August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing

Subject: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Aug 17 - 05:41 PM

The August Press Room (In Exile) Shanty, Forebitter and Foc's'le Ballad Session is this Saturday -- Saturday, August 19, 2017 -- at Liar's Bench Beer Company on Islington Street in Portsmouth, NH.

Since The Press Room has been closed June, July, and August (and who knows for how much longer) for renovations and then opening under new ownership, we're meeting at Liar's Bench Beer Company, which is a former plumbing supply warehouse behind Washburn's at 459 Islington Street, Portmouth. There's a sign at the entrance to the parking lot (!) and there is additional parking on the street on the other side of Islington.

The NEW HOURS for the sing at this venue will be 2:30 to 5:30 -- three hours instead of four hours.

There's a photo of the space on the home page of the brewery -- http://www.liarsbenchbeer.com/ Very industrial. We're at a long table with benches, but it's still a good idea for people to bring a folding chair just in case.

Besides beer, they have hot dogs, bratwurst, and other sausage sandwiches plus snacks like popcorn, Mexican street corn, and chips, but I don't think they serve soft drinks and water is available in a small watercooler on a side wall (which ran out during the June gathering). You might want to bring a bottle of water... I've sampled several of their beers -- the beer is good!

See you Saturday!

Linn

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 11:26 AM

I'm going to have to skip this one as well. There's too much family stuff happening this weekend.

I do hope the Pressroom renovations will be completed soon.

Charlie

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 12:28 PM

Charlie, alas, appearances are that they have barely started. And the general manager has told me they ARE, indeed, progressing, but at a snail's pace. (His words.) And the transfer of ownership has, at least as of a week ago, not yet taken place.

I am remaining optimistic.

The PMFF has scheduled the open sing which has traditionally been held at The Press Room to take place this year upstairs at the Gas Light on Market Street.

Linn

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: GUEST,Guest-Dianne
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 10:32 AM

I should be there. Catching a break between house guests but still in a cast.
Really need some singing.


Dianne

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 12:53 PM

Unfortunately, we had a death in the family and I am having to use the previously scheduled day off for the Shanty Sing for my great-aunt's services instead. Sympathy is not required. She was 91, in very poor health, in a nursing home, and ready to go.

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: GUEST,Don Hale
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 10:25 PM

I do expect to be there, and am looking forward to it. You can't argue with the parking, and the beer is good too!

                        Don

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Aug 17 - 01:37 PM

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Refresh¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: GUEST,Guest-Dianne
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 08:17 AM

Anyone else planning to show up?
No? Ah, more beer for us Don.
Dianne

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 09:44 AM

Enjoy!

I'll be beginning my own major renovations at Robinhood Farm beginning the last week of September. I bet we'll finish before the Press Room. We only have to replace foundations, rotted sills and floor joists, and gut the kitchen ell. Anyone want to hold the October sea music session in the kitchen of the renovated Robinhood Farm?

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 12:04 PM

I'd say it was an option, Charlie. The future is uncertain.

I haven't yet heard back from Dagan at Liar's Bench about September.

Linn

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Aug 17 - 05:15 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 05:28 PM

Here's the report from our last meeting at Liar's Bench while the Press Room is undergoing renovations. I asked Dagan whether our stay could be extended into September and he declined. I'm grateful he gave us a port in a storm for June, July, and August.

The crew - Me, Dianne, Don Hale, April & Eric, Gail (& Jim arrived just before we had to shut down), Bill & Carol, and W.B. and his father.

What we sang -
1. Cannery Shed - Linn
2. Crossing the Bar - Dianne as a tribute to Heather Heyer
3. Black Ball Line - Don
4. Backside of Nantucket Point - Linn
5. Roll, Boys, Roll! April
6. Connemara Cradle Song - Gail
7. Darby Ram - Eric (a third version; one I've not heard before)
8. Martin Said to His Men - Dianne
9. Greenland Whale Fisheries - Don (the version he found from the journal of the whaleship Bengal)
10. Hoist the Colors - April (from one of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies)
11. Knickerbocker Line - Linn
12. No Hopers, Jokers & Rogues - Eric & April
13. Fiddler's Green - Gail
14. Rosabella - Dianne
15. Sail O Believer - Don
16. Man Who Waters the Workers' Beer - Linn
And I promised to pass on the recipe for "Indian Whiskey" which you will find at the end of this list.
17. General Taylor - Dianne
18. Sloop John A [Les Barker]
19. Fareweel Tae Tarwaithie - Don
20. Battle of Lake Erie - Gail (her daughter Emily is right now on the Brig Niagara in the Great Lakes)
21.South Australia - Jim
22. The Sailor Loves His Bottle-O/So Early In the Morning - April
23. Whiskey-O, Johnny-O - Linn
24. Bye Bye, My Roseanna - Dianne
25. Rolling To Cairo Town/Roustabout Song - Don
26. Sailor's Prayer [Tom Lewis] - Linn

And then Dagan, who probably forgot he'd agreed to 2:30-5:30, cut us off a couple minutes after 5:00 with no time for our traditional closer.

As usual, please let me know of any additions or corrections. Thanks, everyone, for coming! I'll keep you posted as to any new developments or when we can resume meeting at The Press Room.

And here's the recipe -- which includes strychnine same as the above song -- for "Indian Whisky":

(From We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher by E.C. Abbott ("Teddy Blue") and Helena Huntington Smith, University of Oklahoma Press, 1939 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc. New edition, 1955.)

"Now I'll give you the recipe for Indian whisky, that was invented by the Missouri River traders in the early days. You take one barrel of Missouri River water and two gallons of alcohol. Then you add two ounces of strychnine to make them crazy – because strychnine is the greatest stimulant in the world – and add three plugs of tobacco to make them sick – because an Indian wouldn't figure it was whisky unless it made him sick – and five bars of soap to give it a bead, and half a pound of red pepper, and then you put in some sagebrush and boil it until it's brown. Strain this into a barrel and you've got your Indian whisky, that one bottle calls for one buffalo robe, and when the Indian got drunk it was two robes. And that's how some of the traders made their fortune."

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 05:32 PM

Well, that wasn't from "Guest" -- it was from me, Bat Goddess, Linn Schulz.

Don't know how I got signed out, but I didn't notice it.

Linn

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: GUEST,Guest-Dianne
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 01:03 PM

Thanks Linn,

I don't think I'll boil up a batch of Indian Whiskey any time soon. Sounds dangerous for those who drink it, and those who inhale the fumes!
Dianne

Subject: RE: August Press Room [NH] Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 06:33 PM

Yeah -- a little bit of strychnine would make the drinker a little crazy. Too much would make them a little DEAD. Capitalism at work...

Linn