Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Barry Finn
Date: 03 May 06 - 11:26 AM

Thanks Barbara, I'm feeling great & doing fine & looking a little bit to good. I was told to put on a lot of weight fast, only I didn't stop at "enough already".
The kids are done with Old Songs & without them camping with us my wife's heart isn't there, it's being debated at the moment, so it's up in the air at the moment.
We had a great time in NYC last week, wish I could've of caught you at NEFFA though but this being in 2 places at the same time has taken it's toll on me.
See you soon.
Barry

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 02 May 06 - 11:31 AM

Nice to hear your "voice", Barry. I heard from one of the New Yorkers at NEFFA that you're looking fine! Old Songs, this year?

best always,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 May 06 - 06:30 PM

What a nice musical/maritime journey. Starting with seeing/hearing/singing with the New York Packet & eating all the renewable or was that reuseable shrimp was a good way to start off.
South Street Seaport was a bit of a let down, I expected much more. The ships were closed due to weather, imagine that, these giants that plowed round both capes shut down due to a little rain. Oh well, they looked beautiful from the upper floors of the ajoining unmaritme mall. The seaport singing session did more than mae up for things though. Got to hook up with Brian (Wotcha) who it seems I only get to see once every 3 or so years, not often enough for someone whose got such a good repetoire. EBarnacle was in good form & it was nice to meet his friend Lady Hillary at last. It's alawys a treat to catch up with Jan, Allison & Frank, espically on their home turf, as always, singing up or in a storm. Wished I had met Ron of '2 Black Sheep & a Stallion' about 10 yrs ago, hopefully some day I'll get across the pond so we can do some more singing together, Yorkshire was well represented. Got to do some more singing at Charlie's friends, Jen & Pete out on Long island. I was talking about how when a sailor rounded the Horn 5 x in by gone days he got to put a certain earing in one of his ears & that if he rounded the Horn 10x he put another earing in the other ear & got to drink in any pub in Liverpool for free (all out of fashion today),
I then asked how many times they've rounded the horn, knowing that they've had to have done it a few times, seeing if they'd come close to drinkin for free in days gone by. I was knocked over when they said they'd have to guess....... at least 60x. They did like songs of seafaring, ya think? We got to hit the Gloucester singing session, what a time, lots of folks there just to sing along or just hear & enjoy, it's nice to know that it's not just singers that enjoy the songs, though there were plenty of real good singers in the crowd too, with a bunch of great songs, a must session for anyone that can ever get to it. The next (last) day was a surprise, Charlie & I got the 2cent tour of the portside from Joanne & Pete,
thanks to you both, for the night before & the day after. I haven't seen so many traditional wooden boat projects in one area, ever, could've stayed another week looking at them all.
Thanks to all who made this so enjoyable & singable.
LOL
Barry

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 08:44 PM

Peter-

We had a good time singing with Ron, but he did show up late and we didn't really have much time with him. I wish we could have shanghaied him out to Bellport, and if we had known more about rail transport it probably would have worked out fine. As we've said, the Puleston compound is a place with many portals.

Do take care of yourself and we'll see what we can do to make a foray over to Yorkshire from Liverpool in October. But we just don't know. The Liverpool folks, Marrowbones, are also very involved with adapting C. Fox Smith poems for singing and they've nailed several poems. I may need to spend some more time with them.

"Strike the Bell" and "The Crawl" are still going through my head from your new CD.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: stallion
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 06:57 PM

yes charley, I have been with you every step of the way

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 03:37 PM

bbc-

Thanks! One never knows if anyone is lurking who might appreciate the somewhat fractured updates we've been posting.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: bbc
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 07:18 AM

It's been nice, Charley, hearing your reports. Enjoy Mystic!

bbc

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 09:35 AM

Barry and I are back in NH and ME respectively after a wonderful week of singing and meeting old and new friends.

The Gloucester folks, Peter and Joanne, took us down to where the schooner Adventure was being rebuilt and they are really doing a fine job. We crawled all over the hull, tried out its acoustics, and would love to be there when she's re-launched the end of May. She's a really large schooner, easily as large as the Blue Nose, with a long history as a working boat going back to the 1920's. Capt. Jim Sharp used to run her a few years back on windjammer cruises in Penobscot Bay when I last was aboard her.

