tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=7
Blog
2022-05-24T08:41:30-04:00
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
false
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6978430
2022-05-24T08:41:30-04:00
2023-10-16T10:55:19-04:00
The Stormy Dan'ls disband
<p>I know, I know. I don't blog nearly as much as the pundits of promotion say I should. But if ever there was a time for a post, this is one.</p>
<h4>The Stormy Dan's abandon ship - and waste no time</h4>
<p>Amid all the terrible news these days there is this nugget of brightness: <a contents="The Stormy Danl's" data-link-label="The Stormy Danls" data-link-type="page" href="/the-stormy-danls" style=""><strong>The</strong> </a><strong><a contents="The Stormy Danl's" data-link-label="The Stormy Danls" data-link-type="page" href="/the-stormy-danls">Stormy Danl's</a> - </strong>my sea shanty crew spawned in a time of deadly plague -<strong> have disbanded.</strong> </p>
<p>Shortly before it became necessary for my wife and me to get out of Russia in April (2022), I went to round the guys up for a few last drinks only to discover they were nowhere to be found, and evidently long gone. Presumably they were some of the very first rats to leave the ship following the skipper's "special military operation" in Ukraine. That would be just totally like them.</p>
<p>All I've been able to come by is one rumor that <strong>Dartmoore Dan'l</strong> may have stowed away on a bulk carrier bound for Istanbul, and another that a figure resembling <strong>Dinghy-oar Dan'l</strong> was observed rafting downriver from Narva, Estonia in the dead of night. If it <em>was</em> him, he's making his way back to his favorite Tiki bar in Tahiti whence he came. I sincerely hope he gets there - and <em>stays</em> there. </p>
<p><strong>Dredgebottom Dan'l</strong> and <strong>Drunken-whelp Dan'l</strong> have vanished without a trace and will probably never be heard of again. You can't begin to imagine what a relief that is.</p>
<p>This is the best thing that could happen to the <strong>sea shanty</strong> and <strong>maritime folk music</strong> communites. I hope everyone appreciates their good fortune.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/da3e65c6a33961448f49728588379533686e956d/original/stormy-danls-sq-600.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>They're gone. It wasn't much fun while it lasted.</em></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6659829
2021-06-16T03:00:46-04:00
2021-09-11T17:23:28-04:00
Is it 25 years already? (Long read)
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/a2fefe2d1f2a71e9ab49f29efe2674b3bcb753ea/original/20210615-211715.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Aeroflot plane" />On June 15, 1996, an Aeroflot flight departed from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, bound for Shannon, Ireland. Aboard it were myself, my wife, and my two step-daughters, then ages 12 and 8. On the morning of June 16, we caught a connecting flight that landed us in Saint Petersburg, the three ladies’ birthplace, which had only recently reverted to its original name.</p>
<p>We had a plan. I’d been working long hours at several companies for 5 years without a vacation. I was burnt out, and I would take a sabbatical. My wife had a job waiting for her, one which would return her to her beloved journalist work. Our expenses would be low, as we would live in her (still) state-owned and assigned apartment. We would supplement her salary with money we had saved for a down payment on a house (the American Thing With a 30-Year Mortgage - which we had decided to blow off.) We would send the girls to school so that the older one would catch up on math and science, which lagged in American schools, and the younger one would keep her native Russian language, which she was losing. We would stay for one year, and return to the U.S.</p>
<p>It’s now 25 years later, and the poet Burns was right about best laid plans.</p>
<h4>A chilly reception - literally</h4>
<p>The weather in Chicago, where I had been working as a software engineer, had been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for some time. We were dressed for that. When we got into Saint Petersburg, it was about 35. Those were the days of near unlimited airline baggage. We had checked in several big “dish pack” moving boxes full of clothing. It was marked “Fragile” - which it wasn’t. Someone at Aeroflot decided that “Fragile” sounded like Japanese, and so sent our baggage, with all our warm clothing, to Tokyo. Yes, really. I stepped out of the airport into June in Saint Petersburg. I would be cold for the next 5 years.</p>
<p>We were welcomed outside the terminal by the kids’ grandfather and his wife (my wife’s step-mother), and several of my wife’s friends. They popped corks from bottles of “Sovietskoye Shampanskoye” (Soviet Champagne) - a semi-sweet bubbly that’s surprisingly palatable. It was served around in little cups that had held single servings of yogurt. That’s how things were back then. Western style consumer goods were still a very new thing. Free plastic cups with every purchase? WOW! Nobody was going to just toss them!</p>
<h4>Agley!</h4>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/27123ebee02505e88f90a0e5b3810f8ccdcf4d2d/original/20210615-211829.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="Moving in to first Russian flat" />To chronicle the next few weeks would be far too much for this medium. I suppose I should write a book sometime. The short version of the story is that we discovered that some unscrupulous people, who shall remain nameless, figured (wrongly!) that my wife had emigrated for good, and they had bribed someone in the local housing administration (remember - everything was still state-owned), and taken over her flat. The red flag for the bureaucrat in charge was that the kids had been registered out, and not registered in anywhere else - something that simply could never happen with children in the former USSR system. So we had nowhere to live. We bunked with relatives and friends for a few weeks.</p>
<p>It eventually got straightened out, and in a way that was very good for us. But it took 2 years. We rented a small, shabby partly-furnished 1-bedroom flat in a typical Soviet housing block. The kids got the bedroom (I scrounged lumber and built bunk beds), and my wife and I slept on a fold-out sleeper sofa - a very common thing in the former USSR, and not unheard of these days.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/59be6cb4d4e0422d8c4386b1c9e4bb789aca63f0/original/20210615-212118.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="First flat kitchen" /><em>Unpacking dishes in the kitchen of our first flat</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/fd37de030fb4e71a93da7d322633cc293a4a866d/original/20210615-212233.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Kid cooks first meat loaf in small Russian kitchen" /><br><em>Proud young cook with her first meat loaf</em></p>
<h4>It's just Life - with different scenery</h4>
<p>How do you sum up 25 years of daily life in a blog post? That’s mostly what it was - just daily family life. For me, my comfort zone was very far away in those first years. What kept me going was seeing my family happy, and doing well. The girls were getting better elementary education, which included foreign language studies. Those would eventually lead the elder kiddo to university in France (all the way to a Ph.D), and finally emigrating there. The Evil Socialism of that country’s higher education system cost us very little, and she graduated debt-free. The same lingering in Russia provided the same for her sister some years later.</p>
<p>Along the way I had some career opportunities that I could never even have conceived of in my native USA. I used to work in an office in the Russian Academy of Science building. Heading home in the evening, the view was across the Palace Bridge over the Neva River, to the Hermitage, across to the old Admiralty, and St. Isaac Cathedral. That was something else that kept me going. Every day I just just incredulous that I was seeing such sights on my way home from work. To this day, I have yet to tire of the landmarks and sights of old Saint Petersburg.</p>
<p>Our living situation eventually sorted out, and we obtained (another long story), renovated, and eventually privatized a wreck of a Soviet communal flat, in a historic building on Vasilievsky Island, designed by the French architect Benoit. It was a prime location not far from the metro (subway) and the market. It was small by U.S. standards, but my wife and I together redesigned it into a comfortable and cozy family home. It was the first of several renovation projects we would do together, which have included designing and building a house north of the city, and renovating a smaller flat in a classic neighborhood of old Saint Petersburg when it came time to downsize. It has all been challenging - at times seeming impossible - but looking back, I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything I can imagine.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/0611f8820ef57f155d4280313834d31c669be5a7/original/20210615-220522.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="First flat - before renovation" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Vasilievsky Island flat BEFORE</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8b081d8c804cba5f3ed4ee025fe5c127746b3ee4/original/20210615-215902.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="V.O. flat after renovation" /><br><em>Vasilievsky Island flat AFTER</em></p>
<p>A few memorable highlights of my time here include: </p>
<ul> <li>Summer vacations at a lakeside dacha in Karelia, meeting people who had heard of Americans, but never seen one. </li> <li>Helping to organize the first bluegrass music festival in Russia, and picking with Russian musicians who didn't speak English - which helped me get better with Russian in a comfortable way. I bless them for their tolerance!</li> <li>Singing sea shanties with an international group that took us aboard most of the big Russian tall ships and into some out of the way places in Russia. </li> <li>Watching the local restaurant scene develop from none to a city that I think can stand with any European city for cuisine.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Facing worst nightmares that weren't really</h4>
<p>There’ve been a few times where I faced my own nightmares. Like getting lost in the city before I had enough Russian to ask for help, and before mobile phones. Like being hospitalized in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language well. Like immigration bureaucrats. Like traffic cops. All of these seemingly scary times were mitigated by ordinary Russian people:</p>
<ul> <li>The elderly lady who shepherded me to a corner where I knew where I was. </li> <li>The harassed bureaucrats who had the power to make life miserable for me and my wife, who could have lived up to the reputation for corruption, but who simply did their jobs - dotting every “i” and crossing every “t” to be sure, but that’s the job.</li> <li>The traffic cops - with an <em>immense</em> reputation for corruption - who were, instead, gregarious and curious to see what a U.S license looked like, how long I was in Russia and how I liked it, and seemingly impressed that I had married a compatriot and settled here. </li> <li>Last but not least, the nurses, the interns, the medical technicians, and the doctors I’ve met with here. Their education, skills, and professionalism have been second to none.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Now the uncomfortable part</h4>
<p>This is waxing long, as I knew it would. Before I wrap it up, I have to go over some uncomfortable stuff. As I write this, the official relations between my native country, and my adopted home country have deteriorated to historic lows. There is only one reason I can see for this: the so-called “leaders” on <em>both</em> sides. The political types, egged on by the financial interests they serve. The defective personalities with Ego Disease who, through at least 5000 years of history always manage to elevate themselves to Lordship over their neighbors. They’ve been working at keeping our two peoples afraid of each other my whole life and I’m rather sick of it.</p>
<p>But for them, there is no earthly reason why the people of the United States and Russia should be enemies. I have met far too many everyday sorts of people from varying walks of life to have any truck with that notion. We have far more in common with each other than either of us do with many other countries and cultures. Things don't have to be the way they are.</p>
<p>Ironically, the heads of state of the two countries are meeting on this day to see what, if anything, they can salvage from the wreck of relations they and others of their ilk have bilaterally made over the decades. Both seem too stuck in the past to give me much hope for any meaningful improvement. I can only hope that at some point a new generation with better sense will come on the scene and build something better out of the debris. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, I'm relegated to becoming an old man living with his memories of better times. I guess that comes to all of us if we live long enough.</p>
<h4>I still think I'm better off</h4>
<p>For my own part, there is no doubt in my mind that I am far better off today for having spent a quarter century in this historic and beautiful city, living among its people, than I would have been had our first best laid plans not gone “agley” in fine Robert Burns fashion. And here's a tip: if you every have a chance to visit Saint Petersburg, don't let the political news and officialdom scare you off. It's a marvelously beautiful city, with so many good people. You will be welcome.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6435077
2020-09-19T02:00:00-04:00
2021-12-04T14:55:45-05:00
A new Pirate Song for the new Golden Age of Piracy
<p><strong>PIRATE:</strong> any plunderer, predator, etc. </p>
<p>People generally think that the "Golden Age of Piracy" was centuries in the past. True, there was one back then. However, if you think about it, we're seeing another one right now. But today's pirates have wised up quite a lot. Not for them any cramped, smelly, leaky wooden sailing ships, at the mercy of winds and waves, as like as not to be scuttled to Davy Jones in the next big blow. Not for them the insecurity that outraged Authority is chafing to hang them high if they're ever recognized ashore. </p><!-- more -->
<h4><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/be1d70ca9496c7fe38fd794a3c2b25bf7f24ca00/original/johnny-watters-art-300.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />A new Golden Age of Piracy </h4>
<p>No, shipmates, today's pirates do well for themselves, inhabiting plush corporate board rooms, limos, private jets, city penthouses, and gated mansions in favored locales like Wall Street, Silicon Valley, City of London, and other havens of finance and power. And far from outraged, Authority today has pirates occupying its highest echelons. Lower-echelon Authority fawns on the pirate class, and is ever eager to serve on their crews in exchange for a few leavings dropped into their re-election campaign coffers, off-shore bank accounts, or weapon hoards.</p>
<p>Folks, there has never been an age quite so Golden for plundering, predatory Pirates! Therefore, I think there must be some new Pirate Songs written - and I have undertaken to create one.</p>
<h4>Worlds without limits </h4>
<p>Johnny Watters is a tribute to the worlds that children create in their imaginations — worlds where there are no limits or boundaries — and to the adult creator of one of the best-loved ones in modern times: the incomparable <a contents="Bill Watterson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson" target="_blank">Bill Watterson</a>. I borrow part of his family name for my young pirate hero, to whom Hobbes just might just decide to reveal his true self, and who might be pals with Calvin, were that young worthy not such a solitary animal.</p>
<p>To revive your inner child's imagination, I've included sounds of wind and waves, storms, spooky owl hoots, and a classic evil laugh by Captain Pirate-speak himself, Robert Newton. Oh, yes... and a few good cannon shots. What was good enough for Tchaikovsky for his 1812 Overture is good enough for my little pirate song!</p>
3:29
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6277674
2020-04-12T13:54:49-04:00
2020-12-29T16:54:51-05:00
Isolation is the mother of my new shanty crew
<p>I<span class="font_regular"> am not overly excited to announce the debut of my new sea shanty group <strong>"The Stormy Dan'ls".</strong> Almost as improbable as integrity and erudition in politics, all the guys in the group are named Dan'l. They're pretty much scum and dregs, rather like the denizens of many American state legislatures. But shanty singers have always been in short supply where I live, and even more than usual in times like these, one must take what one can get. Allow me to introduce them. </span></p>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%;"><tbody> <tr> <td> <p><span class="font_large"><strong>Dartmoor Dan'l</strong></span></p>
<p>Was he ever incarcerated in the famous Devon prison? If he was, odds are he was never officially released. If he wasn't, it's a definite lapse on the part of the authorities. In any case, he's not telling and it seemed wiser not to press the matter too far.</p> </td> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/6b159f9d991211fad1391d162c1b3330ffc1fe8b/original/dartmoor-danl.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Dartmoor Dan'l" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><span class="font_large"><strong>Dinghy-oar Dan'l</strong></span></p>
<p>Found tranquilly floating on the Baltic in a rubber raft, he really belongs in a rubber room. Claims he was paddling home across a Tahiti lagoon after a few mai-tais at the Tiki bar and took a wrong turn. Well, he does sing tenor. More or less. In such times, one takes what one can get.</p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/23fa86907d06313ff9e2c47370d27ced26a0e647/original/dinghy-oar.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Dinghy-oar Dan'l" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><span class="font_large"><strong>Dredgebottom Dan'l</strong></span></p>
<p>Dredging bottom was certainly what I did when I signed him on. Gaslighter extraordinaire, with rare talent for dragging things through the muck. Only the 45th presidential regime in my native country could top him. Because, in a fetid sort of way, he reminded me of my native shores - I took him on. I already regret it.</p>
<p>Sings the low part, of course.</p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/10e871044c0f0d521d3befb99ab6a9c7ea332bf1/original/dredgebottom-danl.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Dredgebottom Dan'l" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><span class="font_large"><strong>Drunken-whelp Dan'l</strong></span></p>
<p>The name says it all, folks. In such times, one takes what one can get.</p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/343d04860b82a9742bb372d8f0b9b0fb00d0e923/original/drunken-whelp-danl.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Drunken-whelp Dan'l" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<p><br>This new tidal force in the shanty world has been spawned in unprecedented times of Social Distancing, which is definitely the best way to work with these scurvy barnacles. The more distance the better. There are no plans to tour. Ever.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_8RyZqSPtdc" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Stormy Dan'ls Introduction Video</em></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6221469
2020-02-20T11:35:49-05:00
2022-03-03T10:39:32-05:00
HostBaby to Bandzoogle migration oopsie
<p><span class="font_regular">HostBaby hosting customers whose website was migrated from HostBaby to #Bandzoogle: if you had a blog on HostBaby, the migration probably trashed all your blog URLs (at least it did mine). </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The underscore characters in the HostBaby URLs all got converted to dashes, and there's a second "blog" in the URLs now. So what was "<strong><span class="font_regular">yourdomain.com/blog/your_article/</span></strong>" is now "<strong>yourdomain.com/blog/blog/your-article</strong>". </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">That means all search engine links are now broken (at least until they crawl your site again). Any fans and others who bookmarked a post won't find it again. But most importantly, any links you have on your web pages (and blog posts) that point to blog posts are probably broken now. If that's important to you, you'll need to fix them manually. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">I don't know which company screwed that up. HostBaby specifically promised me in an email that all URLs from my old site would be maintained. For web pages, they were. For blog posts, nope.</span></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6213361
2020-02-13T11:22:35-05:00
2021-09-08T14:36:14-04:00
Add some salt to Valentines Day sweetness
<p>I'm not known for my renditions of traditional sea shanties and songs. In fact, some may doubt that I even know any. Some time ago I laid down some tracks for the classic traditional shanty <em>Bound for the Rio Grande</em>. Then I forgot about them until a couple of weeks ago. I found that they weren't the worst I'd ever recorded. So I've mixed, mastered, and launched this new recording down the ways.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/0947f3c68ddc3b9c02fd84437f6fdfa01a00158c/original/rio-song-art-2-300.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />According to my English shantymate Peter, this is a traditional windlass and capstan shanty that was one of the most popular of shanties on British merchant ships when leaving port and pulling up the anchor. Not surprisingly therefore, the traditional words are about saying goodbye. Departure was a big deal back in those days, because the chances of a sailor not returning were much greater. </p>
<p>Like most traditional songs, there are variations on both the the words and the melody floating around. I've stayed with the melody that I've heard most often recorded and sung at festivals. As for the lyrics, maybe it was due to the long dark northern winter "blahs", but I decided to start with a couple of traditional verses, and follow with some of my own (which nonetheless borrow snatches from traditional verses I've heard sung), to make the song a circular story. That is, not merely the uncertainty of leaving, but also the joy of sea voyaging, and the hope of returning. Yes, I have taken artistic liberties. I hope King Neptune will be Ok with it. </p>
<p>Fair Warning! <br>Both Banjo and Accordion (actually Concertina) are present in this recording! </p>
<p>The musical arrangement is deliberately "schmaltzy". You are welcome to make cow-milking gestures while listening to it. </p>
<p>P.S. In case you are wondering, the Rio Grande in this song is not the one along the US-Mexico border, but rather a port in the most southerly state of Brazil, which was and still is an important sea trading port.</p>
<div style="text-align:center;"><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l4M07byBL9c" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
3:58
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057889
2019-11-07T19:00:00-05:00
2019-11-07T23:14:40-05:00
Especially for Mermaids
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/1f2a140ca4511b60e0b6776b43d4b3bdb063cee6/original/ynd-mermaid-350sq.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song title are image" height="300" style=" margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" width="300" />You may or may not remember from high school physics class that <strong>water</strong> is an amazing <strong>conductor of sound</strong>. So good, in fact, that sounds which are quite ordinary and <strong>unobtrusive</strong> on <strong>land</strong> can be highly disturbing, if not downright <strong>painful</strong> for <strong>sea</strong> creatures.</p>
<p>Such is quite definitely the case with <strong>Mermaids</strong>. Jangly things that we land creatures like for rhythms and sparkle can actually cross the <strong>pain threshold</strong> for them — bits such as tambourines, bells, triangles, cymbals and the like. I didn't know that when I made my recording of <strong><a title="Song home page" href="/year-and-a-day" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"A Year and a Day"</a></strong>. It was chock-full of sparkly bits.</p>
<p>But then I met a Mermaid.</p>
<p>You need not believe it. But they're out there. They've <strong>hoodwinked</strong> our <strong>doctors</strong> into thinking they're land creatures with a <strong>neurological disorder,</strong> so they can hang out among us, observe, and report on our fitness to join Civilized Peoples. (We're not there yet.) They may fool the docs, but every good sailor and singer of sea songs — <em>we</em> knows one when we meets one, by gum!</p>
<h3>Especially for Mermaids</h3>
<p>Therefore, I have created a <strong>second version</strong> of the recording, minus the jangly jarring bits, for my Mermaid friend (she knows who she is) and any other merfolk out there. Partly in hopes of being reported as fit to join Civilized Peoples, but mainly because she's a good kid sailing a tough course.</p>
<p>I have put the track exclusively on Bandcamp. You can listen to it there, or right here:</p>
<div id="player" style="text-align: center; margin: 2em 5%;"><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1717006731/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=63b2cc/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></div>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0; padding-bottom: 0;"><strong>Do you know?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0;">It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Even if you prefer streaming, downloads are a great way to <strong>support an artist</strong> whose music you enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Robert Palomo's music on CD Baby" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8b18bf8633db16d67e342a121ed13243e1a1f8ed/original/cdbaby-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="CD Baby logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's Music on Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e15171eb41d5f2379914820824aab98e11970/original/amazon-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amazon.com logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's music on iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b945cfe2975e97509672ad0521a3cbe0387c9169/original/itunes-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="iTunes logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's music on Bandcamp" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/4613f725bf12223f68c3b3b73239f159702a5ce6/original/bandcampicon.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bandcamp logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="CD Baby" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1">CD BABY</a> * <a title="Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" data-imported="1">AMAZON</a> * <a title="iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1">iTUNES</a> * <a href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" data-imported="1">BANDCAMP</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Don't want a download? No problem!</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>MORE ORIGINAL SEA SHANTIES & MARITIME FOLK MUSIC IN THE WORKS!<br><a href="/email-list" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Be the first to hear it as a member of my "SCURVY CREW!"</a><br></strong></em></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: right;"> </p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057888
2019-07-06T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-10T10:08:30-05:00
Join me on Facebook Live - Sundays thru August
<p>I've been invited to perform at the <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.teignshantyfestival.co.uk/" title="Teign Shanty Festival"><strong>Teign Shanty Festival</strong></a> in the UK in late September. I'm hosting a series of <strong>mini-concerts</strong> on Facebook Live, to get myself out of studio mode and into live mode.</p>
<p>Sessions will be short: 2-3 songs max. I'll be premiering some brand new songs, never before performed. I'll post an Event on my <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/RobertPalomoMusic/" title="Musican page on Facebook">Facebook page</a> ahead of each session. Here's the plan:</p>
<h3>JULY</h3>
<ul> <li>
<strong>07 - OLD & NEW NIGHT:</strong> Featuring some old old, new old, and brand new never before performed sea songs.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>14 - MANDOLIN NIGHT:</strong> Watch as I attempt to play a few songs on an instrument traditionally played by sailors, but which I don't really know how to play! Another brand new, never before performed song will have its online premiere.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>21 - EDWARD LEAR NIGHT:</strong> Two nonsense poems for children by the 19th century English poet, set to music by me. Both have a seafaring theme. Bring the kids or grandkids!<br> </li> <li>
<strong>28 - AMERICANA NIGHT:</strong> Old and new songs for salt and freshwater mariners, with an American flavor of banjo.</li>
</ul>
<h3>AUGUST</h3>
<ul> <li>
<strong>04 - BAND NIGHT:</strong> a couple of my New Old Sea Songs played with backing tracks. Hear what my band might sound like if I had one!<br> </li> <li>
<strong>11 - SHANTY NIGHT:</strong> original songs with a classic sea shanty format. Featuring my ode to the King of the Deep, and a salty retelling of the Noah's Ark story with some strictly 21-st century lunacy woven in.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>21 - IRISH NIGHT:</strong> a couple of originals with a touch o' the Emerald Isle. Online premier of a poignant sailor's lament about lost love, and the popular tale of the cruelest pirate of <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="" title="Ireland's cruelest pirate (part 1 of 3)">Irish alternative history</a>.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>25 - RUSSIA NIGHT:</strong> Last but not least as the summer winds down: a salty salute to the people of the city I've called home for almost 1/4 century, plus an original Russian translation of the classic English shanty "Nelson's Blood".</li>
</ul>
<p>Being as how my social circle is not huge, I'd very much appreciate you passing the link to this post around to folks you know. Hope to see you on one or more Salty Summer Sunday Soireé!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/04744a476dd777ed47306ff1f8683d16fc7a7ac8/original/soiree.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDM4MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="381" width="600" /></p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057885
2019-03-16T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-11T15:16:15-05:00
Good St. Patrick - how about a repeat performance?
