They paved paradise. Well okay, they didn’t quite pave it yet, but I was stunned to see what used to be the Bardwell Farm on route 10 being rolled and flattened to become, I hear, a parking lot for a supermarket. I remember when we’d drive from Keene to Swanzey, past the property once home for many black and white cows. My kids would point and cheer, “The cows are out! The cows are out!!” They had names for the cows, too. “There’s Daddy and Mommy….and Maggie…look, there’s Nana and Lael”, they exclaimed from their back seat stations, giddy with excitement.

Dave Mallett’s song “Main Street”, Greg Brown’s “Boomtown”, and Iris Dement’s “Our Town”, in addition to Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” all bemoan the changing landscape of our communities.

Another song that brings me pause is Greg Brown’s “Canned Goods”. He paints us a picture with smells of baking bread and the taste of pickles on our tongues with the picture of gram in her apron steaming up the kitchen windows while preserving summer in a mason jar.

As I was picking blueberries the other day I could hear my mom coaching me in the art of blueberry picking. “Gently roll the berry off the bush with this finger and your thumb. If it doesn’t roll off, it’s not ripe yet. Careful, careful…put your bucket right under the berries so you don’t lose them on the ground.” Then she’d smile, teasing, “one for your bucket, one for you.” It was really hard to put every berry in the pail, the luscious and juicy fruit staining my fingertips and teeth. Back in those days, I wasn’t really that interested in berry picking. It was hot. The bugs were biting. It required patience as the pail seemed to take forever to fill one berry at a time.

But now I’m so grateful to have had my mother’s coaching and for those days when the cows were out and the berry bushes loomed over me and my little berry pail. I’m grateful for the twirl and swirl of memories that fill all my senses like the smell of bread baking, the sounds of old songs and the images of black and white cows in a wide-open pasture.

Ours is not the first generation to watch our memories steam-rolled into the future. I’m reminded to savor those memories, just as I’ll savor the blueberry pie made from blueberries picked one blueberry at a time.

My daughter went to see A Prairie Home Companion last weekend at Wolf Trap in Virginia. She got to see the Steele Sisters and Robin and Linda Williams with Garrison Keillor in a Memorial Day special. Seeing the live performance of the show reminded Maggie of home. She phoned to thank me for exposing her to public radio and especially for making A Prairie Home Companion part of our Saturday evening routine. I’m not sure my kids really appreciated our nearly tv-less household when they were younger, so her phone call and reminiscence of those Saturday evenings around the radio warmed me.

“I’m grateful”, she said, “that you exposed us to good radio and to good music, Mom.”

PHC may be the only opportunity for some folks to hear gospel or folk music. It may be the only opportunity for our children to hear radio theater. If you haven’t tried it yet, turn off the tube and expose your youngsters to radio. Real radio, that is.

A few weeks ago I was chatting with Patrick, a coworker, about the new Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem cd I received in the mail. His eyes lit up when he spoke about some of his favorite selections in his home music library that were the soundtrack of his youth in Newfoundland. It struck me, as I listened to him, that his passion for the music needed to be shared. So, I brought him in to help me with our St. Patrick's Day feature on The Folk Show. I've invited other folks to do the same. These are people I've bumped into along the way whose passion for Folk music exceeds that of a casual listener. We'll give them a voice and give you a glimpse of what feeds your neighbor's folk soul. Our next guest dj will be David Pyles from Nelson, NH. He was responsible for bringing the "Folks in Nelson" series to the town. Next week, Emily Elbert, a relatively new face on the folk music scene will visit us. Tom Rush has planned a visit to the The Folk Show in April. (The guest dj idea was Marek Bennett's brainstorm, born from a dinner conversation with his wife) Thanks, Marek...and thank YOU for tuning us in.

