Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH

Subject: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: curmudgeon
Date: 17 Jan 12 - 03:34 PM

The monthly sea shanty, forebitter, and ballad session will take place this Saturday,21 January at The Press Room in Portsmouth NH from 3:30 to 7:30 PM.

We had a really nice Yulish session, but was pretty sparse. It would thus be fitting to have a good show of absentees to make up for the loss. See you there - Tom

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jan 12 - 04:28 PM

Judy and I are both planning to attend this one and the weather looks great.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 04:47 AM

I've got a book on Ethiopia for you, too, Charlie.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 07:58 AM

Linn-

What century is it from?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: GUEST,Peadar (formerly) of Portsmouth
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 05:02 PM

I am hopeful...it'd be nice to get back for a Saturday sesh.

Peter

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: NbptErnie
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 05:48 PM

Amy and I are planning to be there, weather permitting, although I am still a bit scratchy from the "Long Version" of the cold that has been making the rounds. As a result, I'm not sure what range I will have at any given moment until I open my mouth and give it a try.

I've been talking the session up to some of the Gloucester folk this week, and am hopeful we'll see some of them there as well, again, weather permitting.

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bupkes
Date: 19 Jan 12 - 04:42 PM

Hoping to come this Saturday too, and maybe lure some Gloucester "Chantey" folks up too.

Marty

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 08:16 AM

Today's fluffy snow easily removed from deck and car.

Charlie -- switches back and forth between 19th and 20th with a few forays earlier. It's "Rimbaud In Abyssinia" by Alain Borer -- Rimbaud's years in Harar and also about the film crew in, I think, the 1980s. (The book was published in 1991, I believe.)

What Google Books says is, "Nearly a century after the mysterious disappearance of Arthur Rimbaud in 1879, Alain Borer, a young French Rimbaud specialist, arrived at the edge of the desert in eastern Ethiopia to uncover any traces left by the celebrated poet and adventurer. An enthralling literary journey that is part travelogue, part personal memoir and part fantasy."

Probably describes the countryside more than any insights on Rimbaud.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 09:13 AM

Linn-

That should make a good read.

I was only once to the old walled City of Harar for a brief visit. There were lots of narrow curving alleyways. Small open markets where interesting basket weaving was for sale. And the coffee was superb; we still order "Horse Harar" coffee beans on-line.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:16 PM

Hope a little snow won't keep people home today.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bupkes
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:16 PM

We're having light, steady snow, tapering by mid afternoon, maybe a couple of inches accumulating today. Heavier snow to the south, so if you're coming up, know how to handle skids & spinouts, drive slowly, and allow extra time. Should be a cozy session this afternoon!

Marty

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: NbptErnie
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:18 PM

Looks like we won't be able to make it after all. Our colds have the upper hand today. Hope you get a good crowd of healthy voices today.

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:31 PM

Between a headache and nerves, I don't feel like moving, let alone cleaning porch, car and driveway to see the route east to search for parking... of which there will probably be a lot. Sorry, but I'm hibernating.

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:33 PM

Judy and I still coming but we'll be heading into 1-3 inches of snow as we run South.

Hope someone is there!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 10:30 AM

Well, the session got off to a slow start, but by 4:30 had accumulated a lot of momentum. The driving certainly was no problem -- Tom and I are 25 miles inland (and uphill) from Portsmouth -- the worst driving was the sloppiness of Portsmouth streets. Clearing the light snow from our deck and the car took only a few minutes. Even the back roads to get to Rte. 4 were no trouble and Rte. 4 was clear. Parking lots where we had to go to accomplish a few errands were sloppy, but not slippery.

The snow cut down the jazz session that precedes ours -- the usual Larry Garland gathering was replaced by Brian, solo, guitar and voice. Dianne was the first to arrive of our contingent and we joined our voices on a couple jazzy show tunes.

Charlie was the next arrival and I left him to catch up with Tom while I went to the car to retrieve the book I had for him. I didn't return for about 20-30 minutes as I ran into old friend Emilio clearing the sidewalk in front of his (closed) shop and I had to catch HIM up on what's been happening with Tom medically these past few years.

