To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=104637
40 messages

September Shanty Session (NH)

09 Sep 07 - 07:24 PM (#2144938)
Subject: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Next Saturday, 15 September, is the date for the monthly shanty/forebitter session at the Press Room in Portsmouth NH, 3:30 - 7:30 PM.

Hope to see many of the regulars, but would love to see some new faces and hear some new voices.

And don't forget   the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival   upcoming on the 29th and 30th of September - Tom


09 Sep 07 - 07:59 PM (#2144960)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

I'll be there as usual but Judy will be off in Vermont.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


10 Sep 07 - 01:05 PM (#2145589)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: SINSULL

I am on Seamus duty and can't make this one but I will be at the Portsmouth Maritime Festival. See you then.


11 Sep 07 - 07:33 AM (#2146262)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: jacqui.c

I'll be in hospital recovering from a hernia op the day before. Don't think they'll let me out for that!


12 Sep 07 - 08:03 PM (#2147822)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Will we be seeing anyone from Gloucester? Barry, are you coming this time?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


12 Sep 07 - 09:47 PM (#2147874)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: TRUBRIT

Looks like the Maine contingent will be light -- I have a wedding to attend. Hope the weather is good. Jacqui -- I think my excuse is more fun than yours -- take it easy, rest and don't let the bugger get you down!


12 Sep 07 - 11:12 PM (#2147928)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Barry Finn

The Gloucester bunch has a gig at the Essex Maritime festival at 2:00 they'll be heading up after that, if I'm coming I'll be with them. At least that the plan I heard last night at Cameron's.

Barry


13 Sep 07 - 07:42 AM (#2148168)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Barry et al-

When you're on a roll, keep rolling!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


13 Sep 07 - 08:14 PM (#2148648)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

I note that the statewide smoking ban doesn't take effect until September 17. Oh well!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


13 Sep 07 - 09:02 PM (#2148674)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

I currently have a thing. Probably allergies and not a cold. If it turns out to be a cold, I may not make it... to the session, that is. I'm taking allergy stuff, so keep your fingers crossed. The voice works and if it doesn't get worse than it is now, I'll be there.


14 Sep 07 - 11:08 AM (#2149133)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Hope you are feeling better, Jeri. And even if you're not in top voice, you can always come for a pint and a listen - Tom


14 Sep 07 - 12:39 PM (#2149228)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

Whatever it is, it's not currently bad enough to keep me away. It's bad enough to keep me from mowing the lawn though.

My mucus flows in endless streams;
My nose I keep on blowin'.
I see the crabgrass lush and green
And know the lawn needs mowin.'
But I will neither work nor rest,
Although my ears are ringing;
There's a session, and I'll go--
How can I keep from singing?


14 Sep 07 - 12:51 PM (#2149237)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Please sing same tomorrow .


14 Sep 07 - 01:18 PM (#2149255)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Jeri-

I'd also like to chorus along on "The Sinusitus Blues."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


15 Sep 07 - 09:25 AM (#2149802)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

What's 'The Sinusitis Blues'? I don't generally sing one-verse stupid parodies of songs because I'd have to learn them and they're, well, stupid. I also don't have a good handle on the tune to 'How Can I Keep from Singing'.


15 Sep 07 - 09:28 AM (#2149804)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

...not to mention the fact that the upper respiratory thingie is worse, so I don't have much of a voice either. I'll be there though, if only to talk about those who don't show up.


15 Sep 07 - 09:55 AM (#2149818)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Just heard from barry Finn that an event in Essex MA has been rained out, so maybe we'll see the good folk of Gloucester.

On a complete;y different note, we're trying to find some high res pics from last years Maritime Fest. Anyone got any?


15 Sep 07 - 10:38 AM (#2149841)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Jeri-

"The Sinusitis Blues" is only a figment of my imagination but who knows?

Hope you're feeling better by the session.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


15 Sep 07 - 11:10 AM (#2149859)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

Tom, apparently, I didn't have a camera, but I was confined to one location anyway. Got some nice photos of singing on tall ships though. (Not to mention the three-masted slag heap from two years ago.)