It is interesting that two out of the three recent complaints I have gotten about The Folk Show have concerned Tom Rush. He sure does have a loyal following. I mentioned in an earlier Folk Show blog about a man who wrote:

"…it's 7:25 and I just turned off what has to be one of the most tasteless, offensive covers I've ever heard in my 63 years of making and listening to folk music - a rollicking, bluegrass version of, "Urge for Going." I know 'there's no accountin' for taste,' and that everyone's different, OK, but that guy oughta be shot. I can't believe you're airing it!”
He was referring to the Darrell Scott cover from his Modern Hymns album. And then recently, I received this email:

"As someone who has been involved in the music business both in NYC and Los Angeles for over twenty years, I must confess that the Folk Show seems anemic and uninspiring. If you listen to say, WUMB and their folk show, there is quite clearly a broader depth of knowledge and better taste.
When NH can boast the likes of native Tom Rush--brilliant [sic] and the inspiration and discoverer of countless musical talents in this country--and he is never played, it's disheartening. Tom has recently moved back to NH and it's my hope that in his honor, he will be PLAYED!
But, apart from that, as pleasant as the host of the show seems to be, she plays a preponderance of mediocre talent and has a bit of a tin ear. The gentleman who sits in for her is far better equipped to handle this job than she. I'm sorry for saying so, but I can't listen to the program."

The other complaint I got was about my pre-election playlist from November first. The listener was very annoyed that my program was too "political". She was sick of election coverage and was unhappy about my music selections that evening.
When then Music Director Carl Watanabe hired me 14 years ago he asked me to remember that the program was a music program. He didn’t want a talk program or a folk music tutorial each week. It is possible that the expectations of listeners have changed and that I need to make adjustments to meet new listener criteria for a folk music program. I respect and appreciate your feedback and your help in creating the folk music program that meets the needs of public radio listeners in New Hampshire. Please tell me how I can do that.

In his Inauguration benediction, Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowry said, “help us then now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness is a mighty stream, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for the day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right, that all those who do justice and love mercy, say “amen”, say “amen”, and “amen”.“
This reverend got it right with his message. He seemed to end with a rap. His prayer was for all
of us. What's that got to do with folk music? Today I feel it has everything to do with folk music. The Folk music community is known for activism. It is the voice of justice and freedom. Folk music is work songs, shanties, spirituals, ballads and blues. It is a lament, an ode, a plea. The good reverend asked us to work for our freedoms, equality and peace. Today I respond by saying "amen", "amen", "amen".

It was a pleasure to have blues musician Guy Davis stop by the station. He talked about Pete Seeger, Odetta, and his vision for the blues. We also talked about the historic inauguration of Barack Obama happening this week. Imagine, one day, we won't be labeling our leaders as black, white, male or female. One day. Imagine.

My feelings about the holidays vary year to year. This year I made a commitment to embrace all that I love about the season instead of bemoaning the things I don’t.
I love holiday music. I remember my first Christmas concert performance. My fourth grade choir had little white cotton smocks with huge red bows on the front. That was the year I sang the lead for “O Holy Night”. I will never forget our Hummel-like mouths singing “OOOOOOOO Ho-o-o-ly Night”.
I remember Christmas caroling in my neighborhood in Anchorage, Alaska. Kind neighbors offered us sugar cookies and hot cocoa as we trudged from house to house with our pink cheeks stinging from the cold and our tummies warmed by sweet treats.
Then, my high school choir performed Handel’s Messiah. “And He Shall Reign For Ever and Eh- ver and and E-e-verr, King of Kings and Lord of Lordz…” The sweeping parts, the alto, soprano, tenor and thunderous baritones merging together for ”A-Le-Lu-Yah!”
I like that at least once a year we feel benevolent with concern, reaching out to those who need shelter and warmth.
I love my children coming home.
I like that my adult children wake up before me, still excited to peek in their stockings.
I like turning all the lights out in my house except for the Christmas lights to watch them illuminate the night.
I like calling my sister on Christmas to find out if our packages made it safely to her Louisiana home.
I enjoy cooking holiday dishes from recipes handed down from generation to generation.
I love dressing up our very large dogs with reindeer antlers and bells and watching them try to remove them as quickly as we put them on.
I love the opportunity to play acoustic holiday music on The Folk Show like Joni Mitchell’s “River”, Harvey Reid’s “Heart of a Minstrel on Christmas Day” and John McCutcheon’s “Christmas in the Trenches” based on the Christmas Truce of 1914. I will love playing some Christmas Spirituals by Odetta, the soulful folk diva who passed away recently at the age of 77. I can hear her singing mightily, “Children Go Where I Send Thee”.
So, let us indulge in a few too many sweets, a little too much peace, and harmony in spirit and song.

