Shanty Session Success at Press Room

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 04:39 PM

Naemanson-

It's important to sing your songs enough so that when you forget a line, someone in the group will remember it, or maybe that's just my problem.;~)

David did such a fine job on "Barret's Privateers." It's still running through my head.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 04:23 PM

At last a chance to chime in. Great big thanks to Tom for lining up the chance to have regular shanty sessions. What a wonderful evening. People were there to sing and to listen. Polite audience, a rarity in a bar, and the beer was good too.

Now I have to work on expanding the old repertoire. I don't want to be too repetitive and, believe it or not, I don't have all that many songs ready for performance.

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:19 AM

Wow! All them nightowls posting their appreciation of last night's wonderful gathering at the Press Room. Well, thanks, Tom and Linn, for pulling this together AND putting it on a monthly schedule. It was a joy to sing songs in a less chaotic setting. I love the Friday night sessions, but find them extremely stressful for leading songs other than shanty shouts. Last night we could even hear a gentle and taseful ballad about an old she-crab. Well, maybe Jeri's "Mollymauk" would be a better example.

Oh, and this time I got to sit with a corner wall behind me, to help project my gentle voice. Love that corner!

It's also great to hear new interpretations of familar songs; Barry's rendition of "Yangtse River" needs to be recorded. I'd like to think that Hamish Maclaren would appreciate what we are doing with his old song; I'm reading some of his other books now and it's clear that he strayed far from the proper sort of life his parents expected of him.

We'll make a concerted effort to get Capt. Bunker and Sharon, Kendall, and Uncle Jacque to the next shanty session. Those of us in Maine are hesitant to try to establish another shanty session ourselves, at least before next summer when we might try the Portland Observatory again; it really is a superb place to sing.

Thanks again for a wonderful, spirited afternoon and evening.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 11:54 PM

I need to clear up something. I gave directions to the Harpswell Community ctr. but, forgot one thing; you follow rt 24 to Mountain Rd. turn right, and the center is on the right behind the recycling center.
Tonight there was an all woman rock band called The Valkiries, I did a few songs and stories, then Jim Chard and Beth Revels did a few. They tell me that this will be on every saturday evening, 8 to 10 for the next 14 Saturdays.

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 11:42 PM

Hi Jeri, nope I didn't see them. My son had a whip in his hand & thought it would be a great time to put Dad in line. OW. Thanks for doing Carmalita with/for me. Barry

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 11:06 PM

Barry, did you see the guy in the Harley Davidson shirt and his lady friend who were sitting by the back door? When I left, the woman stopped me and asked if we did Saturdays all the time. I said it was the first and told her it was monthly, the next one being Feb 8th. She's a fiddler and a singer and they'd been at the Portsmouth Sea Music Festival.

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 10:56 PM

Thanks SINSULL. I noticed you didn't forget any words. You just have to be different, dontcha? I probably would have been better off with the fiddle! When you screw up with a guitar in a crowded, loud room, nobody notices.

It was quiet like the Press Room is rarely quiet. SINS did a song, and she's a pretty quiet singer. There was complete silence, as far as I could tell. There were plenty of folks there other than singers too. Some people stayed for dinner - all Roll & Goers, I believe.

Jaque, next time, just get the phone number to the Press Room, find Portsmouth and call when you get here. We can either talk you in or go find you - it ain't that big a town.

'Twas a great session!

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 10:44 PM

Ya, it was a great sing, espically for the 1st time. It all sounded fantastic & all present were in fine form. There were more than a few people that had no idea of what was going on. After awhile that table & another were joining in on the chorus & seemed to be having themselves a strange but enjoyable evening. SINSULL did bring the whips, cat'n'nine tails to be exact & plenty of them. Things could've ended up ugly with the crowd & all when the cats got out've the bag. Seven or so whips wondering about the place & not enough room it swing a cat in. Tom gets a huge hand for pulling this off so successfully. Tom mentioned that the management thought well of it. I know the patrons did (at least the ones at that end of the room). Can't wait till next month. Barry & son

Subject: RE: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 10:14 PM

Well, I don't know about that Tom. I saw a few potentially loud and boring louts but the cat'o nine tails seem to keep them at bay.

It just doesn't get any better than this. Good friends, good music, and Guinness. Jeri and Naemanson just get better and better. Strange to see her without a fiddle. Lots of rowdy tunes and an occasional lament. So when is the next one?

Subject: Shanty Session Success at Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 09:39 PM

The first monthly shanty and forebitter session was a resounding success. We weighed anchor at 3:30 and dropped it at 7:40, songs going on nearly constantly.
Mudcatters included yr's truly, Bat Goddess, Jeri, Sinsull, Barry Finn, Naemanson, Brian, Charley Noble and Judy, occassional lurkers Norris Dale, Bruce MacIntyre, Dave Hallowell, Kevin Scanlon, Barbara Benn, and the indomitable David Behm.
Mostly shanties with full rousing choruses, but some forebitters too; sean nos from Brian, some recitations, and a truly appreciative audience.
Unlike the Friday sessions, this was a great chance to actually hear what we were singing; no loud boorish louts were present.
Next Second Saturday Shanty Session will be on 8 February. Hope to see you there -- Tom