November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing

Subject: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 09:44 AM

Life is complicated right now (as those of you who follow the "Curmudgeon In Hospital" thread below the line well know), but here's this Saturday's shanty sing reminder --

Our monthly shanty, forebitter and ballad session will be this Saturday, November 16th, from 3:30 to 7:30 PM at the Press Room (pub) on Daniel Street in Portsmouth, NH.

Tom is currently in the CCU at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital but I'll be there not only as myself, but in "being Tom" mode.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: maeve
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 09:58 AM

I hope you have a wonderful time with friends, old and new.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: ranger1
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 11:19 AM

I'll be there.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 10:03 PM

Have a wonderful time! I wish I could join you again! And for goodness sake, someone learn and sing Rolling Home to Old New England! (I requested it last month.) Lyrics are right here at Mudcat @displaysong.cfm?SongID=5056 , and YouTube has this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEhdM65n7Pw and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG2CWn2ZFdI

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Nov 13 - 08:49 AM

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 13 - 08:32 PM

We're jammed up this weekend in Maine with Dahlov's art opening on Sunday. My brother's family is coming up from Brooklyn and Dahlov's planning a big dinner Saturday evening...

((Linn))

Charlie

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 10:28 AM

Sorry to miss you, Charlie -- give my love to your mother.

I just got a call from Rich Gaito and he said he'll be at the session Saturday.

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 08:54 AM

Tom gently transitioned to another world on Thursday at the hospice, surrounded by friends and music. He slipped away from us in the middle of "Whiskey Before Breakfast".

I hope today's singaround will be an opportunity for me to see as many friends as possible. What I need most right now is friends and music -- both of which I have in abundance.

Come raise the rafters of the Press Room with us...

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 09:22 AM

I will never forget the time Duane D. & I were able to join you there. We'll be with you in spirit!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 04:52 PM

You must be there now. I wish I could be there, too. I am imagining hugs, tears, voices that are less steady than usual, perhaps some laughter as good times are recalled, and many glasses raised to Tom. I hope this brings some comfort to you, Linn.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 09:41 PM

Today's sing was an incredible experience. I still can't believe some of the harmonies. Laughter, yes, some tears. Singing is, indeed, the best of all cures for a weary soul.

Peter Souza told of his and Tom's adventures with "Nearly Headless Jaysus", Bruce MacIntyre of meeting Tom at the New World Gallery in Portsmouth in the '60s.

Bob Nilson was there early in the sing and did a drawing of a much younger and haloed Tom (Bob was looking at a 1990 photograph) is looking down from a musical heaven at me.

I'll post more tomorrow. Right now I'm tired -- too late to bed last night and too early awake this morning. But I am basking in the warmth and comfort of the friendship and love as well as the voices that filled The Press Room and especially surrounded me.

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 08:37 AM

I'll post later today (or start at least). Right now I'm taking a cup of tea upstairs -- the cats have told me they need lots, lots more petting and attention.

But I want to share one more thing before I forget (and now that I'm writing about it, I won't forget!). Our server yesterday, Jackie, said the greatest thing last night when I tried to pay my tab (he wouldn't let me). He said that folk musicians were absolutely amazing -- that we didn't mourn, we truly celebrated the life of the friend we've lost. And that's what everyone SHOULD do, but most don't.

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: GUEST,Guest-Dianne
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 08:53 AM

Well said Jackie!
Dianne

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: ranger1
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 10:11 AM

I think we've converted young Jaki. I've seen his lips moving during some of the songs.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 08:04 PM

November Press Room Shanty Sing - November 16, 2013

A celebration of the life of Tom Hall who passed away Thursday, November 14, surrounded by friends and music. He slipped his mooring during "Whiskey Before Breakfast".

The session crew (please add anyone I missed or correct me if I get names wrong!) – Tom's wife Linn Schulz (me, Bat Goddess), Bruce MacIntyre, artist Bob Nilson, Don and Cathy Hale, Jeri, Dianne Lavoie, Rich Gaito and his wife, Kevin Scanlon up from North Carolina and his family, Katherine Rhoda, Peter Bixby, Steve Smith and Justine Donovan, "Cuzin Richard" Smith, Gina and Bill Dunlap, Tami Bill (Ranger1) and Michael, Margery Jennings, Barry O'Brien, Marty Stock (Bupkes), Kevin McDermott, Joe and Lorna Simes, Mike Modern, Judy Howard, Pete Hale (Peader formerly of Portsmouth) Peter and Audi Souza, Erin Hathaway Weaver, Jean Pauly, Susan (who brought cookies!!!) and Dan Young, Lynn Noel and Phillip Nimeskern, Lynn Feingold, Barbara Benn, Carol Coronis, Ramona Connelly, Ann Robinson, Bob Paul, Dave Johnson, David Surette and Susie Burke, Emery Hutchins…oh! And Mike who is a Press Room regular whose last name I don't know. Gotta get him to sing more! There was also a fellow who doesn't come in often, didn't know Tom had passed away, was totally captivated by the singing and stood behind us (except when refreshing his drink at the bar) and followed the whole session.

