Posts Tagged ‘Burke Ingraffia’
August 2026 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase
The August 2026 VOCAL showcase featured the winners of the annual Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year awards. There was a three-way tie for Song of the Year among Glen King, Mark Daniel and Ken Roller. There was a two-way tie for Song of the Year between Mark Daniel and Burke Ingraffia. Steve Nuckolls, a past award winner, also performed. While Glen King wasn’t able to perform this evening his music can be heard here: https://legacy.reverbnation.com/glenking/song/35217365-im-not-getting-over-you He also has several videos at https://www.youtube.com/@glenking/videos
Burke Ingraffia
Burke kicked off the evening with several of his smooth and cleverly-crafted numbers reflecting numerous walks of life, including his recent fatherhood. Dusty Old Clock, delivered on electric guitar and accompanied by harmonica, tells us the story of an old clock he has around the house that doesn’t work (but is correct twice a day…). He compares the clock to his own life and how he’s been stuck in a moment of time, worried that if he doesn’t take his time that time will take him! He then delivered his Song of the Year winner Small Things With Great Love, sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy for him as he wrote this prior to becoming a father. It’s the story of a man with big plans, building big towers, but through the years he realizes all the big stuff is done, so now it’s time to focus on the small but most important things. It’s a faith-based tune that features Mother Teresa’s words as the title. Checks and Balances is a jazzy number with some really awesome rhyming and play on words going on. His fat wallet is on a diet and his balance sheet is lopsided, so he needs those checks and balances because his finances are a mess! Waves is a signature tune of Burke’s and is the title track of his CD, describing the ebb and flow of life’s adventures. Lines such as “live like it’s your first day” and “love like it’s your last” are quite appropriate and will keep you engaged. Congrats, Burke!
Mark Daniel
Mark then treated us to some of his awesome homespun tunes. He and his writing partners are called the Chickahominy Boys (Mark, Gray Oliver and Tom Vermeern). White Plastic Fences, which won the Song of the Year award, was originally written about the scourge of solar collectors but was then re-written to reflect the urban sprawl into the unspoiled country. White plastic fences surround the houses in the newly-sprouted neighborhoods where there are rules about what you can and can’t do. One of the trio’s newest tunes is Autumn Leaves, a touching song about missing the one you love. It’s received radio airplay all around the world! My Love is the Real Thing tells the tale of him showing up unannounced to his girlfriend’s house with take-out Lo Mein but she’s not even there and won’t answer his calls. He was greeted by a big snake up in a tree who seemed to be looking out for her and advised to come back the next day! He then treated us to a true story from 1901 in Sevierville, TN with a song he co-wrote with Tom. Jasper Mellinger was a blacksmith from Tennessee who was headed to North Carolina to find work. He was trekking through the woods when he got caught in a black bear trap. He ended up dying on the mountain but his body wasn’t found until a couple of years later. Awesome scary but true tune, guys! Mark left us with If Only You Were Free, a jazzy number lamenting the fact that his “person of interest” was in a relationship, but he’s still looking for ways to tell her how he feels about her. Way to go, Mark!
Steve Nuckolls
Steve took the stage with a handful of his mostly new tunes. What if She Likes It was co-written with a friend of his and recounts the night he brazenly met his future wife while she was on a date. She Remembered My Beer is the tale of a patron at a bar who is trying to gain the attention of the waitress perhaps for more than just another beer. She doesn’t know his name yet but does remember his favorite beer. My Go-to Song is a new song reflecting on those memorable moments when just the perfect song came on the radio as if it were sent for that occasion. Living in a Snow Globe is a new song depicting a fantasy world living inside a snow globe where lovers are skating on the frozen lake just about to feel the shake! Steve finished with Pedal Steel, a true story about purchasing his first bicycle when he was a kid and the freedom it gave him as he pedaled it all through the countryside.
Ken Roller
Ken Roller, who also shared the award for Songwriter of the Year, then took the stage with several of his finely-crafted and grounded songs mostly about family. Great Grandad to Me was a very sentimental tribute to his late grandfather who lived to be 104 years old. He extolls the virtues of his Grandad and aspires to be half the man he was. Fly Away With You was another sentimental tune written for his younger brother who took his own life. Much love, memories and tears went into the writing and performance of this song! Keeping with the family theme he then delivered a fitting song, Two Youth in Love, about his parents and all the life, love, travel and family events that have accompanied them through the years. I’m Forgiven followed with a darker, minor key persona as he unravels the tale of too many nights of too much drinking, fortunately being forgiven the next morning. A man takes a drink and the drink takes the man! Ken finished up the evening with Can’t Find the Sunshine for the Rain, a Tom Petty-ish feeling number painting the picture of a guy who is always seeking the sunshine but ends up under a gray sky, another day ending the same. Great job, Ken!
Congrats to Mark, Glen, Burke and Ken!!
Showcase Photos
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Photo Credits: Matthew Costello
April 2025 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase
It was a nice spring night for music at O'Toole's restaurant and bar for the April 2025 VOCAL Showcase. On the docket were four players from VOCAL who represented a wide spectrum of musical choices.
