It was at the North Star Bar here in Philly. We went because we saw two of the
acts at the Philly Folk Festival this past summer, and they were both great-
John Flynn, a Wilmington, DE folk singer, and Full Frontal Folk, a quartet
of female singers. There was a third act, with lesser billing on the bar's
website, called Bill Hangly and the Acoustic League of Justice. We arrived
early, because it wasnt possible to buy tickets in advance over the phone.
This bar is in a quiet, fairly rundown section of near north Philly. We
felt ok, since we were able to park directly across the street. The place
does not announce itself as anything special on either the outside or
inside, except by the prices ($4 or $5 per 20 oz glasss), and choices
(about ten, from Guinness to obscure stuff), of its tap beer. Immediately
inside the door is a small, anonymous-looking bar, and about four tables.
The next room back holds a couple of pool tables.

We were there at about 8:30. Doors were supposed to open at nine, for a ten
o'clock concert, in a room beside the bar, in other words next door,
accessible through two doors off the pool room. We got to hear a muffled
Full Frontal warm up on Seven Bridges Road. They needed the warm-up-
someone sounded off. Seven bridges Raod, in case you dont know is a slow
ballad with rich harmonies. Ian Matthews did a wonderful version, with
overdubbing of his own voice. Full Frontal Folk did a very similar version.
Well, in the actual concert it sounded perfect. Absolutely beautiful, and a
highlight of the evening. But I get ahead of myself. The room with the
stage is long and narrow, like many older buildings in Philly. They have a
balcony, but it is level, and extends almost over the stage so the only
people up there who would have a chance to see would be right at the edge.
We made sure we were first in line to get in, when they opened the doors at
about 9:15, because there were only about six or eight tables on the lower
level, with maybe 30 chairs. Everyone else had to sit on the floor or
stand.

Some things were quite annoying. People stood between us and the stage, at
various times blocking our view. The crowd was quite talkative throughout
the show. As a whole, they were not at all attentive. Most people left by
the time John Flynn came out, missing his dynamic performance.

------------
The MUSIC:
Some things were cool. We were at a table with the father of the
bass player from the Acoustic League, and we had good conversation between
songs. And there was the MUSIC (finally, you might be saying!) The Acoustic
League came out first, as you might expect. They are essentially a
bluegrass band from Philadelphia. They were quite good, I thought, but they
didnt thrill my date. They had a very smooth, pretty exciting fiddle
player, a good acoustic guitar player, a strong acoustic bass player (on a
7/8 bass, his father told us) and a competant banjo player. It was hard to
concentrate on them as I would have liked, due to the noise of the crowd,
who seemed quite unappreciative. On some songs they had a vocalist who I
thought was good. He reminded me of Robert Earl Keen.

It was easier for me to focus on the next act, Full frontal Folk. A quartet of
women, who harmonize wonderfully and trade off the lead. They have
different character to their voices on lead, but always were properly
balanced. And they are FUNNY. You have to be ready for a bit of adult
humor. This I am mostly remembering from the Folk Fest, however, because I
could not make out most of what they said this evening, because of the
crowd. I hate to say, perhaps they needed to amplify this entire concert
more, because usually I think concerts are over-amplified. But it might
have helped in this case. Besides singing, three of the four played, and
played pretty well- two guitars and a fiddle.

Last up was John Flynn, who came out and belted politically-charged originals
and nice ballads. He played strong rhythms on his acoustic guitar, and he
was adequalety amplified, perhaps only because the crowd thinned by that
time. The members of the two prior bands were all around us, which was kind
of cool. It made it all seem real. The bass player only stopped by our
table briefly to say hello to his father. Other people stopped by from time
to time, as well. His father had come up from North Carolina to see them
play. He said he did this at least once a year.

John Flynn. He is like a folk singer out of time. He belongs in the 60s. Or he
belongs here now, but is like a voice in the wilderness. His songs are
relevant, but not enough people are listening. I understand he has a loyal
local following for both adult and children's concerts. And boy does he
belt out a song- very strong, but in control. On an aside, at the folk
festival he was involved in one of the most touching moments. Dave Carter,
a wonderful singer- songwriter billed for the concert with his partner
Tracy Grammer, died only weeks before the festival. Tracy Grammer appeared
none-the- less, and the Festival was dedicated to Dave Carter's memory. At
one point John Flynn got up on the main stage and performed with Tracy, and
did a wonderful job taking Dave's part on one of his beautiful songs.

This night, at the North Star, he was on stage by himself, but was a commanding
presence. He carries on where Phil Ochs left off and Pete Seeger has led.

So, the music was good, but the audience was not. I will hesitate to go there
again. I have found, for example, the Tin Angel in Philly, to have a much
better ambience for a concert. Do see Full Frontal Folk and John Flynn if
you get the chance.
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