Tuttle shows she is on the "Rise"

Molly Tuttle may somewhat of a newbie to the uninitiated, but she's been at her craft a long time. Coupled with a country and bluegrass EP just released ("Rise"), Tuttle put her long experience to good use in the live setting.

The California native started performing on stage 11 and recording her first disc two years later. She is also part of a quartet, The Goodbye Girls. Somehow, "Rise" is her solo debut.

Tuttle showcased herself to be one superb singer, somewhat in the mold of Alison Krauss, although, comparing her with Krauss would not be especially fair given Krauss has perhaps the best voice in music. But Tuttle seems to have learned a thing from Krauss in terms of vocal control. Like Krauss, she has a lot of beauty in her voice. Tuttle was expressive without being over the top.

She also was smart enough to vary the evening from the musical styles to incorporating her band. Each band member received the opportunity to lead a song, whether with vocals or instrumental. Tuttle herself contributed with some quick acoustic guitar licks throughout, proving she not only knows how to sing, but play.

Tuttle had a most worthy backing band with Wes Corbett, a former Berklee College of Music (Tuttle went there also) banjo professor and member of Joy Kills Sorrow, having a lot of meaty licks on his instrument. He also had a sense of humor with the instrumental "Dinosaur Birthday," somehow based on a birthday party his girlfriend threw for him.

Fiddle/mandolin player Bryan McDowell proved to be an equally splendid accompanist adding a lot of colors to the sounds. He also had keen humor as he led the way on "Grey Owl." Only, the Claire Lynch Band member claimed that he knew nothing about the song, which he said was given to him earlier in the day.

Probably not true, but was most clear on this evening was that while Tuttle may have been out there a long time in crafting music, she has hit her stride in a night of music that made you take notice of a talent clearly on the rise.