I have just listened to the first few numbers on the Mudcat Concert of last October. I must confess to being just a little disappointed.
The singers could barely be heard over the general chatter and noise of what I take to be a busy bar.
Waiters and patrons walked right in front of the performers. I was always told that this showed little respect for either performer or music. Surely not what Mudcat seeks to encourage.
The arrangements for the performers seemed to be a little less than professional - mic. stands and snaking leads all over the place. In this clutter, the singer seemed to be just one more piece of equipment.
As for the singers themselves, they are what they are, folk singers who talk too much and sing not enough. Agreed, they have being doing this since the Folk Revival of the 1960's, but you'd think they'd have tightened up their act by now.
The sound quality was not good. I could barely make out wht the singers were saying much less the lyrics of their songs. Let's face it, the whole point of singing a song is lost if the words are lost.
Now, before anyone starts to lambaste me, I offer these observations as a performer of over 40 years experience and I do so knowing full well what difficulties organisers of "concerts" contend with. I am an enthusiastic supporter of Mudcat, though I contribute very rarely. I find this site an Aladdin's cave of musical delights, so I am not attacking Joe Offer or any other of the Mudcat Team. I just feel that this show does them less than justice.