1. Blood Red Roses – Bruce MacIntyre
2. All For Me Grog – Dianne Lavoie
3. Roll the Old Chariot Along – Rich Gaito (interesting version)
4. Rolling Down to Old Maui – Bill Dunlap
5. Donkey Riding – Peter Bixby
6. The Capstan Bar – Kevin Scanlon
7. Race of Long Ago – Linn Schulz
8. Bear Away, Yankee – Jeri
9. Love's Old Sweet Song – Kevin McDermott
10. My Name It Is Dan Dan – Don Hale
11. Bullgine Run – Bruce MacIntyre
12. Bully In the Alley – Marty Stock
13. South Australia – Pete Hale
14. Jolly Roving Tar – Rich Gaito
15. I Wish That I Was There – Lynn Noel (sorry, I don't know the title)
16. Dillon Bay – Mike Modern
17. Alabama John Cherokee – Barry O'Brien
18. Tinker Tailor – Dianne Lavoie
19. Northwest Passage – Bruce MacIntyre
20. Whitby Maid – Carol & Susan / London Julie
21. My Brother Sylvest – Kevin Scanlon
22. Cape Cod Girls – Jean Pauly
23. I Have Loved You Dearly – Mike, a Press Room regular
24. Johnny Todd – Rich Gaito
25. The Oggie Man – Pete & Audi Souza
26. Trying to Make Heaven My Home – Audi Souza
27. Hal-an-Tow – Peter Bixby
28. Fire Down Below [Fetch a bucket of water, girls] – Justine Donovan
29. The Session (a poem by Rea Greeenleaf) – read by Pete Hale
30. Farewell to Whiskey – Ramona Connelly (fiddle) & Carol Coronis (cittern)
31. Running Down to Cuba – Bruce MacIntyre
32. Fire Down Below – Jeri
33. Sammy's Bar – Katherine Rhoda
34. Greenland Whale Fisheries – Don Hale
35. Cannery Shed – Linn Schulz (requested by Dianne)
36. Sugar In the Hold – Jean Pauly
37. Fire Marengo – Jean Pauly
38. Willie Taylor – Carol Coronis
39. The Mermaid – Pete Hale
40. Pay Me My Money Down – Barry O'Brien
41. Grey Funnel Line – Bruce MacIntyre
42. [young lass, bonnie lass / fisher lass] – Lynn Noel (another song I don't know the title for)
43. Here Is My Home – Marty Stock
44. The Legacy [Thomas Moore] – Kevin McDermott
45. Shelves of Herring [parody by Frederick Schroers] – Bill Dunlap
46. Boozing, Bloody Well Boozing – Dianne Lavoie
47. Row On, Row On – Audi Souza
48. Thousands or More (Drive Sorrows Away) – Peter Bixby
49. What Will We Do? – Justine Donovan
50. Rosin the Beau – Peter Hale
Talked a bit about how Tom got his start singing folk songs. He won a Hampton Beach talent contest at age 5 singing "Clementine". So I was asked to sing it so I sang the parody.
51. parody of "Clementine" from "Rhymes With Orange" – Linn Schulz
52. The story about the adventures of Pete and Tom and the statue of "Nearly Headless Jaysus" in Sinsull's backyard in the dark of the night – Peter Souza
53. Whiskey-O, Johnny-O – Tami Bill
54. Chicken On a Raft – Bruce MacIntyre
(temporarily interrupted by a drunk on his way to the loo singing a line of "Roll Out the Barrel"…loudly)
55. Sally Free and Easy – Susan Young
56. Shawnee-Town – Emery Hutchins
57. Rollin' Down the River – Bill Dunlap
58. General Taylor – Jean Pauly
59. Story about Tom at the New World Gallery – Bruce MacIntyre
60. Shakespeare's Sonnet #50 recitation – Bruce MacIntyre
61. Maggie May – Linn Schulz
62. Lovers and Friends – Pete Hale
63. Nelson's Prayer (Seaman's Hymn) – Peter Souza and the Company

Our server Jackie said the greatest thing after he refused to let me pay my tab (for two snifters of Goslings) – he said we folkies really do it right. Instead of mourning for Tom, we celebrated his life in songs and stories.

What a singing there was…and what a singing there will be!

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 08:20 PM

Jean sang "Fire Marengo". (Changed it, but for your records...) I also think "Jackie" is "Jaki". He's awesome. My head's still buzzing from the session... unless it was the 72 cookies I ate - yum.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Amergin
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 03:15 AM

Sounds a bit similar to what recently happened out here. A local poet died recently from cancer, and his mates got together and had a poetry session at a local tavern, where they performed on stage a mixture of his work and their own. I didn't go, because I didn't know the man, but friends of mine say it was an amazing evening.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 03:35 AM

what an evening!

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 07:39 AM

Two evenings, actually -- the weekly Friday session then Saturday's monthly sea music singaround.

Tom couldn't have better planned the day of the week or the day of the month for his transition to whatever comes next. We sang him out of this plane on Thursday, the Friday Press Room trad session that he founded over 30 years ago was packed, as well as Saturday's monthly sea music session that we founded together 11 years ago.

We will be having a memorial music gathering at The Press Room just after the first of the new year -- and, yes, when considering dates we will take the Mystic fundraiser shanty blast into consideration so there won't be a conflict.

Oh, and Jaki IS awesome! As are all of the Press Room staff past and present, General Manager Bruce Pingree, and owner Jay Gardner.

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 08:01 AM

And I misspelled Reagh Greenleaf's name. (And I should know better!)

Linn

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 09:23 PM

For so many reasons, I wish I could have been there.

Subject: RE: November Press Room (NH) Shanty Sing
From: JudyB
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 09:52 PM

Me too....