Beth Nielsen Chapman & Paul Reisler

Join Beth Nielsen Chapman and Paul Reisler for a songwriting workshop and concert on April 21, 2012 at Ashland Coffee & Tea, 100 N. Railroad Avenue, Ashland, VA 23005, Phone: (804) 798-1702.

The workshop will take place from 1 – 5 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8 p.m.

Workshop Fee
The fee for the workshop will be $35 for VOCAL members and $40 for non-members.
Click here to register for the workshop.

Concert Admission
$15 in advance, $20 day of the show. Tickets may be purchased through Ashland Coffee & Tea.

About the Workshop
For the workshop, Beth will focus on creativity and song critiques. Paul will teach the music writing part of songwriting with classes in creating memorable melodies and in harmony and chord substitution.

Click here for more information about the workshop and  to register.
Click here for Concert tickets through Ashland Coffee & Tea.

Despite a light turnout, this night’s VOCAL showcase was enthusiastically presented. A standout group of performers gave the audience what they came for, lots of great music and entertainment. The entertainers were eclectic, emotional and eccentric. A somewhat novel approach for showcase was used for the first set of performers, three songwriters doing a round robin of songs, alternating after each song. Though, it might have been better to have three stools and the singers on stage throughout the set, the result was still very successful. First up, was Eileen Edmonds, a songwriter of well honed material and voice. She presented an eclectic mix of music during her five song set. Standouts included “Don’t Forget Mississippi”, “Roaring Back” and “Pieces of Light” which received lots of applause. She is a well seasoned veteran and skilled artist in the Richmond music scene. Following her in the rotation was Pam McCarthy. Pam is a long time VOCAL member and well known performer in Central Virginia. Much of her material on the 12 string, was highly emotional, detailing failing relationships and heartfelt longing. Standouts included “The Good Years”, “Just a Kiss” and Empty Arms”. (titles intuited). Her voice was well suited to the material. Last in the round robin, but certainly not a subset, was Glenda Creamer, a lady of immense talent and story-telling ability. She wowed the audience with some humorous and eccentric country themed songs and musical longings such as the opener “Sailing September Winds”, Among the favorites and cheer getters were “Dumpling” and “Country Kids”. Much of her material was infused with high soprano voicings that added to the sort of homespun presentation. Overall: these three women ably demonstrated what a fine array of musical talent we have in VOCAL.
Featured artist of the evening was Bill Wellons. An apt title for him might be “Mr. Pianoman” as he demonstrated his highly versatile ability at the keyboard throughout his nine song set. Name a style, jazz, country, blues. pop and he can do it. “Lucky Old Guy” exhibited a Randy Newmanish quality of well composed pop. “Three Ring Circus” accompanied by Gary Shaver on sax, fell right into the novelty bag. “Penicillin” (John Ellis on guitar) provided some comic relief and showed off Bill’s great lyric sense. With vocal assistance from Steve Nuckolls, Bill next delighted the audience with his homage to Lady Gaga. And then there was the show stopper, “Gonna Take My Baby Dancing” a 1920’s style tune, which apparently was especially written for the singer of it, Norman Nortledorf who, in his best dress-up outfit, gave us a raucous animated performance of the song. Closing out the night, Bill played a couple of blues tinged songs to complete a well presented. pleasing night of musical variety and song stylings. Kudos also go out Steve Smithson for doing a fine job handling the sound board and mixing.

http://www.weshopsongs.com/cloud-music-business.html

Coming up on September 19, 2011

• The VOCAL Songwriters Showcase at O’Toole’s.
• In-the-Round: Glenda Creamer, EIleen Edmonds, Sarah Kane
• Headliner: Bill Wellons
• 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Click here for directions

See you there!

Coming up on August 15, 2011

• The VOCAL Songwriters Showcase at O’Toole’s.
• Larry Cody
• Matthew Costello
• Glenda Creamer
• Eileen Edmonds
• John Ellis
• Chuck Kerwaith
• Russell Lawson
• Steve Nuckolls
• Don Pinkleton
• Gary Shaver
• Jim Uzel
• 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Click here for directions

See you there!

