A review by princesszinza
The Mayor of MacDougal Street by Dave Van Ronk

4.0

When I was in high school some time in the 1970's I saw Dave Van Ronk at the Fountain Valley Public Library. In a sad, dim little room with my mom and maybe 10 other people, Dave Van Ronk performed his heart out. I doubt that most of the audience, primarily middle aged women, had any idea who Dave Van Ronk was. I remember that he looked rumpled and his "on-stage" (there wasn't really a stage, just a chair) banter was very amusing but received few laughs. His songs got only polite applause. I remember wishing I could go up and tell him how much I enjoyed the performance and chat up music with him. Unfortunately, he was engaged in a conversation with the librarian, a woman who had always scared me. Besides, I was with my mother who was kind enough to bring me but not indulgent enough to want to hang out after the show.

I was hoping this book would explain what happened. Why would this 60's folk icon make an appearance in such a sad venue only ten years after folk mania reached its height? This book didn't answer that question because it focuses only on the 1950's-1960's New York scene. That's okay. I still loved the amusing stories and amazing history that Dave lived. Sadly, Dave Van Ronk didn't live to see this book through to completion but his sense of humor, strong political views, and tremendous knowledge of music comes through. Dave is a bit of a music elitist but I'm fine with that. He's earned the right. I still wish I'd been able to have had that chat at the Fountain Valley library.