<p><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521211/repeat-performance.jpg" style="" title="Full-size image"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/f4b78fb06fbc40e809894e0eaddf95f2becf97bb/original/repeat-performance.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzIweDIwMiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="St. Patrick kicks snake wearing MAGA hat" height="202" style=" margin: 0 0 10px 10px;" width="320" /></a>Legend tells us that it was <strong>Saint Patrick</strong> who drove the snakes from the Emerald Isle. Pundits have pontificated that <strong>snakes</strong> in the St. Paddy legend represent <strong>Evil</strong>. Fine and dandy - let's go with that. Now let's talk about the big island where I was born and grew up.</p>
<p>It's not really an island in the geographical sense. But it certainly is in the minds of a significant portion of the populace. In fact, in the minds of most of the members of a certain elephantine political party, it's a walled island - or will be as soon as they can skim a few billion in taxpayer money. But I digress.</p>
<p>The fact is, the island of my birth is today <strong>beset by snakes</strong> — snakes of a singularly <strong>malevolent</strong> character. So I'm dedicating this post to St. Patrick. It collects various St. Patrick's Day goodies I have created over several years all in one place, and it introduces a brand <strong>new St. Paddy's Day song</strong>. If you, like me, would like the Good Saint to stage a <strong>repeat performance</strong> and drive the snakes away from the Red, White, and Blue Isle, you've come to the right place! Stream the songs. Play the videos. <strong>Share this page</strong> and <strong>encourage others</strong> to do likewise. Think of it as a 21st century censer, and all those streams and plays as fragrant, Guinness-scented puffs of incense drifting into the ether in the direction of good Saint Patrick and beseeching him -</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>ENCORE! ENCORE!</strong></p>
<p>All right, me buckos, let us get with the program!</p>
<hr><h2>NEW SINGLE for St. Paddy's 2019!</h2>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/a16684b06b846deb73cdefd763a23b1af2479a93/original/springtime-song-art-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjUweDI1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Sing art - Where the divil is SPring?" height="250" style=" margin-left: 10px;" width="250" />The song idea came into my head back in 2013 after a Facebook post in which I wrote "It may be warming globally, but it's FREEZING locally!" Saint Patrick's Day that year dawned at around -20 Celsius in Saint Petersburg. No end to winter in sight, global warming notwithstanding. 2019 is shaping up no better and it's GETTING OLD!<br><br>I found this a <strong>slightly raunchy</strong> comic tune, sung with a horrible pseudo Chicago-Irish accent, lurking in my back catalog of recorded but unreleased songs. I dusted it off, mastered it, and got it ready to launch in St. Paddy's honor for his saint's day 2019, to encourage him to do an encore on the island where the descendants of so many of his countrymen live today.<br><br>P.S. <strong>Especially for my American compatriots</strong> who may have some misgivings about the word "FECK!" used extensively in this song. It doesn't mean what your prurient mind is thinking it means, and it is not considered a no-no word in Ireland. Just so you know.</p>
<p><strong>Streaming audio track:</strong></p>
<p><iframe height="240" name="mini" src="//widget.cdbaby.com/97601f2e-f5dc-48d5-986c-f4a4bff43772/mini/light/opaque" style="border: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD — ALL DAY ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY!<br><a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/where-the-divil-is-spring?action=download&from=embed" title="Free didigal download - limited time">GET IT ON BANDCAMP</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>LYRICS VIDEO</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zMbENQTCKoM" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div><!-- <p>Single at CD BABY: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo16</p> -->
<hr><h2>There be <em>PIRATES</em> too!</h2>
<p>In hopes that the Good Saint might give a thought (and a boot) to the <strong>pirates</strong> that today beset us as well as the snakes, I offer up a <strong>ballad</strong> I wrote about <strong>Ireland's cruelest pirate</strong>. The inspiration comes straight out of <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="" title="History of Ireland's cruelest pirate">alternative history</a>.</p>
<p>This dastardly marauder was an <strong>orange-haired</strong> <strong>pirate</strong> who was proud of his <strong>big "shillelagh"</strong>, who <strong>abused women</strong>, who <strong>wreaked havoc among travelers</strong> from many nations, and who <strong>sank perfectly sound ships</strong> for fun and profit, aided and abetted by a <strong>corrupt</strong> and soulless congr... er... sorry... I mean <em><strong>crew</strong></em>. His preferred weapon was a big blackthorn shillelagh, with which he terrorized the high seas until one fateful day when he met a man <strong>whose shillelagh was bigger</strong> than his.</p>
<p>Children, learn a life lesson - <strong>the lesson of Shillelagh O'Toole!</strong></p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1683890509/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>DO PLAY THE VIDEO!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qPSBi9MKEc" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">All hail Saint Patrick! Full speed ahead!</p>
<hr><h2> Not Irish? No excuse!</h2>
<p>If you're thinking that all your streams and plays will never reach good Saint Paddy because you're not Irish, or you have no Irish blood - <strong>BLARNEY!</strong> On St. Patrick's day, "folk the whole world over are Irish for a day"! So come on - don something <strong>green</strong>, join the party, invite your family and friends and let's send some <strong>good vibes</strong> heavenward - <em>bedad!</em></p>
<p><strong>STREAMING AUDIO</strong></p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2588836439/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p>You don't need that first drop of Irish blood in you to enjoy this one all year round. Even if you're pure County Cork you're sure to get a tickle. More than a few drops of good Irish <strong>beer</strong> is a recommended accompaniment for all and sundry... assumin' they be of legal age, o'course, Officer!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD — ALL DAY ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY!<br><a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/irish-for-a-day?action=download&from=embed" target="_blank" title="Free digital download on Bandcamp - limited time!">GET IT ON BANDCAMP</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>VIDEO</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oES4rFGdz2M" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<hr><p style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0; padding-bottom: 0;"><strong>Do you know?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0;">It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Even if you prefer streaming, downloads are a great way to <strong>support an artist</strong> whose music you enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" title="Robert Palomo's Music on Amazon"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e15171eb41d5f2379914820824aab98e11970/original/amazon-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amazon.com logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" title="Robert Palomo's music on iTunes"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b945cfe2975e97509672ad0521a3cbe0387c9169/original/itunes-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="iTunes logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank" title="Robert Palomo's music on Bandcamp"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/4613f725bf12223f68c3b3b73239f159702a5ce6/original/bandcampicon.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bandcamp logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" title="Amazon">AMAZON</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" title="iTunes">iTUNES</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/">BANDCAMP</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Don't want a download? No problem!</strong></p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057884
2018-11-22T19:00:00-05:00
2018-12-15T19:06:19-05:00
Drowning in insipid Christmas music? Grab this!
<p>'Tis the Season. By mid-December every year (if not sooner) you're no doubt thoroughly sick of hearing the same old same old Christmas songs incessantly flung at your head everywhere you go. Here's salty relief from all that insipid holiday musical drivel!</p>
<h3>Salty Sailor Carols</h3>
<table style="border: 0;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6">
<tbody>
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<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 188px; text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8fbc5e8b81920fe84ceb15e63b67c8ebf626e0f5/original/carols-song-art-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUweDE1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Track art image - lit up sailing ship" height="150" width="150" /></td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: auto;">
<p>What if those old carols had been composed by salty old sea dogs in days of yore? This medley re-imagines 6 classic Christmas carols as old-time sailors might have sung them (except that these are probably less rude!)</p>
<p>For example, you'll find bit's like...</p>
<ul>
<li>Away in a Merchantman</li>
<li>No Rest, Ye Scurvy Sailormen</li>
<li>What Ship Be That?</li>
<li>Oh Little Town of Port Royal</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1em 0.5em; text-align: center;" colspan="2">
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=207258629/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 90%; height: 42px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p>Download is open on Bandcamp thru Jan. 9, 2019 - $0.00 or more, your option. <br><a title="Digital download from Bandcamp.com" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/sailor-christmas-carols?action=download&from=embed" data-imported="1"><strong>GET IT NOW</strong> </a></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Heave Me Hearties All</h3>
<table style="border: 0;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 188px; text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9a8c847550b2a2bf802241139c228859b8d76bb6/original/heave-me-hearties-art-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUweDE1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Track art image - lit up sailing ship" height="150" width="150" /></td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: auto;">
<p>If you are in the mood for something a little less tame with a little more sea salt in it, this original Christmas shanty could be just the ticket relieving that bloated feeling induced by the inane pap the retailers are loosing indiscriminately at this time of year.</p>
<p><strong>Fair Warning for Sensitive Natures<br></strong>This song contains salty lines such as...</p>
<p><em>We've got a carpenter on board</em><br><em>But he ain't nothin' like Our Lord</em><br><em>Pickled in gin, he ain't no good</em><br><em>Lyin' in the scuppers sawin' wood</em></p>
<p>And...</p>
<p><em>Whenever we get some time ashore<br>You'll find us drunk with a cozy whore</em></p>
<p>Stuff you will NOT hear playing in Walmart or Starbuck's.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1em 0.5em; text-align: center;" colspan="2">
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=421355242/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p>Download is open on Bandcamp thru Jan. 9, 2019 - $0.00 or more, your option. <br><a title="Digital download from Bandcamp.com" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/heave-me-hearties-all?action=download&from=embed" data-imported="1"><strong>GET IT NOW</strong> </a></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0; padding-bottom: 0;"><strong>Do you know?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0;">It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Even if you prefer streaming, downloads are a great way to <strong>support an artist</strong> whose music you enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK</strong></p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057883
2018-09-01T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-16T08:14:44-05:00
Harwich Shanty Festival 2018 Dates
<p>Once again I and the venerable gents of the <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/men-overboard-trio" title="Men Overboard maritime folk trio">Men Overboard</a> maritime folk trio will be heading to Harwich, Essex, England to perform my New Old Sea Songs (and a few oldies too) at the 2018 <a data-imported="1" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/">Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival</a>. This year's festival takes place October 5-8. We'd love to see you at any of the scheduled Men Overboard shows:</p>
<p><strong><img src="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-t.-shirt-modelled-430x300.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Shirt - Drink Beer and Shanty On!" height="165" width="236" />Friday (05 Oct.)</strong><br>13:00 Ha’penny Pier 45-50 min.<br>16:00 Crown Post 2-3 songs, part of a multi-artist event<br><br><strong>Saturday (06<strong> Oct.</strong>)</strong><br>11:15 Shanty Train - advance tickets required<br>14:30 Pier Hotel “Angel” Annexe <br>21:00 Alma Inn - 15/20 min. maybe more. Another multi-artist event.<br><br><strong>Sunday (07 Oct.)</strong><br>12:00 Hanover - 45-50 min.<br>14:30 Sailing Barge Victor - 90 min. cruise. Advance tickets required.</p>
<p>Lots of great musicians and fun activities and events at this festival. Among other things I'm looking forward to revisiting the local "chippy" for some local-catch fish and chips. It's a short walk uptown from the main pier area, but well worth it. No seating, but you can take your food into most of the nearby old town pubs if you buy a drink. With to-die-for English bitter on tap, of course you will!</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057882
2018-07-04T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-11T15:23:13-05:00
Introducing the Empress - or - Going for Baroque
<p>Not long ago I acquired a guitar to to use for festivals and other live concerts (<a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/papa-got-a-brand-new-axe-long-read" style="" title="Papa Got a Brand New Axe">read the saga here</a>).<br><br>For me the downside of the guitar was its looks - but that's the last thing I care about if other factors like tone, responsiveness, playability and price are all there... as was definitely the case with this one.</p>
<p>The quilted maple top seemed just a bit ostentatious to me. It reminded me of some Baroque furniture I've seen in The Hermitage. Consequently, I whimsically named it "The Empress Katherine II" after she whose winter palace The Hermitage was.</p>
<p>Then I decided, what the heck, if the thing's gonna look gaudy, why not just "go for baroque" and add some decoration. I knew about <strong><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.inlaystickers.com/">inlaystickers.com</a></strong> and went their site to see what I could find. I found some faux-abalone inlay stickers with a dolphin motif that I thought I could work with, even though they were for ukulele. I mucked about in Photoshop and came up with a design that I think is just fine for Empress Kate. Hey, sea shanties are a sort of show-biz, right?</p>
<p>Here are the before and after pics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/61f93232130cf63a869b01a3b1fa853de9dad7eb/original/peghead-composite.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAxeDUzOSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="539" width="601" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8e556d0d55587439200820ff51782ea8f333f45c/original/body-composite.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAxeDUzNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="534" width="601" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b35ba13ff1ee102969e17787a0c2adcd5abac44d/original/guitar-composite.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAxeDUzNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="534" width="601" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/4165c28d56b932d96751bb01bb2c277a50194015/original/sound-hole-zoom.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAxeDgzNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="836" width="601" /></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0;">It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Even if you prefer streaming, downloads are a great way to <strong>support an artist</strong> whose music you enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>MORE ORIGINAL SEA SHANTIES & MARITIME FOLK MUSIC IN THE WORKS!<br><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/email-list">Be the first to hear it as a member of my "SCURVY CREW!"</a></strong></em></p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057881
2018-06-24T20:00:00-04:00
2018-06-25T10:04:16-04:00
Baltic Shanty Festival Show Schedule
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/52e7ba2831032afcfadd3884f35974f53548e7c2/original/baltic-shanty-logo.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTQ3eDE0NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="146" style=" margin-left: 12px;" width="147" />Just got my schedule from the festival directors of the <a href="http://balticshantyfestivalenglish.weebly.com" data-imported="1">Baltic Shanty Festival</a> coming up this weekend: 29 June - 2 July. So I herewith let the cat out of the bag.</p>
<p><strong>Friday 29 June:<br></strong>13:30 ÅSS Paviljongen <a href="http://www.paviljongen.ax/" data-imported="1">http://www.paviljongen.ax/</a><br>16:00 Park in Town<br>20:00 Albin</p>
<p><strong>Saturday 30 June:<br></strong>12:00 Inner Yard in Town<br>14:00 Restaurang Nautical <a href="http://www.nautical.ax/" data-imported="1">http://www.nautical.ax/</a><br>14:30 s/v Albanus (ship)<br>15:00 Mayor's Reception Gustaf Eriksson villan (1 short song)<br>19:30 Restaurang Nautical again, then as soon as I can get there...<br> Sing-along Concert, Badhuspaviljongen - (1 song)</p>
<p><strong>Sunday 1 July:<br></strong>13:00 Maritime Museum<br>14:00 ÅSS Paviljongen <a href="http://www.paviljongen.ax/" data-imported="1">http://www.paviljongen.ax/</a><br>17:30 “Leave her Johnny” - Closing concert at Badhuspaviljongen - (1 song)</p>
<p>"So, Robert - are your EXCITED about this?" - I hear you ask. Well, my friend...</p>
<p><img src="http://blindgossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bear-woods1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057880
2018-06-20T20:00:00-04:00
2018-06-20T09:08:37-04:00
Down Down Down - A Phrophetable Sea Song
<p>I was planning on releasing this song later this year. I think the production could have used a little more work. But events along the southern border of my native country have caused me to push it up and toss it out, blemishes and all. <br> <br><a title="Band camp page" href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/down-down-down" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/782691b54ff63c716f46612a2eeec03eebca74c7/original/prophets-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDIwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="song title art" height="200" style=" margin-left: 12px;" width="200" /></a> For quite some time I have marveled at the deafening silence emanating from the mainstream religious element in my native U.S.A. - a country that's always been big on organized religion. As a kid being fed nice white protestant goop, my favorite Bible stories were those about the old-time prophets who weren't shy about looking kings in the eye and telling them what was what... even when miracles didn't immediately ensue to prove them right. I've been feeling like we could use a few of those old-timers on the scene today, but there seem to be none about. <br> <br> All those professing religion seem to be fine with everything the State is doing, from advocating unquestioning obedience to abusing innocent children. <br> <br> Where are them fiery old-time Prophets when we needs 'em? Heaven knows the likes of me, the obscure maritime folk singer, is a far cry from anything like them. But it seems like it's time somebody started to deliver the same message to the kings of today as the<span class="bcTruncateMore"> old-timers delivered to those of the past: <br> <br><em> Ahoy there you for the deeds you do </em><br><em> Yer ruddy old soul will be goin' to... </em><br> <br> Downloading is free (or not, you may voluntarily let go of a buck or so - I will be donating all profits to the American Civil Liberties Union). Get a copy. Share it with Fearless Leaders who advocate concentration camps for children.</span> To let them know what they have to look forward to. So they won't be able to say nobody ever tried to warn them. </p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3778530511/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0px none; width: 350px; height: 442px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Listen to "Down Down Down" streaming from <a href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/down-down-down" data-imported="1">Bandcamp.com</a></em></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057879
