April 2026 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase
On a cool spring night, members of VOCAL got together to hear some hot songs by three of its members: Russell Lawson, Steve Nuckolls, and Ken Roller, performing at O’Toole’s Restaurant.
Beginning the evening was Russell Lawson, a veteran songwriter, who began his set with banjo in hand. He played "Thank You, Pete," a tribute song to Pete Seeger that delineated his career in folk, protest, and civil rights. Switching to guitar, Russell sang "Ice Falling," describing how love can both chill in the past and then melt with the right person.
This was followed by "Mr. Brady’s War," referring to the great Civil War photographer Mathew Brady, who captured images of casualties and destruction. "If You Call Me Now" tells the story of a broken romance from 18 months ago and how the singer is still affected by the breakup; he says even if you call or email now, he won’t respond well.
The next song, "Ol’ Jack and Daddy," described a dual relationship: one, his father’s with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, and two, his own relationship with his family, neither of which had a happy ending. Finally, "The Softness of Early Morning" was a tribute to Russell’s wife, Lynne, saying how she makes him feel and how proud he is to be her man.
Next to perform was Steve Nuckolls, a long time VOCAL member. He began with "Everything's Just Two Good" a word play on the "two" as referred in his lyric by two good arms to hold you , two good eyes to see you etc. "Alcohol" was song with advice about drinking and how it affects those who come in contact with you in this case, daddy. "The Stars of Our Show" describes the wonderment that occurs after dark when the sky fills up with stars. People gather outside on Skyline Drive to look up and celebrate the night, the singer takes his date up on a hill to view the nighttime sky and together claim them as their own . Steve's next song "Wearing My Hometown" says, for the most part, you can move away from your roots, but the aura growing up stays with you wherever you go. "My small town is a blanket that's covered me since birth' says it all.
Christmas songs are everywhere and probably every songwriter has composed one but when have you heard one about living in a snow globe? "Living In A Snow Globe" gives us a great picture of life in the round and under the dome.. It appears pretty much like living in the world at Christmas time. Shaking it up creates snow flakes and kids inside it are making snowmen, carolers are singing and church bells ring out the joyous holiday. In essence, not much different than being outside the dome. he last song in his set "Pedal Steel" doesn't refer to an electric guitar, by far, It's Steve's description of a Sting Ray bike he saw in a catalog and then live in a Walmart parking lot. He was so excited to finally get his own. Riding with the wind in his hair, and the sense of freedom he felt. Years later he found the abandoned bike and took it out for a ride, once again feeling the freedom of speed.
Ken Roller is brings his fine guitar playing to the showcase again, having done one awhile back. He opened his set with "Dream Dance" in which he contemplates a love interest with longing and desire. In one line he states "I want to crawl inside your head for a dream dance with you". In "Share Your Love" the title becomes a mantra for the audience to become part of the show . He is "searching for the key to unlock your love" which may apply to an individual, but invites us all to participate.
"Invisible" is somewhat of a sad tale about wanting to disappear from the world because as he states "The world is no longer mine." the next song, "Oh My Love" is a tribute to his wife and their long marriage. There is longing in his voice as he states "When you're away (I pray) God speeds you home to me" which segues in to his next song "Forgiven" Sort of the opposite idea she is driven away by harsh words and he rues how he spoke, wasting precious night with a drink in his hand. "Your man is broken", he says. Next up, "Can't Find The Sunshine" (The Road) recites the bleakness of life and the many roads the singer has traveled and "Still can't find the sun". To end his set, Ken left us with a love song "Listen To My Heart" in which he tells a lover to "lay your hand on my chest" and "listen to my heart, in will always beat for you".
A great night of music and camaraderie on which to end.
Showcase Photos
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Photo Credits: Matthew Costello, John Ellis, Norman Roscher
