Showcases

The November 2014 VOCAL Songwriter Showcase was the 280th consecutive monthly showcase and marked the 5th anniversary at the O’Toole’s location. A large and mostly attentive crowd gathered for the evening performance. George Maida opened the show accompanied by his drummer Kevin, and led off with a Thanksgiving-inspired instrumental medley of tunes. The first was Keltic Turducken, followed by The Beggar and Vinterverke (a German word made up by George). He delivered some fine hard-driving guitar work followed by some more mellow electric tones. He then followed with a King David-inspired Psalm 38, another fine instrumental which conjured up a Metheny/Santana feel. George left us with a Christmas song with the help of guests Steve Fisher and Matthew Costello. Lyric sheets had been distributed throughout the room, so there was also some fine audience participation.

Pamela McCarthy then took the stage for a fine solo acoustic performance. She led off with her ever-popular and requested Since You’ve Gone, where we know Hell must be freezing over! Now You Know is a more recent creation of hers, a bit on the sad side, but Pam does those songs so well! Pam displayed her political side with Let Me Be, and then treated us with the very beautiful, tender Age of Forgiveness. What it Is captured the spirit of her earlier desire to be another Julie London. You Aren’t Coming Back was another tear-jerker newer song lamenting love lost. Pam ended her set with a stellar performance of the enigmatic Body Language – you couldn’t hide it, I saw right through, silent but true, body language.

Gary Shaver and his bandmates then took the stage for the headline performance. While the stage area seemed a little cramped for the five performers, there was plenty of room for them to showcase their musical/vocal talent! Gary led us through a timeline of the 80’s-90’s and the writing he did during that period. Between Her and You (1991) is a tender love-lost ballad, always a crowd favorite. Southern Breeze (1990) is a very catchy instrumental waltz which featured Larry Lyles on some fine violin playing. Under a Starlit Sky was co-written (1989) with Chris Craig, who was also in the audience. Yet another love-lost ballad delivered as only Gary can do! We then travelled to 1992 with No More Goodbyes, a very catchy tune which I thought was reminiscent of Elvin Bishop (she took me for a ride – she used me as a lover then cast me aside). We Don’t Have the Guts to Say Goodbye was a bluesy/jazzy number featuring Frank Lucas on a searing electric guitar. I’m Trading the Present for the Past is a 1995 tune that featured Larry again on violin (we let our love slip away, now I’m holding onto memories, and that’s where I’ll stay). The very-talented fellow VOCAL member Marna Bales then joined the group as a guest vocalist on You Didn’t Mean It (I should have seen it – you said you loved me, but you didn’t mean it). Gary then performed another crowd favorite There Lies the Stone, and he did a marvelous solo piano performance. Marna took the stage again and did a stellar performance of Little Old Me, which is probably this reviewer’s favorite Gary Shaver song! (Little old me is who you’re gonna catch, you just don’t know it yet…). Gary ended with a 1999 song Just Believe in Me (I don’t know what got out of hand, can’t you talk to me and help me understand?).

The crowd called for more, but we were out of time, so we’ll just have to wait ‘til another night for more of Gary’s talent!

The October 2014 showcase brought an eclectic mix of writers/performers to O’Toole’s Irish Pub and Grill. Robyne Byrd and Anthony Curtis opened the show with all new songs Robyne has written since February of this year. They opened with a very “floaty” tune (written by her daughter when she was nine years old), called Choose Your Own Choice. Anthony provided some fine electric guitar reminiscent of Hendrix/Santana/Metheny. They then moved on to a very touching Song of a Soldier’s Wife. I Don’t Want It had a very eclectic influence, with an infectious, Middle-Eastern –sounding groove. Solitary Way channeled an isolated feeling of loneliness.
Chuck Kerwath then took us on a pleasurable journey of acoustic instrumentals. Travelling from a Native Trail (American Indian with Spanish influence) through some sophisticated finger-picked blues, he then brought us Serengeti. This had a really cool West African influence, with the guitar tuned in African tuning (B tuned up to C, along with a dropped D). I envisioned morning falling onto the Serengeti, unfolding a sun-drenched desert. Chuck then broke out the dobro and brought us three tunes ranging from the island style (think steel drums) to gangsta-grass.
Cheryl Fare and Matt Treacy then took the headline spot on the stage. They started with The Messy Song (love comes in threes, and I’m still in the middle). Wait and See is a new tune Cheryl wrote – you waited for me, now I’m waiting for you, we’ll wait and see. Show Me How deals with your mind’s behavior when the serious stuff comes along. Matt then delivered a very beautiful The Only Girl Who Ever Sang the Blues. Same Old Dance sees her watching him walk away without saying goodbye, but then rolling back in to dance the same old dance. Cheryl then sang a bluesy Stones in My Pocket, followed by a song about friendship, Face to Face. I Gotta Move is a great blues number with some great blues fingerpicking by Matt – I can’t be sitting here waiting for the sun to come around – I gotta move! They then played a song Matt wrote, The Dead of Night. Very strong vocals were presented here – she’s the forbidden fruit that came to me in the dead of night. Cheryl and Matt then brought us Roll Me Under, which carried us along on a ride in the ocean – the waves roll me under and push me back up. The duo ended with Springfield, inspired by the Ford Pinto hatchback – what a car. An explosive situation, a very steamy scene!
Kudos to the performers for yet another memorable VOCAL showcase!

