by Bennett Rabiega

I was in the audience for the most recent Singer/Songwriter showcase at the Lancaster Dispensing Company. The showcase is put together by Tony Kirchner (drummer for the Lancaster County band, Slimfit) and gives people a chance to experience a variety of performers in a single evening. They usually try to bring in someone from out of the area in addition to a couple of local favorites.

The evening began with a set by Steven Courtney, who is something of an institution in the local performing community. This being my first time at the showcase, I was a little surprised that there were no introductions of the individual performers. Courtney ambled up on the stage and began. My first thought was that it might be a mistake having a performer as dynamic as Steven kicking off the evening, but it turned out to be a wise decision. The audience was not particularly attentive at first and gave what I considered rather lackluster applause. But Steven soon had them involved and singing and clapping along, which help them get involved in the rest of the evening.

Courtney played songs from his CD “Old Albums,” including the title cut and “Identity.” He also gave the audience a preview of his upcoming CD. For the last couple numbers he was joined by Doug Walton (from Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends) on mandolin and harmony vocals. As always, his charismatic performance drew the audience in and they were rewarded by his consistently strong songwriting.

Next up was Boston-based singer/songwriter Sarah Blacker. I was not familiar with her before tonight, but thoroughly enjoyed her set. Her voice was excellent, as were her songs. Though I had previously heard Joni Mitchell used as a point of comparison for Sarah, the performer I that kept coming to mind as I listened to her great voice, excellent songs and quirky stage patter (which often made me laugh) was Shawn Colvin. This doesn’t preclude Mitchell’s influence, since so many singer/songwriters (both male and female) have drawn from that well, but Colvin seemed a more obvious point of departure, for me at least.

Her second number began with a bit of Hall and Oates’ “Maneater” before moving into an original song and she performed the only cover song of the main sets with a version of Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See,” putting her own spin on a well-known song. I picked up a copy of her CD, “The Only Way Out is Through,” and will probably be reviewing it for Folktowne in the near future.

Tony said to me during Sarah’s set, “I’m always pleasantly surprised when someone I’ve only heard on a recording turns out to be just as good live. Also, I like to mix a female in with the guys so that the night isn’t a total sausage fest!”

The final performer of the night was Leo DiSanto, the front man for local band Vinegar Creek Constituency. Leo had the longest set of the night, playing ten songs to six or seven each by Steven Courtney and Sarah Blacker, but with such high quality songs I certainly wasn’t complaining! He performed solo version of songs by Vinegar Creek, including the title song from their upcoming release, “Angel of the Last Waltz.” For his fourth number DiSanto performed an unreleased original in the style of Irish drinking song called “The Wild Winds of Misfortune,” which had everyone at the Dispensing Company singing along.

He spoke of his affinity for three-four time and it seemed like a third of the songs he performed swung in three. To me, it felt like this gave his set some unity and (having a thing for waltz time myself) made it all seem quite comfortable. On every number, DiSanto’s strong singing was complimented by some excellent guitar work.

After a short break, Tony Kirchner thanked the crowd for their attentiveness and support and then it was on to a unique close of the evening: All three performers (along with Doug Walton) on stage performing unrehearsed covers! My first thought was that this had equal potential for disaster or greatness. Fortunately for everyone it was definitely the latter. The highlights were the Steven Courtney-led version of “Like a Rolling Stone” and the closing Beatle covers “Here Comes the Sun” (led by Leo DiSanto) and “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” (led by Courtney).

During the final set, Tony came up to me. “This is what I love,” he said. “Putting three people who have never performed together—or maybe haven’t even met before tonight—and having them perform together!” And I had to agree that it seemed pretty cool at that moment. From my vantage point it certainly seemed that the performers were having more fun than the audience, which seemed to respond to the loose feel of these familiar numbers and the fun being had on stage. It was a great end to an extremely enjoyable evening.