Too often, men hear the word “folk” and instantly think of women with guitars singing about their (gasp) feelings. Then they back away slowly. But the male gender need not fear Folk Music. Below are four folk singers for a man to ease his way into modern Folk Music, each representing one of the many subsets of folk. They are:
- Josh Ritter
- Dan Bern
- The Mammals
- Steve Earle
Josh Ritter: The Mellow Songster
This Moscow, Idaho native is blessed with an incredible talent for combining traditional folk sensibilities with modern folk and rock sounds. Lyrically, he has no peers. It would not be an exaggeration to dub him the finest songwriter of this decade.
Since his breakthrough album, 2003’s Hello Starling, Josh Ritter has continued to released live and studio albums that showcase his writing abilities. His voice is not fabulous-- though it is certainly passing-- it is his epic story songs such as “Wings” and “The Temptation of Adam,” and his unsentimental songs of emptiness like “Wolves” and “You Don’t Make it Easy” that set him apart.
Key Albums for Josh Ritter:
- Hello Starling
- The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Dan Bern: The Witty Folk Rocker
Dan Bern has a knack for crafting everything from bawdy songs (“Cure For Aids,” “Johnny Cash and Anais Nin”) to rockers (“Alaska Highway,” “Sweetness”) to touching love songs (“Chelsea Hotel,” “I Need You,”). He has a snarky sense of humor that finds its way into so much of his music that even his sad songs can make the listener laugh inappropriately.
Due to the twang of his voice and his musical stylings, he is often compared to Bob Dylan. He jokes about this in a few instances, saying in one song “I guess Bob Dylan was sort of the Dan Bern of the 60’s.”
Be serious. Dan Bern is not Bob Dylan. Only Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan. But Dan Bern does a pretty good job at being Dan Bern, and an even better job at not being cubbied into any style of music. That he is not better known among modern folk listeners is a crime.
Key Albums for Dan Bern:
- New American Language
- Fleeting Days
- Fifty Eggs
The Mammals: Edgy Bluegrass Band
The Mammals are a fun band, and a band that defies definition. Think Folk, think Bluegrass, think electric guitars, and you almost have the Mammals. The Mammals take traditional songs and make them modern, and take modern songs and make them traditional, all with a sneer and jagged edge.
When two of a band’s members are music royalty, it is hard to not have deep veins of traditionalism in your music. While Mike Merenda is the principle songwriter, the band is rounded out by Ruth Ungar, daughter of well known fiddler Jay Ungar, and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, grandson of Folk icon Pete Seeger.
The Mammals are currently on hiatus, but hopefully the band will be back in the recording studio soon.
Key Albums for the Mammals
- Evolver
- Bootleg Six Pack
Steve Earle: The Alt-Country Icon
If you took Bruce Springsteen, raised him in Texas, apprenticed him to Townes Van Zandt, fed him a healthy dose of heroin and a healthier dose of sobriety, you would have Steve Earle. Since he released his debut album, Guitar Town, in 1986, Earle has been on the razor’s edge in Alt-Country and Modern Folk music.
After beating an addiction to heroin and getting released from a drug rehab program in 1994, he released a string of powerful albums that continues up until his latest release, Washington Square Serenade. Next week, on May 12, Earle will release Townes, a tribute album dedicated to his mentor and friend, Townes Van Zandt.
Key Albums for Steve Earle
- Guitar Town
- I Feel Alright
- El Corazon
- Jerusalem
These four musicians/ bands make a good introduction to Modern Folk Music for the tentative male. Whether it is the epic story telling of Josh Ritter, the wit of Dan Bern, the garage band sensibilities of the Mammals, or the energy of Steve Earle, these musicians are all artists that any man can be proud to have on their Ipod.
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