I was chatting with a friend the other day in my favorite coffee shop when someone walked up to my table armed with a chocolate croissant. He placed the pastry in front of me and said some sweet thing about me and The Folk Show and left. My friend Laura was pretty impressed, not just at the nice comment, but at this gentleman’s generosity and of course, the treat we were about to share!
I’m probably one of the luckiest radio hosts in America today because I have the opportunity to produce a music program featuring music I enjoy for the listeners of New Hampshire each week. You may not be able to stop me on the street or touch base in a coffee shop to show your support, but you can let us know you’re there by pledging during our Fall membership drive. Your donation of any amount is a pledge of support for the programming that is part of the character of New Hampshire. You have the opportunity to support live programming which has featured visits from talented artists like the Makem and Spain Brothers, Tim O’Brien, Garnet Rogers, Anais Mitchell, the Four Bitchin’ Babes, Red Molly and local musicians like Wendy Keith, High Range, Late Night Radio, Susie Burke and David Surrette as well as Tamworth's Bill Morrissey. Your donation helps to pay for new technology like this web page and helps us to pay the bills so we can continue to bring you the Folk programming that has become the backdrop for your Sunday evenings. It’s easy. You can pledge here on-line right now, or you can wait until Sunday night and call in when you hear a favorite tune and talk to one of our kind volunteers. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be your host and truly appreciate your support of our programming. Fall is in the air…and with it comes the opportunity to become a member of New Hampshire Public Radio or to renew your membership. Thank you for being here.

We played a few songs from Steve Goodman on The Folk Show tonight. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. Since the Chicago Cubs were swept by the LA Dodgers, it seemed fitting to play a Dying Cub Fan's Last Request in honor of the Cubs and a great songwriter, Steve Goodman. Goodman is someone I wish I had met. Any mentor of John Prine's is okay in my book! I like his sense of humor evident in songs like "The Twentieth Century is Almost Over" and "Veg-O-Matic", a tune about late night t.v. commercials. I also appreciate his bravery. Although he was diagnosed with cancer in the 60's, he continued to write, perform and record until he died in 1984. His last album, Unfinished Business won a posthumous grammy award. I won't wonder why some truly great performers leave us too soon. Instead, I'll just be grateful for the music he shared with us and hope, like he would, that the Cubs won't wait too much longer before winning a championship and perhaps a World Series.

I can still hear his voice on the station’s answering machine, “Jesus, God, Kate McNally…what are you thinking? Playing Pete Seeger peace music at a time like this?!” Then, click. He hung up. He didn’t leave a name…just the message. The music he was referring to was the re-release of HARP A Time to Sing featuring Holly Near, Arlo Guthrie, and former Weavers members Ronnie Gilbert and Pete Seeger. It was in 2002, not long after the War in Afghanistan began in response to the September 11th attacks on the U.S. My first response was “so what’s so bad about PEACE music, anyway? The album was originally released in 1984 with 13 songs. The digitally re-mastered 2002 version included 13 more songs with political and social commentary woven throughout.

I recently played a couple of tracks from the new Maria Muldaur album, Yes We Can! featuring the Women’s Voices for Peace Choir which includes Odetta, Bonnie Raitt and Holly Near, to name a few. I still felt the sting from nearly 6 years ago and wondered if the phone would ring in response to the Dylan tune John Brown about a guy mamed in battle or to the Peace Choir’s infectious Down By the Riverside. In the words of Nick Lowe, “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding.” Sh-h-h-h…..I won’t tell if you don’t.