2018-06-05T20:00:00-04:00
2018-06-05T23:11:12-04:00
One of my sadder gigs
<p><em>"Nobody's right when everybody's wrong" - Stephen Stills, "For What It's Worth" (1966)</em></p>
<p><em>"They'll storm the gates of Hell itself, to the tune of a single drum" - Gordon Lightfoot, "Protocol" (1976)</em></p>
<p><em><em>"There's a power av virtue in keepin' things separate" - Long Jack (Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling) </em></em></p>
<p>There's a lot to be said for the idea of musicians keeping focused on music and not mucking about with politics. But sometimes the political class mucks things up so badly for so many that you simply can't avoid it. Yesterday was one such occasion, when I joined the other members of the <a title="Men Overboard web page" href="/men-overboard-trio" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Men Overboard maritime folk music trio</a> in an impromptu performance at the <strong>Queen's Birthday Party</strong> event at the British consulate at Saint Petersburg. Check out my <a title="Photo album on Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/RobertPalomoMusic/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1677367325675055" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><strong>photo album</strong></a> (public on Facebook) - the ladies sporting hats were truly a sight to behold!</p>
<h3>Diplomacy chucked over the rail</h3>
<p>It was the last official event before the consulate closes, thanks to the dismal failure of the Fearless Leaders of both countries who have exhibited all the maturity level of five year olds. I apologize for disparaging five year olds. I've known a few who would probably do better at "leadership" - a "quality" they tried to foist on us in the Boy Scouts and which I've come to regard as highly overrated. But I digress.</p>
<p>It was a <strong>sad occasion</strong> for many, for many reasons. My two bandmates are retired career foreign service officers who have had close ties to the consulate for over 20 years. Peter Dyson's little choir of carol singers has been a fixture of the annual Christmas party. It was at that event in 2013 that I met him. Thanks to Peter, I discovered a previously unsuspected talent for composing original maritime folk songs, which has led to many interesting and fun travels and adventures, two more of which loom on my horizon: the <a title="Baltic Shanty Festival web site (English)" href="http://balticshantyfestivalenglish.weebly.com" data-imported="1"><strong>Baltic Shanty Festival</strong></a> (June 29-July1 at Mariehamn, Åland Islands), which I'm playing as a solo performer, and the <a title="Harwich Sea Shanty Festival web site" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" data-imported="1"><strong>Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival</strong></a> (October 5-7 at Harwich, Essex, England) performing with the trio.</p>
<h3>And it's time for us to leave her</h3>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/7983d4fa01c6e9c9e0ed4d3f9cacb61f1f8a64e8/original/men-overboard-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjQ4eDEzOSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Men Overboard trio singing at the 2018 QBP" height="139" width="248" /></em>For the "QBP" we chose a traditional English sea shanty that sailors were wont to sing at the end of a voyage:</p>
<p><em>Oh leave her, Johnny, leave her with a grin</em><br><em>Leave her, Johnny, leave her</em><br><em>For there's many a worser we've sailed in</em><br><em>And it's time for us to leave her</em></p>
<p><em>Oh it's leave her, Johnny, leave her</em><br><em>Leave her, Johnny, leave her</em><br><em>For the voyage is done <br>And the winds don't blow</em><br><em>And it's time for us to leave her</em></p>
<p>It seemed an appropriate choice for the circumstances.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_XJgFkYzze8" width="560" allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Hulled but still afloat</h3>
<p>While professional diplomacy may be scuttled to Davy Jones for the time being by the large-scale fools among us, we the smaller-scale fools who practice the musical arts will continue to look for opportunities to surmount the barriers manufactured to keep people apart and afraid of each other, and bring people together through music. Even if only for an hour or two, anything we can do to mitigate the damage to our mutual humanity is worth doing. We know music works for this. We know that the failure of the big bugs means that it's up to us now, to do what we can, until the painted ponies come back around once more.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057878
2018-05-26T20:00:00-04:00
2018-05-27T01:19:29-04:00
Papa Got A Brand New Axe (long read)
<p>Weird situation. I have some festival gigs coming up but I found I had no suitable guitar. Oh, I could schlepp my Martin D35, but I don't care to subject such a pricey axe to the risks involved in travel these days. (Like a casino - don't go with what you can't afford to lose.) I have <a title="Crafter CT-120/N" href="http://craftereurope.com/prodinfo9771842/" data-imported="1">another guitar</a> that would be OK that way, but it requires amplification, and maritime folk festival shows can be either plugged or unplugged. So I started looking around for a guitar that would...</p>
<ul>
<li>Be cheap enough I could potentially stand it's loss if the worst happens</li>
<li>Sound OK plugged or unplugged</li>
<li>Be comfortable to play with my smallish hands</li>
<li>Not require a trip to Moscow to find in stock</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Quest begins</h3>
<p>YouTube was a great research tool. As I identified brands and models that met the above and a few other nice-to-haves, I looked for demos, and kept links in a Google Sheet. Frustratingly, the guitars I was most interested in were either available only in Moscow shops, or from internet stores with no return policy. Unless there's obvious shipping damage, you keep it. For a guitarist, that's kind of analogous to a woman having to buy a bra or a pair of heels online and just hope for the best.</p>
<p>It was pure accident that in a "related video" thumbnail on YouTube I saw the face of Sasha Dmitrienko, a musician I know in Moscow, who was reviewing a guitar. I ran the video and discovered he was in a really nice looking acoustic guitar shop... but of course in <em>Moscow</em> (sigh!) But I followed the link to their site and - lo and behold! - they also had a shop here in Saint Petersburg!</p>
<h3>A gold nugget in the mud</h3>
<p>The typical music store here is trying to be many things to many people. They cram so much merchandise into their space there's barely room to move around. Like a sub-miniature Guitar Center store. There's no place you can sit with an acoustic guitar, much less 2 or 3 that you want to compare. And just over there is invariably some guy with an electric guitar evaluating the max volume level of an amp with his favorite grunge metal tune. If you do manage to get hold of an acoustic, the strings are old enough to be on a pension. If you want to try it with new strings, they won't change them, even if you offer to pay for them. They'd rather lose a $500+ sale. (I know of 2 shops that did.)</p>
<p>So I was pretty amazed when I discovered <strong><a href="http://www.gitaraclub.ru" data-imported="1">gitaraclub.ru</a></strong>. Even though they were in the process of moving the local shop into a new space, the showroom was a joy after those other places. Check out the sofa!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/f6c70abfef04a6812cd4ba4bd82d3be96a3bc50c/original/in-shop-3.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzQ2eDUyOCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Gitaraclub showroom" height="528" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="346" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Gitaraclub showroom sofa!</em></p>
<p>The friendly and helpful guys (and patient with my bad Russian!) assisted me to try 7 or 8 guitars that fell into my price range. In that range, frankly, I was not expecting much. But then I'm gettin' old and was still thinking in terms of lower-priced guitars 25-30 years ago. It seems things have improved.</p>
<p>But the really great thing about this shop is that they understand that every acoustic guitar, regardless of price, needs to be examined and adjusted because it contains organic materials that are affected by travel. The shop has a master guitar tech who goes over every instrument they sell, and sets it up to be the best it can be given its price point. That is <em>incredibly valuable</em>, and it's a shame how rare it has become everywhere these days.</p>
<h3>Old dog learns new tricks</h3>
<p>I soon discovered that the shop had quite a few <a title="Ovation website" href="http://www.ovationguitars.com/" data-imported="1"><em>Ovation</em> brand guitars</a>. Those feature wood tops fixed on a composite "bowl". I first encountered them in the 1970s and was underwhelmed, especially with the plugged in sound. I swore long ago I would <em>never</em> own one. However, they have always been known for durability on the road, so I thought I'd better at least try a few. I did, and hey - they've come a long way, baby! I finally narrowed things down to 2 guitars... one of them an Ovation. Wonders never cease. Never say "never".</p>
<h3>A Tale of the Unexpected</h3>
<p>I called my wife who was shopping nearby. I've learned over 25 years that she has an annoying tendency to be right about things, and hers is an audience viewpoint rather than a musician viewpoint. I wanted to see which one she fancied before finally choosing.</p>
<p>I had 15 minutes to wait, so I perused the racks again and noticed another Ovation that they hadn't shown me. When I took it out of the rack, my first impulse was to put it right back. The top was maple, a hardwood rather than the generally more resonant spruce I have always favored. And it was "quilted" maple - a look many people like, but which feels a bit ostentatious to me. There was also glitzy abalone inlay around the sound hole. (I prefer my abalone left on the sea bottom!) In short, I just didn't like that critter's looks!</p>
<p>But since I had time to kill, I sat down with it (on that amazing sofa!) and strummed an E chord to check the tuning - and was taken aback. The whole body resonated - I could feel it in my gut and chest. I've only ever experienced that on fine high-end all solid wood guitars (owned by somebody else). Was this really happening with a hardwood top on a composite body? I went into my try-out routine.</p>
<p>It happens sometimes. One individual guitar has "mojo"- a certain "something" that others, even the same make and model, even more expensive, just don't have. I began to realize I'd stumbled upon such a guitar. Loud or soft... the response and presence were balanced and smooth, both finger-style and flat-picked. Many less expensive guitars are noticeably better at one or the other. This one was fine with both. It also sounded quite fine plugged into an acoustic amp. No excessive bass boom, minimal coloring by the transducer. I was starting to get excited by everything except its looks, and I still wasn't quite believing it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/fdd2a5c48cdd9da70c8e106a461ca6f80881c29c/original/in-shop-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE1eDM3NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Robert not believing he liks this guitar" height="374" width="615" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The moment you realize "I can't believe I'm liking this thing!!"</em></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Feminine intuition clinches it</h3>
<p>Well, the spousal unit showed up, listened to my short-listed guitars (now 3), and picked that "quilty" one right away. She said it looked fine, and that I shouldn't be an old sitck-in-the-mud (or words to that effect). But then, she grew up with regular visits to The Hermitage museum, and this top looks kind of like a lot of the old Baroque furniture in there, but no matter. She didn't give me time to argue or dither, just told the guys to ring up <em>that</em> one. Right as usual.</p>
<p>So it came home and I've been working out on it. The more I play it the more I realize I wasn't just wishfully imagining things. I set out hoping only to find a guitar I could tolerate for live performances. I certainly wasn't expecting to find something for it's price that I like this much. What's more, I find it's voice works well with my original maritime folk music. So it might just be that I have found "my sound". And I didn't break the bank. Or have to go to Moscow.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/ebdf2166ba318cef2ca9f20d9fb5fdd0c35f32b8/original/img-1442.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjYzeDQ2OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The new axe at home" height="469" width="263" /></p>
<p>What? You're still here? Wow. OK, so how do <em>you</em> like the look of this beastie? Leave a comment!</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057877
2018-05-17T20:00:00-04:00
2018-05-17T21:04:00-04:00
New Flag Design for the Jersulam Embassy - The Jolly Donald
<p>Once again I take to the troubadour tradition wherein <strong>satire</strong> and <strong>criticism</strong> are leveled at Authority and Power through music. <br> <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/a18740a69718c40559aef359435476a22a1cc46b/original/jolly-don-art-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjUweDI1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Title image" height="250" style=" margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 1px;" width="250" /> You know things are pretty bad when world events enable you to create a parody of one of your own songs. My <strong>pirate song</strong> <a title="Song home page - streaming audio" href="/jolly-roger" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"Hoist the Jolly Roger"</a> was inspired by previous antics of the creature who earlier this week tossed gasoline on the smoldering tinder of the Middle East by arrogantly moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I thought the occasion called for a <strong>new American flag</strong>, designed especially to fly above that embassy. So I designed one. A prominent <strong>pirate motif</strong> seemed in order. Of course, the result can only be called the <strong>Jolly Donald</strong>! <br> <br> I then realized that I could probably write some <strong>new lyrics</strong> to "Hoist the Jolly Roger" that would embody the spirit of the <strong>pirates</strong> who have boarded the government of my native country, and thus far managed to evade the ship of the line known as The Rule of Law. Here's the <strong>remake.</strong> They can play it as they hoist the Jolly Donald over the new embassy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>FAIR WARNING: <br>CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1688921349/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 442px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">"Hoist the Jolly Donald" Lyrics</h2>
<p>I flies the Jolly Donald <br> In the places overseas <br> Where I sends me son-in-law <br> To open embassies <br> While troops shoots unarmed people <br> That don't like what they sees <br> <br><em><strong> CHORUS:</strong></em> <br> I'm a president bold <br> I'm rude, fat and old <br> I tweets from a head <br> What's made of pure gold <br> You loser swabs <br> Just do what yer told <br> Yo Ho! Yo Ho! <br> Hoist the Jolly Donald <br> <br> I be the greatest business man <br> I knows just how to wheel <br> And how to screw me creditors <br> And laugh at 'em as they squeal <br> And I'll teach ye how to do it too <br> In me book "The Art of the Deal" <br> <br> [CHORUS] <br> <br> There was an uppity nigger-man <br> Once criticized me ways <br> I kicked him out of the White House <br> And now I spends me days <br> Scuttlin' everything he done <br> And makin' damned sure it pays <br> <br> [CHORUS] <br> <br> Oh I gets satisfaction <br> From inflicting misery <br> On the gullible suckers <br> That went and elected me <br> And lockin' up immigrant children <br> And throwin' away the key <br> <br> [CHORUS] <br> <br> With many a comely woman <br> I've took me lustful way <br> And then made sure that nobody <br> Would believe a word she'd say <br> I did it before I was president <br> And I'd do it again today <br> <br> [CHORUS]</p>
<h3>Original Version of the Song</h3>
<p>In case you're wondering how this version differs: I just replaced the vocals in the original recording project with new ones, remixed, and remastered. Here's the original:</p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1509476491/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057875
2018-03-16T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-11T15:32:06-05:00
Music to Get Your Irish Up
<p>It's that time of year again - a holiday that's like no other. The only one where the whole world can be Irish for a day. I don't know why it is that there's no day when we're all Chinese, or Uruguayan, or Swedish for a day. But there it is. Don't fight it. Fill up your best beer mug and get your Irish up with these unique St. Paddy tunes from yours truly!</p>
<p> </p>
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<p><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/irish-for-a-day" style="">More about the song...</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qPSBi9MKEc" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/shillelagh-o-toole" style="" title="Ballad of Shillelagh O'Toole home page">More about the song...</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2588836439/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=63b2cc/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;"></iframe></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Do you know?</strong></p>
<p>It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Don't think of downloads as "buying music". Think of it as supporting an artist who makes music you like!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WHERE YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK WITH DOWNLOADS</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" style="" title="Robert Palomo's music on CD Baby"> </a> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" title="Robert Palomo's Music on Amazon"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e15171eb41d5f2379914820824aab98e11970/original/amazon-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amazon.com logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" title="Robert Palomo's music on iTunes"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b945cfe2975e97509672ad0521a3cbe0387c9169/original/itunes-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="iTunes logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank" title="Robert Palomo's music on Bandcamp"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/4613f725bf12223f68c3b3b73239f159702a5ce6/original/bandcampicon.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bandcamp logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" title="Amazon">AMAZON</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" title="iTunes">iTUNES</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/">BANDCAMP</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Don't want a download? No problem!</strong></p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057872
2018-03-08T19:00:00-05:00
2018-03-13T06:12:06-04:00
No women's sea shanties? Think again.
