January Shanty Session at the Press Room

Subject: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:46 PM

It's almost time to start the second year of the monthly shanty/forebitter sessions. For those who are new to these, and for those who missed the change in the dates, these will be held on the THIRD Saturday of each month from 3:30 till 7:30 PM at the Press Room, 77 Daniel Street, Portsmouth NH.

Singers and listeners all welcome, even Guests. Good food and drink available.

Hope to see lots of you there as we commence our second successful year of singing and general good times -- Tom

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:49 PM

I expect I'll see you in August or September...

wish it could be sooner.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:54 PM

We will most assuredly look forward to your return MMario.

My apologies to the calendar deprived for leaving out the date of 17 January;
this room is the furthest from the woodstove and we've a current temperature of about 11 degrees and my brain is not fully functional -- Tom

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:56 PM

which goes to prove you are not trollish; as Pterry has informed us their brains function faster and better the colder they are.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:16 PM

Nor am I given to hanging out beneath bridges. But I must admit to a desire to try a bit of roast goat some day.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:45 PM

Nor and I should be able to attend and I'll scout around and see if others are intersted and available.

Around Cape Horn in the month of May,
To-me-way, hey, ho!
Around Cape Horn in the sleet and the spray,
A long time ago!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, hanging on to the yard with frozen fingers

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Brían
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 10:34 PM

I don't know if I can make it but I hope to be there.

Brían

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 03:48 PM

With all the Mudcrashes along with this being posted early, it didn't last too long. Nevertheless, this Saturday, 17 Jan is the date. Come celebrate the
"heat wave." ( above zero) and what say for a show of electronic hands?

See you then -- Tom

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 06:37 PM

If the car starts, I will be there.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 07:50 AM

My car has decided to stay in the stable the past two days. (Stable? Out in the open at the head of the driveway on the side of a hill in the bl**dy WIND?!?)

Sigh.

Wearing the red sweater knitted in Newfoundland today. Don't wear it too often because it's usually way too warm!

So today all I'll have to worry about is my tush and toes.

Linn

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 08:09 AM

We should see who can come up with the most appropriate cold weather song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, all alone on the frozen ground

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 10:52 AM

"Where there's ice and snow and the cold winds blow, and Jamaica rum would freeze?"

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 12:12 PM

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 12:24 PM

Oh Miss Julia!

Wher'd ya go Julia?

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 05:03 PM

Her fingers are frozen to the keyboard!

Charley Noble, back from the deep freeze

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 06:22 PM

THIRD Saturday, huh? That's too bad. I will be in Maine and NH from March 6 through to March 15. I fly into Manchester on March 6 at 4:45 PM and fly out on March 15 at 5:35 PM. I am planning to get to the Friday session at least on March 12.

See you all in March. What do you want from Guam? How about a love stick?

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 07:29 PM

Got one, Brett LOL

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: curmudgeon
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 08:22 PM

Sorry about the change Brett. The second Sat conflicts with Mystic and Indian Neck would be eternal, so Charley and I picked the third Sat as a replacement.

However, there is nothing written that says we can't have a Brett Session on Saturday, 14 March at the same time and place. All I will ask is for those who think this is a good thing and who will come to said event, let me know, so that I may alert the management that there wil be two great Saturdays in March -- Tom

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 10:18 PM

A love stick? Is that anything like a Sugar Daddy. I'll take one...or two.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 10:48 PM

Count me in!

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 10:02 AM

So it's a lock on the 2nd Saturday in March for a Brett Fest, in addition to the regular 3rd Saturday Shanty Sing.

By the way, I'm heading down to the Seaman's Club in NYC's South Street Seaport area for their Chanty Sing on March 27th, if anyone wants to carpool with me. I'll probably drive down on Friday and return Monday, staying over at my brother's place in Brooklyn; they have a reasonable amount of room for guests.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 11:04 AM

Looks like Judy and I are the only one's coming down from this neck of the woods. Hope the Pub is well heated.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 01:00 PM

Antibiotics have made it mandatory for me to stay within easy access of plumbing facilities. Oh well. Maybe I will lose some weight. Doesn't look as if I will make it this month.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 01:16 PM

I'm ready to get out of the house. I'm in the process of doing laundry, which takes a couple of hours with my sucky water pressure, then I'll take a shower with the sucky water pressure, then I'll freeze-dry my hair. I don't know how many songs I'll croak out, but I'll bring my squeezy thing and attempt to tastefully and appropriately accompany people who don't have dessicated vocal chords.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 01:31 PM

Jeri,
I don't usually let strangers handle my squeezy things. That's how I ended up on antibiotics. Be discreet, love.
M.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Brían
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 01:52 PM

I'm not going to make it this time. Have a good time, everyone!

Brían

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 07:44 PM

Wierd!! I had typed all the lyrics to Nick Apollonio' s "The night the whisky froze" and thought it went merrily on it's way!
Well here it is, too late

Oh the stove was glowing a cherry red
The night we wore all our clothes to bed
And pulled the covers up over our heads
The night the whisky froze
We were safe and snug from the raging storm
We huddled and cuddled all night to keep warm
And nine months later a child was born
From the night the whisky froze!

