Pedestrian Ramblings February 26
My recent ramblings found me wandering around the Case Western Reserve University parking garage looking for my Honda CRV.
I was leaving the Lake Erie Folk Festival and was overwhelmed by the interactions, conversation, music, and energy of the event. In retrospect, I was foolish for leaving early, and later regretted not staying for the “primary” evening performances. That being said, I had reached my stimulation capacity and needed to disengage, contemplate, and digest.
With my head swimming, I couldn’t remember where I had parked, so I used the time-honored trick of pushing the lock button on my key fob while looking for the flashing taillights of my car.
“Ah, there it is, right where I parked it”.
This was the tenth year for the festival, and by all accounts, and my observation, the event is flourishing. I have attended the festival several times since it began, both as a performer and attendee. I left each time with my head full of musical and conversational stimulation. This time was no exception.
I had just facilitated a panel discussion on the Cleveland folk music scene between 1962 and 1972, which was followed by a then-and-now discussion. A compare and contrast, if you will. The LEFF board had decided this topic warranted a double session, so I had a ninety-minute time slot to fill. The discussion touched on performers, venues, promoters, and champions of folk music.
There was a very significant club in Cleveland’s folk music history called La Cave. It was right down the road from Farragher’s, another significant folk club. La Cave was open for about ten years, but in that brief time, an astounding number of major performers appeared there. It was truly a remarkable place at a remarkable time.
One of the panel members, Steve Traina wrote a book on La Cave, and he was an obvious selection for the panel. He graciously gave his time, expertise, and credibility to the discussion.
Another panel member, David Krauss, was in a band called “Tiny Alice” that performed at La Cave. They also had a recording contract with a label. They toured the US and Canada. In addition to being a great musician, he could offer firsthand observations and happens to be an eloquent speaker.
Cindy Barber was sitting next to David, and she has been incredibly instrumental in the Cleveland contemporary music scene. She has a long history of involvement in folk music. Cindy owns the Beachland Ballroom as well as another lovely venue, the Treelawn. Cindy became involved in the music community in the mid-70s, and she has been a champion of the music and arts community. She is especially known for her efforts to cultivate and assist performing artists.
Rounding out the panel was Brent Kirby, a highly respected, established musical artist. Brent is an incredible songwriter with a number of musical outlets, including the New Soft Shoe and the Jack Fords. The New Soft Shoe pays homage to the remarkable life and talent of Gram Parsons. He also hosts a singer-songwriter evening called the 10 x 3, where he selects 10 songwriters to perform three original songs every month. He has worked closely with Cindy on Cleveland Rocks, a not-for-profit committed to helping local musicians and artisans.
This was a high-powered group of people, and I was very privileged to be sitting there with them.
I’ve had enough experience with these things to know there was a high probability the discussion would wander, and I saw my role as a steward, coaxing the dialogue toward a meaningful destination. I had prepared a general outline, and surprisingly, in a loose fashion, we adhered to it.
I believe it was a successful discussion.
I had interviewed several dozen musicians and folk DJs in preparing for the presentation. I wanted to have an understanding of this time period in northeastern Ohio, and I wanted to ask insightful and provocative questions. I had also researched and prepared a playlist of songs from Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Bob Gibson, and Tiny Alice for the presentation. My only regret was not taking the time to play a few of those tunes, but we really didn't have any downtime.
A photo of Phil Ochs
In addition to discussing performers and venues, we talked about the causes that motivated or provided subject material for the contemporary songwriters of this time period. The Vietnam War was the primary motivator for many, followed by civil rights and then the environment. Of course, there were many seminal events that occurred during this ten-year period, including the escalation of the US involvement in Vietnam, political assassinations, the shootings at Kent State University, and the burning of the Cuyahoga River.
My intention was to discuss this ten-year period for about forty-five minutes, then take an intermission. After we reassembled, my thought was to fast-forward to today and discuss the current conditions for folk musicians.
There is an old saying about the best laid plans… Well, we never took a break. Consequently, there wasn’t a reason to play any music, nor look at images from Steve Traina’s book.
After about an hour and ten minutes, I decided to shift gears, and we began talking about the world of folk music in NEO today.
Does NEO Ohio have a musical identity? If so, what is it? There is clearly a folk musical heritage and a legacy here in the greater Cleveland region, but is there a way to create an identity that embraces the incredibly diverse folk music scene that exists here?
The flow of the conversation included what has changed in the folk music business, the causes inspiring folk musicians, and messages that engage their audiences.
We have a remarkable number of venues. Many more than 50 years ago! And there are more performers and musical outlets. And any decent cell phone can be used as a streaming device or a video camera. There are also dozens of first-rate, professional recording studios available to local artists. Sixty years ago, there were a couple of major studio options for recording.
Now, in addition to studios, there are incredibly affordable, powerful, computer-based recording programs or Apps, suitable for home or live performance use.
Streaming services are the most popular musical distribution outlets, but in recent years, vinyl records have made a substantial comeback. Digital downloads appear to be the future, while the future of compact discs is uncertain. What this means for the folk artist is a widely debated topic.
We did not talk about the amazing advances in live performance gear, but these are real factors with regard to fidelity, size, portability, and volume of current PA systems.
Unfortunately, one thing that has not changed are the social injustices that still plague humanity today.
While our country is not currently engaged in a foreign conflict like the Vietnam War, we have captured and removed the president of a foreign nation. We have also targeted and destroyed a number of small vessels in international waters from that same country, killing well over a hundred citizens.
Even more concerning is the rabid approach our nation has adopted toward immigrants. Operating under the banner of addressing illegal aliens, dozens and dozens of stories have emerged about wrongful detention of US citizens, or detainment and deportation of persons involved in the final steps of securing US citizenship.
We have also seen two people shot and killed in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, or should I say, back at the country club, executive orders are being issued that circumvent environmental legislation adopted over 50 years ago. Public education and the scientific process is literally under attack, and adopted health care standards are being rescinded.
It was increasingly apparent during our conversation that in today's world, we may not have a Vietnam, a burning river, Jim Crow laws, or the Kent State shootings, but contemporary folk singers have a great deal to work with.
After a solid two hours, our panel discussion concluded, and we all went our separate ways. As we did, I am sure that the folk who attended and participated had a mindfull of ideas and concerns about the importance of folk songs in these turbulent times.
And we left with the uncertainty of what to do next...