Attendees were as follows --
Tom (Curmudgeon), Linn (Bat Goddess), Dianne Lavoie, Charlie Ipcar (Charley Noble), Judy Barrows, Barry O'Brien (from Gloucester), Marty Stock, Scott Bogle (pleasant surprise -- haven't seen much of him since he got married), Bruce & Janie MacIntyre, Barbara Benn (early!), newly married Steve Smith & Justine Donovan, Chris Maden, Don Hale and Jeff Warner.

I don't know if The Press Room was trying to save electricity, but the interior lights were pretty dim when we got there -- Tom commented on it. Then Marty didn't have enough light to read his notes, so he plugged in the colored spots over our performance area, which helped for awhile. After a bit I noticed it was just as dark, if not darker than it had been before that addition. Cozy...I don't think we needed "romantic"...

I'll submit the playlist when I get home from work.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 11:51 AM

It certainly was a good gathering. 12 achieves a critical mass of singers. I got to try out some newer songs, as well as some older favorites. I love sitting next to Barry O'Brian. He's always quick with a harmony and a lot of fun to watch when he's leading a song.

I'm glad we decided to have a leisurely dinner afterwards and stay over for the night.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, back in Maine

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 06:35 PM

What was sung...

1. Sandgate Girl's Lament - Linn Schulz (Bat Goddess)
2. Pier-Head Chorus - Charlie Ipcar (Charley Noble)
3. The Jeannie C. - Scott Bogle
4. Big Bowwow - Dianne Lavoie
5. Help Me to Raise 'Em - Barry O'Brien
6. The Man Who Waters the Workers' Beer - Linn
7. Drink to the Men Who've Gone Ashore - Charlie
8. Once More a-Lumbering Go - Marty Stock (Bupkes)
9. John Kanakanaka - Barry
10. Banks of Newfoundland - Scott
11. Nine Times a Night - Linn
12. Oh, Riley, Oh, Man - Justine Donovan
13. A happy birthday medley for Gerry who was with a group who was very much enjoying the music -- to the tune of "Halleluyah Chorus", "Why Were You Born So Beautiful?" and a rousing "Birthday Dirge"

Gotta go -- later!
Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 07:17 PM

Tom put together a really lovely dinner, but now I'm back, so here goes (again)...

14. Noah Built the Ark (Sittin' by the river on the levee) - Chris Maden
15. Laying On the Screw (Yakker, Yakker, Yakker) - Charlie
16. Out On the Rolling Sea - Barry
17. Jamaica Farewell - Dianne
18. Johnson Girls - Chris
19. Skipper Jan Rebeck - Marty
20. Cruisin' 'Round Yarmouth - Linn
21. All For Me Grog - Dianne
22. I'm a Woman, W-O-M-A-N (1 chorus) - Barry (long story...)
23. Garnett's Homemade Beer - Scott
24. Gin Was Mother's Ruin - Linn
25. Night At Dago Tom's - Charlie
26. Pay Me My Money Down - Barry
27. Johnny Come Down to Hilo - Justine
28. Sugar In the Hold - Chris
29. Green Willow Tree - Barbara Benn
30. Shenandoah - Don Hale
31. Mobile Bay (Roll the Cotton Down) - Charlie
32. Paddy Lay Back - Scott
33. Pleasant and Delightful - Marty (with an onion ring...)
34. Sailor Cut Down In His Prime - Jeff Warner
35. Oh, Me Rosie, Coal Black Rose - Judy Barrows
36. Whiskey-O, Johnny-O - Linn
37. Good Ale, Thou Art My Darlin' - Barbara
38. Stormalong, Stormy, Stormalong - Charlie
39. Alabama John Cherokee - Barry
40. Ambletown - Chris
41. When You Leave Your Old Ship (truncated) - Judy
42. Run Come See Jerusalem - Marty
43. Day Louston - Justine
44. Martin Said to His Men - Dianne (with more verses by others)
45. Round the Corn, Sally - Barry
46. The Sailor Likes His Bottle-O - Jeff Warner
47. He Bang, She Bang - Chris
48. Nelson's Prayer - Chris and the Company

That's it!

Actually, there were several groups who stopped at the Press Room for a drink and discovered us singing -- and came over and thanked us.

Linn

Subject: RE: Jan. Shanty Session @ The Press Room (NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 08:29 PM

Nice work, Linn.

We also ran into two women outside when we were leaving who said they really enjoyed our singing.

Charley Noble