THE FREDERICKSBURG SONGWRITER SHOWCASE FEATURES CARLA ULBRICH THIS FRIDAY

Carla Ulbrich will appear at the Fredericksburg Songwriter Showcase this Friday night 
Date published: 4/28/2011

BY JESSE SCOTT

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Carla Ulbrich chooses to make friends, not war, with her fellow songwriters.

As the music business becomes more and more competitive to break into, the self-described "funny-folksy" South Carolina native enjoys bonding with the musicians with whom she shares the stage--and gaining from their distinct knowledge.

It's one of the many important lessons Ulbrich has learned over the years as an inventive and witty singer-songwriter.

Ulbrich will share the stage with fellow guitar-armed songwriters Joe Giacoio, Rupert Wates and Todd Burge as part of this month's Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase.

The Showcase will kick off tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Picker's Supply Concert Hall.

"I think the one rule with songwriting is that you have to have something good to say," said Ulbrich, now a resident of New Jersey.

"You have to have a point and you have to be able to get it across in a way that makes sense to your audience."

Ulbrich has certainly been able to find the right words and make that connection. Since releasing her first album in 1999, Ulbrich has toured the U.S. and England, and has appeared on the USA Network and the BBC.

Her tunes are frankly humorous and observational, with titles like "We Don't Need No Walmart," "The Wedgie" and "The Guy Who Changes the Lightbulbs."

"I'm like a mix of Weird Al [Yankovic] and Phoebe from 'Friends,'" said Ulbrich. "I write about a lot of oddball topics and look forward to bringing them all to Fredericksburg."

Ulbrich is making the trek to the 'Burg as a friend of local folk singer, songwriter and coordinator of the Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase, Bob Gramman.

Since 1993 the Showcase has provided local, regional and national songwriters the opportunity to connect with an intimate audience on the last Friday of every month.

"I met [Gramman] at a folk music event six or seven years ago and I've been trying to get back to Fredericksburg for the showcase," said Ulbrich. "I think Fredericksburg is really neat. The last time I was in Fredericksburg was on Halloween, and everyone was dressed up so Colonial!"

Ulbrich is one of the lucky few selected for the showcase, which receives well over 100 entries annually. Perhaps Ulbrich's smooth vocals and incredibly memorable--and funny--words were the clincher for getting her on the bill.

In February, Ulbrich proved that she can write more than just songs with the release of her first book, "The Singing Patient: How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?"

The book is a humorous collection of essays Ulbrich wrote while recovering from kidney failure and a stroke in 2002.

While Ulbrich enjoyed being an author, she claims songwriting and performing are still her favorites.

"I'm more comfortable as a songwriter, and I've been doing it much longer," said Ulbrich. "I can write a song and perform it over and over again and enjoy it.

"Plus, songs are interactive and you can see people smile, laugh and clap. The rewards are immediate."

Jesse Scott is a Fredericksburg writer.