Yesterday I posted a lengthy quote by Woody Guthrie. Today I thought I'd take a little time to talk about my own ideas on music. I'll be short, I promise.

In our contemporary culture, we seem to have created this huge divide between performers and audience. So much so that people who lack training or some validation of "professional" musical ability are uncomfortable even singing in public.

I got the question sometimes, when I was just starting out "Is that a real song or one you wrote yourself?"

Scary.

Throughout history, music, particularly song, was something that everyone did. Group singing was a popular way for communities to bond, and people sung to themselves to pass the time. Sometimes visitors would bring a new song back from travels like people now would bring a postcard.

Yes, there have been professionals, ones who were better at it, or who made their living writing these songs. And, of course, to perform in a group, be it a full orchestra or a modern three-piece rock band, requires some greater degree of committment than a campfire sing-along. That's fine.

But I suspect the shyness about singing where anyone could hear that affects the general population (who are usually better at it than they think, except those who aren't) is largely driven by marketing. How do you hype a CD if everybody starts thinking "hey, with two hours and a Macbook, I could sound like that?" Really.

So, what's that got to do with me? I sing folk music, mostly. Most of my songs are old and are the type that people used to sit around and sing together. Not very marketable, but, better yet, they're fun, and I want people to sing along. My feeling is that, as your entertainer for the evening, I'm not here to create some divide, where you look up and worship my talent and good looks (I mean, you can if you want, but you don't have to). I want to throw a party, and invite you all. My goal is to make it a participatory experience.

Come on out, sing along. If I can do it, so can you. Lets have some fun.