Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)

Subject: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 04:24 PM

REMINDER - This month's shanty/forebitter/ballad session will be taking place on the FOURTH Saturday, 23 August from 3:30 to 7:30 PM at the Press Room in Portsmouth NH, for this month ONLY. This is due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict. "Normal" operations will re-commence in September.

I won't start asking for a head/voice count until next week - Tom

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:27 PM

Darn it - won't be there - it's too far to fly back, even for that.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:37 PM

SO I should cancel my non-existent song circle???? I will be there Tom.
Stop yelling at me! LOL

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:40 PM

Mary, we can all go home with you and have breakfast on Sunday.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:53 PM

How about you all come home with me and serve me breakfast in bed - QUIETLY.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:59 PM

Coffee first!

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Severn
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 06:04 PM

Mary,

Then will the non-existant circle be broken by and by?

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 06:07 PM

Severn,
Don't make me hurt you.

Now back to the Press Room.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: stallion
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 06:58 PM

Now breakfast in bed at Sins is quite an attractive offer but 2BS&S are on holiday, we are looking after Ron's kitten whilst his family are on holiday and we are smitten, and scratched, and bitten, it uses the litter, hey ho, better than having a shoe full cat pee hu Sins!
Pete

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 07:14 PM

Peter,
I don't know what you are smoking but it is rude not to share.
Did Alice pee in your shoes when you were here? She does sometimes.
SINS

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 08:39 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 09:04 PM

Just a reminder that for THIS MONTH ONLY the session is the fourth Saturday (August 23) and not tomorrow (cuz we're otherwise engaged).

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 01:24 AM

Jacqui -- are you going to the UK? I'll be there in early Nov for a wedding.

Can't make the Press Room - going to Texas on Sunday am at the crack of dawn for some training .have fun.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 10:01 AM

Alas, we'll be missing next Saturday's shanty session at the Press Room. We're booked at the 2nd Annual Downeast Pirates Festival in Rockland (Saturday and Sunday).

We expect a full report!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:42 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 08:34 AM

Someone left some charts at my house after the festival. Peter, maybe? Shall I bring them Saturday?
M
Refresh

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: maeve
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 08:46 AM

I brought some and gave them to Jacqui who thought she could find them a home, Sinsull. Portland area, they were.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:24 AM

Also, I fear that Peter and the Gloucesterfolk will be off on an adventure this weekend, and others will be rolled and gone.

Who's left ?

Hope to see a few good people this saturday - Tom

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: maeve
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 06:02 AM

My heart will be there, Tom. The rest of me will be hard at work on the farm. Sing lots; laugh more.

maeve

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 08:12 AM

So it's me, Linn, Tom & Jeri?

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 08:31 AM

And more locals who aren't 'Catters.

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 03:06 PM

I think that Barry's planning on being there, and I hope, Justine. The "smaller: session can be quite rewarding on a different level, but a few more singers would be nice - Tom

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:42 AM

Well I am planning on being there but I never know for shore (heh,heh) till the last minute. Can't say how Justine's feeling about it, she's been working some long hours this week to keep me in the style of living I've grown a custom to,,,, poverty!

And some one said I was middle class cause I have a car!

Barry

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 10:15 AM

I just started reading Judson Hale's memoirs. He stated that in Vanceboro, Maine in the 1930s there were two classes -- poor and dirt poor.

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: maeve
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:02 AM

My dad knew Judson! And I'm just poor; plenty of dirt here. Not enough music, though.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 01:20 PM

Only two more hours...

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 01:54 PM

Justine & I will both be there

Barry

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 09:18 PM

Well, all you people, you missed a really lovely session.

Small, yes -- it started out with just Tom and I and Jeri, then Justine and Barry arrived and we got some good singing started. We didn't sing just sea songs. I'd had a boring late morning and afternoon at work (why exactly would anyone want to be at the mall with the weather so glorious?) and had had time to run over a few songs in my head that I haven't sung in a loooong time -- "Cropper Lads", "Chickens In the Garden" (where I found I actually sing it in a different key from what I did originally), "Poverty Knock" -- and some ("Fathom the Bowl") that I've sung in recent memory. My head's too full right now to remember everything we sang.

