Despite a lifetime spent as a confirmed landlubber, I am embarking on a new venture, joining a sea-shanty singing group. All that is required, as far as I can see, is a willingness to sing repetitive choruses nice and loud, and it sure is lots of fun.

I had been hearing about this local group for a year or so, and even listened to a live-on-the-radio performance a while back, so when I learned on Saturday morning that they would be holding an open meeting that very afternoon at one of our Irish pubs, I hustled through my gardening chores as quickly as possible, drove down to the French Quarter and found a parking spot (no mean feat), and soon was bellowing "Tanqeray Martini-O" and "Rolling Down to Maui" at the top of my lungs. I signed up for the email list, and by the time of the next meeting two weeks from now, I'll have my PDF songbook and a full set of MP3s of the group's repertoire.

There's no way I'll become an expert or specialist in this field, and I'm certainly not going to lose interest in the blues, R&B, jazz, etc., but I'm more than willing to learn the sea-chanty ropes thoroughly enough to get involved in such an enjoyable group activity.

All messages of encouragement and/or commiseration, warnings, etc, are welcome but not required. I'm hoping to hear from the Press Room gang in New Hampshire, Chanteyranger in SF, and anyone else involved in this area of folk music.

FYI, here are a couple of links:

N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe

Group leader KC King's website

Saturday's event was not, technically, a NOQSK meeting, but KC's gig ~ a "performance" that featured almost-entirely-unaccompanied singing, more singalongs than a Pete Seeger gig, and plenty of "guest appearances" by group members and other friends and acquaintances each singing a personal-favorite specialty song or two. Lots of fun, something I'd be glad to do twice a month from now on into the indefinite future.