A few days ago, I came back to Mudcat, and I was very excited about it. Over the years, I made many good friends on here, and we had interesting discussions. I started a thread "Around the Kitchen Table" which people enjoyed participating in. I ran a folk concert sweries for 27 years, among many other folk activities. One of the things I treasured most was that we were a folk community. WHat happened to the community on here? It looks like the only options are to post threqads on song lyrics or announcements. I want to know how folks are doin' and what they're up to, other than just a concert listing or the lyrics to a song. Where has the diversity gone. I don't care to discuss or argue about the definition of folk music. However you want to define folk music (horses don't sing it, is a little too loose for me.) Folk music has always come out of a community making music that grew out of everyday life, socializing, and friendship.

I've been excited to see names of old friends popping up whom I haven't heard in years. How ya' doin' Beil Rossi? you may not even remember me, but I remember you. I'd enjoy talking with you, or at least having a way to have kitchen table, or front porch conversations on a broader scale than a request for a song lyric, or knowing where you're playing. I'd enjoy getting to know you as a folk. What's going in your life? I'm interested in you, not just a song lyric or a concert announcement.

Maybe this isn't what Mudcat is, anymore.

And where are conversations about southern mountain music, or string bands? I don't see anyone comparing Black Bottom Blues and Riley the Furniture Man and Black Lives Matter. This feels more like a reference library.

I'm a friendly man, and I would love to get back in touch with old friends like Jimmyt, Bob Harrison and all my friends down in the D.C. area. Facebook does that well. Us old timers rarely get together anymore. Six hours drives are not as easy, anymore.

This post doeswn't even fit in a category on here. By tomorrow it will be off the screen.

Take care of yourselves. There are so many fine people on here I care about. What's happened to my Shellback Friends?



I write this, not as a criticismn or judgment. Mudcat is doing what it wants to do, and is a valuable resource.

Here's to all my old friends, and new ones I'd like to meet. I love being in contact and sharing thoughts with my folk friends on Facebook. Drop by and say hello sometime. I'd like to hear how you're doing.

All good wishes to Mudcat. I'll drop by once in awhile and check on the doin's.

Jerry