15 Sep 07 - 04:07 PM (#2150037)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: SINSULL

Jeri's doing the Boogie-Woogie.
Refresh


15 Sep 07 - 09:15 PM (#2150168)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: TRUBRIT

well--my wedding (not literally mine but you get the point) was wonderful...hope you all had fun...


15 Sep 07 - 09:34 PM (#2150177)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

We did have fun, and one can never quite predict the mix of songs and the mood which only adds to the session. Let's see, who was there? Tom and Lynn, Joanne and Peter, Barry, Garde, Peter, George, Mark, Jeff and Barbara, and Jeri, and a couple of ladies who sang "Danny Boy."

There wasn't much of a chorus from the kitchen this time. Maybe there has been a crew change? There were some noisy folks at an adjacent table, but they had to be noisy if they wanted to hear each other over our din.

The smokers at the bar were getting in a last round of smokes, could hardly be seen through the nicotene haze.

I tried out a couple of newer songs, "Chantey of the Sea Cook" by old sailor-poet Harry Kemp and "Bumboatmen" by old sailor-poet Burt Franklin Jenness. I also found time to lead "Tasman Buster," "Lee Fore Brace," and "The Salvagemen."

All in all an energizing session. Thanks, everyone!

I'm really looking forward to the Maritime Festival in two weeks.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


15 Sep 07 - 10:18 PM (#2150197)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

The loud table also featured smokers. Too much, too close, too drunk, and maybe just a little too horny. It was a good session, although a smallish group. I left because my voice wasn't cooperating, got home and have been struggling not to fall asleep. At least I should be virus-free by the Maritime Festival.


16 Sep 07 - 12:31 PM (#2150473)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Another fine session indeed. But someone left his/her allotment of Maritime Festival posters behind. If unkown person wishes, I'll forward them by USPS - Tom


16 Sep 07 - 12:59 PM (#2150497)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Barry was singing a couple of songs I hadn't heard him sing before. Any clue what they were? And what is the name of the song that Garde led that he composed about the lifeboat crew? Garde did a nice job of leading "Powder Monkey" and "Pay Me My Money Down."

I do wish that Jeff and Barbara had led more songs. They did a fine job with "Lovely Nancy."

Mark was in rare form. However, other than Gordon Bok's "Clear Away the Morning" I'm unable to bring up any song titles.

We did get to enjoy two very close versions of "The Banks of Newfoundland" by Tom and Barry (Barry came in late). Barry led "Larry Marr" of the infamous 5-gallon jar.

George led "Domium-a-Day," a story about a sailor overhearing the squire and his lady arranging a trist, with a string dangling out the window, with a happy ending for at least two of the party of the first. George was also in great form.

What is the name of the Irish ballad that Peter led, with a tune inspired by "Edmund Fitzgerald"?

Lynn led "Flash Company" and probably a few more.

Joanne led "Pirate Parts."

I've either got to get more memory or begin to take notes. This is a pathetic summary! Help would be appreciated if anyone else has a clue what they led or what others led.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


16 Sep 07 - 08:37 PM (#2150770)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: TRUBRIT

sounds like a wonderful evening......


17 Sep 07 - 01:04 AM (#2150898)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Barry Finn

Hi Charlie
The two songs that I sang that you're wondering about was the "Beacon Light". It's in Gale Huntington's 'Songs the Whalermen Sang'. He has it from the log of the Frances Henrietta 1835. The other is a recently penned gem from Roger Hussey of Gloucester, an ex-merchant mariner (not Mainer) who wrote the song (one of many), "Venezula To Trinidad" which is about his comic & rollicking time spent aboard a Norweigen oil tanker. Roger is in the 6th & 16th slide of this slide show at Cameron's.

Barry


17 Sep 07 - 09:01 AM (#2151040)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Barry-

Thanks. I'm especially interested in "Venzuela to Trinidad," love the call and response parts even if I can't remember much. Would you e-mail me the words?