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9ae38a043c575c4025f444dd1a05313ad15c0465/original/widows-song-art-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjE0eDIxNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Album art image" height="214" style=" margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0;" width="214" />If you stop and think about it, all the old sea shanties that have come down to us today were, as far as we know, composed by men, <em>for</em> men, and often <em>about</em> men. The ones about women were mostly about a <em>certain sort</em> of women, if you get my drift. And it's not the right picture.<br><br>Not all of the men who went "down to the sea in ships" were pirates and reprobates. Many, if not most, were simple uneducated laboring men, who worked long and hard in miserable conditions. They spent month after month at sea, leaving behind wives, daughters, sweethearts, and mothers for their entire working lives. And all too often, there came a day when they didn't come home.<br><br>I got to thinking that the women the old-time seafaring men left behind on the shore, who had their role and their work in those times, must also have had their own working songs. But no "women's shanties" have come down to us, at least not that I can find. So I tried to imagine them gathered together in seaside towns, in cottages on a stormy evening. What might they have sung about? During a re-reading Rudyard Kipling's "Captains Courageous", I got the idea that the loss of their menfolk at sea just might have been a theme.</p>
<p>So is this the first-ever <em>women's</em> sea shanty? Probably not, but it doesn't matter. If others have been lost like ships on the lee shore of time, there's this one now.</p>
<p><strong>Listen to "Widows on the Shore"</strong></p>
<p><iframe height="240" name="mini" src="//widget.cdbaby.com/b7b00388-dd17-427a-b0b5-f47af6c9a019/mini/light/opaque" style="border: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<h3>Two changed words - different song!</h3>
<p>I originally wrote the chorus as "Widows on the shore <strong><em>we</em></strong> be, <strong><em>our</em></strong> menfolk never more to see...", thinking to have the ladies in audiences sing along as crew. But at the Harwich Sea Shanty Festival of 2017, Olga Dyson, wife of my shanty-singing mate Peter Dyson, heard it in rehearsal and said it was a great effort, but I'd got it wrong... ack! She felt that since the verses are women remembering lost sailors, the chorus should be sort of a ghostly crew of men singing to their women from Beyond: "Widows on the shore <strong><em>ye</em></strong> be, <strong><em>your</em></strong> menfolk never more to see..."</p>
<p>Obvious. So obvious I never would have thought of it. So I changed the lyric and we sang it her way. If we had a hit song at that festival, it was this one. When the <a title="Men Overboard trio page" href="/men-overboard-trio" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Men Overboard trio</a> sang it at the All Crews concert on the last day, the capacity crowd in the big St. Nicholas church sat spellbound... I've never experienced anything quite like it. It took a woman with a woman's viewpoint, changing just a couple of small words, to give the song that kind of power.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/320cb519f1f3326ae7943af357c8357197faf66c/original/men-st-nicholas-2017.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODAweDQ4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Men Overboard at Harwich Sea Shanty Festival 2017" height="480" width="800" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 80%; font-style: italic;">Performing "Widows" at the Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival 2017<br>Photo: Andy Schooler</p>
<hr>
<p style="font-size: 60%; text-align: left;">Title image cropped from 'A Hopeless Dawn' by Frank Bramley, 1888. <br> Source: <a title="Image source on Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Bramley_-_A_Hopeless_Dawn_1888.jpg" data-imported="1">Wikimedia Commons</a> <br>{{PD-US}} Public Domain in the United States (and other countries)</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057873
2018-02-24T19:00:00-05:00
2018-02-24T20:46:37-05:00
"New Old Sea Songs" - The Back Story of a New Brand of Maritime Folk Music
<p>In December of 2013, I met British composer Peter Dyson at the annual Christmas party at the British Consulate in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. We discovered we were both musically inclined expat residents for almost 20 years, but we had somehow never met. Peter mentioned that he also sang with a <strong>sea shanty group</strong>. I gave him my card and said I'd like to attend their next gig.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/7ef3b62735680edfab2f5502022a922fe99488c1/original/shanty-choir-mir-petrozavodsk-2014.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjUweDE2NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Shanty Choir" height="167" style=" margin-left: 12px;" width="250" />To make a long story short, Peter visited my site, where he heard a couple of <strong>traditional sea songs</strong> I had arranged for the banjo and recorded. He sent me an invite to join the all-volunteer group with members from several countries, which was re-forming as the <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/shantychoirmir" data-imported="1">Shanty Choir Tallship MIR</a></strong> (Facebook link).</p>
<p>For me, this was a breath of musical fresh air. I love American roots music, but I'd been doing it FOREVER. <strong>Sea shanties are sheer fun.</strong> You get to play dress-up and act crude and nobody thinks you're senile! Also, working out banjo parts for sea songs the group was performing was a fresh challenge.</p>
<p>Joining the shanty choir unexpectedly turned on the songwriting juice. In ridiculously short order I wrote <strong>6 original sea songs</strong>, and they're still coming. You can listen to the ones I've had time to record so far using the player widget below, and on my <a title="Robert's music page: free streaming audio" href="/music" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Music page</a>. You can be first to hear new recordings if you join <em>News for Me Scurvy Crew (a.k.a </em>my <a title="Subscribe to email list" href="/3-free-songs" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">email list</a>) - sometimes even during the production process. You'll also get access to exclusive videos and other goodies.</p>
<p><strong>SO... ENOUGH!!</strong> Heave to, ye crusted lubbers! Seat that wench on yer lap, hoist that tankard to yer lips and have fun listening to my "New Old Sea Songs"!</p>
<p id="NOSSPLAYER"><iframe height="240" name="mini" src="//widget.cdbaby.com/4eefdd84-8176-4e00-95c7-166245085924/mini/light/transparent" style="border: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p><strong><a title="Songs page: info, lyrics, and more" href="/music" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Explore the music...</a></strong></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0; padding-bottom: 0;"><strong>Do you know?</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0;">It takes <strong>hundreds of plays</strong> on streaming services like Spotify to equal the income from just 1 digital download. Even if you prefer streaming, downloads are a great way to <strong>support an artist</strong> whose music you enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY WORK</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Robert Palomo's music on CD Baby" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8b18bf8633db16d67e342a121ed13243e1a1f8ed/original/cdbaby-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="CD Baby logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's Music on Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e15171eb41d5f2379914820824aab98e11970/original/amazon-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amazon.com logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's music on iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b945cfe2975e97509672ad0521a3cbe0387c9169/original/itunes-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="iTunes logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a> <a title="Robert Palomo's music on Bandcamp" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/4613f725bf12223f68c3b3b73239f159702a5ce6/original/bandcampicon.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bandcamp logo" height="36" width="36" /> </a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="CD Baby" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1">CD BABY</a> * <a title="Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" data-imported="1">AMAZON</a> * <a title="iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1">iTUNES</a> * <a href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/" data-imported="1">BANDCAMP</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Don't want a download? No problem!</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>MORE ORIGINAL SEA SHANTIES & MARITIME FOLK MUSIC IN THE WORKS!<br>Be the first to hear it as a member of my "SCURVY CREW!"<br></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>SIGN ABOARD <a title="Newsletter widget on this page" href="#signupwidget" data-imported="1">BELOW</a> OR <a title="Info about News for Me Scurvy Crew & sign-up" href="/email-list" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">HERE</a></strong></em></p>
<hr>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057869
2018-01-13T19:00:00-05:00
2018-01-14T04:39:10-05:00
Rats. Roaches. And that damned Port Elizabeth wall!
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/550531da49a2317998f575cf558b3882eb698715/original/port-liz-song-art-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Photo of Gary Goodlander" height="300" style=" margin: 0px 10px;" width="300" />Social media. You never know who it's going to reach where, or what might come of it. Back in December, of 2016, <a href="https://www.cruisingworld.com" data-imported="1">Cruising World</a> Magazine's Editor at Large, Gary "Cap'n Fatty" Goodlander, was posting on Facebook lamenting (OK, cursing actually) his difficulties mooring his boat Ganesh at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. These included a "satanic" topside-eating Wall, the port authority, and an invasion of rats and roaches.</p>
<p>Little did Capn' Fatty suspect that an indie musician and songwriter living in far away Russia was following the saga, and that in the series of posts he found the makings of a sea shanty.</p>
<p>Cap'n Fatty is an expressive writer. His word pictures of the whole affair were so vivid that I could absolutely envision that great evil Wall, the piratical "Port Liz" authorities, and hear the invading rats "celebrating" all night long. Out of such yarns were many old sea songs born, and I didn’t have to work too hard to forge his tale into a "new old sea song”.</p>
<p>The result is a single titled The Damned Port Elizabeth Wall. Essentially, it's a halyard shanty, even though the rhythm is like an Irish jig. But it's Cap'n Fatty's yarn that really makes the song enjoyable. He has tales to tell, and knows how to tell 'em. I mean, seriously - his boat invaded by rats who sound like they're having a Roman orgy!</p>
<p>The rats ran riot 'til break of day <br> Held a Roman orgy, or so they say <br> And Fatty, he got no sleep <br> Yo ho, haul away, and Fatty he got no sleep.</p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3742427409/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p>I found a great pic of the Cap'n on his Facebook page that I thought would make a great pic to accompany the single. But even in today's connected world it's not that easy to get in touch with a man who lives aboard a (relatively) small sailing vessel constantly circumnavigating the globe, as he has done for over half a century. But eventually, thru his publishers at Cruising World, I got through and he graciously gave permission to use the photo. But somehow I never got around to putting it together with the song until I read about the publication of his <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Boat-Basics-Tricks-Fabulous/dp/1979372101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515492156&sr=1-1&keywords=Fatty+Goodlander" data-imported="1"><strong>new book</strong></a> summing up 58 years of seamanship. You can follow Cap'n Fatty on Facebook here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/capnfatty" data-imported="1">https://www.facebook.com/capnfatty </a></p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057868
2017-12-21T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-11T15:33:34-05:00
Something is Brewing in Russia - Sea Shanties and Beer
<p>It's always a treat to be able to play in your home town. And that's just what I did this week together with the <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/men-overboard-trio"><strong>Men Overboard maritime folk music trio</strong></a>. A huge "thank you!" goes out to Igor Gurbatov, manager of a new pub <strong>Gastrobar "Odnogo Uma Malo"<sup>*</sup></strong> for the invite to come and share some old and new maritime folk music with folks in our adopted home port. Igor is a shanty singer himself, and in the video below he joins the <em>Men</em> singing the classic timber loading shanty <em>Donkey Riding</em>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/weFKUhDFJNk" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<h2>What's brewing in Russia?</h2>
<p>It's still a well-kept secret that Russia and Saint-Petersburg are fast becoming a center for <strong>craft brewing</strong>. That shouldn't be surprising, as the country produces everything needful. Gastrobar "<em>Odnogo Uma Malo"</em>, where we played this show, has a huge selection of excellent domestic craft beers and ciders, and some world-class "pub grub" to go with them. After our show I had an absolutely astonishing coffee stout that can hold its own with any brew I've ever had anywhere.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/odnogoumamalo" title="Facebook page"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/62d3dde6bc9847731c5d07d32c8dc219cbd9e927/original/oum-beer-cuisine.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDE5OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo: local craft beers and pub grub" height="198" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>This gastrobar is one of the many outlets for Russian craft brews that have been springing up here in Saint-Petersburg like forest mushrooms after rain. In the early days of my sojourn here, the local pub scene was pretty limited and dismal with a few exceptions, mostly Irish pub "wanna-bes". But that's no longer the case.</p>
<p>With over 30 domestic craft brews on tap, our gastrobar host for this wintry evening is a good place for visitors to sample the Russian craft beers. It's a short walk down <em>Furshtadskaya</em> street from the <em>Chernyshevskaya</em> metro station, in a district that's home to a number of foreign consulates. In fact, it's just hard by the German consulate... a fact that I expect Germany's diplomats greatly appreciate! Certainly I and my shipmates of the <em>Men Overboard</em> trio appreciated the chance to play for a hometown audience - and to sample a bit of what's brewing in Russia.</p>
<p>* <em>"Odnogo Uma Malo", pronounced "</em>od<em>novo </em>oo<em>ma </em>ma<em>la", translates roughly as "<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="en">One mind is not enough</span>", but it has additional significance for Russians that I don't quite follow even after attempts at explanation. Some things are just "lost in translation".</em></p>
<p> Photo courtesy of Gastrobar "Odnogo Uma Malo"</p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/email-list" title="Sign aboard with the Scurvy Crew!"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/6f660167310f7682ae3002a7c6f91fc93368ced1/original/sign-aboard-crew.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDIyNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="227" width="400" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057863
2017-12-07T19:00:00-05:00
2022-03-03T10:41:14-05:00
When the Rouble Sinks Write a Sea Shanty
<h3 style="color: #3c5e73; font-size: 125%;">Davy Jones - the story behind the sea shanty</h3>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/310f7ecd5ab6cfb4e033fce2360b4e74d6a8936e/original/davy-jones-song-art-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjUweDI1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song art for Davy Jones" height="250" style=" margin: 12px;" width="250" />The original name of the song was "The Rouble Song". I never meant it for the final title, and so it isn't. I can't recall without research the date when the inspiration hit - I think it might have been in 2015. What happened was that one day the value of Russia's currency took a major hit. It was not the first time that had happened during my 2 decades living there. My first thought was, "Well, here we go again - headed for Davy Jones!"<br><br>I had guitar in hand as I was watching the news reports come across the internet. It was looking like the Rouble (RUR) and the King of the Deep were about to have one thing in common... hence, in the first line: <em>"...the bottom of the ocean is my home"</em>.</p>
<h3 style="color: #3c5e73; font-size: 125%;">Decisions, decisions...</h3>
<p>I toyed briefly with the idea of having the song be about the currency. Something like, <em>"The Rouble has sunk to join me here, on the bottom of the sea all dark and drear..."</em> But there were several reasons why I scuttled that idea:</p>
<ol>
<li>Well, it was <em>tacky! </em>
</li>
<li>Things have a way of changing, even reversing course. What if in, say 5 years, the U.S. dollar were in the dump and the Rouble were king of the hill? It would be just my luck, and there I'd be with a song that showed me up for the idiot I am. Plenty of other ways to do that without butchering a potentially good song.</li>
<li>If one is going to do a sea song about some kind of money, well, it's got to be <em>gold</em>: doubloons, pieces of eight... stuff like that, doesn't it? These days, the value of the Rouble is linked to black gold, not gold gold, so that was out.</li>
</ol>
<p>Once that got sorted, the rest of the writing was quick and easy and I was done in 20 minutes. What was less easy was that right from the start I felt that the song needed the sound of Irish <a title="Info on Wikipedia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uilleann_pipes" data-imported="1">Uilleann pipes</a>. One of the members of the Shanty Choir Mir that I perform with occasionally plays them, but he's a sailor and travels a lot, and the logistics were difficult. So the song sat around in several versions, unfinished, for several years.</p>
<h3 style="color: #3c5e73; font-size: 125%;">Searching for the right sound</h3>
<p>Fast-forward to 2017 when I landed the first festival gig for my original music: the <a title="Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" data-imported="1">Harwich International Sea Shanty festival</a> in Essex, England. I wanted to release a new single to coincide with that, and I felt that <em>Davy Jones</em> would be the best from my back catalog. About that same time I was looking for replacements for some of the virtual instrument sounds from the old version of GarageBand on my old Mac, which is not going to last forever. I happened across a thing called <a title="Kontakt Player" href="https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/samplers/kontakt-5-player/free-download/" data-imported="1">Kontakt Player</a> which had a free sound library that included... WHOA! ...<em>Uilleann pipes!</em> And some nice world drums. And a nice sounding upright bass. Not long before I had found a <a title="Best Service Accordions" href="https://www.bestservice.de/en/accordions.html" data-imported="1">library of squeezebox sounds</a>, and the Bandoneon had the perfect edgy tone for <em>Davy Jones</em>. All are present in the final production.</p>
<p>Things come together when the time is right!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3043406315/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Buy single on CD Baby" href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo11" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/01518a327c1247d5fb6ef88ec195da652c219ac7/original/buy-from-cdbaby.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /></a> <a title="Buy single on Bandcamp.com" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/davy-jones?action=buy&from=embed" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b07b627ff5a3c94e85632b116c092516c8cc344d/original/buy-from-bandcamp.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /></a> <a title="By single on iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/davy-jones-single/id1282295578" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e02b39e94106ae984035316e6216d4b05f4fe4a1/original/buy-from-itunes.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057867
2017-11-14T19:00:00-05:00
2020-07-24T08:25:41-04:00
Been there. Done that. And it feels so good!