Thanks again to everyone who made our week so rich.

Next, it's on to the Mystic Sea Music Festival!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Apr 06 - 09:27 AM

Barry and I had a great time singing at the Schooner Pub in Gloucester yesterday evening. Lots of good songs, old friends and new friends, and a great room for singing.

Today Peter is going to take us down to where the schooner Adventure is being made ready for re-launching. Then we'll head back up to NH and ME.

More when we get back and can sort through what we've been doing, without the distraction of doing it!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 10:22 AM

Sorry about the brief post above. We kind of hit the ground running when we swung into New London. Don Seneti's band has been playing at the Griswald Inn in neighboring Essex for years and this was to be their last night there. The place was packed with familiar faces and Don and his friends were in full voice, backed up with tuba, fiddle, some strange mandoline rigged guitar, and Irish drums. Former members of their band came up to lead a song or two, folks were dancing on the table tops or swinging from the chandeliers, and the closing songs extended the session for an hour or so. Barry and I got to add our voices to the closing choruses.

Our host n New London has kindly provided us with staff guest passes so Barry and I can prowl the Seaport Museum at leisure today before heading up to Gloucester in the afternoon. We'll plan to arrive at Peter and Joanne's place in Gloucester on or about 5 pm as instructed. The singing session there is supposed to be at the Schooner Pub this evening and everyone is encouraged to join us.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 06:04 PM

Barry and have safely made the passage via the Orient Express from Long Island to New London and are safely ashore at Tillery St. More later, we're off to dinner and then to the Griswald to hear Don Seneti close the place down.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: GUEST,Wotcha in Baltimore
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 07:05 PM

Well back in Bawlmer/Baltimore here

Great to have seen Barry and Charley after about 3 years (and galavanting around the world).

I was surprised that "The Old Red Duster" and Max Boyce's "Swansea Town" are not well known in NYC, but no matter, I had fun singing them out ...

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 03:42 PM

There are portals to everywhere from here. We just got back from a tour of the marshes, looking at the great swans nesting there and the other seabirds, and walking the Fire Island barrier beach filling our pockets with shells.

Other portals (via the internet)extend to the artic and the antarctic where our hosts and their relatives function as environmental resource staff for National Geographic cruises. There are some great digital photos that Jen has of whales at play.

We also spent some time earlier this morning looking at a 1905 racing sloop that's being slowly put back together at the town marine museum.

This evening we'll have another song party, where hopefully another of my old shipmates from a 1965 cruise in the Bahamas will resurface.

Tuesday we'll head off to Orient Point and catch the ferry over to New London and continue our adventures. Wednesday we'll be at the song session in Gloucester with the Adeventure crew and Three Sheets to the Wind. We think it's still at the Schooner Pub.

Barry wants to bring back a pair of alpachas. I wonder what Justine will say.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 01:10 PM

Well, Barry and I made our way through sheets of rain along the expressway of Long Island to Bellport safely, to be warmly welcomed by Jennifer and Peter Clement. We said hello to their small herd of alpachas, fended off the guardian geese with thier chicks, had a great supper, and sang some songs with some neighboring old friends.

Barry's having a great time trying to figure out where he is and what it is connected to.

More later. The tide is up and the sun is out and we're going out through the marshes in the skiff.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: JudyB
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 10:50 AM

A web site would be great - let us know when it's up and running! I know that Charley's group Roll & Go has links for a number of nautical music sites, and I'm sure they'd be happy to add one more!

