Songwriters share stories, songs

Members of the Spokane Songwriters Association performed for the first time this year at Ionic Burrito on Feb. 8. Starting at 7 p.m. and lasting for about two hours, guitarists Laddie Ray Melvin and Gonzaga alumnus Wesley Bryan Walker played their original songs for the audience at Ionic Burrito.

The two songwriters took turns presenting their music, playing a total of 20 songs and telling the stories that inspired each piece of music that was played.

Melvin, a veteran of songwriting, played a number of folk songs that he had written back in the 1970s, songs that carried the same feeling as those of Peter, Paul and Mary, or of Buffalo Springfield.

Walker, who performed a song he had written just earlier that day, played songs that carried the spirit of his own generation and produced sounds similar to that of the Goo Goo Dolls or Third Eye Blind. If nothing else, these comparisons speak loudly of the musical diversity present in the Spokane Songwriters Association.

Headed by Bill Kostelec, a photography and graphic design teacher at Gonzaga University, the Songwriters Association aims to promote local songwriters in their struggle to get their songs heard and appreciated by the public.

The No. 1 priority for the group is to have their members play their original songs in friendly environments where the connection between the audience and the artist takes priority over the musical skill of the performer.

Songwriting members are encouraged to talk with the audience about their songs, explaining the inspiration for their songs and the circumstances in which they were written. During his performance, Melvin talked about his song "Oh, What a Day," saying that he wrote it nearly 25 years ago for his wife on their wedding day. To this extent, each performance of the Songwriters Association becomes a very personal and amiable experience.

Kostelec, the founder of the Songwriters Association, talked about the process of songwriting, and how it has influenced the formation of the group.

"Songwriting is like writing short stories," he said. "It's very rewarding."

Kostelec explained how each member gets a chance to explore their own creativity by taking an aspect of their life and transforming it into a form of art. The Songwriters Association gives people the opportunity to experience new things and to explore music in a unique and satisfying way. Walker also recognizes this aspect of satisfaction through his own experiences with the group.

"I actually learned how to play guitar from Bill over there, and he's helped me write a few of my first songs," he said.

The group of songwriters started the association in March last year when they began playing twice a month on Tuesdays at the Empyrean in Spokane.

"It was a good environment to play in because the people we played for were actually listening," Kostelec said.

It was for this reason that they moved the location of their song nights to Ionic Burrito when the Empyrean closed temporarily. Ionic Burrito offers a pleasant, youthful crowd and has agreed to stay open late on nights that the association performs.

One particular aspect of the Songwriters Association makes it unique among performance groups.

"Performers who play at bars are there to provide background music for people who want to talk and drink," Kostelec said. "That's why we play at places where we can interact with the crowd."

For people who dabble in songwriting or play guitar in their spare time, the Spokane Songwriters Association is a great resource. Their next song night is on March 8 at Ionic Burrito.

If you are interested in joining, Kostelec can be reached at his Gonzaga extension, x3816. He can also be contacted through the group's Web site, www.spokanesongwriters.org, where videos of their performances are posted, as are links to their members' Web sites.

The Songwriters Association is always looking for new songwriters and is willing to help musicians strengthen their performance skills. Those who are interested are encouraged to go to Ionic Burrito on March 8. They are a fun group of people who just want to make some music and give their audience a good time.