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Songwriters Showcase August 2007
Songwriters Showcase August 2007
The August 2007 Showcase was a night full of surprises! As the Showcase counter flipped to #193, we found ourselves moving upstairs to one of Richbrauâs other halls while the TapHouse staff took a break for a few nights. The new venue gave us an opportunity to configure the seating to our stage set-up and to experiment with the sounds of a new space. We will be back in the TapHouse for September, so be sure to join us there.
Gerry Laverty provided sound for the evening and acted as MC as well. Thanks to Gerry for the hard work!
First to the stage was John Ellis for a quick two song set to get the crowd warmed up to a night of fantastic songwriting. John performed a ânear studioâ version of âThe Strangerâ with backing tracks consisting of rhythm guitar, bass, conga and drums. This was an expanded version of the simpler version that he has been performing at recent Showcases. John also performed âGentle Persuasionâ, with lyrics written by his good friend and fellow musician Jeff Cuneo.
Glenda Creamer wowed the audience in a six song set with her strong vocals and bright guitar that she used to take the listener on an emotional journey. She put fear in our hearts with âIâm a Witch Todayâ, then put a joyful smile on our faces with âThatâs What Country Kids Doâ, gave us a touch of heart break with âNever Sing About the Moonâ and âFortune Tellerâ. She wrapped up with âBroken Piecesâ and one of my favorite songs âMoonshine Skyâ. The song âThatâs What Country Kids Doâ always reminds me of some good times as a kid â...making mud pies, catching worms and bugs...â. Glendaâs howling vocals on âMoonshine Skyâ adds intensity to the drama of the underlying lyrical story telling.
Gerry Laverty had a surprise in store for those in attendance as he called a long time VOCAL member from the audience to the stage. Norman Roscher kindly accepted the invitation and treated us to three great songs. âYou & Me & Babyâ, included Normanâs own skat in the middle, âDogs New Clothesâ featured an audience bark-along, and âMr. Sleepy Headâ was a soothing lullaby. Thanks to Norman for supporting his fellow songwriters and entertaining the audience with a fantastic, spontaneous performance!
After Normanâs performance, Gerry Laverty stepped to the mic and plugged in his acoustic for a Featured Performer slot that included many sensitive and thought provoking songs, all of which are thoughtfully written. âDetails of Catastropheâ dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Gerry followed up with â84th Floorâ and âI am a Houseâ.  A VOCAL favorite was performed next with Glenda Creamer adding a wonderful vocal harmony - âLonesome Blue Eyesâ has been covered on stage by several VOCAL members and is one of those songs that tends to stay with you long after the performance is over. I like this song for the beautiful melody accompanied by Gerryâs skillful finger picking, adding a great supporting guitar melody. âBlues in the Nightâ was described by Gerry as an insomniacâs dream. âZion Crossroadsâ is another of Gerryâs classics that recalls an experience late one night (early one morning) near Charlottesville, dreaming of a beautiful lady. The set was closed with âLead me on to Parisâ and âThis Lethal Worldâ. You can keep up with Gerry at www.gerrylaverty.com.
Thanks again to all performers, to Larry Cody for producing our play bills, and to those of you who come out to listen to live, original music from VOCAL songwriters. Special thanks to Richbrauâs TapHouse for hosting the monthly Showcase! See you next month!
Songwriters Showcase August 2007
Showcase 188 was a big improvement for VOCALâs image, since the men were cleared from the stage and the night was opened up to the ladies of VOCAL. Kim Gammon, Marti Hartung, Jen Smith and Stephanie Boarman entertained a crowd of enthusiastic supporters as Ladiesâ Night 2007 was presented at the TapHouse Grill.
The March 19 Showcase was kicked off by Kim Gammon who produced and hosted the special event. Kim played âLong Road (Going Home)â to start the evening of great music.
The next two performers traded off songs in the popular in-the-round format. Marti contributed âSing the Bluesâ, âIt was Yeahâ and âSitting on a Windowâ (nicknamed âThe Cat Songâ). Demonstrating a skill for blues infused licks as well as gentle rolling melodies, Marti gave a multi-faceted performance.
Jen showed a lot of soulful insight with âNot By My Own Strengthâ, âWhisperâ, âMore Than a Survivorâ, taking on themes from religious experiences, to empathetic humanity accompanied by passionate six-string rhythms.
Kim transitioned the evening from the first set to the featured performer with her heavenly voice on âMy Angelâ. Accompanying Kim for the song was mandolin player Barry Lawson, who was part of Stephanie Boarmanâs featured performance with husband Jeff Boarman.
Stephanie was in great form, captivating the audience with select cuts from her bluegrass catalogue including the more melancholy and passionate tunes such as âBury Me in Kentuckyâ and âDonât Take My Baby Awayâ, as well as the light-hearted and humorous tunes such as âCappucino Cowboyâ and âDonât Mess With Daddyâs Little Girlâ. The set was high energy and beautifully played as the performers stayed true to the bluegrass form with one condenser mic and each member moving in or out as the song required.
