melodica, and ukulele for the Original Brothers and Sisters of Love. The band was born when Tim and his brother Jamie began hovering around a four-track in their Brighton, Michigan bedroom. Not long thereafter, the two original brothers packed up their studio and a couple of guitars and headed North. Inspired by the beauty of Northern Michigan, they nurtured what was to become the core songwriting team of T.O.B.A.S.O.L., writing and recording in hotel rooms all across the Upper Peninsula. The Original Brothers and Sisters blend melodic pop with an eclectic instrumental mix, calling to mind some of the bands that have influenced the group: The Beach Boys, Fairport Convention and The Gourds. Their CD H.O.M.E.S was released on the Telegraph Company.