Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shanty singer now!

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shanty singer now!
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 May 05 - 05:27 PM

Just back from a late lunch ~ I knew this announcement would prompt a good number of responses; thanks everyone!

open mike: Fearless leader KC King apparently did try ~ and fail ~ to get the Shanty Krewe into the Krewe du Vieux parade last year as a "marching band." As a KdV member, I'm not surprised, and in fact I agree with the decision to say "thanks but no thanks" ~ there's a time and a place for everything, and unaccompanied maritime work-song singing just would not be a suitable substitute for syncopated brass-band shake-your-booty street parade music! Not for a once-a-year event where your group is accompanied throughout its two-hour march by a single musical group, the band assigned to the spot immediately behind you. What people want is inspiration for ecstatic dancing-in-the-streets, and our brass bands are a proven source of just that.

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 18 May 05 - 04:50 PM

Welcome aboard mate

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: open mike
Date: 18 May 05 - 04:49 PM

land locked shanties? new category??

Krewe brings to mind Mardi Gras

will your group be participating?

you could throw pieces of 8 into the crowd as

you go by...as the parrot said:
\
"pieces of 8, pieces of 8"

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 05 - 04:08 PM

Hey, Reiver2, I can't PM you from work (so apologies to the rest for a bit of thread drift), but there are a few of us in southern AZ who enjoy chantys. Jeff Thorn, his wife Deborah, and I did a sing-along session at the Sharlot Hall Festival (first weekend in October, in Prescott) a couple of years back. This year, John Roberts may be in attendance; seems like it would be good timing to do it again!

~ Becky in Tucson (you can PM to "Desert Dancer")

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: sapper82
Date: 18 May 05 - 03:51 PM

Careful! Before you know it you'll be crewing round the cape on a three master!

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: Reiver 2
Date: 18 May 05 - 03:02 PM

If you ever hear about a similar group in Arizona, especially northern AZ, let me know. Sounds like much fun! I'm primarily into Irish and Scottish songs, but mostly surrounded by water those countries are closely linked to shanties. Have fun and ENJOY!

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: Blowzabella
Date: 18 May 05 - 02:59 PM

Be careful Poppagator - it gets into the blood!!! You be sure this is a step you are really prepared for, because there is simply no going back. I did it some (x) years ago and it has, undeniably, impacted seriously on friends and family. Still, as you say, it is bloody good fun!!!

Subject: RE: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shantey singer now!
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 18 May 05 - 02:58 PM

Poppagator - check out the Mystic festival thread

Subject: Ahoy Mateys! I'm a shanty singer now!
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 May 05 - 02:46 PM

Despite a lifetime spent as a confirmed landlubber, I am embarking on a new venture, joining a sea-shanty singing group. All that is required, as far as I can see, is a willingness to sing repetitive choruses nice and loud, and it sure is lots of fun.

I had been hearing about this local group for a year or so, and even listened to a live-on-the-radio performance a while back, so when I learned on Saturday morning that they would be holding an open meeting that very afternoon at one of our Irish pubs, I hustled through my gardening chores as quickly as possible, drove down to the French Quarter and found a parking spot (no mean feat), and soon was bellowing "Tanqeray Martini-O" and "Rolling Down to Maui" at the top of my lungs. I signed up for the email list, and by the time of the next meeting two weeks from now, I'll have my PDF songbook and a full set of MP3s of the group's repertoire.

There's no way I'll become an expert or specialist in this field, and I'm certainly not going to lose interest in the blues, R&B, jazz, etc., but I'm more than willing to learn the sea-chanty ropes thoroughly enough to get involved in such an enjoyable group activity.

All messages of encouragement and/or commiseration, warnings, etc, are welcome but not required. I'm hoping to hear from the Press Room gang in New Hampshire, Chanteyranger in SF, and anyone else involved in this area of folk music.

FYI, here are a couple of links:

N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe

Group leader KC King's website

Saturday's event was not, technically, a NOQSK meeting, but KC's gig ~ a "performance" that featured almost-entirely-unaccompanied singing, more singalongs than a Pete Seeger gig, and plenty of "guest appearances" by group members and other friends and acquaintances each singing a personal-favorite specialty song or two. Lots of fun, something I'd be glad to do twice a month from now on into the indefinite future.