Thanks goes out to all of the performers for a fantastic evening, to Kim Gammon for pulling the night together, to Jim Uzel and Gary Shaver for making the sound and MC thing happen and to Richbrauâs TapHouse for providing a great venue.
Songwriters Showcase July 2007
VOCAL Showcase #192 escaped the thunderclaps and potential summer time torrents of Richmondâs weather. The July 16, 20007 event at Richbrauâs TapHouse Grill was another âcome as you areâ format, where the play bill was built around the songwriters in attendance.
The team of Shaver and Uzel once again provided the sound and MC duties for the Showcase. Gary Shaver started the evening off with his songs âTelling Me Goodbyeâ and âI Still Burnâ.
Steve Nuckolls took to the stage to offer his songs âMaking My Get Awayâ, âHand Me Downsâ and the newer âSunriseâ. Steveâs âHand Me Downsâ has become one of my favorites, but all three songs are indicative of his thoughtful and well crafted songwriting.
Marti Hartung captured the feelings of the VOCAL membership on a rainy evening at Dogwood Dell, immortalized in the lyrics to âDisappointing Rainâ. âHoover Townâ was a comment on at least one Richmond audience who sucked the life out of musicians by treating the band as little more than musical wallpaper.  Marti closed out the set with âMysteryâ.
Matt Manion had travel on his mind when he took the stage. Matt gave the Showcase crowd a look back to 1978 when he worked in the oil fields of Louisiana staying at the âRoyal Roach Hotelâ. And I think a lot of travelers can relate to the idea of âSit Down for Stand Byâ.
Jim Uzel was in fine form when he gave the audience three unique songs to ponder. âWinter, Summer Dreamerâ, âSeptember Rainâ and âToo Many Angelsâ made up Jimâs set and featured Mark Branch during âSeptember Rainâ. Gary Shaver added support to âWinter, Summer Dreamerâ. âToo Many Angelsâ was inspired by the events of September 11.
Mark Branch brought Marti Hartung back to the stage to perform his own song âIâll Be Alrightâ. My personal take is that this is one of Markâs best offerings yet, with that great blues back beat, his booming baritone blues voice and that wailing harmonica blended in to one great song.
Gary Shaver was kind enough to close the evening out with two more songs, âTrading the Present for the Pastâ and âSomewhere Between Her and Youâ. What a great way to end an evening with so much variety and great song writing.
We have had a great group of volunteers over the past year who support the Showcase. Larry Cody produces the play bills that are distributed to all of the tables. Our dedicated sound man Jim Uzel will be turning the duties over to John Ellis for the next year. Thanks to Jim for all heâs done and we hope to see him at all of the Showcases. And finally to Gary Shaver who has done MC
Songwriters Showcase June 2007
VOCAL Showcase #191 happened at Richbrauâs TapHouse Grill June 18, 2007. It was a night of âcome as you areâ performances, where songwriters showed up and played in no particular order as time allowed.
The Showcase also served as a warm up to the Dogwood Dell âWe Write the Songsâ VOCAL event on June 29, 2007. Unfortunately that event was washed out by mother nature after only two performances, but what an accomplishment by VOCAL volunteers to organize and prepare such a monumental event for the membership!
Larry Cody warmed up the Showcase audience for the nightâs festivities with his classic âNow I Knowâ.  This song is always a pleasure to hear with a gentle strum on Larryâs guitar and his mellow, raspy vocals.
Steve Effinger and Mari Hartung were two performers who were on the printed playbill, since they had signed up for the Showcase prior the show date.  Marti took the second slot of the night to deliver four great songs. Martiâs guitar was ringing out loud and clear in perfect unison with her vocal delivery on the play list that included âThat Kind of Musicâ and âWhatâs Doinâ Hereâ.
As an interlude between Marti and Steve Effinger, an old friend of VOCAL, Steve Smithson, was called to the stage to re-acquaint himself with the VOCAL membership. What a treat it was! âFor a Moment Youngâ was a finger picking guitar style with very bold, bright strums intermingled for a great sound. âWould not Last a Yearâ showed quite the vocal ability with sounds that went from great howls to low roars. Thanks to Steve for stepping up!
Steve Effinger was next to the stage and ready to entertain with a five song set that included two new songs âVieux Carreâ (a Louisiana reference) and âWhy Canât He Love Her Tonightâ. The crowd was revved up with Steveâs light hearted and rhythmic style of âSing My Song to Jesusâ. Steve also included âThen Sheâll Cryâ and âThe Best I Ever Hadâ to round out the set.
John Ellis came to the stage with the electric guitar slung across his shoulder. Unfortunately the single coil pickups were demonstrating why the âdouble humbuckersâ were invented, but the show must go on, hum or no hum. John covered Gary Shaverâs âCryinâ Shameâ and played his own composition âThe Strangerâ.
