We want the folk

Folk music, despite what its detractors might have said in the past, has managed to survive, and Peter, Paul and Mary are among the proof of this. Their show at the IU Auditorium Friday night was an enjoyable experience on the whole, and showed that even after 40-odd years, folk music still can draw a crowd.\nThe show started off a little shaky, with some minor mistakes and tuning problems at first (which the group adeptly incorporated into its show). But as the first half of their performance continued, the music took over and the musicians found their groove. Surprisingly, they performed one of their bigger crowd favorites ("Puff, the Magic Dragon") at the beginning and found room to perform some lesser-known, but just as nicely written, songs as well. They seemed right at home playing their songs for a cheering IU crowd, and at times it seemed like the music was fueling the audience as much as the audience fueled the musicians to play even better. The intermission came as their performance was nearing its height.\nThe second half of the show defied my expectations and made the whole evening worthwhile. To start the half, the members came onstage individually and performed a few songs of their own. This showed clearly that though they are known as a folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary are each talented musicians in their own right. Of course, as much as we liked their individual songs, no one in the audience was complaining when they all regrouped for the final set of songs, which included "Blowing In The Wind," "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and the crowd pleasing "If I Had A Hammer," among others.\nOne thing that has always drawn me to their music, and what really kept me enthralled, was the power of their harmonies. Even after 40 years, their voices still ring as clearly as they did in their youthful early recordings. Their stage presence is strong, and the music comes through with a lot more energy and emotion than when you just listen to the old records.\nI wasn't alive during Peter, Paul and Mary's original heyday, and most members of the audience probably had me beat by at least a generation. But that gap didn't stop any of us from enjoying this show. It might not have been an arena rock show, and they might not outsell today's current stars, but Peter, Paul and Mary showed Friday night that good music needs no boundaries.