I often wonder why people resort to invective and name-calling when discussing a subject as pleasant and important as folk song - well no; I'm lying - I know why they do! It's so certain individuals can get around having to deal with problems more complicated than ordering a pint at the bar.
Fundamental - (elemental, basic): - I suppose it is fairly fundamental to expect to find and evening of folk songs at a folk club - guilty to that one.
Finger-in-ear - my favourite: The practice of cupping the hand over the ear in order to sing in tune is a world-wide one, centuries, probably millennia old. While I realise that the concept of singing in tune is pretty low down on the list of priorities at some clubs, I've always considered this one a compliment.
All the others I've put down to lack of imagination, though it does occur to me that the real 'Folk Police' are the ones who say 'words mean what I want them to mean' (Orwell had that one pretty well covered in Nineteen-Eighty-Four).
I was indexing tapes a few weeks ago, recordings made at some of the clubs I have been involved in. What struck me was the skill, energy and sheer enjoyment of some of the singers - the pleasure they appeared to take in singing well. These were not the payed guests, but the residents and the singers from the floor. I came to the conclusion that that is what has disappeared from most of the clubs I have visited over the last few years - the combination of skill, dedication and sheer pleasure of making a good song come alive. As for the material sung - if I had to choose between somebody singing a long unaccompanied ballad (no matter how many verses) competently, to one of the many onanists onanising their way through some self-penned, self-obsessed piece in a pseudo American accent - sorry, no contest. Sneering at unaccompanied singing only convinces me that the folk clubs have fallen into the hands of people who don't like folk song - that's what folk song is folks - take it or leave it.
Difficult it may be sometimes (especially when the singer hasn't put in the work) - boring it ain't (when they have).
Jim Carroll