Merle Knurling has red hair, some spiffy waistcoats and a cheap electric guitar. He writes and performs what he thinks are funny songs. Some folks think his songs are silly or over the top or perhaps even stupid. These folks are probably right. Merle plays Rock and Roll music. He has never been called a folk singer and that is just as well. Have you ever been to any of the folk music clubs in your town? Have you ever listened to what these people are singing about? Ever noticed what they're wearing? Not a spiffy waistcoat or cheap electric guitar in sight. The last time I visited a folk club in my neighborhood there was a cat up there on the stage, that is to say on a stool in the corner, wearing a big comfy sweater, a pair of grass stained khakis and a pair of two hundred dollar sandals. He was singing songs about his dead grandparents, his cottage on the lake, his good ol' Chevy and this really long number about his favorite picnic spot. Granted, his acoustic finger picking style was pretty impressive and some lady up front was crying while she mouthed all the words, but man, he wasn't even any fun at all!

Where are the songs about farts on the bus? Where are the songs about boners, retards, getting regrettable tattoos or cannibalizing your girlfriend? Where are the songs about sodomizing hogs? Anyway, it turned out that the crying woman at the front of the room was the folk singers wife. Life partner, sorry. My mistake. On my way out the door I thought to myself "When's the next Merle Knurling gig?"

On Merle Knurling's business card under his name there's a caption that reads "Low-Brow Humour and Song." He gave me his card once and I read it and laughed. "Too true", I thought. He didn't give me his business card because he hoped to do any business with me. He asked me to phone him. He suggested we get together for a pint some time. I suspect it had something to do with the fact that he had somehow found out that I owned a rare Young Fresh Fellows bootleg LP that he wanted to get his mitts on. Or at least to borrow or tape it. As it turns out my suspicions were on target. Nonetheless the card was not misleading. Low-Brow Humour and Song indeed.

On stage Merle tends to rant in between his songs. When introducing a number he'll hoot and holler and sputter and ramble on and on, proudly boasting that each ditty is in fact a true story. I tend to think that he's not being completely honest with his audiences. Can someone in such a spiffy waistcoat really be capable of having sexual congress with a pig named Fred? Does this well-groomed smiling fellow really enjoy beating hippies with a baseball bat? In song Merle claims to be married to a 600 pound Norwegian woman named Brunhilda. Why haven't I spotted her crying and mouthing the lyrics at the front of the stage? I am of the opinion that his audience is being duped. I don't think he's been in prison and I'm almost certain he's never worn a hockey helmet on a date. But what do I know? I suppose you'll have to attend a Merle Knurling show and judge for yourself.

Unless you are a regular at your local folk club I'm sure you'll get at least a laugh or two out of Merle's bizarre sense of humour. He's a clever guy who writes fun silly songs. He goes over best if you've got a pint in your fist so go on out, hoist a cold one and have a laugh with Merle Knurling. Bear in mind however, if you own any rare Young Fresh Fellows records you'd best keep an eye out for this chap.


P.J. Barber
Ottawa, Canada