<p>I have read English literature, or had it read to me, since before I could talk. I've always been somehow fascinated and charmed with English place names mentioned in books. They always made me feel that I'd like to visit them. Names like Surrey, Devonshire, Kingston, Doncaster, Spudlington on Cam (OK I made up that last one, but it sounds like a lot of real places!) I've been fortunate to travel to many European places, and although I came close a couple of time I never actually made it to "Merry Olde". (An overnight at Heathrow does NOT count!)</p>
<p>A month ago I finally did make it. There wasn't time to visit many places, but since my return, I realize that my life has changed. The other day I was re-reading Agatha Christie's <a title="e-book on Project Gutenberg" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/863/863-h/863-h.htm" data-imported="1"><em>"The Mysterious Affair at Styles"</em></a>. The setting is in the county of <strong>Essex</strong>. <em>BING!!!</em> Ooh, now I've been there! Call me an old idiot, but that just felt good. But wait, as the adverts say, there's more.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9e9ea6a4f42bb78b102f366f24d052f37e777695/original/harwich.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDIyNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Quai at Harwich, Essex, England. October 2017." height="225" style=" margin: 8px 10px;" width="400" />Last night I pulled out at random Jerome K. Jerome's <a title="e-book on Project Gutenberg" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2183/2183-h/2183-h.htm" data-imported="1"><em>"Three Men On The Bummel"</em></a>, which I had read only once, ages ago. And right in the first chapter, what do I encounter?</p>
<p><em>"...the yacht was lying off Harwich."</em> <strong>BING!!!</strong> I've now played music there! And the fish & chips were to die for. And a bit further on:</p>
<p><em>"We had some tea and watercress at Dovercourt..."</em> <strong>BING!!!</strong> I've been to a couple of very pleasant small dinner parties there, at which I had a dram or two of Scotch that Harris himself would have approved of. And a bit further yet:</p>
<p><em>"We passed another day in Harwich, and that night and the next, the wind still continuing in the south, we slept at the 'King’s Head'."</em></p>
<p>That particular inn is no more, but I saw the house on Market Street where it once was. It's a private residence now... but then everything in old Harwich that isn't a pub now either used to be a pub or a brothel (according to reliable local sources). And there is still a King's Head Street - down which I have now walked. <strong>BING!!! </strong> Sorry, but you must endure one more:</p>
<p><em>"We put in that night at Aldborough..."</em></p>
<p>The spelling of the name has changed since Jerome's day, but no matter. I had an amazing tour of the Britten-Pears estate, led by the head of the new archive, and with my shanty-mates I knocked back a pint of excellent bitter at a genuine English "Ye Olde" pub by the sea.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/1b3a28ca04f27174b57ce59a21d4120896327240/original/ye-olde-english-pub.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDIyNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="English pub at Aldeburgh, Suffolk" height="225" style="margin: 0px;" width="400" /></p>
<p><strong>BING!!!</strong> yet again. And it feels so good!</p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>Where have you visited that you first read about in a book? Leave a comment!</p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057866
2017-10-19T20:00:00-04:00
2017-10-19T20:46:54-04:00
Music Industry Execs in Panic as New Sea Shanty Penetrates Deeply
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2b7e525e90f38fcb3154a050217aa2616fc7b752/original/music-execs-panic.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjQyeDE3NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Music executive in shock" height="175" style=" margin: 0px 12px;" width="242" />A newly released single <a title="Davy Jones home page" href="/davy-jones" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"Davy Jones"</a> has propelled its creator, Robert Palomo, from completely total obscurity to mostly total obscurity in a matter of days.</p>
<p>"It's not supposed to work like that!" moaned Tatako Yamamoto, head of Sony Music's Quash Indies division. But fans of the sea shanty, the working songs of British and American sailors during the age of sail, have expressed other ideas.</p>
<p>Jessica Hawkesbaite, a well-known barmaid and madam whose emporium on the docks in the port of Bristol, England, is a popular retreat with tramp freighter crews, tweeted: "So buzzy & froody!! Shocked it's Indie. Can't stop listening. 10/10!!!"</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/68211589a011e20563a5f4443ad922424c2bdda2/original/davy-jones-tweet.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzkweDM1NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="354" width="390" /></p>
<p>That anyone in this day and age is still creating music in the barnacle-encrusted genre, and that a song has achieved at least 100% penetration in it's industry-analyzed market niche, whose numbers music industry marketing weasels... sorry, <em>analysts</em>... generally estimate to be no more than 8 or 9 worldwide, is what has thrown the mainstream music industry into shock.</p>
<p>Trevor Buhmgrabner, an A&R executive at Shillboard Productions in L.A. - who would sell his grandmother into slavery for such numbers - was overheard to snort over the top of a large dry tequila martini, "It's just so, so <em>last century</em>, dude... well, no, the century before that... I think... no wait... I mean... oh f***ing hell, man, when was the last time anybody actually wrote this kind of sh**?"</p>
<p>Perhaps some of the near-infinite improbability is spawned into the cosmos by Palomo's personal situation. He's an American of Hispanic descent ("born in Ohio with a state-certified birth-certificate to prove it, Donald, you fat <em>pendejo</em><em>!"</em>), with a soft spot for the oft-maligned banjo, who has lived for 2 decades in Saint-Petersburg, Russia ("the butt-end of the Baltic", as he puts it), where he now writes and records salt-flavored "new old sea songs", for fun and, until now, no profit whatsoever. Has "Davy Jones" - his new ode to the King of the Deep - changed that aspect of things? </p>
<p>Palomo declined to give specifics about how much he has taken in from the single's umpteen gazillions of plays on Spotify alone. "I hear it's doing amazing, but I don't know first-hand because Spotify blocks all 'worldwide' web traffic from the country where I live," he said. "But I wouldn't be surprised if it racks up double-digits in the cents column of the ol' ledger inside of a couple of years if this keeps up."</p>
<p>Be the financials what they may, the reaction of mainstream music industry executives was well summed up by Keith Pritchards, CEO of DooDemHitz, Inc. - a Nashville think tank and record label.</p>
<p>"The fact that he did it all without belly-fat and toenail fungus ads is forcing everyone in this business to re-evaluate our strategy," he said. "Listen... I gotta go. Hey, yer beautiful, really. Don't call me... I'll call you, OK?"</p>
<p>In addition to its alleged presence on Spotify, the digital single "Davy Jones" by Robert Palomo is available on CD Baby, iTunes, Bandcamp, and, because there was no way to prevent it, Amazon.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057861
2017-08-31T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-23T06:18:26-05:00
Harwich Sea Shanty Festival Shows
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" title="Harwich Sea Shanty Festival 2017"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9216k9XkAAk_3s.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Harwich Sea Shanty Festival flier" height="284" style=" margin: 5px 10px;" width="200" /></a>Word from the <a data-imported="1" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" title="Festival home page">Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival</a> organizers has come in giving the times and locations of my shows with the <a data-imported="1" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/men-overboard/">Men Overboard</a> trio. If you're anywhere within reach, I hope you'll come and catch one of these events!</p>
<p><strong>October 13 (Friday)</strong><br>16:30 - <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.thenewbell.co.uk/where-are-we/" target="_blank" title="New Bell Inn (opens in new tab)">New Bell Inn</a></p>
<p><strong>October 14 (Saturday)</strong><br>12:00 - <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.almaharwich.co.uk" target="_blank" title="Alma Inn (opens in new tab)">Alma Inn</a><br>13:00 - <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.thecrownpost.uk" title="Crown Post Restaurant (opens in new tab)">Crown Post</a><br>16:00 - <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hdsc.org.uk/contact-the-club/" style="" target="_blank" title="Sailing club location (opens in new tab)">Harwich &amp; Dovercourt Sailing Club</a></p>
<p><strong>October 15 (Sunday)</strong><br>11:00 - <a data-imported="1" href="http://hha.co.uk/leisure/hapenny-pier/" target="_blank" title="Pier website (opens in new tab)">Ha’Penny Pier</a><br>13:00 - <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.samuelpepysharwich.co.uk/contact/" target="_blank" title="Samuel Pepys location (opens in new tab)">Samuel Pepys Wine Bar</a></p>
<p>Then at <strong>15:15</strong> in <strong>St. Nicholas Church</strong> will be the <strong>final concert for all visiting crews</strong>.<br>We get to do one song. What time we'll actually go on, I don't know, and maybe won't before the date. But really, you'd want to come for this entire show. It should be excellent.</p>
<p>I hope to enter <em><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/noah-could-not-navigate">Noah Could Not Navigate</a> in </em>the "Sing a Shanty" competition. Right now the festival site shows a time conflict with our 4 pm show on Saturday afternoon, but I hear via the grapevine that the competition has been rescheduled and that we should be able to make it. In any case we'll include <em>Noah</em> in at least some of our shows!</p>
<h3>Online tickets sales</h3>
<p>Ticket sales for various festival events are on sale now: <a data-imported="1" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/tickets-3/" title="Online ticket sales.">CLICK HERE</a></p>
<p>Our shows are not listed on the ticket sales site, so I assume advance tickets are not needed for them. Our venues are mostly pubs. I don't know if they will have some cover charge. I'm trying to find out, and I will update this if I learn definitely one way or the other.</p>
<p>P.S. - If you know how to manipulate a GoPro camera and will be and any of our shows, and you'd be willing to shoot some footage, please <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/contact">get in touch</a>! There could be beer in it for you - hint hint.</p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057864
2017-08-28T20:00:00-04:00
2021-02-19T03:58:07-05:00
Houston, you have a problem!
<p>Houston is flooded. So are my social media feeds - with my fellow Americans (you gotta love 'em or just go nuts) sending "thoughts and prayers" for the hurricane victims. That doesn't seem to be helping folks there much, so I decided to try a <a title="Red Cross hurricane relief fund" href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?campname=Harvey&campmedium=aspot" data-imported="1">donation to the Red Cross relief effort</a>. But what I could donate myself won't go very far.</p>
<p><strong>So I have a little challenge for you:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Go to Bandcamp.com (link below) and have a <strong>free audio stream</strong> and/or a <strong>free download</strong> of my "new old sea shanty" <em>Noah Could Not Navigate</em> (link below) - my salute to climate change deniers everywhere - which I have opened up.<br><br>
</li>
<li>Donate any amount you can to the Red Cross hurricane relief fund: <br><br>Online: <a title="Support Redcross hurricane relief operation" href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?campname=Harvey&campmedium=aspot" data-imported="1">www.redcross.org</a> <br>USA Toll-free: 1-800-RED-CROSS<br>USA: Text the word HARVEY to 90999 donate $10<br><br>
</li>
<li>Add a comment "DONE!" to this post, and share this post with 1 friend.<br><br>
</li>
<li>(OPTIONAL) Send out truckloads of thoughts and prayers, rattle dem bones, dance the dread Kloo-kwalie dance, go for a couple of beers... whatever does it for you.</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>CAN WE GET 100 FOLKS TO DONATE THIS WEEK? ARE YOU WITH ME?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Free stream + dowload on Bandcamp.com" href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/noah-could-not-navigate" data-imported="1"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8d5cb07eafadacfe63e424f3507e7cb831846dce/original/noah-song-art-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="300" width="300" /></strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/noah-could-not-navigate" data-imported="1"><strong>Free Audio Stream & Download</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Make a donation at redcross.org" href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?campname=Harvey" data-imported="1"><strong>DONATE TO THE RED CROSS </strong></a></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"The climate change deniers,<br>Noah heard their howls and groans<br>As the Ark she floated off<br>And they all met DAVY JONES!"<br></em></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057862
2017-08-16T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-16T08:26:58-05:00
Video shot aboard Russian tall ship MIR
<p>Earlier this summer I joined my friends who comprise the Shanty Choir Tall Ship MIR - a sort of semi-official musical group of the <a data-imported="1" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS_Mir" title="STS Mir on Wikipedia">STS Mir</a>. We drove from Saint-Petersburg to Kotka, Finland to meet the ship, which was sailing in the 2017 Baltic Sea Tall Ships Races. We sailed with the ship across the Baltic to Tallinn, Estonia, where we did a show at the city marina.</p>
<p>The groups piper, Viktor, who is also an active tall ship sailor, arranged for a photographer/videographer to follow the group. Among his equipment was a copter drone with which he shot some amazing footage of Mir and the tall ships leaving Kotka. Viktor had also scripted out scenes for a music video, and during the afternoon en route to Tallinn we dressed in nautical garb and went before the camera. A few weeks later the video came out... and I think they did a great job with it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bxqo8JB9J3E" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">What do you think? Leave a comment!</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057860
2017-08-01T20:00:00-04:00
2017-08-03T21:15:10-04:00
Harwich Here We Come!
<p><a title="Harwich Sea Shanty Festival 2017" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" data-imported="1"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9216k9XkAAk_3s.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Harwich Sea Shanty Festival flier" height="284" style=" margin: 5px 10px;" width="200" /></a>Now that's it's <a title="Festival artists page" href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk/category/artists-for-2017/" data-imported="1">officially posted</a> on their site, I can announce that I'll be performing my "new old sea songs" at the <a href="http://harwichshantyfestival.co.uk" data-imported="1"><strong>Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival</strong></a>, happening from <strong>13-15 October, 2017</strong>. I've been fortunate to have traveled quite a bit around Europe, and I've wanted to visit England since forever, but have never managed to. I've read so much English literature over the years and I'd really like to see something of the country.</p>
<p>What was most gratifying for me was that, although I had approached them about the 2018 festival thinking it was too late for 2017, when the organizers heard <a title="Music page" href="/music" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">my music </a>they decided to invite me for this year. Perhaps I'm doing something right musically after all!</p>
<h3>New Maritime Folk Music Trio</h3>
<p>Because sea songs are generally not their best with just one voice, a couple of my mates from the Shanty Choir MIR, both natives of the Isle, and fellow long-time expatriate residents of Saint-Petersburg, have joined me to form a <strong>new trio</strong> expressly to work on my original music. Named with the Russian sailor's cry for a man overboard... "Za bortom!", which we whimsically translate to English as "Men Overboard". Our first gig will be Harwich.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/za_bortom_trio/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/548546c4e1587b021c9941f8decba266d457b442/original/za-bortom-men-overboard-1500.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzUweDM1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Za Bortom! (Men Overboard) promo pic" height="350" width="350" /></a></p>
<p>You can read more about the trio and meet the other members over on the <a href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/za_bortom_trio/" data-imported="1">Za Bortom Trio web page</a>.</p>
<p>As of this posting, I still don't know the performance schedule. If you're in the UK, or otherwise might come to the festival, watch the festival site for updates. I'll post here as soon as I know what's what. Definitely don't hesitate to come hear us and lift a pint or two with us!</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057858
2017-06-06T20:00:00-04:00
2019-07-12T20:22:03-04:00
How to Choose a GOOD "Hawaiian Shirt"
<p>I don't know what it is with musician gents of a certain age, but many of them (us) seem to go in for the so-called <strong>"Hawaiian" shirt</strong> as their stage-wear of choice. A couple of notable examples from widely disparate musical genres:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <a title="Top 10 Stephen Stills Songs" href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/stephen-stills-songs/" data-imported="1"><img src="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2015/01/Stephen-Stills.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Photo of Stephen Stills" height="249" width="374" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stephen Stills - <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/" data-imported="1">Classic Rock</a> Legend<br><br></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9d53e29620ac0900fbbf7f71bc21d100d4cadeb5/original/dr-banjo-jfc-spb.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjIzeDI4MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="281" width="223" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pete <a title="Pete " href="http://www.drbanjo.com" data-imported="1">"Dr. Banjo"</a> Wernick - Bluegrass Banjo Master</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I could post more examples, but I think you get the basic idea. As to why these tropical shirts are preferred, well, they <em>are</em> quite <strong>comfortable</strong> to wear under hot stage lights, and also as one thickens about the tum with the advance of the years. Plus they <strong>lend color</strong> to one's stage presence. I favor them myself for all these reasons. And the music I play gives me an excuse that few save the likes of Jimmy Buffet can lay claim to. But as in all things, <strong>something must guide one's choice</strong> of island wear. There are 2 basic schools of thought. Read on and learn!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Tasteful Design Approach</h3>
<p>The 2 gents pictured above obviously go in for this approach. There are plenty of places to acquire tasteful Hawaiian/Island shirts. <a title="Rix Island Wear" href="http://www.rixislandewar.com" data-imported="1">Rix Island Wear</a> is just one of many examples. It's not that I wish to give them free advertising. They merely serve as an <strong>example</strong> of the <strong>wrongheaded approach</strong> to choosing a "tropical" shirt - the approach involving fashion sense and good taste. These qualities serve one well in almost every other aspect of personal attire, but not in this case.</p>
<h3>The Correct Approach</h3>
<p>Listen, my children and heed. A <strong>truly good Hawaiian shirt</strong> has a combination of <strong>garish colors</strong> and <strong>eye-wrenching patterns</strong> that <strong>slap you upside the head</strong> from 30 yards. It elicits an <strong>involuntary gasp</strong> of pure <strong>horror</strong> from your spouse/partner/children on first sight, followed immediately by adamant refusal to be seen with you in public, not even if said spouse/partner/child is wearing his/her <em>"I'm with STUPID!"</em> tee-shirt.</p>
<p>Here's a classic <strong>example</strong> of the <strong>correct approach</strong> to Hawaiian shirt design:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Photo courtesy of Irina Bo" href="http://www.irina-bo.ru/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/82da282be181fd6af157e8a4d10dd0d6b340147d/original/kupala-night-whoopie.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDk5eDMzMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Robert Palomo in his favorite (and truly awful) Hawaiian shirt" height="333" width="499" /></a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The shirty story of this masterpiece</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">I acquired this shirt at the H&M store in Sochi when I was down there performing with the Shanty Choir Tallship MIR in 2014. It was a big shop, and this shirt was hanging way in the back. But that sucker nailed me right between the eyes the moment I walked in the door. Requirement #1 met! (Requirement #2 was met when I got home and unpacked.) Alas, by the time this pic was shot by the incomparable <a title="Irina Bo Photography" href="http://www.irina-bo.ru/" data-imported="1">Irina Bo</a> a year or so later, the <strong>colors</strong> had <strong>faded</strong> quite a bit. BUT...!!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The best (worst?) is yet to come!</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">Last fall when I was visiting the U.S. I <strong>found a new one</strong>, from a <strong>source in Hawaii</strong> itself that shall remain nameless in the interest of Trade Secrets. It is <strong>even better</strong> (or worse?) than the one pictured above!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The short-sleeve shirt season has been delayed here in Northwest Russia this year, but hopefully my new Hawaiian shirt masterpiece will make it's debut on my bod real soon. I can't say how long it will take to appear here, or over my social media channels. I <em>do</em> know that the members of <strong>me Scurvy Crew</strong> will get a <strong>first look</strong> in my June 2017 newsletter... long before anybody else. Go ahead... indulge your <a title="Definition on dictionary.com" href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/prurient?s=t" data-imported="1">prurient</a> curiosity and<a title="Join the crew for exclusive previews, freebies, and other goodies" href="/email-list" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"> join the crew</a> now! C'mon... don't be scared... you'll get over the shock in just a few hours!</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">UPDATE!</h3>
<p>Here's the one I was talking about above. Best (worst?) one to date! Always open to suggestions for sources of good shirts. Leave a comment if you know of one!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/d956119005b710dc8aa22400dbe420f3dfbf236d/original/good-hawaiian-shirt.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTcxeDQ3NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="474" width="571" /></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Join the crew for exclusive previews, freebies, and other goodies" href="/email-list" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2e4b0c1fa7bf4793bf6b475a007a4c1d54e66ccb/original/end-screen-image-500x500.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDQwMCJd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="400" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057857
2017-05-29T20:00:00-04:00
2017-05-29T22:53:33-04:00
Crosby Stills & Nash sea shanty style? Why not!
