Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH

Subject: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 09:17 AM

The monthly sea shanty, forebitter, and ballad session will take place this Saturday, February 18 (my brother's birthday, but I know he won't show up) at The Press Room on Daniel Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire from 3:30 to 7:30 PM.

Weather should be good, it's staying light later, and we'll have to forego (alas) the March session in favor of St. Patrick's Day which takes precedence.

Would love to see some singers we haven't seen for awhile -- especially because we may not see them in March.

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 12:25 PM

We're planning to be there.

Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 08:02 AM

Justine and Steve are planning to be in attendance.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 09:41 AM

I was just sifting through and sorting a pile of ephemera and came across a clipping from the Boston Globe, 18 Nov 1981 --

Naval Honors for Ship's Cat

Associated Press

CHATHAM, ENGLAND -- Charlie, the last official ship's cat at Chatham Royal Navy base, was buried with full naval honors yesterday.

A bugler played the last post, the flag was lowered to half-staff and the officer of the watch read the service for the tomcat, run over in an accident Sunday.

"Charlie was loved by us all, and we felt he was entitled to a burial with full naval honors like any seaman." said CPO Roger Leeder.

"He will have a place in naval history as he will be the last official ship's cat at Chatham," said Leeder. The base is scheduled for closure under government spending cuts."

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 09:52 AM

Poor old Charlie. We should sing a dirge in his honor this Saturday. Is there an island in the sky of feline delights?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 10:17 PM

Raise a glass to Charlie, too.

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 03:16 PM

I was planning on being there and I NEED SOME MUSIC, but the cold (or whatever it is) sucks. Worse now that a week ago, worse now than just a couple hours ago, so I'm staying home giving the virus some respect. (Not much, but 'some'.)

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 08:38 PM

When we got there around 3:00, the Press Room was packed -- our usual area had people eating and drinking, and the jazz people had just started to pack up. Soooo... the session got off to a slow start.

Ernie Pigeon was the first to show up and the three of us tried to secure as much of the area as soon as it was available. And it's a good think others were later than usual, because it was closer to 4:00 before we could snag a spare table (not the usual one, as the 3-table row was occupied) and at least sit down and have a place for our beers. Then the occupants of the usual set of tables that we reconfigure finished their meals and departed and we could get officially set up and get the bar music shut off.

Ended up having a decent turnout and session, just got off to a late start. Nice to have Tony Giblin and Eamon Coyne join us.

More tomorrow.

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 12:38 AM

Yes, things did get up to a slow start but we did reach the critical mass of 12 or so singers fairly soon after 4 pm. Judy and I certainly had a good time.

We just good home after a leisurely dinner with Justine and Steve.

Was Tony the one who led "The Bluenose" by Stan Rogers? He did a fine rendition of that song as well as "Northwest Passage," and reminded me once again of what a skilled songwriter Stan was.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 10:33 AM

Yes, Charlie -- Tony Giblin who lives in Beverly, MA. Used to own a pub in Portsmouth.

I think I've got enough time to put photos from yesterday on Facebook before I head out to work.

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 07:01 PM

Well, the roster of singers and friends is Tom and I (natch), Ernie Pigeon (NbptErnie), Charlie Ipcar (Charlie Noble) and Judy Barrows (JudyB), Don Hale, Peter Hale (PeaderFormerlyofPortsmouth) and Laurette Cossaboon, Steve Smith and Justine Donovan, Lynn Feingold (who doesn't make it to Portsmouth often enough), Tony Giblin (former owner of the former Jack Quigley's in Portsmouth), Eamon Coyne, Bruce MacIntyre, Steve and Elizabeth Stewart Carrigan with their daughter Saoirse (the Shy...yeah, right), Phyllis Richardson-Sloat, Barry O'Brien from Gloucester, Marty Stock (Bupkes) and Chris Maden.

It was a night of me taking pictures of people taking pictures. It was a night of songs being sung again by other singers. It was a night of unexpected people showing up. All in all, despite a late and rocky start, it was a very good sing. Wish Lynn Feingold could have stayed longer, but her daughters rolled their eyes and allowed her one song (as they ran out of the pub).

1. Last Shanty (Tom Lewis) - Ernie Pigeon
2. Fire Marengo - Charlie Ipcar
3. Help Me To Raise 'Em - Justine Donovan
4. Cannery Shed - Linn Schulz (Bat Goddess)
5. Greenland Whale Fisheries - Don Hale
6. The Wreck of the Costa Concordia - Charlie
7. Henry Martin - Lynn Feingold
8. Billy's Boat - Ernie
9. Last Shanty (Tom Lewis) - Steve Carrigan
10. Isle Au Haut - Bruce MacIntyre
11. Farewell to Tarwaithie - Don Hale
12. Sandgate Girl's Lament - Linn

I'll finish after dinner (South African Durban curry).

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 07:36 PM

13. Whaling, Catch and Release - Ernie
14. Old Fat Boat - Steve Carrigan
15. West Indies Blues - Charlie
16. Skipper Jan Rebeck - Marty Stock
17. London Julie - Justine
18. Pay Me My Money Down - Barry O'Brien
19. Harbors of Home - Linn
20. Here's to the Morning Glory - Bruce
21. The Blue Nose In the Sun - Tony Giblin
22. Haul Away, Joe - Chris Maden
23. Rolling Down the Bay to Juliana - Ernie
24. Steer To Sailor-Town - Charlie (probably have title wrong)
25. Lady Franklin's Lament - Don Hale
26. Jim Jones In Botany Bay - Marty
27. Jolly Roving Tar - Chris Maden
28. Running Down to Cuba - Bruce
29. When You Leave Your Old Ship - Judy Barrows
30. Hard Times In Old Virginia - Justine
31. Cannery Shed - Barry O'Brien
32. The Fire Ship - Bruce
33. Spanish Girls Around Cape Horn - Don Hale
34. Nellie J. Banks - Ernie
35. Old Pagoda Anchorage - Charlie

More tomorrow -- stuff to do.
Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 08:39 AM

Let's wrap this up --

36. Northwest Passage - Tony Giblin
37. Out On the Rolling Sea - Barry
38. We Have Fed Our Sea For a Thousand Years - Marty
39. Nine Times a Night - Linn
40. Rolling Down to Rio - Bruce
41. Little Boy Billie - Chris
42. Common British Tars - Judy
43. Pay Paddy Doyle for His Boots - Ernie
44. Stormalong - Justine
45. Stormalong, Stormy, Stormalong - Charlie
46. Run Come See Jerusalem - Marty
47. Pleasant and Delightful - Tony
48. Boney Was a Warrior - Ernie
49. Bold Fisherman - Bruce
50. Hanging Johnny - Chris
51. Shoals of Herring - Marty (Tom on concertina)
52. Old St. Mary's - Bruce (David Francey song; not sure of title)
53. Nelson's Prayer - Chris

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 03:38 PM

Looks good to me:

24. should be "A Night at Dago Tom's" by JohnMasefield

29. should be "A Parting" by Cicely Fox Smith

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 04:01 PM

Typo: it's "Farewell to Tarawathie" (not "Tarwaithie").

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty Session @ The Press Room, NH
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Feb 12 - 04:05 PM

Or "Tarwathie". Not sure--it comes up both ways.