I picked up Duane Rutter's debut CD Waiting Room at a show I attended in Port Dover a while back & I absolutely love it! One of my favourite musicians, Dan Walsh (currently with Brock Zeman) produced this CD & contributes beautifully-played dobro, lap steel & more to Duane's well-crafted songs. I'm not good at describing music, the reviewers below do a much better job, but I know that this CD will definitely be included on my 2008 favourites compilation, but it's going to be tough to choose just one song! 
I've copied a couple of reviews from Duane's MySpace below. There's lots more to read there if you're interested.
Duane Rutter has Hit a Home Run with "Waiting Room"
author: Steve Clarke
I've never met Duane Rutter. We've traded e-mails a couple of times and he seems like a pretty nice guy -- down to earth and focused on what matters, like family and friends, but we’ve never been able to meet face to face. So, despite the fates not having let us meet, I feel that I know him and it’s all because he sent me his debut CD "Waiting Room".
Now, Duane’s no novice at this music thing – he’s called himself “a twenty-five year overnight sensation”; but he’s an accomplished singer-songwriter as well as an experienced side man with various musicians in the Simcoe / Port Dover area of southwestern Ontario. This is an album that features exceptionally crafted tunes complemented by insightful, often introspective lyrics that address life’s universal themes.
Backed by exceptional players including the multi-talented Dan Walsh, the guitar, dobro, mandolin and upright bass all support each arrangement without overpowering. Mr. Rutter has managed to capture a haunting, yet hopeful spirit throughout the album.
Whether the powerful confessions in “Goodnight Amy” or the difficulties of relationship building in “Heartless Wheel” or even the surreal imagery of “Dead Man”, this is a collection of ten songs that speaks from and to the heart.
My personal favourite? Perhaps, “Rachel Sings”, or maybe “No More Wine for Jesus” or . . . Even better: buy the album, grab your earphones and enjoy. Hopefully you’ll become as big a fan as I have.
Congratulations Duane – you have a winner here. I like to think that it will be easy to trade a tall tale or two with you over a pot of coffee when we finally get to meet.
Steve Clarke
Acoustic Planet Erin Radio -- CHES 101.5 FM
www.erinradio.ca
For Immediate Release May 8, 2007
Busted Flat Records launches Duane Rutter’s long-awaited debut album, Waiting Room
Duane Rutter’s debut album, Waiting Room, is more than 25 years in the making. The singer-songwriter has been at it since he first picked up a guitar at the age of 14 in Walsingham, Ontario, his hometown, and later, Port Rowan, Ontario, where he now calls home. He formed bands in high school and played his first solo gigs before he was 20, playing in lineups with music legends like Linda Lee and Ronnie Hawkins band members, Terry Danko and James Atkinson.
Overhear.com calls Rutter’s music “a combination of elements of everything from blues, folk, country, bluegrass and even a little psychedelia to form a riveting stew of emotional sustenance.”
Rutter’s soft voice and smooth melodies feel like he could be playing in your living room. If you close your eyes and let everything but the music fall away, you’d swear he was. Mandolin, upright bass and piano complement the baritone, parlour and bass guitar sounds, making for a relaxed, rich sound.
“Rachel Sings,” one of Rutter’s personal favourites from the album, showcases his talent for combining poetic lyrics with beautiful melodies that seem almost hopeful in both their tone and introspection. Together they explore the experiences of a man coming to terms with love, loss and change.
Rutter calls his style “North American Bluegrass with a heavy spiritual vibe.” Don’t be misled though – Rutter’s not preaching religion. He explains that his brand of spirituality stems from a desire to “spread the spirit of kindness and good will to as many people as possible while my body walks the earth.”
Rutter’s musical influences include Guy Clark, The Carter Family, Fred Eaglesmith, The Band, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Waylon Jennings and Lightinin’ Hopkins. It doesn’t take long to find these influences in his work, but Rutter definitely has a style and sound of his own.
Rutter spent 10 years away from the stage, which led to what he calls “a spiritual awakening that culminated in a return to performing in 2005.” Last year he signed with Mark Logan of Busted Flat Records and began working on tracks for Waiting Room. It was worth the wait.
“I took 10 years off from live performance in order to pull myself together and try and figure out what I really expected of myself as an artist,” says Rutter, “then word got out that I was hanging around a little studio close by, and a few gigs started trickling in, next thing I knew I was back in the game full time and ready to roll.”
Waiting Room features multi-talented producer/performer Dan Walsh (formerly of Fred Eaglesmith Band, currently with Brock Zeman), The Blue Rubies (Cindy Dell and Jen Ryckman)and Lee Anne Wesseling, who provides beautiful backup vocals. Additional support comes from Carrie Ashworth (J.P. Riemens & The Barfly's), Ty Ramsey-Porter, Paul Atkinson (The Atkinsons) and the incomparable Alfie Smith.The album was recorded in what’s come to be known as Dan Walsh’s “Cozy Little Shack on Lake Erie.”
Duane Rutter’s musical journey has taken him to bars and stages all over Ontario and beyond, but with the release of Waiting Room, he’ll be touring extensively and playing big city venues, with stops in Victoria, Calgary and Toronto.
The humility that resonates in his musical style and on his blog on MySpace suggests that this man who’s simply been doing what he loves for most of his life has no idea that he is on the cusp of being discovered by legions of adoring fans across the country.
Indie Digest’s Deward Weese predicts, “Waiting Room may very well turn out to be one of 2007's most intriguing releases. Catch one of Rutter’s captivatingly intimate performances and get an autographed copy. You won't be sorry.”
Waiting Room is available through www.bustedflatrecords.com, CD Baby, iTunes, CD Plus (in the Simcoe Town Centre mall , Simcoe Ontario), Fred Eaglesmiths Hobo Store and Lightning Jacks's (both in Port Dover Ontario), and Encore Records in Kitchener Ontario.
Duane Rutter’s tour dates are available at www.myspace.com/duaneruttersolo . Listen to tracks from Waiting Room at www.bustedflatrecords.com .
Keep it simple
In the middle of the night
We keep sending little kites
Until a little light gets through ~ Patty Griffin
F*ck it, I'm off to the river
Just get me outta here ~ D. Bentall