I think what Martin is refering to is the way that an audience shows its appreciation these days.

I wasn't around in the 60's & 70's revival days (heck, where I was, we'd only just got Glen Miller), but suspect that the audiences were 'british'.... they clapped politely, tapped a foot quietly, maybe even stood when a song was finished. From what I can tell from various records, the folk revival of the '60's+ was for the more melodic ballady type, accoustic music. The electrification of folk (for a brilliant example try 'New Electric Muse, story of folk into rock, ESBCD416/1-3) turned it into something a bit more vibrant, more appealing to those being brought up to the 3 minute pop song and senseless lyrics. These days (jees, I sound old!) people get so much more involved. Watching an audience is like watching a bucket of worms; they move to the music, sing along, are not afraid to get up and dance in the aisle if they feel that way inclined, you can SEE that they are enjoying it and they are so much more vocal in their appreciation. And I don't mean just youngsters. I've seen teenagers and their parents all dancing and jiving along to a folk band. People appear to be more liberated, more expressive and less self-conscious about enjoying themselves in public. When you have that sort of effect on an audience, when you can see them expressing pleasure, energy and joy, it can only make you feel bloody fantastic.

LTS