Folk in this day and age can be a tricky proposition. Lone guitarists singing their diaries tend to evoke unfortunate memories of coffee shop performances and jerky sensitive guys at college parties. As a result, it’s completely understandable that some people bristle at the mention of listening to (or, god forbid, watching) a folkie who’s probably just some willowy, Jack Johnson-soundin’ egomaniac. The mere thought of it causes fits in most well adjusted people.

Reader, it doesn’t have to be this way. A man and his acoustic guitar needn’t be a recipe for aural Ambien.

Biagio Biondolillo started 10 years ago the way most folk musicians seem to begin: with punk. He managed to get a gig singing and writing for a punk band, though he couldn’t play an instrument. “I felt kind of funny, like I wasn’t contributing enough,” says Biondolillo.

When he finally picked up a guitar, it was acoustic. Over the years, perhaps seeing the inherent danger that comes out of performing folk, he grew and developed his voice. It’s a real surprise that he avoids the pitfalls of the genre.

“A very important part of folk music,” Biondolillo says, “is that you have everyday people singing about their lives.”

Biondolillo’s folk is frequently made up of driving guitar and percussion, and his voice blends sweetly with those of the girl backup singers he employs. Occasionally, his songs will float on pillows of ever so slightly foreboding strings, provided by the aforementioned backup singers. Biondolillo’s often compared to Elliot Smith, and though the comparison is easy, it just doesn’t quite fit. His voice, while it may be as gentle as Smith’s, is a fair bit more hopeful. Not in a queasy, saccharine kind of way. But he very thankfully doesn’t ask us to take part in his pity party.

[Le Voyeur, Biagio Biondolillo with Kat Bula, Anna Aryan, Abigail Grace, Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710]