I also suggested the "Frozen Logger"

Hope it went well
We were going to come, but got nailed with the creeping crud

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 07:57 PM

Well, New England isn't the only place to suffer illnesses. I figure I have the flu. I feel crumby.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 09:07 PM

Julia & Naemie, sorry you guys are sick. Next month?

It was a very good session, with some newcomers showing up, one couple brought their son (maybe about 10 or 11?) who sang 'Maid on the Shore' and 'Old Maui', and was pretty darned good!. We were over the legal limit for free reed instruments. I think there was a total of 6 concertinas and one accordion. (It was probably more like 7 or 8 'tinas, but a person can only play one at a time, so I'm not counting spares.) Lots of singing and fun, and I made Barbara spill (a wee bit of) her Guinness.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 10:56 AM

Certainly, one of the best sessions I've attended in a long time. About 20 singers were there, and very well behaved. Nice to see and hear the new folks from Arundel.

Thee certainly were a lot of concertinas in evidence, some of which were fairly shy. I didn't notice any obvious coupling so I don't expect we'll be seeing any new arrivals this spring. I'd like to get together an hour early some Saturday, if other are interested, and maybe learn some more about playing my Anglo; I don't really know much about chording.

Steve has one fine voice, shaking the rafters with his delivery of Tom Lewis songs. Brett, you also would have loved his delivery of "Pump Shanty."

The launching of the new ballad "Lobster Barbie" appeared to be well received. This song, composed by myself and Mudcat's Amos, was inspired by a series of news stories from the Mount Desert Island area of Maine. It's a pity that Barry wasn't in attendence; he does enjoy a long ballad.

I wish I could remember the new old songs that Jeff Warner was trying out. I love his banjo work as well.

As I mentioned to a couple of people, Jez Lowe will be appearing in concert at the Chocolate Church in Bath on Saturday, February 14th; I'll start a new thread on that with more complete information.

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful gathering. Dull care was most certainly driven out the door by at least 6 white horses!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 12:19 PM

Too often, there are people in our circles who get REALLY GOOD, and we don't notice because it's an insidious thing. Steve's becoming a Force With Which To Be Reckoned. Ramona just plain doesn't know how good she is.

Jeff did a song about Willie. Not much help, as about a third of all folk songs are about a Willie. Chording on an Anglo?

Find a G, then an B
Then the last note, it's a D
Play them all and you will see
You're chording on an anglo

Chorus:
Chording I, chording IV
There will be a V, I'm sure
Then you go back down once more
You're chording on an anglo

C's the IV, and the 'tina's designed
So the 3rd note, E, is next in line
But when you try to play the G, you'll find
You can't do that on an anglo

A more appropriate chorus:
Wheeze and suck, suck and wheeze
Most chords come in groups of threeze
You may have to settle for two of theeze
When you're chording on an anglo

The D's the V chord you will play
But you must decide the way
Will it be a D or F#-and-A
You can't do all three on an anglo

Play two out, play one in
Over and over, again & again
And someone might just do you in
No oompahs on an anglo

Disclaimer: I don't know diddley-squat about anglos, and I only hope this is right. It WOULD be right if my button box were an anglo, and it was in G instead of C. If it's not right, let me know - I can fix it...or we can just pretend it never happened.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 04:19 PM

Jeri-

You're right about Ramona.

Now we'll have to direct Bob Bolton to this thread and see if your wonderful verses make any sense. It sure would help if the little buttons had notes written on them. Of course they'd be too small for me to read without a telescope but what a brillant idea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 05:27 PM

Charley, if you play a G scale by playing:
Blow, suck, blow, suck, blow, suck, suck, blow, then I'm probably right.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 05:35 PM

Jeri-

You're right!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: MMario
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 05:44 PM

Charley, if you play a G scale by playing:
Blow, suck, blow, suck, blow, suck, suck, blow

it's a good thing I DID read the rest of the thread before running into THIS post...

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Tinker
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 11:59 PM

Gee Jeri, you just may inspire me to a whole series of songs...I'll have to think on this one.

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 06:15 AM

I missed this month's shanty session but if weather permits, I'll try to be there in Feb. Maybe I'll add to the concertina superfluity! (Just beginning to learn, but I think I've finally found my instrument!)

Allison

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 09:33 AM

I THINK NEXT SESSION ALL THE CONCERTINA PLAYERS SHOULD ACCOMPANY JERI SINGING HER NEW SONG. OTHERS, WITHOUT CONCERTINAS, CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE MOUTH AND OTHER ORIFICE SOUNDS.

cheerily,
charley ignoble (evil twin)

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 10:18 AM

It's acapella.
AND it's a parody - 'Rollin' Down the River' - for which I may cause certain people's panties to get bunched. Lloyd knows, I'm certainly not making fun of the original. May do a Copper's thing and adjust the tunage so it's not so blatant, or at least change it to major key so the I, IV and V chords would work and it can be capella. *shudder*

Subject: RE: January Shanty Session at the Press Room
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 10:30 AM

Jeri-

We'll do "air concertina" then, just weeze and suck along.

Charley Noble