<p>Life is too short to play songs like somebody else plays them. And anyway, who the heck could ever play <em>anything</em> by supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash even close to the way they do? Certainly not the likes of me!</p>
<p>The Stephen Stills classic "Southern Cross" has been a favorite of mine since it first came out. I used to cover it in my "classic retro" solo acoustic set. But lately I got to wondering... hey, you know, that's a sea song... what would it sound like played like an old sea shanty? Well folks, now you know:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XgOkAvyTlSg" width="560" allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<h3>How I did it</h3>
<p>I recorded the audio live in my recording software at the same time I was shooting video. Then I laid down some backing vocal tracks, and finished up with some virtual instruments played on a midi keyboard: upright bass and concertina. It was a toss-up between button accordion and concertina, but there's something about the latter that just seemed to fill the bill perfectly.</p>
<h3>Does it work?</h3>
<p>Got one interesting bit of feedback on this. Guy said that David Crosby is probably turning over in his grave. Given that David Crosby still alive (which is in itself amazing if you know his personal history), I wondered if the gent might be thinking of Bing Crosby. When I mentioned that <em>David</em> Crosby is not dead, the guy says, "Well, this will do for him if he ever hears it!" Obviously a purist. I know from experience, there's no satisfying them.</p>
<p>What do <em>you</em> think? And what other classic or modern pop songs with a maritime theme would you like to hear experimented on this way? Let me know in the comments!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/a31aacae7bb13679cf071eb52cea80ce6249d81d/original/robert-palomo-southern-cross-video.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Capture from CS&N cover song video" height="378" width="500" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Frame capture from the video</em></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057848
2017-03-31T20:00:00-04:00
2021-09-11T17:31:45-04:00
What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor? 6 Time-tested Solutions
<p><a title="Track on bandcamp.com" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/what-shall-we-do-with-a-drunken-sailor" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9a81dacc97bd085a6d7aa1f63a098cb7a81272ae/original/drunken-sailor-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk0eDE5NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Drunken Sailor song art" height="194" style=" margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px;" width="194" /></a>It's an old question, asked over and over by skippers, mates, and bosuns (not to mention barmaids and madams!) since men have ventured forth upon deep waters. The question gets raised again year after year at sea shanty and folk music festivals, port town taverns, and hey, a fair number of brothels all around the world:</p>
<p><strong>"What shall we do with a drunken sailor?" </strong>There have been cases so severe that the question was even phrased as "What the F**K shall we do with a drunken sailor?!!" Those skippers (and Madams) really had problems.</p>
<p>Suggestions have ranged from the relatively benign "Put him in the longboat 'til he gets sober!" to the downright sadistic "Shave his belly with a rusty razor!" There are those who really get a kick out of "Put him into bed with the Captain's daughter!" But they ain't never <em>seen</em> the Captain's daughter!</p>
<h2>6 Drunken Sailor Solutions</h2>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=103378798/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Like it? How about <a href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/what-shall-we-do-with-a-drunken-sailor?action=buy&from=embed" data-imported="1">leaving a tip on Bandcamp!</a></em></p>
<p>I actually put together this arrangement, which contains 6 of the most popular and time-tested drunken sailor solutions, quite some time before I ever even thought about writing original sea songs. I was learning to play so-called clawhammer style banjo, and for some reason the tune of Drunken Sailor came into my head one day and seemed like it would work. So I started messing around with it, and the above track is what resulted (for better or worse). This classic favorite traditional sea song ended up arranged with... are you ready... <strong>bluegrass instruments</strong> (mandolin, banjo, guitar, upright bass), and the vocal arrangement more folky and choir-like than is usual.</p>
<p>Funny how the currents of life flow, because quite some time later it was this, and my arrangement of another famous traditional sea shanty (the subject of a future blog post), that netted me an invite to perform with the <a title="Link to Facebook page" href="https://www.facebook.com/shantychoirmir/" data-imported="1">Shanty Choir Tallship MIR</a>, out of which experience suddenly came a whole bunch of <a title="Link to Music page" href="/music" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"new old sea songs"</a> that are still coming.</p>
<p>If you'd like to know when the songs I have in production are available, why not subscribe to my newsletter. You'll be among the first to get your hands (and ears) on them.</p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057849
2017-03-19T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-11T15:17:49-05:00
Ireland's Cruelest Pirate - the Awful TRUTH Exposed at Last
<p>Eastbound jet lag sucks, folks.</p>
<p>Several days after returning to Russia after going back my native USA to vote in the 2016 alleged election, I awoke at 4 a.m. from an election-induced nightmare. I soon realized - "That's it... I won't be getting back to sleep any time soon." So I lay there in the darkness, my innards doing acidic flip-flops as my brain contemplated the final stroke in the steady 30+ years demise of the country where I was born.</p>
<h3>Lemonade at 4 a.m.</h3>
<p>OK, so this page is not intended to be a discourse on the downfall of Rome. But it was during these early morning reflections that the Muse did her thing, and out of the mass of lemons coursing through my fevered brain I managed to make a bit of lemonade.</p>
<p>Drawing inspiration from our hideous head-of-state-elect and his famous <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-small-hands-marco-rubio/index.html">tallywhacker</a> (one of the vital issues of the campaign), I snatched up the old tablet from beside the bed and composed lyrics for a new <strong>pirate song</strong>... <em>The Ballad of Shillelagh O'Toole, </em>the second pirate song the Orange orangutan<a data-imported="1" href="#sorry"><sup>*</sup></a> has caused me to write. (The first is <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/jolly-roger" style="">here</a>.)</p>
<h3>Alternative History</h3>
<p>Later on, to get the word out about the song, I drew inspiration from the new 21st century concept of <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/22/donald-trump-kellyanne-conway-inauguration-alternative-facts" style="" title="alternative facts">"alternative facts"</a>. Hell's bells, folks, if they's good enough for the Office of the Preezident of the Newnited States of America, by Neptune's mighty hammer they's good enough for <em>me!</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/93a0c8b3d318ed8376c436ebcf9d46ebe74d129c/original/prof-finagle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODZ4ODAiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="Old photo of man in scholastic robes and mortarboard hat" height="80" style=" margin: 8px;" width="86" />So I started hunting around for an "authority" or an "expert" (you know, à la <em>Faux News </em>and <em>Freitfart</em>) who could deliver the true alternative history of the dastardly Irish pirate, Séamlus (like "Séamus" with an "l" - get it?) O'Toole. I came up with Prof. Padraig Finagle, an Irish professor of alternative history who filled the bill admirably with a 3-part academic treatise on the life and death of Ireland's cruelest pirate. (You can begin reading that <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="" title="Ireland's Cruelest Pirate: the untold story (Part 1 of 3)">here</a>.)</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/11230018bc45b6aac6b812db3ffcb82d9456ae5e/original/otoole-finagle-twitter-mention.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjU0eDE2MCJd.png" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="160" style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px; " width="254" />My Tweet even got a mention by a heavy-Twitter-hitter on things Irish in NYC (which I'm sure never would have happened had the tweeter read attentively!! (I <em>did</em> leave plenty of clues as to the nature of Dr. Finagle and his work - but thanks anyway!)</p>
<p>So here's a salty ballad about a fictitious Irish pirate whose only weapon is a big ugly blackthorn <a data-imported="1" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillelagh_(club)">shillelagh</a>. The lyrics are only slightly tweaked from the original draft I penned between 04:30 and 06:00, after which I felt enough better that I was able to snatch a couple of hours sleep.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qPSBi9MKEc" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e02b39e94106ae984035316e6216d4b05f4fe4a1/original/buy-from-itunes.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b07b627ff5a3c94e85632b116c092516c8cc344d/original/buy-from-bandcamp.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /></p>
<hr><p id="sorry"> * Sorry. In the heat of the moment I inadvertently disparaged orangutans. I apologize unreservedly to the entire species.</p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057852
2017-03-16T20:00:00-04:00
2021-01-15T04:53:59-05:00
Ireland's Cruelest Pirate: The Untold Story (Part 3 of 3)
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Third and final part in the series on the previously untold history of Ireland's most unheard-of pirate.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="" title="Ireland's Cruelest Pirate: Part 1 of 3">PART 1</a> | <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-2-of-3" style="">PART 2 </a></strong></p>
<p><em>Excerpt from Part 1:</em></p>
<p><strong>Séamlus O'Toole (c. 1650 - 1694)</strong> is the most famous Irish pirate in maritime alternative history. Little is known of his origins beyond a vague reference in a mid-15th century Irish tavern ledger, discovered in university archives at Dublin in 1984. The entry appears to identify his father as being a sailor (name unknown) who skipped out on his reckoning, and his mother a tavern "strumpet" whom he failed to pay for services rendered, thus losing the landlord his cut, and gaining the lady a son.</p>
<p><em>Begin Part 3:</em></p>
<h3>Principal Dates</h3>
<p>Historical artifacts have been found and collected which provide historians who have nothing better with which to occupy their time with several key dates in the life of the old Irish pirate.</p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>1650:</strong> Born. Birthplace: Feckbridge, Ireland. Church archives for this year show the infant Séamlus denied baptism for having <em>"beshitted the good father’s scapular as he were commencing of the ceremonie"</em>.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>1660:</strong> Possible first sea voyage. Logged as Cabin Boy on crew manifest of coasting freighter <em>Bess Millie</em>. The captain's log of that year survives and also contains a brief reference: <em>"Cabin boys, none of um be any good. Bugger that Otoole whelp - worst of a bad lot!"</em><br> </li> <li>
<strong>1674:</strong> Probable first command and act of piracy. Damaged log of English merchant vessel <em>Inda Boggs</em>, washed ashore following the disappearance of the ship, appears to show him as acting captain, with which entry the log ends abruptly.<br> </li> <li>
<strong>1688:</strong> First known pirate raid, taking the Flemish merchantman <em>Smerige Leugens</em>. No survivors, but a brief message in a bottle was later recovered which named the vessel and told of an attack by a <em>"bloodie newe redd Irishe pirate"</em> (translated from the original Dutch by the Flemish cook, and entered into the ship’s log by the skipper of the <em>Gawdhelpus</em>, an English ship that recovered the artifact).<br> </li> <li>
<strong>1694:</strong> Death. Killed in hand-to-hand combat by David O'Dowd, an Irish ordinary seaman serving aboard the Scottish freighter <em>Maid O’ Cadiz, </em>while attempting to board and take the ship.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ships Taken</h3>
<p>The following chart lists ships that are known to have been taken by O’Toole, or for which there exists some evidence to attribute their loss to him.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/268bd1ae7dfec31feaf4699cf1daf7902fcdfcb1/original/otoole-ships-taken.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTg3eDUyMSJd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="521" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="587" /></p>
<h3>Coverage in Mainstream History</h3>
<p>Nothing. Not a damned peep. Obviously the bloody feckin' English have conspired to suppress it. Bastards!</p>
<h3>References in Popular Culture</h3>
<p>On March 17, 2017 (St. Patrick's Day), expatriate American folk-singer <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://https:/robertpalomo.com" style="" title="Robert Palomo (website)">Robert Palomo</a> (an artist as obscure as O'Toole himself), released <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/shillelagh-o-toole" style="" title="Ballad of Shillelagh O'Toole home page - music, video, lyrics"><strong><em>The Ballad of Shillelagh O'Toole</em></strong> </a>, a musical recounting of the life and adventures of Ireland’s cruelest pirate. The single escaped wide critical acclaim, or even notice for that matter, eventually reaching #42 on Swillboard’s <em>Stinkin’ Shite</em> chart, where it remained for over 20 minutes.</p><!-- EMBED VIDEO -->
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qPSBi9MKEc" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div><!-- BUY BUTTONS -->
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ballad-of-shillelagh-otoole-single/id1215434008" title="Buy from iTunes"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e02b39e94106ae984035316e6216d4b05f4fe4a1/original/buy-from-itunes.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /> </a><a data-imported="1" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-shillelagh-otoole?action=buy&from=embed" title="Buy from BandCamp"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b07b627ff5a3c94e85632b116c092516c8cc344d/original/buy-from-bandcamp.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDU0Il0%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="54" width="200" /> </a></p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/93a0c8b3d318ed8376c436ebcf9d46ebe74d129c/original/prof-finagle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODB4NzUiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="Prof. Padraic Finagle" height="75" style=" margin: 12px;" width="80" />ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<br>Padraig Finagle is Ass. Professor of Alternative History and Brewing at the Auxiliary Maritime Institute and Public House of Skibbereen, Ireland. He holds an MBA (Master of Brewing Ales) from Boozer University, Kilkenny Ireland and is a fellow of the Guinness Institute, from which he holds an honorary D.D.T. (Doctor of Delirium Tremens).</p>
<hr><p><strong>A MESSAGE FROM DR. FINAGLE:</strong></p>
<p>Say, now, me an' Robert, we're just <strong>bloody dry</strong> after puttin' all this together for you folk! Do ye not think the <strong>least</strong> <em>you</em> could do is <strong>shoot us a little brass</strong> f'some <strong>beer</strong> now? See those <em>Buy From</em> doo-dads up there? S'pose you just click one and toss some coin in th' kitty. The barman'll do the rest. And may the blessin's of good Saint Patrick dog yer footsteps all yer days til they bury ye... and after!</p>
<hr><p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/de48790675c2aa0d6fd8df32a9bb7b08cb324e45/original/shillelagh-otoole-300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Song art image" height="300" width="300" /></p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057851
2017-03-08T19:00:00-05:00
2021-01-15T04:49:59-05:00
Ireland's Cruelest Pirate: The Untold Story (Part 2 of 3)
<p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; border: 1px solid #76a6a6; padding: 1em;">Part 2 of a 3-part series on the never before revealed alternative history of Ireland's least famous pirate, from the widely ignored paper by Dr. Padraig Finagle, reprinted by kind permission. (If you missed Part 1, it's <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="" title="Part 1: Ireland's Cruelest Pirate">HERE</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.5em; font-style: italic;">Excerpt from <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-1-of-3" style="">Part 1</a>:</p>
<p><strong>Séamlus O'Toole (c. 1650 - 1694)</strong> is the most famous Irish pirate in maritime alternative history. Little is known of his origins beyond a vague reference in a mid-15th century Irish tavern ledger, discovered in university archives at Dublin in 1984. The entry appears to identify his father as being a sailor (name unknown) who skipped out on his reckoning, and his mother a tavern "strumpet" whom he failed to pay for services rendered, thus losing the landlord his cut, and gaining the lady a son.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.5em; font-style: italic;">Begin Part 2:</p>
<h3>Folklore</h3>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5837dc35d2fad56d92fe07061f4af8b5ebf08bba/original/otoole-wanted-poster.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjgweDQ0NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Drawing of Irish pirate Seamlus O'Toole" height="447" style=" margin: 8px;" width="280" />According to maritime folk legends that grew up around him, the only weapon O'Toole ever used was a big ugly blackthorn cudgel, or <a data-imported="1" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillelagh_%28club%29" title="Info on Wikipedia ">"shillelagh"</a>, from which arose the name by which he is today remembered: Shillelagh O'Toole. <br><br>Seafaring legend hands down an image of a thoroughly depraved, merciless marauder, enamored of his big shillelagh (modern historians have postulated that he suffered from <a data-imported="1" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder" title="Narcissictic Personality Disorder (Wikipedia)">NPD</a>). We are left with a picture of an evil red-haired bandit of the brine who wreaked havoc upon travelers of many nations, abused women, and scuttled perfectly sound ships for fun and profit (when he did not take them outright and give them over to various unprincipled henchmen to toy with), until the fateful day when he met a man "whose shillelagh was bigger than his". Modern-day philosophers see in this a Life Lesson to which certain People in High Places right now would do well to pay heed.</p>
<h3>Death</h3>
<p>David Neil O’Dowd (c. 1673 - 1755), an Irishman and compatriot of O’Toole is credited with killing him during his attempt to board and take the Scottish freighter <em>Maid O’Cadiz</em>, enroute from Valencia to Dundee with a cargo of oranges for the marmalade industry.</p>
<p>Why O’Toole would have wanted such a cargo remains a matter for speculation, as the benefits of vitamin C in the prevention and cure of scurvy were unknown at the time. Some folklorists who really should get out more think someone may have told him that the orange stuff the <em>Maid</em> carried in her hold was some rare kind of Spanish gold, and the greedy bastard believed it.</p>
<p>There is no historical proof of how death was inflicted. However, maritime folk legend has it that O’Dowd was also possessed of an Irish shillelagh, which was bigger than O’Toole’s, and with which the young sailor "knocked old O’Toole straight into Hell", thereby ending the pirate's legend and launching his own.</p>
<p><a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-3-of-3" style="">CONTINUED IN PART 3...</a></p>
<hr><p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hk_PSX2XufA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/93a0c8b3d318ed8376c436ebcf9d46ebe74d129c/original/prof-finagle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODB4NzUiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="Prof. Padraic Finagle" height="75" style=" margin: 12px;" width="80" />ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<br>Padraig Finagle is Ass. Professor of Alternative History and Brewing at the Auxiliary Maritime Institute and Public House of Skibbereen, Ireland. He holds an MBA (Master of Brewing Ales) from Boozer University, Kilkenny Ireland and is a fellow of the Guinness Institute, from which he holds an honorary D.D.T. (Doctor of Delirium Tremens).</p>
<hr>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057850
2017-03-03T19:00:00-05:00
2021-01-15T04:47:49-05:00
Ireland's Cruelest Pirate: The Untold Story (Part 1 of 3)
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/467f746ae2e03e2738d5b7e5b6798675d0a007d2/original/otoole-mum-yum.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDI4MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Artist depiction of Irish pirate Seamlis O'Toole's mother" height="281" style=" margin: 10px 12px;" width="200" /></strong></p>
<p><em>By Dr. Padraig Finagle (reprinted by kind permission)</em></p>
<p><strong>Séamlus O'Toole (c. 1650 - 1694)</strong> is the most famous Irish pirate in maritime alternative history. Little is known of his origins beyond a vague reference in a mid-15th century Irish tavern ledger, discovered in university archives at Dublin in 1984. The entry appears to identify his father as being a sailor (name unknown) who skipped out on his reckoning, and his mother a tavern "strumpet" whom he failed to pay for services rendered, thus losing the landlord his cut, and gaining the lady a son.</p>
<h3>Historical Record</h3>
<p>Very little can actually be historically verified about O’Toole, as he was so secretive and highly adept at vanishing without witnesses, from his sudden onset in 1688, until the <em>Maid O' Cadiz</em> incident in 1694, about which more later. However, he was, apparently, actively engaged in piracy on the high seas during those years, which fall within the so-called "golden age of piracy". Why historians of that era have been universally silent about him is one of the many great mysteries of the sea.<br><br>The first known historical artifact that alludes to his name is a crew manifest of the <em>Bess Millie</em> from 1660, which shows the young Séamlus logged aboard as Cabin Boy at the Irish port of Baltimore, giving his age as 10 years, and noting his indenture to "repaye certain debtes" of his prostitute (implied) mother, whose age by this time apparently precluded creditors from accepting other forms of payment.<br><br>Nothing more surfaces in the historical record until 1674, when the log of the English merchant vessel <em>Inda Boggs</em> was washed ashore with other flotsam on the south-west coast of Ireland in late November of that year. The last page of the log bears a mostly illegible entry, dated March 17, which nonetheless provides a significant historical clue:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" style="border-color: #eeeeee; border-width: 0px; width: 90%; border-style: solid; background-color: #76a6a6;"><tbody> <tr> <td style="color: #f2efdf; font-size: medium; padding: 1em;">
<span style="font-style:italic">[illegible…]</span> Captin and mayte dedd of strange maladie, <span style="font-style:italic">[blots]</span> cursed simly, G.R.H.S. <span style="font-style:italic">[splotches]</span> Secund mayte S. Otoole <span style="font-style:italic">[faded blots]</span> cudgel <span style="font-style:italic">[illegible blur]</span> basturd <span style="font-style:italic">[faded scrawl]</span> vessile now commandeth.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="margin-top: 0.5em;">From amidst the many illegible blots, splotches and blurs, one can glean the following:<br><em>Captin and mayte dedd of strange maladie... cursed simly, G.R.H.S.</em> (obviously "God Rest His Soul")... <em>Secund mayte S. Otoole... cudgel... basturd </em>(misspelled)... <em>vessile now commandeth</em>".</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.5em;">Maritime historians with nothing better to do speculate that O'Toole, an ordinary seaman risen evidently to a second mate’s berth, when unexpectedly finding himself in command, was unable to resist making off with the the ship and its cargo, disappearing until the loot was spent, to reappear as <em>"a bloodie newe redd Irishe pirate"</em> in 1688.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.5em;"><em><a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://robertpalomo.com/blog/blog/ireland-s-cruelest-pirate-the-untold-story-part-2-of-3" style="" title="Read Part 2">CONTINUED...</a></em></p>
<hr><p style="margin-top: 0.5em;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hk_PSX2XufA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/93a0c8b3d318ed8376c436ebcf9d46ebe74d129c/original/prof-finagle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODB4NzUiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="Prof. Padraic Finagle" height="75" style=" margin: 12px;" width="80" />ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<br>Padraig Finagle is Ass. Professor of Alternative History and Brewing at the Auxiliary Maritime Institute and Public House of Skibbereen, Ireland. He holds an MBA (Master of Brewing Ales) from Boozer University, Kilkenny Ireland and is a fellow of the Guinness Institute, from which he holds an honorary D.D.T. (Doctor of Delirium Tremens).</p>
<hr>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057846
2017-01-19T19:00:00-05:00
2017-01-19T18:24:15-05:00
We have met the enemy and he is us
<p>Today I'm remembering my maternal grandfather, Bernard Reynolds Lewis, a career officer who served in the United States Navy in two world wars. He was perhaps the calmest individual I have ever known. He had me driving the pickup on the country roads as soon as I could reach the pedals (and steering while sitting on his lap for years before that.) None of my wilder swerves ever phased him. I have always thought it ironic that he was felled by a heart attack, but that was likely more from southern diet and years of cigars than high-strung temperament.</p>
<p>My family happened to be visiting the small village in the Missouri Ozarks at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. That would have made me not quite 10 years old. I remember the adults were gathered around the radio, as there was no TV reception there in those pre-cable days. I was old enough to understand that we stood at the brink of the abyss. I'd been put thru those "duck, cover, and kiss your ass goodbye" drills in school. I'd been exposed to McCarthyite hysteria of neighbors warning us little kids of the impending takeover of America by Evil Godless Communists. In short, I was a pretty damn scared little kid. My grandfather saw this and came and sat with me.</p>
<p>With the fuzziness of the intervening decades, I'm unable to quote him verbatim anymore, but I still remember the main thrust of what he told me, and as closely as I can remember now, it went like this:</p>
<blockquote style="font-style: italic; margin: 1em 1.5em;">"America is so strong, I don't think you need to worry about it being conquered by a foreign country. If America is ever conquered, it will be us who'll do it. What do I mean? I mean, if you get to a day where the tycoons take control of the government. They've tried it before, and they'll keep on trying. They'll sell a lot of snake oil to a lot of foolish folks, who'll go along with them until one day they wake up and find it's too late. They'll talk a good line while they dismantle the Constitution, and they'll swear to high heaven it's for God and country. When you're grown up, that's what you should always watch out for."</blockquote>
<p>The day "Grandpap" Lewis warned of has come to pass. I've been watching it come since the Reagan years, understanding where it would end (though not with whom until the 2016 primaries). The conquest from within is now complete. I will not waste many words over it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/eba80f379543ba08efb7e983b10e95237c4ab86a/original/hordes-r-us.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzYweDM0OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="348" width="360" /></p>
<p>To my fellow Americans who brought us to this pass, I say only this: I pity you. There is still such a thing in the universe as right and wrong, even if you're confused about it. You have, quite simply, chosen <em>wrong</em>. But you can't see it, and no power on earth will open your eyes. So no pointless argument, no sound-byte labels, no name calling. History will judge you. Our descendants will despise and curse your memory. go ahead and revel in your Pyrrhic victory - much good may it do you.</p>
<p>But know this: <em>I</em> for one will resist you. You and those who robbed and then cynically manipulated you because you had no more wit than to buy their snake oil. You and what you have imposed on me, on that which was once my country, and on the world. I <em>will</em> resist. Count on it.</p>
<hr>
<p> </p>
<p>P.S. If you hate this post, you might also hate this: <em><a href="http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/19/let-the-record-show/" data-imported="1">Let The Record Show</a></em></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057845
2016-12-10T19:00:00-05:00
2021-12-28T10:43:59-05:00
Sick of Syrupy "Holiday" Music? Here's One Way to Get Some Relief.
