Doc Watson's Folk Concert Is All Folk Song
A most remarkable event took place at Town Hall Saturday evening--a folk concert made up of folk songs. No ballads about Vietnam, no tunes written the day before yesterday, nothing closer to a protest song than a Spike Drivers Blues. The perpetrator of this notable event was Doc Watson, the blind minstrel from the Southern mountains who specializes in what he calls old-time country music, most of it learned from family and friends, the rest from recordings of the late twenties and early thirties.
Its not easy to say which aspects of Mr. Watsons performances were the most rewarding. Perhaps his fantastic instrumental dexterity (the banjo was in for repairs, so he contented himself with dazzling bits on guitar and harmonica, or his warm, mellow voice and easygoing style. Or his choice of fresh, unhackneyed material. Or his witty a la Will Rogers commentary on the songs. In any event, the sum of these worthy parts was a thoroughly engaging evening. Mr. Watsons son Merle played second guitar.
This was Doc Watsons first full length concert in New York. A return engagement is clearly in order.
Robert Sherman
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