Is this a grand country or what???

me thinks I've seen it all now.

I understand this is all about taste and comfort levels, and I know music changes and evolves.

Maybe this discussion comes down more to definitions than instruments. To me "folk" transcends age, economic, political and geographical lines. At one time I would say "country" did as well. Once something is changed, or added, or deleted, etc., in order to make it appealing to a specific group apart from the larger group it then becomes a sub-culture of the original. I would argue that country has morphed, or been morphed, into something different from its roots. Some would say that's a good thing, I would take the opposite approach. I narrowed my venomous bark (much worse than my bite) against electric instruments because they are probably the most visible (or audible) manifestation of the change. I think folk has avoided this change on a wholesale level as opposed to country simply because of the nature of the beast. It's just a lot easier to carry an acoustic guitar on your back than it is a truck full of amps, mixers, etc.

In my opinion, that is the way it should be. I know others have different opinions, that's why I started the thread. I would also like to know what folks think electricity "adds" to folk that is not there to begin with. As you can probably tell, I think it actually detracts from the lyrics, etc., but I am open to hear what others think.

As of now I remain,

chastened, but not converted,

freightdawg