Then Jeri left and the second wave came in -- Bill and Carol from FSSGB (Boston), who have only been to the session once before (and also came to the Portland Harbor festival a few weeks ago), and then, a little later, Lynn Feingold (the "Tavern Wench") arrived -- her first time to the session.

Jeri, you should have stayed!

Let's see, what else did I sing? I added a couple new verses to "Madame Gashay's", Tom and I harmonized nicely on the instructional song, "Dundee Weaver", and followed the theme on "Nine Times a Night", "Little Piece of Wang" (prompted by Lynn when my memory flagged), oh, I dunno what else.

I'll let the others post what they sang -- I won't remember everything until I listen to the tapes.

Yes, there was a lot of discussion of the songs, etc. as well as the singing. And good beer and good commestables. And new friends. All in all, a very enjoyable and satisfying session!

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 11:03 PM

Sorry none of the Portland contingent were there.....

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 11:57 AM

We definitely missed all those -- Maine and Gloucester contingents -- who had gigs and other commitments yesterday and the local gang who were at Cuzin Richard's NH Folk Festival listening to Bill Staines, David Francey and other singer-songwriters. This session was, after all, on the "wrong" Saturday.

But I guess it's a sign of a good SESSION that that it's lively and engaging no matter what the configuration of singers.

We had a lovely time! I even got to hear yet another song I'd never heard Tom sing before. (We've only been married for 26 years...) And Justine sing more often than she usually does and Barry sing a couple he doesn't often sing, as well as new fodder from Lynn and some lively discussions as well.

Thanks, Justine, for the potty training book with the computer chip button sounding a loud flushing noise (followed by a giggle) -- just what our bathroom with a composting toilet needs. Visitors without non-flush toilets sometimes need "closure"... This should do the trick!

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 12:38 PM

Headache was a bit worse later on, so I was glad to be home. Sorry I missed the singing though.

Bary, if you have a car that's less than 5 years old, you're middle class. Just about anyone can afford a hoopdie. (Maybe not the gas though.)

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 04:26 PM

Sorry guys. At the last minute I had Seamus duty. Kendall went to a blue grass do and Seamus needs to be watered and de-watered regularly because of the prednisone(?), pregnisone(?)...drugs. The puppy and I had a lovely lazy day together.

Poor baby has no mischief in him at all. He is like an old man - his only interests are sleeping, eating and peeing. He even ignored Ed who tried his best to be threatening and finally gave up. It's no fun if the dog doesn't whimper and cower.

Seamus did manage to make me step on a slug - barefoot - me not the slug. Very gross. He did enjoy that. Even wagged his tail.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 06:11 PM

Jeri, not if you can't afford the payments.

Barry

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 06:36 PM

Barry, I mean the $1500-$3000 sort of hoopdie.

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 09:17 AM

Did I mention that several times after we got into a vein of bawdry, we had to stomp down the invisible flames of hell (so Justine wouldn't have to start singing "Ave Maria").

Interesting bunch o' songs -- and Lynn added at least one I'd not heard before.

But in actuality, we barely scratched the surface of our collective repertoires.

Linn

Subject: RE: Aug. Shanty Session @ the Press Room(NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 01:34 PM

It is nice to hear what went on at the Press Room while some of us were away entertaining pirate wannabees at the 2nd Annual Downeast Pirate festival in Rockland. The weather was great all weekend but I think the organizers were somewhat disappointed in the turnout. It's always difficult to find a weekend when there's not major competition. There was the annual free American Folk festival happening an hour or so away in Bangor, not to mention a bluegrass festival. However we did have a whole lot of fun during the festival with the singing and the demonstrations of sword play and cannon fire, and we led another successful "shanty raid" on the local taverns, ending up with a bawdy song session in the bar of the hotel where performers were put up; I led "The Ballad of Anthony Clare (Balls as Heavy as Lead)" and Eli led "Saraphina."

See you all in September!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble