August Shanty Sing at the Press Room

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From:
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 08:44 PM

Dear Mr.Curmudgeon; I ran across one of your older letters where you mentioned the Penguin book of English verse. I own a copy.
The problem is,only about 20% is actually of English origin.
It is mostly Scots, Welsh and Irish. I am looking for a good sorce for true English folk songs. One friend suggested that if the songs are in English they can call it an English folk song. I disagreed.
Another said that maybe there weren't enough English folk songs for a book so they had to fill it in. I have many true Engish folk songs that weren't in the book so I didn't think that was it. I did see a pattern though. The English folk songs tend to be much simpler in poetry and melody than the songs of Gailic origin. Also the subjects are far more "bawdy". Maybe it is because of the difference in culture. I am interested in the historical and cultural significance
of the music. If you know any sorces I would be grateful.

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: GUEST,julia
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 08:09 PM

Looks like we are not the only crazies.. We were hosting the Ceilidh Tent at the Highland games in Brunswick.. no sides on a 20 X 20 tent... 8 harpers showed up for the harp showcase!
Och, but 'twas only a good Scotch Mist! (pass the Glenfiddich)
Lots of very unhappy sounding bagpipes whining intermittently punctuated by claps of thunder and the roar of the deluge on the tent roof. Rather elemental. ( Pass the Highland Park)
Wonder if they held the haggis hurl? (Pass the Isle of Jura....)
cheers- Julia

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 01:30 PM

I have a picture of the wondrous water fountain...or sewer back up.
SINS

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 01:06 PM

Blub, blub!

Judy and I arrived at the Royal River Gooch Island Exciles Encampment in time to give Kendall and Mary hugs, sing a couple of verses of "Waterbound and We Can't Get Home", before they waded off to drier space.

There was an amazing layer of mud under the shelter to slide around on as Nor and Eli made us welcome with hamburgers, brownies, and a thermos of rum. There was constant rain, sheets and sheets of it, sometimes with thunder and lightning. One of my enduring memories is of the fountain in the park about a hundred yards away, which was actually a storm sewer cover with a release valve; it was a constant source of astonishment for the occasional dog lopping by.

Long about 6 pm everything cleared off and there was a magnificant sunset, and other people began to show up. Someone even brought a chess board so I got to vanquish several opponents, channeling my father's chess prowess. Then we dug our instruments out of various garbage bags and spent a couple of hours singing.

We bundled everything up at 11 pm and went our weary ways home.

See you all in September at the Press Room.

Cheerily,
Charley and Judy

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 11:34 AM

That's commitment, Linn. The month of September is screwy for me - visiting relatives, etc. Hope to make it one night.
SINS

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 11:22 AM

Tom and I and Bruce Pingree sat around talking about Howling Wolf. Bruce had on the most amazing pictorial shirt of palm trees and surfers and multiple incarnations of woodies (cars, doncha know). I told him he'd better catalogue his shirts so the collection would be ready when it ends up in the folk archive at the Library of Congress.

At least one person who came to listen (the Press Room was pretty empty, though not surprising with all the pelting rain, crashing thunder and bright bursts of lightning outside) and I tried to suggest to Tom that we at least sing a couple (especialy since I've missed the past three Friday night sessions), but conversation won out. (I did HUM "Race of Long Ago" and "Seven Wonders" but I'm not sure anyone heard me.

The water level at home as we tried to leave for Portsmouth was interesting. I immediately sank into Lake Perdurabo as I stepped off the back stairs and splashed mud on my pants. I forded the Mekong Delta towards Tom's car, when I realized I'd have to stand in the middle of Lake Hall in order to board it on the passenger's side. So I told Tom I'd make my way up the driveway and meet him near the road, promising to keep to the high ridges as the water coursed downhill in two raging streams next to me. Had my gear neatly stowed in a plastic bag and a sou'wester hat on my head, so we successfully rendezvoued and plowed the unbriny torrent towards The Press Room.

Linn

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 06:29 PM

Dry on the inside, lots of rain outside, and a complete no show session. Linn and I left at 5:00.

Glad somebody had some fun and food, is even on the damp side -- Tom

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 06:05 PM

iT RAINED AND IT RAINED AND IT RAINED AND JUST WHEN kENDALL STARTED TO SING A PARODY OF tHE bOXER IT RAINED SO HARD THAT WE COULDN'T HEAR HIM. tHEN IT RAINED SOME MORE. wE LEFT ABOUT 4:30 AS WHAT WAS THREATENING TO BE SUN APPEARED BUT IT WAS A LIE. iT RAINED AGAIN AND HARD AND IT'S RAINING NOW AS i TYPE.

wE HAD FUN AND FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY AND A LITTLE MUSIC. hOW WAS THE pRESS rOOM?

sins

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 12:32 PM

Tom et al-

Judy and I have been spending the morning trying on our various foul weather gear: boating jackets, bathing suits, and trenchcoats. Maybe we'll wear them all! Or what will they care if we just go bare! It's Gooch Island/Royal River Park or bust!

Appropriate instruements? Well, Nor's planning to see if he can play a tune on his waterpipe, and he already plays a wicked washtub bass. No point in bringing the banjo, accept as a paddle. The concertinas might be useful for pumping out the charcoal pit. Maybe I'll bring a propane torch for finishing the burgers, seems to work for creme brulee.

Of course the next week looks bright and sunny.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: GUEST,curmudgeon
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 10:36 AM

"...the idea of crowding together in a tent while thunder and lightning is breaking overhead is challenging to even the most foolhardy."

It will be somewhat cozier at the Press Room -- Tom

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 09:27 PM

Charlie - You gonna be out t' Gootch's Island tomorrow?

Thats about a half a mile from our quarters on Melissa Drive here in Yarmouth. I might have to walk the dogs up that way and investigate!

Have a ball!

UJ

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 04:27 PM

Looks like rain on Saturday but we're planning to hang out with the Gooch Island outcasts in the adjacent Royal River Park. Hope the tent is big enough.

See you all in September.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 10:59 AM

You will be missed. But have a great time on the island.

Anyone else coming?

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 09:49 AM

Looks like the Gooch Island feast is on again. I will miss it again, BG.

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 07:00 AM

Since I've been slaving over a hot computer -- lots of O/T at the temp pre-press job -- I'm looking forward to finally getting to sing at The Press Room again. I've missed the past two Friday night sessions and will probably miss tonight's -- about 30 miles into the 60 mile drive to The Press Room from where I'm working in Concord, a traction beam zaps out and snags my car and brings it home, rescuing me from driving around downtown Portsmouth for a half an hour looking for a parking place and then having to walk to the PR from Kittery or Newcastle or something. (I've told myself a million times not to exaggerate!)

Hope there's a decent turnout and we won't have to resort to dancing naked on the table, cracking the cats-o-nine-tails, and singing pirate songs to entertain the tourists like last time. (I TOLD you, Sinsull, that you missed it!)

Linn

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 19 Aug 04 - 02:36 PM

Sorry to hear about the high water around the island. But of course we'd really love to see all of you at the Press Room if the flood waters don't recede. Besides, if you have to postpone the Gooch Island Party, then maybe Linn and I can come up and join you -- Tom

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 03:12 PM

So are we all bound for the Press Room?

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 02:33 PM

Yes but last time Norris checked Gooch Island was unaccessible accept by kayak and it looks like rain on Saturday.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 01:21 PM

Sorry Tom. I expect to be sharing some Guinness with Roll'N Go.
SINS

Subject: August Shanty Sing at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 07:36 PM

Next Saturday, 21 August is the date for the monthly shanty / forebitter sing at the Press Room 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, NH from 3:30 to 7:30.

Just because our mates from Roll and Go will be otherwise occupied is no reason not to attend. Stand up and be counted, please.

For MMario and others with a September list, there will be two sessions that month; the regular, on 18 Sept. and the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival Session on 25 Sept. For more info on that weekend, you can go here, but there's not much there right now. Bookmark it for later references.

Hope to see lots of you at any and all of the sessions -- Tom