Larry Cody came back to the stage to complete the evening. âWinter is on the Wayâ  opened up Larryâs second performance. Then in a great effort to make the following weekâs Dogwood Dell performance all it could be, Larry performed David Atkinsâ âSing Your Own Songsâ, which was going to be VOCALâs grand show closing number at Dogwood Dell had mother nature held out just another couple of hours! Never the less, Larry did a great job with the song and it was great to hear another performance of this tribute to songwriters.
As I wrap up this monthâs review, I would like give Larry Cody a big thank you. For quite a while now, Larry has been typing up, printing and laying out the playbill for each VOCAL performance and he has not always been acknowledged. And I would be remiss if I forgot to mention our sound and MC team of Jim Uzel and Gary Shaver. Thanks to Richbrau, to all who show up to support the performances and to all of VOCALâs volunteers.
Songwriters Showcase May 2007
Showcase number 190 happened at the Richbrau TapHouse on May 21, 2007, offering up a big sample of fine VOCAL songwriting talent. Gerry Laverty, Steve Nuckolls and Jim Westlyn wowed the crowd with great performances.
The Showcase was hosted by the welcoming, attentive management and staff of the TapHouse Grill. Thanks from VOCAL to the TapHouse for the continued support.
Our dedicated soundman, Jim Uzel had the show ready to roll as always and John Ellis was sitting in as MC for the dynamic Mr. Gary Shaver.
First to the stage was Jim Westlyn. Jim kept the crowd rockinâ and engaged with upbeat rock styles and blends of jazz. âWhat are the Chancesâ, âHeaven Knowsâ, âMaybe I Wonâtâ and âLong Roadâ showed Jimâs variety of finger styles and interesting chord changes. âRing Trueâ is a song that took 3 years to âpull togetherâ with a bridge, but it finally came to Jim and completed a great song.
Steve Nuckolls was kind enough to bring his thought provoking and heart-felt lyrics to the Showcase stage to share his brand of subtle, melodic song craft. âLiving Out This Loveâ, âThis New Found Loveâ, âMaking Memoriesâ and âThey Died for Loveâ kept the crowd enchanted. Steve also included his true song about a friend âHello from Normandyâ and a song about and African trip to the âLand of the Zuluâsâ, âSimunyeâ.
Gerry Laverty took the last slot of the evening and amazed the crowd, with his folk-style ballads and social commentary. âThis Lethal Worldâ, the New Orleans inspired âDetails of Catastropheâ and âZion Crossroadsâ offered a sample of styles and tempos, and all were examples of Gerryâs inspiring lyrical abilities. Gerry also gave a brief history of âTimeâ and shared a song born of a midnight walk in the darkened halls âBlues in the Nightâ. Gerry was in fine form even with a scratchy throat challenging his vocals.
Thanks again to all performers, the sound crew and our supporters. Keep your calendars marked for the 3rd Monday of the month â weâll see you then!
Songwriters Showcase February 2007
Showcase 187 was a great event for all in attendance. The attendees were treated to great sounds from Steve Nuckolls, Larry Cody and Dave Pollard.
Steve kicked off the evening with his list of great songs including âMaking My Getawayâ, the true sotry of âHonest, Dependable and Fairâ, âHearts Caught Off Guardâ and one of the first songs Steve ever wrote, âAlley Manâ about his neighbors living in the byways of the fan district. Steveâs sound was superb as he delivered his brilliant, insightful works to the Showcase crowd.
Larry Cody took his famous songs that are a story in themselves and combined them into a musical novel for the evening. Taking the listener from the blush of love at first sight, to a young manâs eternal dedication to the woman he loves. Larryâs hero starts out so in love that he promises the young lady âIâll Give You Day and Nightâ. As time goes by, the hero changes his mind and decides to pursue other ladies, but doesnât understand his misgivings over the decision and wonders why âMy Heart Wouldnât Tryâ. Now that heâs back out in the game, he realizes that really, heâs âGoing Round in Circlesâ. Then one night heâs having dinner with a wonderful lady and thinks, ahhh, âThis Could Be the Oneâ. He finds later that he still has these great feelings for his new interest and realizes, âNow I Knowâ. Finally our hero jumps in and tells his love, I want to be âYour Good Time Guaranteeâ.
Thanks to Larry for such an interesting presentation and his always entertaining songwriting. Also, thanks for his contribution to the review this month.
Headlining the Showcase for February was Dave Pollard who celebrated the release of his latest CD âPerfect Poetryâ the same month. Some of the highlights from Daveâs set include âFrom the Startâ, âShattered Chainsâ, âTake Me Wholeâ and one of my favorites, the title song from the new CD âPerfect Poetryâ, accompanied at the Showcase by Gary Shaver on saxophone. Daveâs voice was great as usual and the guitar work sounded fantastic.
The Showcase absolutely would not be possible without the dedication of Gary Shaver and Jim Uzel, our MC/Sound Crew. Thanks to all those in attendance and to Richbrauâs Taphouse for hosting.