JudyB (who wishes she could have been there)

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 10:56 AM

Actually the grounding incident occurred at Harker's Island, near Hatteras. Lady Hillary did "Yeah, ho, little fish."
It's always nice to have dropins from out of town...especially when they are old friends or new friends.
Lady Hillary is working on a web site for the chantey sing. With any luck, it will be up and running by the end of Summer.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 10:07 AM

The Chantey Sing at the SEAMEN'S CHURCH was a blast! What a fine bunch of singers, led off by Frank Woerner. Jan, Eric, Mark, Ali, Wotcha, Penelope, Ron (from Yorkshire), and a couple of dozen others were all there. We met Frank, Eric and Penelope earlier at the Radio Mexico restaurant after killing an hour or so in the top of the South Street Mall overlooking the Peking and Wavertree. Too bad it was so chilly and rainy; the Museum staff had closed down the ships early so the only way to get aboard was by shimmying up a mooring line and popping in an open porthole...We had planned on dropping my instruments and backpack off earlier at the Seamen's Church but found a wedding in progress and the doorman reluctant to let us wander upstairs. I thought Barry was gonna take 'im out but I was able to restrain him. We wandered up to Chinatown and consoled ourselves with plate after plate of dim-sum (or is it "dum-sin"?) rice balls and sweet and sour pork.

Eric led a fine song about a rum-running yacht that had run agound on the tip of Long Island, to be happily plundered by the townfolks. Ali did her paint-peeling rendition of "Fire Marengo" in spite of still recovering from some nasty throat affliction. Barry blew everyone away with his song about Capt. Boston and the whaling schooner Industry. I still would like to get the words to Jan's final song about sailing south (the one with a tango beat). I tried out the new C. Fox Smith one I've been learning from the singing of the Liverpool duo Marrowbones, the Long Road Home; it's a powerful song and represents CFS's farewell to Victoria, BC, as she sailed back to England on the eve of World War 1.

Ron arrived late but we got him to lead a couple of songs, Henry Martin and Heave Around the Trawl, Boys.

There were many more songs but maybe Eric or someone else can fill in. Barry's still asleep but the rest of the household here in Brooklyn is stirring.

This afternoon we take off for deepest darkest Bellport, on the eastern shore of Long Island for some more good singing. What joy!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

PS

Thanks, dearest Joe Clone, for editing my post above; it really was this keyboard which randomly omits crucial letters.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: JudyB
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 05:19 PM

Thank you, JoeClone! I keep telling him to read these things before he posts them....

I talked to Charley a little while ago, and it sounded even more wonderful and wacky than he's had a chance to post. Though he may be stretched a little thin - he passed up an opportunity to sing with the dogs in Prospect Park at 6 am this morning - and it wasn't even raining all that hard.

JudyB

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 10:03 AM

Glad you're having a good time. Taking pictures, I hope?

---

Unfortunate typo and evidence of same, DNA and otherwise, have been removed from this thread. --JoeClone

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 09:37 AM

Barry and I rolled into Brooklyn late Friday afternoon in the middle of a major parade, which turned out to be the usual traffic free-for-all. On the way down we somehow managed to surface briefly from our singingsinging (as I drove and Barry navigated) to make crucial exits.

After inspecting my brother's roof for leaks (great view!) and a tour of neighboring townhouses, we settled down to a wonderful smoked chicken dinner. Then we took the F-train over to W. 23rd St. in Manhattan to check out a special event having to do with saving the oceans where some members of the New York Packet were providing appropriate nautical music. We managed to arrive there in time to join them in singing "The Leaving of Liverpool." We had a good time swapping stories about where we learned sea shanties, and who was doing what. The refreshments were good. And there were an incrediable range of questions from folks listening to the singing, who wanted to know more about what planet we all came from. They're all invited to the Chantey Sing at the Seamen's Church this evening.

Riding back to Brooklyn on the subway we began singing Appalachian ballads, and at one point a blues guitarist boarded the train and played a couple of tunes. Barry asked the young woman next to us if that happpened a lot, and she somehow concluded we were from Northern New England and confided that she too was from Maine, and then the fellow across from us chimed in that he was from Maine as well, and before we knew it everyone on the subway car was jumping up and down and clapping each other on the back...What a friendly town!

Peter-

We hope to catch up with Ron this evening at the Chantey Sing. We'll be over at the Radio Mexico (restaurant) around 6:30 pm for din-din. We'll probably be trampin' round the South Street Seaport, in the rain, admiring the Peking and the Wavertree, earlier in the afternoon.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble (Barry's still asleep)

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: stallion
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 05:52 AM

we had a great session at the tap & spile last night, Ron's voice is in great fettle, sorry Martin and I can't be with you, we are both green with envy!
regards
Peter

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: JudyB
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 03:26 PM

Well, they left this morning. Checked the news at noon, and no reports of huge traffic jams resulting from really loud shanties, so I guess all is well so far....