<p><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCq4wnjuGZA/VJjoL28t_LI/AAAAAAAAB-I/pgNq-oi0Ixw/s1600/123.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Pirate Santa" height="214" style=" margin: 10px;" width="166" />They did it again, didn't they? You walked into [FILL IN WHERE] the day after Halloween and were slapped upside the head with strains of <em>Jingle Bells</em>, <em>Frosty the Snowman</em>, <em>White Christmas</em>, etc. etc. etc. etc. "Aaaaaauuuugggghhhh!" screamed your brain. By this time in December you're so thoroughly sick of all those damned Christmas songs you feel like Scrooge before he met those spooks.</p>
<p>Well now you can <strong>fight back!</strong> Here's a salty answer to all that syrupy sugar-coated "holiday music" swill: <em><strong>Heave Me Hearties All!</strong> - </em>my original <strong>Christmas sea shanty</strong>. Not entirely politically correct, and a bit irreverent and bawdy around the edges...</p>
<p><em>Well we've got a carpenter on board<br>But he ain't nothing like Our Lord<br>Pickled in gin, he ain't no good<br>Lyin' in the scuppers sawin' wood!</em></p>
<p><em>Oh it's true we're not religious men<br>We slip from virtue now and then<br>If ever we get some time ashore<br>You'll find us drunk with a cozy whore</em></p>
<p>Slap <em>that</em> on 'em at the office party, Aunt Maggie's Christmas Eve turkey curry buffet, or other holiday event. (Well, maybe not church unless yours is a really liberal sect.)</p>
<p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=421355242/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;"></iframe></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Get this one for your personal holiday music arsenal today!</h3>
<p style="margin: 24px 0px; text-align: left;">And for those of you with a yachtsman in your life... or even just a sailor down on the docks... this will make a nice (and CHEAP!) gift when the holiday season sails into your home port. And grab a copy for yourself while your about it. The sanity you save may be your own!</p>
<p style="margin: 24px 0px; text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/d07b9a1cc501194f17c2cf0fbbeda253d3631b96/original/albumart-robertpalomobanjocentric5-800x800.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 24px 0;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomobanjocentric5"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/237cfe9c9a92f1d0602ceb8bf01d855cde761e25/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk1Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on CD Baby" height="95" width="178" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q3WBOUY/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/795dddc093975b3519d4dca5d0c4836720c80f43/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on Amazon" height="94" width="178" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heave-me-hearties-all/id945066124?i=945066128"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/77ee2f270be51a268bfd7b86a1438bdc8ce63449/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc1eDkzIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on iTunes" height="93" width="175" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/sea-songs" title="Robert's banjo-centric sea songs page"><strong>More sea songs...</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"> </p>
<hr><p><strong>COMMENTS I GOT LAST YEAR</strong></p>
<p>"I wanted to sail away for a year and a day. Fun music!" - <em>Lydia (Germany)</em></p>
<p>"Deck the halls with salt mackerel, matey." <em>- Gerome (United Kingdom)</em></p>
<p>"Your a blasfemer (sic) against Jesus." <em>- Anonymous (USA, probably. Where else?)</em></p>
<p>"I want to spend Christmas with these sailors!" <em>- Melinda (Vancouver, Canada)</em> <–– I know some sailors who'd go for that... arrr!</p>
<p>"Ahhhhhhhh … Now I’m in the Christmas Spirit!" <em>- Greg (Minnesota, USA)</em></p>
<p><strong>Leave your comment below, matey!</strong></p>
<hr><p class="Verse" style="text-align: right;">Copyright © 2016 R. Palomo, Jr. All rights reserved.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057843
2016-10-13T20:00:00-04:00
2016-10-14T05:03:04-04:00
5 Free Ways You Can Support Your Favorite Musicians
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/171c4668a2e5f435cae06bcc161cebf0ee7832d3/original/music-fan.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzM1eDIyNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Music fans at live show" height="224" style=" margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" width="335" />Making a living making music has never been easy. In today's "music should be free" world, it's tougher than ever. But thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of music by independent ("indie") artists out there that's not spoon-fed to you by corporate types at big record labels. But because they don't have label $$$ behind them, <strong>indie artists must rely solely on fans </strong>for support.</p>
<p>The best way to help out your favorite indie musicians is, of course, to buy their albums, singles, or their merch - and come to their live shows if possible. But if you're cash strapped, or if you've already bought (kudos to you!) there still are still things you can do that can really help your favorite indie artists a lot - and they won't cost you a cent.</p>
<p><strong>Here are 5 simple, easy and free ways to support your favorite indie music makers:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<strong>Share the artist's Facebook page, posts and videos</strong> with people you know who you think might share your appreciation.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1em;">On social media, <strong>share a link to the artist's website</strong> with some comments about why you like him/her/them.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<strong>Write positive reviews</strong> of the artist's albums and/or singles on iTunes, Amazon, and anywhere else they sell their music that provides the possibility to write reviews.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Like, and leave <strong>positive comments</strong> on the artist's videos on <strong>YouTube</strong> and share your favorite videos with friends and family who might like the video and the artist.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Whenever you share something, <strong>encourage others to also share</strong> with people they know who might like the content.</li>
</ol>
<p>OK, sure... some will say, "Hey, none of that pays the rent or buys food!" - which is quite true. But if you do any of these things for them, I very much doubt that most struggling indie artists will be complaining. And if you do lend a hand, don't hesitate to let the artist know.</p>
<h2>Try it with my music!</h2>
<p>So how about it, folks? Could I enlist you and maybe a few friends to do any (dare I say, all??) of the following to support the music I have been, and will be putting out there for you?</p>
<ul>
<li>Share my website with people you know: <a href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/" data-imported="1"><strong>www.robertpalomo.com</strong></a>. Or share one of these pages:</li>
<ul>
<li>Music (streaming audio): <a href="/music" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><strong>www.robertpalomo.com/music/</strong></a>
</li>
<li>Videos: <a href="/videos" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><strong>www.robertpalomo.com/videos/<br></strong></a>
</li>
</ul>
<li>Follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RobertPalomoMusic/" data-imported="1"><strong>my Facebook page</strong></a> and share it, and posts with people you know.<br><br>
</li>
<li>Write reviews of my music on any or all of these sites:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A163856011%2Ck%3ARobert+Palomo%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011&keywords=Robert+Palomo&ie=UTF8&qid=1476435280" data-imported="1"><strong>Amazon.com</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1"><strong>iTunes</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1"><strong>CD Baby<br></strong></a></li>
</ul>
<li>Leave comments on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2R5AjeV9jBDKjPsGEuaRcA" data-imported="1"><strong>my YouTube videos<br></strong></a>
</li>
<li>Lastly, but not "leastly", why not buy a single or two: I recommend <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" data-imported="1"><strong>CD Baby</strong></a> because a higher percentage of the price goes to artists. But if you prefer <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" data-imported="1"><strong>iTunes</strong></a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A163856011%2Ck%3ARobert+Palomo%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011&keywords=Robert+Palomo&ie=UTF8&qid=1476435280" data-imported="1"><strong>Amazon.com</strong></a>, hey, I won't protest!</li>
</ul>
<p>I'd love to hear from you in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter about anything you do!</p>
<p style="text-align: right; font-size: smaller; font-style: italic;">Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sheezyfries/14640068686/" data-imported="1">flickr.com/messicanbeer</a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057841
2016-08-17T20:00:00-04:00
2022-03-03T10:44:22-05:00
The Life of a Cabin Boy is BAD!
<p><a title="Buy on Bandcamp" href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/cabin-boy" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/69bbc78bd1fb7fb4ee41b0b01f23f11690711291/original/cabin-boy-song-art.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song art" height="300" style=" margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" width="300" /></a>Various sea adventure stories are built around the theme of the young boy from a small village who feels dissatisfied with hum-drum village life and dreams of going to sea and living a life of adventure and romance... and by hook or crook does it. But if you know anything of the history of old-time sailing ships, you understand that life aboard them was often anything but romantic, and whatever adventure there may have been was not generally the sort you'd really want. <br><br>A young lad who went off to sea most generally began as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_boy" data-imported="1">cabin boy</a>. In <em>Captains Courageous</em>, Rudyard Kipling describes the job as "cook's helper an' everything else aboard that's too dirty for the men." Famous names like Nelson and Drake began their illustrious careers as cabin boys.<br><br>What started me off writing this song was happening across the 1954 film <a title="Movie on YouTube" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HrPGKphLEw" data-imported="1">Long John Silver</a> (a.k.a. Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island), starring Robert Newton, the actor who gave us the "talk like a pirate" accent. There is a scene aboard the ship of the evil Spanish pirate "Mendozer" (Mendoza) in which Long John Silver (Newton) is cutting a dirty deal when the grog runs out. Mendoza calls for the cabin boy, who turns out to be none other than young Jim Hawkins, Long John's protegé from Treasure Island, who has been kidnapped and pressed into service on the pirate vessel, against which he staunchly rebels. <br><br>Not wanting Mendoza to see that he knows Jim, Silver abuses him roundly and has him flung from the cabin. As Jim collapses in misery at the foot of the stairs leading to the deck, thinking his friend has turned on him, Newton's voice is heard in the background delivering a classic line: "Cabin boys - none of 'em be any good!" And from those few seconds of film came another of my "new old sea songs".<br><br>The scene and that line got me to thinking about those sea adventure stories, and I thought it might be fun to write a song retelling the story of the "boy who ran away to sea" story from the point of view of the boy himself, in a letter back home to Mother, in which he bemoans his folly and misery. Sounds like a pretty dismal song, doesn't it? Well, I don't think you'll find yourself depressed by the end result. And beside, you <em>know</em> how boys will exaggerate to get sympathy!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>LISTEN NOW!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=4101196718/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>LIKE IT? GET YOUR PERSONAL COPY AT:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a title="Buy single on Bandcamp" href="https://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/cabin-boy?action=buy&from=embed" data-imported="1">Bandcamp</a></strong> | <strong><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo6" data-imported="1">CD Baby</a></strong> | <strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cabin-Boy-Robert-Palomo/dp/B01HH7UFZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1466921626&sr=1-1-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Robert+Palomo" data-imported="1">Amazon</a></strong> | <strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cabin-boy-single/id1127304768" data-imported="1">iTunes</a></strong></p>
<hr>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057840
2016-04-14T20:00:00-04:00
2022-05-13T03:01:41-04:00
Sailing With T-Rex on Noah's Ark
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/noah-could-not-navigate?action=buy&from=embed" title="Buy track on Bandcamp"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8d5cb07eafadacfe63e424f3507e7cb831846dce/original/noah-song-art-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjU0eDI1NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="TRex boarding Noah's Ark" height="254" style=" margin: 8px 10px;" width="254" /></a>You never know what's going to inspire a song. In this case it was a <strong>news story</strong> that flashed across my Facebook timeline that featured a sweet-looking gray-haired lady in glasses who looked like everybody's cookie-baking grandma. But the headline made me think that her cookies might be only half-baked: "<a contents="A Texan Who Called Obama a Gay Prostitute May Soon Control What Goes in Children’s Textbooks" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/04/a-texan-who-called-obama-a-gay-prostitute-may-soon-control-what-goes-in-childrens-textbooks/" target="_blank">A Texan Who Called Obama a Gay Prostitute May Soon Control What Goes in Children’s Textbooks</a>".</p>
<p>Amid various half-baked cookies in the article, what set off the songwriting muse was the one about the <strong>dinosaurs aboard Noah's Ark</strong>. Here's what immediately went thru what was left of my brain after reading about that:</p>
<p><em>The beasties came from near and far </em><br><em>From ants to wild boars </em><br><em>And the Texas Board of Ed. </em><br><em>Says also dinosaurs</em></p>
<p>I quickly noted that down. Noah's Ark has a nautical aspect, I have developed a propensity for writing "<a data-imported="1" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" style="">new old sea songs</a>", and I soon realized I had just started on another one. <strong>Sea shanties</strong> often told a <strong>story</strong>, providing some entertainment as the sailors worked. So I tried to imagine myself as the bosun on some sailing vessel shifted forward in time from the old days, singing out as the crew heaves at the capstan to weigh anchor. And what, I wondered, might be the rough and tumble sailor's take on the Noah's Ark story in this day and age?</p>
<p>The end result is <strong>"Noah Could Not Navigate"</strong> - a <a data-imported="1" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_%28nautical%29">capstan</a> shanty after the old tradition with some <strong>modern-day United-Statesian lunacy</strong> woven in:</p>
<p><em>Climate change deniers</em><br><em>Noah heard their howls and groans</em><br><em>As the Ark she floated off</em><br><em>And they all met Davy Jones!</em></p>
<p>Have a listen to the tune right here:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3591589424/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 70%; height: 42px;" width="320"></iframe><br><span style="font-style:italic">Like it? 'Tis a mere buck on <a data-imported="1" href="http://robertpalomo-singer-songwriter.bandcamp.com/track/noah-could-not-navigate?action=buy&from=embed" title="Buy track on Bandcamp.com">Bandcamp</a> or <a contents="this site" data-link-label="Noah Could Not Navigate" data-link-type="page" href="/noah-could-not-navigate">this site</a></span></p>
<p>One "Christian" has already informed me via social media that <strong>I'm going to hell</strong> for having done this, so that's already been attended to, saving you the trouble.</p>
<p>See you there.</p>
<p>P.S. Special thanks to my mailing list subscriber Evan M. from Norfolk, England for the winning song title on my recent "Name My New Sea Shanty" contest. He wrote me: "Love the song, mate! I really thought it was an old shanty until I heard the Texas bit!" <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/3-free-songs" title="Subscribe to my email list!">Join my email list</a> and you might get to name my next one!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Really well done dig the vocals" - Johnny Stone, Australia</em></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: left; font-size: x-small;">CREDITS:<br>Noah's Ark (1846) by Edward Hicks – <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/7355500526/" style="" title="Photo on flickr.com">flickr/Jim the Photographer</a><br>T-Rex – flickr/Mighty Travls (account now gone)</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057837
2016-02-11T19:00:00-05:00
2016-03-12T10:26:44-05:00
Romance and Cheap Tacos - Who Knew?