VOCAL Showcase Sept. 2014

What is perhaps the longest running songwriter’s showcase in Virginia continued its streak with edition #278 (over twenty three years) at O’Toole’s Bar and Grille on Monday Sept. 15th.

Fittingly, The first performer was Gary Shaver, who has been involved since the inception of VOCAL. Gary is a multi- talented songwriter who plays a variety of instruments such as the sax, clarinet, flute and piano. This night he chose to perform on keyboards. His set of tunes consisted of throwback material to the early stages of his career, the 1970’s. “With You” kicked off the retrospective and was followed by “Taking The Easy Way Out” and “Don’t You Know I Love You”. At this point, Gary was joined by Larry Lyles on fiddle for a couple of tunes “If I Could Write a Song” and “I Don’t Believe You Anymore”. As the titles may suggest, these were all songs about love and the relationships it fosters both good and bad. The ballady, haunting melodies helped convey the emotions the singer was trying to convey. The set closer “How Could Love Make Me Feel This Way” was more in a jazzy uptempo mood which conveyed the positive message of the lyrics. No question Gary is talented, His deftness on the keyboard alone proved that.

Next up: Steve Nuckolls on acoustic guitar led the appreciative audience through a series of songs reflecting his roots that reach back To Galax Virginia. Lending his tenor voice to original songs such as “At Home in the Back Roads” and “Much Obliged” Steve gave the room a folksy air. “Everything is Just Too Good” was a positive tune followed by “Graysons Lady” a bluegrass tinged song. Digressing from his set list, he talked about seeing the flag flying on the state capitol building at various times at half mast, at the whim of the then Governor Tim Kaine, who quixotically had it set that way on every questionable occasion. This inspired Steve to write “Flags At Half Mast” which he then performed. Lastly, he played one of his most loved songs judging from the audience reaction,”Something About Your Love” which is a sensitive hooky song with a positive theme. Listening to Steve is well worth the time and effort should he be in your area.

The featured performers for the evening were The Clackwells. What can you say about these folks? They are the epitome of quirkiness and musical invention. Led by Norm Roscher, on guitar, the two back up singers on washboard and finger percussion and two back up instrumentalists on bass and banjo they sailed through a nine song set of funky songs with various human and inhuman noises. “The Ballad of The Clackwells” described how the group was formed and served as an introduction to each of the groups members, with the interchangeable names of Blinky, Stinky, Slinky and Winky (I thinly). They were the spawn of a lady wrestler and gambler. Going back into their extensive catalog, they pulled out “You and Me and Baby” and “I Don’t Play Doctor Anymore”. A sly nod to the pleasures of weed followed in “Sweet Nectar”, no doubt fueled by the leader’s proclivity to partaking in such stuff. “Think I’m Gonna Take My Baby Dancing” was a bouncy tune, written by VOCAL member Bill Wellons and perfomed solo on keyboards by Norm. “Pull The Wool Over My Eyes” was followed by “A Song of Hope” which indeed, advised all the single guys not to give up hope because there is someone out there for you. “The Hat” was a cute song about a character who lived in his hat which changed size according to his needs and was thus magical. “Your Beautiful” inspired by the singer’s lady friend, was a lovely tribute. By overwhelming request, The Clackwells could not finish the might without doing their most enduring and fun singalong song “Boobs” What can you say about a song that asks the audience to sing out loud their appreciation of a woman’s assets as they change over the course of her lifetime. The Clackwells are touring Richmond in the coming months. Don’t miss their show.

A very talented trio took the stage at the November 2012 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase and played to a large, attentive audience. Eddy Kitchen, Mark Daniel, and Bruce Brockwell brought us the ITR (in-the round) format of swapping songs. The trio co-writes and performs often, which brings a synergy to the group when they are together.

Mark kicked off the show with a troubadour-ish “My Home is Where I Lay My Hat” (like a rolling stone on a railroad track, don’t spend much time looking back). Bruce then delivered “I’m not Sure I Can Find My Way Back” with Mark strumming the mandolin. Eddy then broke out with “We Can Make Out When There’s Nothing Else to Talk About” with Mark playing lead guitar (you can unload everything on me – it’s about time to lay a little loving on me…). Back around to Mark who brought us “If You Were Free”, a West-Texas-feeling song with Bruce playing lead guitar. Bruce then sang “But You Did” with Mark on lead guitar (I took it for granted – you will learn to love again while I’m here picking up the pieces). Eddy then crooned Coronado (how nice it is to wake up in the morning with that special someone next to you, sun peeking in, etc – how lucky I am!). There was some fine musical accompaniment on that number with Gary Shaver on sax, Mark on mandolin, and Bruce on lead guitar.