JudyB

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 05:15 PM

Looks like I head off this Friday, pick up Barry in Derry, and it's singing all the way to NYC.

Just heard that Ron Akehurst from Yorkshire is also planning to attend the Chantey Sing at the Seamen's Church at South Street (NYC) on Saturday evening. He is part of a trio called Two Black Sheep and a Stallion that we had the pleasure of hearing a year ago in NYC.

Looks like we'll be having great weather on the drive down.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 09:49 AM

Only a few days before Barry and I take off for the big city, early Friday morning to be exact. The weather looks great and the wind favorable.

Here's some more background on the Pulestons of Bellport, Long Island. Betty Puleston, Dennis' widow, has worked with George Stoney for years on documentary films. One of their well-known musical documentaries was focused on Lee Hays and the Weaver Reunion. Their daughter Jennifer also worked on that film.

One of my missions while I'm in Bellport will be making some notes on some 6 hours of songparty tapes that were generated in the late 1950's and early 1960's by the Pulestons and their neighbors. On the recordings they're all having one hell of a good time but sometimes it's not at all clear who is leading a song, and what song it might be. We've already converted the tapes into CD format.

Anyone planning to join us in NYC-South Street, Bellport, Mystic, or Gloucester?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:57 PM

Time to refresh this thread but I thought I'd also fill in some more about the Puleston family on Long Island. Dennis Puleston, who died in 2001 at the age of 95, was one of my favorite folk song mentors. I learned such unique ditties as "The Pearl Diver" (old music hall song), "The Ballad of Anthony Clare" (large balls heavy as lead), "The Good Ship Venus", "The Tattooed Lady", and dozens more. He was also a world class sailor, having sailed a schooner across the pacific in the 1930's (Blue Water Vagabond), designer of the DUKW amphibious land craft in World War II and on-the-job trainer, co-founder of the Environmental Defense Fund, and Aartic lecturer and guide. He was also neighbors with folk singers Bill Bonyun and Richard Dyer-Bennet which made for some extraordinary song parties, some of which were taped.

I am happy to report that the children of this extraordinary man, and his equally extradinary wife whom I'll report on later, are also explorers, fine singers, and great people to be with.

The Long Island gathering will be late Sunday afternoon, 4/23, at the Bellport compound.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: EBarnacle
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 11:59 AM

As far as I know Jan will be there.
Lady Hillary and I expect to be hitting Radio Mexico about 6:30 +/-.
For those who don't make it to Radio Mexico, Seamen's Church Institute is located 1 1/2 blocks South of the Brooklyn Bridge, on Water Street. If you reach the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse, You have gone 1 1/2 blocks too far South.
Usually, we start getting inside about 7:45, to help set up chairs. You may have to rattle the door to get let in, there's no bell.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 08:11 AM

And I just got a message from Al, as he flew out the door with Barb for Oz, that Mark Maniak is coming down from Massachusetts for the Seamen's Church gathering. It will be a joy to hear from him.

Jan usually starts the chantey sing but I haven't heard from him directly and I would hope that Frank and Ken would also be in residence.

The Bellport gang on Long Island include some folks I sailed with in the Bahamas way back in 1965. They had a 40-foot ketch and I flew down to Great Abaco Island to help them sail back to Annapolis. What a lovely lazy sail! I got a good start on singing sea songs with that crew, not to mention learning some of the vilest bawdy songs, and outrageous parodies. My head still reels from the pub crawl we did when we finally reached Annapolis – 13 rounds! And as we crawled back toward the yacht basin we passed by the big yacht club and decided to pay them a visit. We managed to stagger in upright, there was some momentary confusion inside, and I then remember dragging one of our members by his heels bumping down the carpeted stairs as we beat a hasty retreat. My next memory was of our captain standing boldly on the bridge railing anoiting the harbor. What a glorious spree! We will have to check and see if Capt. Clevidence has any memory of that experience.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:07 AM

