If you’re thinking of hiring the new abbreviated version of Mustard’s Retreat but you feel a little hesitation about it, let me tell you about our experience.

For more than a decade, we at the Columbus Folk Music Society had enjoyed hearing in person the long-time Mustard’s Retreat duo, featuring Michael Hough and David Tamulevich. We loved them so much, we invited them nearly every year for either one of our monthly coffeehouses or our annual folk festival or a special concert.

This year, with Michael remaining in Ann Arbor to care for a loved one, we knew we were going to hear a new version of Mustard’s — with David and Libby Glover ( who actually sang with Michael and David back in the 1970’s). To be frank, we worried that it just wouldn’t be the same old Mustard’s Retreat we had grown to know and love. And, it wasn’t.

But our worries were unfounded. Because this new version of Mustard’s was outstanding. Libby isn’t Michael, but she’s her own great musician. She brought different harmonies to Mustard’s great repertoire. She brought her own brand of enthusiasm and energy. She brought her own brand of humor. And she and David shared their own special chemistry on stage. We were moved. We were energized. We were fascinated. And we were engaged.

The crowd gave David and Libby 3 standing ovations. And afterwards, everyone was buzzing about what a beautiful compelling evening it had been.

As a trio of Columbus Folk Music Society volunteers who book our featured acts, we heartily recommend Libby and David. The only thing we can imagine that would be better would be experiencing the new “full” version of Mustard’s with Libby, David, and Michael. Hopefully, that may eventually become a reality, and we will all be richer because of it.

Randi Cohen