The first player Matthew Costello, VOCAL president, offered a selection of guitar strumming songs. First up "The Blanket" which was followed by "Walkin" Willie" a story song about a character who ambles around town providing commentary from the locals. "Meaningful One Night Stand" took us through the singer's many affairs until a lady named Ivy final ended his searching being the right one. Remembering Woodstock and the year of love, "3 Days in 69" took us back to those fond memories that for some of the older folks will never forget.
Russell Lawson is a long-time member of VOCAL, and kicked off his set with "One More Drink" with the ironic tag line "till I'm sober" A true song "Rock Creek Blues" followed which in turn was followed by another true inspired song. "Wheatland" with lots of imagery about enjoying the land such as "sleeping in the sand" and hearing the wild geese overhead. "Montana Wide" again took us on a trip to the vistas of Montana and the "blue as blue" skies. For those in Richmond who aren't history aware, "The Church Hill Tunnel, had a railroad running under it which collapsed on a car as it was passing under. Russell gave us an account of that disaster and for one family "daddy won't be coming home, now".
Next player, John Ellis, cranked up his electric guitar and demonstrated his versatility on the frets, changing tempos and leaping chords to give each song a different feel. "Second Hand Wedding Ring" began his set which was then followed by "I'll Be There" for you., when you need some comforting and support. "Autumn Hours" painted a picture of fading colors and cooling nights as the season progressed.
The featured performer for the night was Burke Ingraffia, a songwriter from New Orleans, now local, who brought a wide variety of melodies and tempos to the mic. Besides his guitar, Burke employed his mouth harp to add texture to his music. "Dusty Old Clock" reminded us that time moves on and we need not concern ourselves with its passage. "Pray for patience" and "don't worry about the future" were two pieces of advice. "Change of Heart" philosophized "can't change the weather, but you can have a change of heart." Commenting on the current financial conditions "Checks and Balances" had some humorous line about his money condition " I got a bank, I call if Piggy". "About Love" examines its consequences. Sometimes it comes in waves, sometimes unexpected, but always love like it’s your first day. "Travellin' At Night" with the admonition "I won't be slowed down by the speed of light" was the next song. This was followed by "Independence" with tales about spending time on his 96 year old grandfather's farm in Louisiana, and some lessons learned. A blues tune "That's The Way Mountains are Made" with mouth harp riffs advises "listen to the prayers you've prayed" for they will follow you in life. The last song in his set was a cover of "I'm Glad We Had This Time Together" from the old Carol Burnett show as a way to thank the audience for hanging in to his performance.
A full night of music.
Showcase Photos
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Photo Credits: Matthew Costello
September 2023 VOCAL Songwriters Showcase
Continuing the tradition of live performances, tonight’s showcase at O’Toole’s restaurant, featured two performers, Burke Ingraffia and Steve Fisher. Burke is a relatively new member of VOCAL, while Steve has been with the group for a while. As is true in any live situation, an audience helps the performers bring out their best work, and tonight was no exception. Luckily for the two tonight, a large group of enthusiastic listeners assembled.
Burke Ingraffia
Burke is a New Orleans transplant to Richmond, and brings with him a corresponding musical sound, lively, bouncy and upbeat. During his song set he occasionally added harmonica to his guitar playing as was demonstrated in his first song, “Dusty Old Clock” which extolled the virtues of using time wisely. “If I don’t take the time, time will take me” he sang. “Checks and Balances” took a humorous look at money saying in one line “I own a bank……..a piggy bank”, which got laugh from the audience. a funky blues tune “That’s The Way Mountains Are Made” followed. Next. Even though rainy weather may be depressing and something over which you have no control, you can control your inner self and how you react to your outer surroundings was the message of his next song “Change of Heart” this was followed by a great description of the over eager salesperson which he cartooned in “Business As Usual” which made fun of the stereotypical guy with the glib tongue and half truths. “Traveling At Night” followed and proclaimed “I won’t be slowed by the speed of light.” His last song, also the title of his latest CD was “Waves” talks about inspiration and how it appears without warning “thoughts come out the blue” and we need to grab them before they disappear. In his set, Burke showed a great versatility of ideas and styles of music which was well received and applauded.
Steve Fisher
Steve is a member of the Tin Can Fish band, a local Richmond mainstay. Tonight he appeared as a solo act . Not to be undone in his performance, he started off with a rousing tale of a lady of the night “Brown Eyed Biloxi Queen” with whom he consorted at the astounding price of $20. “Stow Away” pleaded to a lover “”Let’s go away together” and leave the world behind. In “Falling Knife” the singer exhorted that we should be aware of the dangers in life and “you can’t catch a falling knife” without suffering the consequences of your actions. In “Holding On” Steve talks about being estranged from life, disconnected from feelings and trying to get back home, all of which remain elusive. Next song was “All Alone” sort of a spinoff of the previous song. If ever anyone can find a permanent way to honor love and commitment, having their image “Tattooed On Your Heart” would certainly fit the bill and in here he sings about just that. Next in his set was “Rollin’ and Tumblin’ Back To You”, a rousing number that outlines all the clues a lover might find to want to return to a previous committed situation, “I heard a song that made me cry” was one. Lastly: “Fields Of The Lord” was a tribute to how black and white folks came together in the south through playing music together, stating “There must be something in the water” that unifies us all.
A good way to end the night.
Showcase Photos
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