Mark then brought us a moving, uplifting tune in memory of his Uncle Emmitt, which came to him in a dream (gotta write those down right away as soon as you wake up!) Mark & Bruce swapped lead guitar licks on this cool tune. Bruce sang “Let the Dreams Begin” (I was once King of the world, but now every night I lay down and pretend, bless my soul to keep). Eddy then delivered a touching “Your Smile Makes My Smile Never Want to Go Away”  (where’s my frown – I don’t need it anymore – you turned it upside down). Mark played some fine lead guitar on that number, as well. Mark then sang “How Far is the Moon”. Bruce then brought us “Careful What You Wish For, Careful What You Dream” with Mark again strumming mandolin. Eddy then covered one of Mark’s songs “What a Beautiful Day” – a really cool song about ignoring a cold, rainy day and focusing on what is at hand (or in this case, in your arms – we made love on a rainy day as the rain washed the dust away).

Mark then brought “Dream in Blue” with Bruce playing some fine lead guitar licks (I dream in blue when I think of you…) Bruce then sang “Twelve Days” (Mark on lead guitar – written in-between marriages – I’ve got twelve days in San Francisco, and I’m getting on my way, but I’m stuck here the desert tonight – my heart’s in Santa Fe). Eddy then sang another heartfelt “Every Day with You is a Good Day to be Thankful” (I just pray things keep coming my way). Mark delivered “Under the Spell of the Living Stranger” with Bruce on lead guitar (I can hardly find the strength to tell you “no” – I can hardly concentrate – I lose all sense of space). Eddy’s next song went out to the late Troy Broome, who played keyboard with their group. “There Lies the Dress” tell it like it is – love gone wrong, here’s all the evidence to prove it, including this sad, broken man wondering how a good love can die. “Pickles and Biscuit Sandwich” was a quite interesting tune spun by Mark (everything’s gone except the shadow on the wall – I changed the lock – your key don’t work no more).

Eddy then rounded out the night with two of his biggest hits “My Wife Thinks I’m an SOB” and “This Beer’s on Me”, with both Mark & Bruce on lead guitar. These are a couple of raucous numbers that only Eddy can do so well.

What a treat it was to have these Three Amigos share their tunes with us!

A small but enthusiastic crowd was present for the 214^th consecutive VOCAL showcase at the Taphouse Grill. John Ellis and Darryl Ellyson treated us to their unique styles of crooning/rocking/bluesing throughout the evening.

John Ellis started the show with Just What You’re Looking For, an instrumental he wrote for his brother’s wedding. A tender, smooth melody found its way up and down the neck of his electric guitar. He then covered Gary Shaver’s A Crying Shame (blaming himself for losing his girlfriend to another guy), and moved into another instrumental, A Timepiece. I Wish You Would was co-written with a friend, and had some wonderful Mother Nature images about beautiful trees, mountains, valleys, etc. Chimes was another tender instrumental with stellar finger-picking on the electric guitar, but then morphed into a rocking Groove Thing, which reminded me of Felix Pappalardi’s early guitar playing in the group Mountain.  T.J.’s Jam was a relentless, driving rock song reminiscent of ZZ Top. The Stranger is a new song (“love is a stranger I can’t get to know”)John wrote recently, and I thought I detected a bit of Carlos Santana influence in there, but who knows! Brother is another new song of John’s, where he states “When you give a woman your soul, you’ve lost control”. I thought I heard some Stephen Stills licks in that one! In My Place was another serious rocking number where a woman  unfortunately had to put him in his place! Everyone enjoyed the lightning-fast guitar playing John delivers, and the cool effects he coaxes out of his stompbox!

Darryl Ellyson then took the stage with a really cool Do You Think of Me When the Sun Goes Down (oh, if we could only control someone’s thoughts and dreams!). Just No Other Way was about trying to live with a woman with darkness in her heart and whose love is like a spring tornado – hit or miss and then it’s gone. I Still Believe is a wonderful, uplifting love ballad about keeping that spark going for many years, despite challenges along the way. Done With You is a good-riddance blues tune about ten years of trying to make love work to no avail. Thinking About You is a new love song – thinking of you when you’re far away, wondering exactly where you are, I think I saw you in the moon… Maybe This Time is a form of “decompression blues” where he has to make a fishing getaway to get his head together and have his space – a battle between love and  hate – I’m sure love will win! I Need a Little Help to Get By really cries the blues about how painful it is since you’ve been gone – I try to smile once in a while. I swore I heard Davie Bowie in the room when Darryl played When the Levee Breaks – just something about the catchy melody! News Man Blues instructed us to be careful breaking news and breaking rules – you might just catch the blues! I Sure Ain’t Been in Hell recounts the various travels to Georgia , Texas, etc. He wasn’t in Heaven, but was far from Hell! It Caused My Heart to Bleed was just written in April. How would you feel if you woke up to see the sunrise and realized your woman never came home the night before? Keep those blues coming, Darryl!