Re: [Callers] Music for contras

Indeed, I have noticed a tendency recently to play really "funky" tunes. Personally, I'm all for variety in music—I'm cool with anything from violins to electric guitar to djembes to glass harmonica—but if I can't follow the phrasing, it's a lousy tune to contra dance (or waltz) to, and I'm going to think much less of the band. This has been especially problematic with waltzes at the Concord dances I've been to recently—I'll guesstimate that 20% of them are just not good to dance to. As an example, one recent tune had an extra half phrase, making the downbeat shift and causing me to think I was leading with the wrong foot all the time!