six pick

May 04, 2000

Simply put, if you're looking for a good time, go to an Adam Brodsky show. Sharply funny, with some smart and serious thrown in, the Philly native's two upcoming shows should make for a good vacation from standard sugary-fake folk. Brodsky dubs his return to the traditions of masters like Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly "antifolk" and serves it up with some healthy irreverence. For his "A Brief History of Folk Music" performance at 30th Street Station Brodsky will regale commuters with a variety of classic folk tunes including murder ballads, social change songs and Negro spirituals. He hopes he'll open a few ears and minds to music people may not be familiar with and to entertain those closet folkes who put on a suit and work for the man. After a little tinkering, he'd like to make it a series, inviting guest musicians to play with him and taking the show to schools. If you can't make it to the show at the train station, pencil yourself in for Brodsky's May 5 show at the tin Angel, which should be his usual no-holds-barred antifolk spectacular.

by Rosemary Darigo, Philadelphia City Paper