Tonight’s showcase featured two contrasting artists: Gerry Laverty, the smooth balladeer and Andrew Rohlk, the Emo singer/songwriter. Laverty was first up and kicked off his location oriented set with “Only Need”, a touching Irish folk song with echoes of military and skirling undertones provided by his strumming technique. The medium sized audience was very enthusiastic, and responded with a big round of applause. “Details of Catastrophe” Followed next and Gerry accompanied himself with mouth harp on this rockabilly tinged song about the post Katrina aftermath. A song written from the perspective of a house continued the set in what was a dylanesque folk style. Heading back to his Irish roots. Gerry next gave us “Don’t Want to Die” which was inspired, he says, by the tragic death of Glenn Miller, who disappeared during WWII, while flying over the Atlantic. The minor chorded “Blues In The Night” offered a change of pace in tone. “Jerusalem” picked up the tempo and outlined the conflicts going on in the Middle East, to the end that peace is a desired outcome. He next called up Valerie Rourke to provide harmony on “Lonesome Blue Eyes” which offered the audience a traditional sounding country song set in Montana. Closing out his set Laverty offered up his signature song “Zion Crossroads” about a lonely lover awaiting his never-to-show lady love. All in all, a trip around the world in song done to perfection by Gerry’s flawless picking and singing talents.
After a short intermission, the featured performer of the night, Andrew Rohlk took the stage. Andrew is a newer member of VOCAL and brings a refreshing youthful outlook to his music and the group. Most of his selections were in the emotional (EMO) category, detailing broken or unsettled relationships. “Not To Late” was first and immediately one could hear echoes of John Mayer or Dave Matthews in his performance style, using his guitar more as punctuation to the lyrics than melodic accompaniment. “stubbornly” Added falsetto singing to the chorus, which Rohlk continued injecting sporadically during his set. This was followed by “Only Friends” and “Fade Away” which continued in the free form style of song construction he uses. A work-in-progress song “Make a Decision” followed which seemed fairly well complete. “Too Much Input” was, perhaps, the most accessible song of the night as it had the most traditional form of song composition, a verse/chorus pattern. A new song “Everytime” had a blues quality to it and was enhanced by the falsetto singing. A cover of “Ring of Fire” was next. Andrew closed out his set with two more original songs. “Conversation About You” and a singalong closer “What This Will Be”, which heartily engaged the audience, Rohlk’s high energy was infectious throughout his set and he appears to be a star in the making and a great addition to the VOCAL family.

Coming up on July 18, 2011

• The VOCAL Songwriters Showcase at O’Toole’s.
• Gerry Laverty
• Headliner: Andrew Rohlk
• 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Click here for directions

See you there!

May 16, 2011

Pete Seeger once sang “When these hands can strum no longer, pass the old guitar to a young one stronger.”

That was certainly not evident at the most recent Songwriter Showcase held at O’Toole’s Pub. None of the three performers appeared ready to vacate their status as masters of workers in song.

Bill Kaffenberger, originally from Northern Virginia commenced the evening’s festivities with  Maybe by Then, influenced by Gene Clark of the Byrds which plaintively stated “ She’ll know, she was meant for me.”

This was followed with a wistful tribute to his Dad, simply titled Dad.

The minor key She’s so Real was next with the frank admission “ Love that’s deeper than the deep blue sea.

The Byrds influence continued through Lonesome Rider and the closer What am I doing here, where the subject seems to be caught between interia and isolation.

Sitting on my hands and lamenting, No one listens to an outsider like me and the killer Beauty came from deep within his pain.

Bill’s songs come from his love of Philadelphia Soul and the aforementioned Byrds .  The songs seem to spring forth in chains of images. An excellent guitarist and singer to boot.

Next the  veteran and ever-growing Steve Nuckolls, one of the premier ballad writers on the scene today eased into his set with the beautiful open tuning piece Whole World Turning, performed on his vintage Martin D-35, featuring Gary Shaver on the flute. You know you’ve arrived when Gary sits in with you.

The open tunings continued with The Earth had been painted blue. A tender rememberance of the victims of the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001.  The song seems to travel through the steps of grief- I thought the earth had been painted red describing anger at the news, to I thought the earth had been painted white harkening back to the Martyrs bathed in light which was colored with a sad flute solo by Mr. Shaver. The song ended with I heard the world singing with one voice.

Anguish with a flickering flame of hope.

Trying to get you home seems to recall the sweetness of young love and stealing away for innocent intimacy.

Changing lanes, he debuted a new song which recalls the joys of the early days of learning the guitar as a youth. Nothing in this world I’d rather do, then spending Saturday morning sitting in with Emmy Lou.

Amen to that brother!

Steve then moved through his “glass is half full song,” My Prayer of thanks. He ended his set with Something about your love which if there were any justice in the world would be a chart topping hit.

Recalled for an encore he placed a giant exclamation point on  an absolutely stunning set with his  much loved Simynye ( spelling ?) loosely meaning ‘We are one.” about his travels in Africa.  In this writer’s opinion, one of the finest songs to ever emerge from VOCAL.

Steve himself just keeps getting better and better. One knack I hope he never loses.

The head liner, Darryl Ellyson emerged in a bright multicolored shirt and ‘60’s style fedora. Mr. Ellyson is a top notch performer with a wide array of influences. He sang so many great songs and space does not permit us to expound upon all, so we’ll provide a few of the many highlights.

The sweet soul of Daryl’s powerful singing voice was manifested immediately on the opener Love Refugees, a classic, beautiful love song.

Darryl then moved through You are the only one ( the strummin life is hard)  and I RememberYou, before the exuberant Down on the Point which describes the satisfaction and joys of fishing.

This was followed by the upbeat country of Rainy Days Ahead accompanied by fast guitar licks, and That’s just the way ( love goes) which harkens back to the style of Conway Twitty. This song allowed Darryl to demonstrate his wide vocal range.

What’s Gone Wrong which seemed to come blazing out of a film noir night with its minor key mood was followed by the imaginative News Man Blues.

He concluded with Blue Light District with its ‘50’s New Orleans feel and finally Done With You where the singer is resigned to Love has finally been defeated.

Hearing Darryl Ellyson is always a treat with his powerful vocals and guitar accompaniment that is just right.

Coming up on May 16, 2011

• The VOCAL Songwriters Showcase at O’Toole’s.
• Bill Kaffenberger
• Steve Nuckolls
• Headliner: Darryl Ellyson
• 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Click here for directions

See you there!