Hi & thanks Barbara & Guy for the invites but like Charley mentioned we'll probably be heading straight to NYC from NH sometime Fri morning. Charley will come over (maybe) & I'll cook us up a big breakfast (maybe) & then Charley will will drive all the wayseeing as I don't drive anymore. I know he's gonna make me sing all the way(maybe). So we'll arrive Fri looking for place to sing or hear so singing. Any suggestions, anyone. Then Satday??? What time do the shantey singing people wander into Radio Mexico? Eric, it'll be good to se & hear you , it's been some time now. Does Greg B still attend the sings, I know Bonny & Dan are busy with NEFFA, what about the rest of the J-Girls? Anyone know if Jan goes to these, it'd be great to see him, too. I know Sunday we'll be at friends of Charlie's on Lung Igland & I guess there's an open invitation to singers & musicains there, nothing like a party with a family of sailors, this well be good. That leaves us with ???? for Monday & Tuesday, fishing for more music suggestions again. Any help? Wednesday we'll be seeing & singing with Cape Ann people, this area is a hidden treasure trove of folks that love to sing & do it well, again, another great time, just hope that they have a the same or at least a new venue to sing at by the time we get there. Any catters or friends in the hood we'd be excited to to join up with ya or have you join up with us, or even just to say HI. I think we'll be meeting up with Ron, what about Martin. Sorry we'll be missing you, Peter, maybe sometime some some where.
See ya all & Thanks
Barry

PS; Could Joe or Joe Clones combine this hread with the other one that I posted a short while ago?
Thanks

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 04:14 PM

Peter-

It would be great to see and hear the three of you again but I guess I'll have to settle for Ron.

SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE, somewhere on Water St., right? Last time I got there way early and they were nice enough to let me in, bring me some coffee, and not complain while I was retuning my banjo.

So, Eric, will we be seeing you early at Radio Mexico? Last time I checked in there, December, is was full of teenagers having a birthday party, not a shantysinger in the crowd!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: stallion
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 02:24 PM

Ron will be there, Martin and I would like to come, I mentioned it to my spouse and world war three broke out! I am definately not going to NYC without her (she says) and she can't get the time off! White flag is out but she won't call a truce.
cheers
Peter

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: EBarnacle
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 01:27 PM

Welcome home.
The correct place name is the Seamen's Church Institute, Reverend Mary presiding, on Water Street. We start at 8PM but we usually warm up at Radio Mexico, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge and within walking distance of the sing.

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:09 AM

Thanks for the offer, Charley. I'll check my calendar, but I think that's a bit far for me.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:08 AM

Barbara and Guy-

We're traveling by van and will probably make the run Friday down to New York City in one big push. Maybe you folks could join us in Gloucester for a sing when we're on our way back North on Wednesday evening, April 26?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 09:06 PM

I was thinking the same thing barbara .. Come visit if you are going south on rt 7 tr 8 or rt 202 .. All the best . Guy   Our house is on rt 202 .

Subject: RE: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: bbc
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:50 PM

How do you plan to travel down, Barry? I'm about 2 1/2 hours NE of NYC, if you need a place to stay on the way. PM me, if it is of interest.

Barbara

Subject: Barry Finn/Charley Noble - NYC 4/22
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 08:18 PM

Barry Finn and I are rolling south in the van the end of April for some nautical singing and if you're anywhere nearby, please join us.

We'll be at the South Street Sea Port Chantey Sing, Mariners' Church, 7:30 pm, Saturday, April 22, in New York City. The following Sunday we head out to the wilds of Bellport, Long Island, for a song party hosted by old friends the Puleston family. Tuesday we'll be touching base with folks at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut and looking for fun that evening. Wednesday we'll be joining the Schooner Adventure crew at their regular evening get-together in Gloucester; we understand that they're looking for a new pub to host their Wednesday evening sings so this probably won't take place at the Schooner Pub.

We would be happy to provide further information about how to connect with us if you're interested. And if you have more details to provide us, please post them on this thread.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and Barry Finn