May 2026 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase
The May 2026 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase took place at O’Toole’s Irish Pub with three of VOCAL’s quite-talented writers: Markiss Blowfish (aka Mark Branch), Matthew Costello, and John Ellis.
VOCAL President Matthew Costello opened the show with some of his more-recently written tunes. Are You There takes us on a dark cobblestone-lined street where he’s being followed by a shadow figure who could possibly be his old flame. Lots of vivid imagery in this song that draws us in. We never learn the identity of the shadow figure as they cross the street before they run into each other. Catch a Ride is a really cool idea of “artist hitchhiker” where you’re standing and waiting for inspiration hoping to catch a ride with the approaching muse. He then presented a new version of Shadows of September, another image-filled song describing the crisp winds, long shadows and short days of this awesome month. The Beginning of an Untimely Ending is another new song of Matthew’s which highlights the sad-but-true sign of the times on domestic violence. As in a lot of these cases, a good Samaritan trying to help gets caught in the crossfire and dies along with the perpetrator who takes his own life. Now on to a happier state - 3 Days in 69 describes the peaceful gathering of the flowerchild generation when they converged on Yasgur’s Farm for Woodstock. It’s amazing that such a huge group of people could come together and not have anything go off the rails that seems to always happen today! Great job, Matthew!
Mark Branch (aka Markiss Blowfish) then treated us to the blues as only he can do! With a freight train rhythm he takes us on a ride of ups and downs. Come Alone is a call to his lover to head on over and only bring yourself! Gonna treat you to dinner, fine wine and a great time. I’m a Long Way From Home laments the fact that he’s on the road miles from home and where he shouldn’t be, so he’s gonna do his best to get back to the family he misses. Engine # 9 definitely took us on a train ride where we were rolling down the rails through Carolina. His baby left him but he doesn’t know why, so he’s just gonna keep rolling on. Leaving Alabama is another love-gone-wrong number where his woman left him. He may have also been catting around with another woman in town and got busted, so it was a double loss. Keep up those blues, Mark!
John Ellis ended the evening with his set of acoustic/electric numbers, many infused with his searing guitar licks. He opened with A Band of Silver, an idea born after overhearing a conversation addressing mainly the materialistic aspects of a wedding ring. Honestly doesn’t mince words about his feelings toward a former lover, where she is only into self-congratulations. Walking With Sharon is a pleasant instrumental that is reminiscent of the wonderful walks in nature they used to take. He then treated us to I’ll Be There For You, a sincere and heartfelt message to that special person he cares about. John then turned to a couple of seasonal tunes, starting with the instrumental Summer Solstice. That was followed by Autumn Hours, where he recounts his favorite “peaceful” time of year with the cooler temperatures, fall foliage, etc. Talking to Myself brought on some screaming guitar licks utilizing the loop machine (pedal). He’s been wondering what the night will bring, thought he was hearing voices but must just be talking to himself! The Stranger is one of John’s signature tunes with a Frampton feel, where it seems he is eluded by love wherever he looks. He then delivered In My Place, a hard-driving rock number about an old flame who liked to keep him down. He ended the night with Sweet Tooth Blues, an ode to a lover he just couldn’t get enough of. She is most definitely the fix for that sweet tooth of his! Awesome playing, John!
Showcase Photos
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Photo Credits: Matthew Costello, Matt Manion
