September 2024 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase

2024 September VOCAL Showcase

The September 16th showcase featured, Russell Lawson and Ken Roller. Russell has been a long-time member of VOCAL and Ken is a fairly new member.

Russell Lawson
Russell was the first performer. He sings in a clear and understandable vocal style. His first selection was "Montana Wide" a song describing the geography of Montana, the wide-open plains, the clear skies and majestic mountains that could only have been designed by God. This was followed by "Grandma and Me" delivered in the voice of the grandpa talking to the grandkids and assuring them no matter their station in life they will always be welcome back home. "Where Are Your Tears" was a breakup type song where the singer inquired "were you faking it all these years". This was followed by "Lazy Gal Cafe" depicting the patrons who used the cafe as a stopping point as they journeyed along the Santa Fe trail. "Moments" captured the images of the past with a tinge of sadness and heartache. Another cafe stop "Wayne and Maggie's" was about truckers and every folk and country singer who made the cafe a mandatory stop. The song featured Russell's whistling. The last tune in his set was "Penguin Blues" complaining about the cold and ice in his life which was contributing to his blues state of mind.

Ken Roller
Ken Roller kicked off his set, with guitar and drum box, which helped him keep time and add some bass undertones to his songs. First up was a song he wrote for his wife many years ago, "Two Part Harmony" in which he says she was the missing puzzle piece in his life. "The Burn" referred to a relationship in which the other party acted as gasoline to his desire. In "Diversity" despite having different origins and ethnicities we are all made of the same flesh and blood and diversity is what makes life interesting. "Tripping Through These Days" talks about relatability and ignoring the hype we are subject to and accepting each other as we are. "Lines" was a song written with his daughter which talks about how we are connected to each other. "Tell It to My Heart" co-written with Glen King, is a love song in which the singer pleads with his lover to open up and discuss differences so they can come back together. A Pandemic song, "Locked Down", discussed the need for and advantages of vaccines even though some thought they were no magic bullets to stemming Covid. "Live In the Moment" asks us to make the most of each day and find joy in the little things like raking leaves. Next song in his set had Ken reaching out to his audience to "Share Your Love" a 60's type suggestion that we all reach out to each other with unabated love. "In Virginia" was a musical travelogue about the state which Ken wrote in a contest for a state song and extolled the beauty of Shenandoah's fields. Lastly: "Keep Hope Alive" wondered if the singer would get lucky in his pursuit of love for the night.