Oh, the other song I was thinking of was one recently composed by Dillon Bustin, the one about the Gay Head lifeboat crew. I think Mark led that one. It's another fine song from the hand of Bustin.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


17 Sep 07 - 03:41 PM (#2151321)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: GUEST,Mark Ryer

Hi Charlie,

The Dillon Bustin song that I led is called the "Humane Society". It's about the demise of a steamer, "City of Columbus" off Martha's Vinyard. Lifesaving stations along the New England coast were organized under the name of and were referred to as "Humane Societies." At the time of this wreck, Dillon says that all of the members of the lifesaving crew were Wampanoag Indians.

Dillon's rendering seems to line up quite well with this article about the wreck: http://www.questmarineservices.com/exploration/cityOfColumbus.html

I also sang Eric Bogle's "Safe in the Harbor"

It was a good session and I really enjoyed it.

Curmudgeon: I'm the guilty posterman.

Regards,
Mark


17 Sep 07 - 05:51 PM (#2151412)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Mark-

Good to see you posting here and thanks for the info.

Do consider joining Mudcat as a member. It's essentially a free service but many of us have been known to make an annual donation. It also makes it easier to send private messages (PM's) back and forth.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


17 Sep 07 - 06:48 PM (#2151468)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: adventure

Charlie...how will you ever find your way home from Australia????

Yes it was a fun sing...lots of smoking from the up front table was painful...but worth the stay.

Neighbor's party was nice...but not to our music likings.

Felt like doing "help me to raise em' boys" again at this event to get the younger folk up and going. We had fun anyway and met some nice people.

Looking forward to the 29th and 30th.

Doryman and his mate.


18 Sep 07 - 09:49 AM (#2151868)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Doryman and his mate-

"how will you ever find your way home from Australia?"

Dead easy. One just hitches a ride on the Roaring Forties, swings around the corner of Cape Stiff, and then it's a straight shot North.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


19 Sep 07 - 09:37 AM (#2152611)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: GUEST,PeadarOfPortsmouth

Definitely a fun, if intimate, session.

Charlie -- The "Edmund Fitzgerald" inspired song is "Back Home in Derry", which was written by Bobby Sands. The other songs I humbly offered were "The Ferryman" by Pete St. John and, predictably, "South Australia".

Mark -- Thanks again for doing Jez's "The Bergen"...you're always dead-on with that one.

CAN'T WAIT FOR A SMOKE-FREE SESSION THIS WEEK!

Peter


19 Sep 07 - 03:37 PM (#2152876)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Barry Finn

Hi Peter
Nice to see you onboard here.

Barry


19 Sep 07 - 05:05 PM (#2152947)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: PeadarOfPortsmouth

Thanks...although I realized today that I'll likely have to change my screen name once I move to Woburn. ;-)


19 Sep 07 - 06:22 PM (#2153012)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon

Just drop the "of Portsmouth" bit and become internationale - Tom


19 Sep 07 - 06:48 PM (#2153032)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Jeri

Or just don't move! Who moves to Woburn on purpose anyway?

My respiratory thing got worse on Sunday, and if Saturday had been on Sunday (or any day since), I wouldn't have been there. I still don't know if it's a cold or allergies, but it's starting to improve. At least I got it out of the way before the festival. Now I just need to make sure I know some songs!


19 Sep 07 - 08:47 PM (#2153106)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble

Peter-

Well, I suppose that is not exactly on the far side of the world but it's not a seaport town!

You know, if one works at it, one can become fabulously wealthy singing nautical songs!

Well, one can at least maintain some sanity in an absurd world by singing nautical songs!

Jeri-

Glad to hear you are feeling better, but is it some allergy that is after you? One wonders. One doesn't have to be paronoid nowadays to consider that something in the environment is out to get us.

Charley Noble


19 Sep 07 - 10:34 PM (#2153149)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: PeadarOfPortsmouth

I'll still be up on Friday nights and 3rd Saturdays...and it puts me closer to the Gloucester session.

You can't get rid of me that easily

Peadar Of The Road


20 Sep 07 - 12:21 AM (#2153199)
Subject: RE: September Shanty Session (NH)
From: Barry Finn

Well hopefully I'll be seeing more of you on the Monday nite sessions in Brighton

Barry