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.
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Webster defines "anemic" as:
a: lacking force, vitality, or spirit
b: lacking interest or savor : insipid
c: lacking in substance or quantity
If this term applies to anything, it may be the current state of Folk music.
When a song (these days) has spirit, it's usually a very old spirit; like tapping into the ghost of Jimmie Rogers. And while that ghost may have an ancient beauty about it, seldom do we consider "old" to be "interesting".
Likewise, a song that seems immediately interesting will rarely show any true vitality. Unique approaches to music too often become "fads".
And as for substance; Folk poets seem to have the perfect piece of musical real estate to really make the most of a great story. Pop melodies tend to trap a lyricist with their strict phrasing. But Folk writers build most melodies around three or four chords, and phrasing (and even melody, in that case) ends up being less crucial to a song than its lyrics.
But that's where the ghost of Jimmie Rogers comes creeping back in. Today's Folk songwriters are still telling us about trains, and palettes, and quilts, and shacks. So that while there is definite substance to modern Folk music, it often presents itself as irrelevant to these modern times. The Great Depression has been overshadowed by the current state of the US economy and Katrina means more to this generation than does the flood of '57. That's all Dylan's trying to tell us now.
But these are only my thoughts, and they only reflect upon Folk music in general. I've seen (first-hand) how well you do your homework, Kate. And I have heard you spin some of the best Folk music out there. Seems to me that the listener- when speaking of tin cans- may have a distaste for Folk music. And he/she should probably turn the dial to the nearest commercial Country or Pop station.
But like I said before, Folk music is THE medium of storytellers. And wherever else one might turn, they're only going to find music that truly is anemic.
I continue to appreciate your selection of songs, which is generally anything but anemic. I was so happy to hear the Steve Tilston song "Here's to Tom Paine" this evening, and coming right after the Stan Rogers song, I felt a progression that built without need of verbal explanations and left me wide open to the next musical "step". This is not a left-brained sequence that cries out for explanation, but a right-brained expression that arises out of, and satisfies, an informed instinct. And please don't shy away from politics... it's one of the two basic themes of people's music, right up there with love :)
I disagree with your listener about Darrell Scott's cover of Urge for Going. It was certainly a different take, but the song has enough vitality to survive varied interpretations. Darrell's cover was a salute to the music that inspired him as he was growing up. And besides, it's a Joni Mitchell song, not a Tom Rush song (albeit that a lot of people are more familiar with Mr. Rush's version).
As to more commentary and backstory, I'd rather listen to more music. There are enough resources available to listeners to delve more into a song or artist they hear on the air. Brief introductions are reasonable and welcome.