October 2014 Showcase Review
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!
