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No, I won't say "old reliables," though these artists are, for the most part, decades too old for American Idol.
1. Richard Thompson. There is no equal. Always inventive, never self-indulgent, generally accessible but never pandering, dynamic, charismatic, and odd. I have seen him well over 100 times, and I never get tired of hearing him. See him just once in your life.
2. James McMurtry. One of the best live performers out there, with the same sort of stealth attack as Thompson: It all seems ordinary at first, but soon you're in a whirlwind. Plus, he's really crotchety. Don't stand up front unless you're gonna dance, dammit.
3. Susan McKeown. This Irish-American singer has done rock, Celtic, cabaret, jazz, and even klezmer (as guest on the Klezmatics' most recent Grammy winner). She's got a big, bright banner of a voice.
4. Jeff Lang. He's an Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist with nearly boundless dynamism. Somehow he manages to maintain emotional delicacy amid what is sometimes a tumult of notes.
5. BeauSoleil. This Cajun workhorse team never falters, just keeps the good vibe going.
6. Dan Bern. One of those guys who prompts reactions of "Where has this guy been all my life?" Acerbic and erudite, lacerating and surprisingly sentimental.
7. Shawn Colvin. I've never seen her put on a bad show.
8. Herman's Hermits. Yeah, I know: I've now wrecked any credibility I built up. But if you want a goofy nostalgia trip, a few larfs, these are your boys.
9. Ashley MacIsaac. Maybe some of the fire has settled down since his wilder, younger days, but the Canadian violinist still makes folk rock and rock explode.
10. Ralph Stanley. Just to hear him sing "O Death" while he still can.
A few bits of advice: Getting up front is indeed a rush and often a good way to keep some tall person from blocking your sight lines; it also tends to separate the serious fans from the people who want background music for their Phi Kappa Doofus stories.
But you gotta respect your venue: People will be noisier at a club than at a theater, on the whole. And a good artist will likely play off the energy presented by the crowd. I've seen a few wonderful artists in venues that nearly killed their sets because of oblivious audiences.
Go in knowing what to expect. If you want a seat, don't bitch because Club Whatzis doesn't offer them. If the venue warns patrons to be quiet, keep it down.
If you find a venue you like, stick to it. It's feeding something that needs to grow.