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1881177609/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<h2>Birth of a Song</h2>
<p>I have a virtual friend in Minnesota, USA, who is my <strong>favorite songwriter</strong> who is at least as <strong>obscure</strong> I am. He writes some lovely stuff (see <a title="Flowers Under the Snow on Soundcloud" href="https://soundcloud.com/robert-palomo/flowers-under-the-snow" data-imported="1">"Flowers Under the Snow"</a> on Soundcloud). In late autumn of 2015 he posted a <strong>songwriting challenge </strong>on one of the musician sites were we hang out: write a song around the words "who knew". Now I've learned to pay attention when <a title="Greg Connor's music on Alonetone.com" href="http://alonetone.com/connor" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Mr. Greg Connor</a> does that because a couple of my favorite tunes I've written in recent years stem from one of his challenges (see <a href="/irish-for-a-day" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"Irish for a Day"</a>). So when I came across his post I thought, OK, I'll have at it.</p>
<h3>Influence #1: Petty Morons on Facebook</h3>
<p><img src="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Pictures/web/a/e/q/silhouette-of-head-with-empty-brain-illustratio_450.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="empty head" height="113" style=" margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" width="171" />You just never know what's going to influence the writing of a song. Before I could get to working on the challenge, I was over on <strong>Facebook</strong> where a couple of <strong>morons</strong> in some group were having one of those <strong>idiotic debates</strong> on the general female attractiveness of <strong><a title="Alison Kraus and Union Station - official website" href="http://alisonkrauss.com/" data-imported="1">Alison Krauss</a></strong>. One of these morons said, "...her eyes are too little and beady and her nose is huge". (I can only imagine the <strong>pot-bellied Adonis</strong> that jerk probably is!) Now that l'il fiddlin' bluegrass woman has won more <strong>Grammy Awards</strong> than any other artist on the planet. Who cares if she looks like a <em>slug</em> if she still does what she does?!</p>
<p>My brain, in wrapping itself around that <strong>absurd </strong>bit of<strong> petty nonsense</strong>, went something like this: "oh... her eyes are too beady, too large is her snoot... big freaking deal!" Then it hit me that I had the <strong>first line of a song</strong> in that thought... and maybe I could work it into something for the "Who Knew?" challenge.</p>
<h3>Influence #2: The Challenger</h3>
<p><a title="Greg Connor's 'Rosie' playlist on Alonetone.com" href="http://alonetone.com/connor/playlists/r-o-s-i-e" data-imported="1"><img src="http://stash.alonetone.com/pics/63286/Fat_Lady_large.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Rosie" height="125" style=" margin: 12px 8px;" width="125" /></a>Once I got the first line penned and started to buckle down, I knew right off that I wanted to include some of the characteristics of Greg's songs: <strong>romance</strong>, <strong>humor</strong> (the man wrote a romantic song about plucking a chicken - and made it work!), and (for some obscure reason) <strong>Las Cruces, New Mexico</strong> (his <em>Rose of Las Cruces</em> is about a 300-pound apron-wearing lover of banjo-playing men - you gotta hear it to get it - check out the <a href="http://alonetone.com/connor/playlists/r-o-s-i-e" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Rosie playlist</a> sometime!) Anyway, once I got going, the song fell out in about 30 minutes.</p>
<h3>Influence #3: Evil Subversive Russia</h3>
<p>I think my <strong>20-years living in Russia</strong> is having some effect on me as an arranger. In the Total Chaos studio, I got all the tracks laid down, with several tracks of the solo played on different guitars. But I didn’t like any of them. I tried banjo... blechh! Mandolin: <strong>#fail</strong>! I struggled. I got nowhere. I had hit arranger/producer block on a romantic song with Valentine's Day right around the corner - <em>блин!</em></p>
<p>Then I woke up one night at 3 a.m. thinking: <strong><em>“accordion!”</em></strong> As my conscious mind came awake it shrieked “NO! NOT <em>THAT!</em> ARE YOU NUTS?” But sure as hell nothing <em>else</em> was working, so I tried a solo using an accordion plugin with my keyboard. And dogged if I didn't <em>like</em> it. Folks, the evil subversive influence of Russia is the only way to account for this!</p>
<p>The track would be better with a button accordion played by someone like <a title="Fausto Beccalossi with Al Di Meola on YouTube" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKxPbinmqBA&list=PL4AE0162D085BB630" data-imported="1">Fausto Beccalossi</a> (who plays with Al Di Meola). But Al is Al and I is me, and this is what it is: a <strong>corny romantic ditty</strong> for anyone who has been hitched, spliced, or otherwise hanging out with someone for more than a couple of years... or anyone who's ever sampled the <strong>taco special</strong> in a <strong>Las Cruces honky tonk</strong>.</p>
<p>Break out the hot sauce and enjoy!</p>
<p><iframe height="240" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1881177609/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=76a6a6/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p> <br><a href="/who-knew" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">"Who Knew?"</a> is written, performed and produced by Robert Palomo <br>Song art photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/debaird/1388551920/" data-imported="1">flickr/debaird</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" data-imported="1">Creative Commons license</a>) <br>Thanks to <a title="Greg Connor on Alonetone" href="http://alonetone.com/connor" data-imported="1">Greg Connor</a> for the songwriting challenge!</p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/7f849fa4452adc3263ffb4f39a62ec2a8627cfa5/original/who-knew-song-art-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjM3eDIzNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="237" width="237" /></p>
<p style="text-align: right;">Copyright © 2016 Robert Palomo Jr. All rights reserved.</p>
<hr>
<!-- <p style="text-align: center;">[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER]</p> -->
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Buy Who Knew on CD Baby (recommended)" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo4" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9a2ad002aad51fbbbc53725a62f5e54df0e47d3d/original/buy-who-knew-on-cdbaby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjA1eDExMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Who Knew on CD Baby" height="110" width="205" /></a> <a title="Visit Robert's music shop" href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/shop" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2a19d7cf7964b015ba0ff4900775c7f16c6adadd/original/buying-supports-msf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzUyeDExMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="110" width="352" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Also available <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BQXH0VG?ie=UTF8&keywords=Robert%20Palomo&qid=1455527031&ref_=sr_1_5&s=dmusic&sr=1-5-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0" data-imported="1">Amazon</a> and <a title="Buy Who Knew by Robert Palomo on iTunes" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/who-knew-single/id1084189788" data-imported="1">iTunes</a></p>
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Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057838
2015-12-08T19:00:00-05:00
2015-12-16T19:31:28-05:00
Relief for Christmas Carol Congestion
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9a8c847550b2a2bf802241139c228859b8d76bb6/original/heave-me-hearties-art-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDIyNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song art: Heave Me Hearties All" height="225" style=" margin: 8px 10px;" width="225" />Are you <strong>tired</strong> of hearing the <strong>same ol'</strong> same ol' <strong>Christmas songs</strong>? You know... the ones they've been playing in Walmart since mid-October. Is the sticky sweetness of it all starting to make you queasy? Do you have any of these symptoms?</p>
<ul>
<li>You turn pale when <em>White Christmas</em> comes over the mall Muzak.</li>
<li>Your skull rings when <em>Jingle Bells</em> hits it in Pizza Hut.</li>
<li>Something inside screams "OH SHUT UP!!!" during <em>Silent Night</em> at Zippy Oil Change.</li>
<li>You wish <em>Away in a Manger</em> really was, as you're filling up at Mobil. Far away.</li>
<li>Your brain starts melting right along with <em>Frosty the Snowman</em>.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Relief is at hand</strong></h3>
<p>Here's the <strong>new</strong> and <strong>different</strong> Christmas music you are needing right about now. All the holiday spirit with none of the gooey sweetness - to the point where it may not be entirely suitable for today's kiddie parties, corporate holiday events, or church socials. (There - you have received fair warning!)</p>
<p>No, this is music for kind of guys we read that Jesus picked up on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and hung out with, to the disgust of the right-wing conservatives of the time and place. The references to a gin-swilling carpenter, ladies of the Magdalena sort, and the general lack of political correctness typical of sailor songs can still send the tempest in a teacup types into a tizzy. Again... fair warning!</p>
<h3>Stream it and enjoy!</h3>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177223622&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>Play it at your (or a friend's) Christmas party and see what happens! (Do come back an let me know what happens in the comments!)</p>
<h3>Ensure relief for years to come</h3>
<p>If you find that <a title="Song lyrics and back story" href="/heave-me-hearties-all" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><em>Heave Me Hearties All</em></a> relieves your case of Christmas Carol Congestion, how about picking up a copy so you'll have it handy for all those Christmases to come? Sales help support <a title="MSF" href="http://www.msf.orh" data-imported="1">Doctors Without Borders</a>... so you can feel good about that too.</p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 24px 0;"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomobanjocentric5" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/237cfe9c9a92f1d0602ceb8bf01d855cde761e25/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk1Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on CD Baby" height="95" width="178" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q3WBOUY/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/795dddc093975b3519d4dca5d0c4836720c80f43/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on Amazon" height="94" width="178" /></a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heave-me-hearties-all/id945066124?i=945066128" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/77ee2f270be51a268bfd7b86a1438bdc8ce63449/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc1eDkzIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on iTunes" height="93" width="175" /></a></p>
<p>As for me, all I want for Christmas this year is what them there angels were singing about: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Among People". Bring it on.</p>
<hr>
<div style="margin: 32px auto; width: 70%; border: 1px solid #999; background-color: #eee; font-size: smaller; padding: 1em 2em;">
<p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">FEDERALLY MANDATED CAUTION</p>
<p>A small percentage of patients may experience side effects which can include drinking to excess, cuddling up to inappropriate persons at parties, singing loudly off key, banging goblets on the table, and running away to sea. Ask your doctor if <em>Heave Me Hearties All</em> is right for you. If ye even has a scurvy doctor. If ye can even afford th' damned barnacle. If yer thinkin' a bloody sawrbones'll have any blasted' clue. Arrrrr!</p>
</div>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057835
2015-09-10T20:00:00-04:00
2016-10-12T21:16:59-04:00
I'm For The Sheepdog And I Don't Care Who Knows It
<p>When I was a kid growing up in a rural neighborhood in central Ohio, USA, we had a neighbor who was a sheep farmer. The subdivision where my parents built a house along with a lot of other post-war GI Bill educated young white collar families was probably originally part of that farm.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/3cf6859c09a787b0b77bc118911e75f1f35c50a5/original/buy-walmart-sheep.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzcxeDI0MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Photo of sheep. Caption: Buy WalMart at 64" height="241" style=" margin: 10px;" width="371" />Ironically (it seems now), this woman was a rabid <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy" data-imported="1">McCarthy</a> anti-communist. She would roll down our street in a huge ominous-looking 1940s vintage black Buick, stopping to drop off anti-communist tracts for our parents. My mom always smiled, thanked politely, and tossed them in the fireplace as soon as she was gone.</p>
<p>Madame Sheep Farmer was a scary apparition for the neighborhood kids. She would regale us with <strong>horror stories</strong> about <strong>evil Russians</strong> and <strong>godless Communists</strong>. The one that especially haunted me was about how <em>"children in Russia are taken away from their parents when they're 3 years old and sent to live in Communist schools where they are being prepared to come and <strong>take over America</strong>"</em>. <strong>TOTAL CLAP-TRAP</strong>, as I would some day learn first-hand. Very much like the brand being served us these days, from all sides.</p>
<p>There was one other scary thing about this buzzard: her big double-barrel <strong>shotgun</strong>. I think it must have been about 29 gauge. After the <strong>Russian Commie Scare of the Week</strong>, as she was climbing into her big black <strong>Bat Cave on wheels</strong>, she would show us that cannon and admonish us: <em>"Now you kids keep yer dogs t'home, 'cause if they come on my land and run my sheep THIS is what they'll get!"</em> And away she would drive in a cloud of sweetness and light, stars and stripes, oblivious to the nightmares she induced in the small-fry in her wake.</p>
<h2>Dogs, Sheep, Corporations and Humans</h2>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223125502&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" style="float: right; margin: 12px;" width="200"></iframe></p>
<p>Now the thing about dogs is this: your average cuddly <strong>family pet</strong> simply <strong>doesn't care a flying rat's ass about sheep</strong>... not on his own. But let 3 or 4 of these sweet darlings get loose together and come across a flock, the primordial pack resurges and they'll run those critters until they drop dead, and maybe even kill a few outright from sheer deviltry. Sheep farmers don't tolerate dogs "running sheep". Family pet or no family pet, it's <em>ka-powie!</em></p>
<p>This fact about dogs and sheep reminds me a lot of corporations and humans. You take a bunch of <em>homo sapiens</em>, fundamentally decent, civil, upright, neighborly and all that... who individually would never do anything to distress or harm another person... lump a bunch of them together under the auspices of a corporation, and they can get downright inhuman, perpetrating cruelty they'd never do on their own.</p>
<h3>"A Body That Ain't Got No Soul"</h3>
<p><strong>Corporations</strong> are a slick idea invented by certain sub-types within our species as a means of <strong>legally evading personal responsibility</strong> for their actions and consequences thereof. They cleverly packaged and sold this load of dingos' kidneys (R.I.P. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams" data-imported="1">Doug Adams</a>!) to governments and the public at large, to the point that these days, the complete insanity of the whole notion never even occurs to people. In fact, these snake oil salesmen have <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hornswoggle" data-imported="1">hornswoggled</a> their way into having incorporated entities declared legally as <em>people</em>. The slick sleight-of-hand known as <strong>"Citizens United"</strong> has lifted the Corporation to heights that only some of my compatriots could possibly swallow. </p>
<p>The word "corporation" of course comes from the Latin "corpus" meaning body. It's a special kind of body. As I wrote in my song <a title="Corporation Blues home page" href="/corporation-blues" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><em>Corporation Blues</em></a>, <em>"it's a body that ain't got no soul"</em>. Here's the audio stream:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="20" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/219604549&color=76a6a6&inverse=false&auto_play=false&show_user=true" style="border: 1px solid #76a6a6; padding: 4px;" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p><a title="Meet Bernie Sanders (new tab)" href="https://berniesanders.com/about/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/498ce5e3af7ff746b55e5e7697397c5985b904c2/original/bernie-banner.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjcyeDE5NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Banner: sales of Corporation Blues support Bernie Sanders for President" height="197" style=" margin: 12px;" width="272" /></a></p>
<h2>Time to Get Us a Good Sheep Dog</h2>
<p>On the whole US political scene, there is one man, and one man only with any kind of serious official rank who has had <strong>no truck with this nonsense from the outset</strong>, <em>and</em> who has had the <strong>cojones</strong> to rise up on his hind legs and bark vociferously about this crap. "The Wolves! The Wolves! Wake up! Wake up!" That man is <a title="Senator Bernie Sanders" href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov" data-imported="1"><strong>Senator Bernie Sanders</strong></a> of Vermont, and he's been barking a warning for decades. A lot of people are just now hearing about him, despite him getting the hush-hush treatment from the US mainstream media. I've been a fan of his since the 1980s heyday of President Ronnie Ray-gun. (Bernie has been around even longer than that.)</p>
<p>He calls himself a "socialist". Now "socialism" is a huge <strong>scare word</strong> for Americans (the US variety). Admittedly, people in the past have given it a bad name: Hitler and his National Socialist party, for example. When I was growing up, though, a lot of Senator Sanders' brand of "socialism" was just "normal". Public schools. Public highways. Public health. Social Security. The idea that government has a valid role in certain things that every person in the society needs (education, health care, clean air and water, for example) was simple mainstream common sense, and a point of national pride. Sadly, this is no longer the case.</p>
<h2>Rarin' Back and Barkin'</h2>
<p>At the risk of losing some friends (Facebook or regular), I'm raring back on <em>my</em> proverbial hind legs and supporting <strong>Bernie Sanders for President, 2016</strong>. Not counting on him winning, but his candidacy will force the Democratic Party to talk about issues that sorely need talking about. (The Republican Party is a lost cause entirely when it comes to even moderately intelligent debate). THEREFORE...</p>
<p><em><strong>I will donate 100% of the income from my single "Corporation Blues" to the <a href="https://berniesanders.com" data-imported="1">Sanders campaign</a> for as long as Bernie Sanders is in the running. </strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em> </em><a style="text-align: center;" title="Buy single on CD Baby" href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo3" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/d9bda5c163a93928706b56cdff263768fe61d677/original/buy-corp-blues-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjIyeDExNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Corporation Blues on CD Baby" height="117" width="222" /></a> </p>
<p>Now, some people reading this will disagree with my stance. Fine. But don't just snipe nastily. Write your own song, put it on your own site, and support <em>your</em> preferred candidate. That's how it's done. Differences of opinion are tolerated. Except in Evil Communist countries... ha!</p>
<h3>POST SCRIPT</h3>
<p><em>Mid-October, 2016</em> - It's more than a year, and untold millions of wasted $$$ since I posted the above. The 2016 campaign has become an embarrassing debacle to end all embarrassing debacles. For those who are still finding this post and screaming that I'm a "Bernie Bro" and wasting my vote, just read what I wrote: "as long as he's in the running". Senator Sanders told the American people what they needed to be told. He said it in the way it needed to be said. The American people proved they couldn't deal with that message and have chosen the candidates they have chosen.</p>
<p>One of those candidates has just said that if his opponent is elected, ISIS will "take over America". How fuckingly <em>dejà vu</em>. That old woman in the big black car with the shotgun and the boogie-man is still with us. And people are still swallowing the clap-trap. Well, I suppose that's more palatable than coming to grips with corporate conquest from within. </p>
<hr>
<!-- CDBABY BUY BUTTON & MSF BANNER -->
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Corporation Blues" href="/corporation-blues" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><em style="text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/1533643f15ccb80ce9d9aac746fa7240fa99027f/original/corp-blues-cover-art-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Song art image: Corporation Blues by Robert Palomo, indie singer songwriter" height="300" width="300" /></em></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em style="text-align: left;">Corporation Blues cover art image uses photo <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/enerva/8955696848" data-imported="1">"The Temp" by Sonny Abesamis</a> posted on Flickr (<em><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Creative Commons</a> license</em>)<br>Sheep <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" data-imported="1">photo</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanzebla/16120267362/" data-imported="1">flickr/stanzebla</a></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Meet Bernie Sanders (new tab)" href="https://berniesanders.com/about/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"> </a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057833
2015-04-22T20:00:00-04:00
2015-04-23T06:18:24-04:00
Traditional Bluegrass Song "2 Soldiers" Revisited. Some Will Say Killed In Action.
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/3f076cdedbcc7f94eb627984b08fce45f900184d/original/2-soldiers-song-art-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjExeDIxMSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song are image: Two Soldiers (arranged by singer-songwriter Robert Palomo)" height="211" style=" margin: 10px;" width="211" />The traditional song most widely know by the title <em>Two Soldiers</em> dates from the period of the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865). There are many variations of the lyrics and the tune. It is often played by bluegrass bands and might be called a "bluegrass standard".</p>
<p>I had never cared for the song the way bluegrass bands usually play it, but I could never quite put my finger on why. One day I was listening to the song on a new CD by a well-known bluegrass band, and it suddenly struck me that all the bluegrass bands I ever heard play the song did it in a sprightly cheerful tempo with zippy Scruggs-style banjo picking and "down-home" fiddling. But the song is a story about the horror, tragedy and futile waste of war. <em>Sprightly and cheerful just ain't in these lyrics, folks!</em></p>
<p>I was bugged enough that I set out to create an arrangement I felt would be more in keeping with the feeling of the lyrics. I still wanted to use banjo on account of the tradition, but not with the typical zippy bluegrass bark and pop. While I was working on it I came across a rendition by the late great <strong>Jerry Garcia</strong> and mandolin patriarch <strong>David Grisman</strong> which was, I thought, very much in keeping with the spirit of the lyrics. Garcia's vocal on the track is kind of a whine... actually very appropriate to the song. But so much so that it depressed me to listen to the tune! I found myself skipping that track on the CD most of the time. </p>
<p>For my arrangement, I wanted something in between sprightly/cheerful and depressing. I ended up with a wistfully sad and evocative sort of feel that I think works, and strikes a happy medium. The sadness comes from the realization that we have apparently learned nothing since this song was first created, and that after 5000 years of recorded history, we still don't get it and the same crap is still going on with no end in sight.</p>
<p>So what do you think? Citation for bravery? Killed in action? </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/202000835&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: right; font-size: 70%; font-style: italic;">Gravestone photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nakrnsm/4591672579/" data-imported="1">Patrick Feller</a></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Visit Robert's music store" href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/shop/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2a19d7cf7964b015ba0ff4900775c7f16c6adadd/original/buying-supports-msf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAzeDEyNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Banner: Buying my music helps support Doctors Without Borders" height="126" width="403" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057831
2015-04-11T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-23T08:00:42-05:00
What makes a song a sea shanty?
<p>After bumping into my original sea shanty <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/bound-for-jamaica-s-shore" title="Song home page"><em>Bound for Jamaica's Shore</em></a>, a gent over on Facebook asked:</p>
<p><strong>"What makes a song a shanty? T'is a term I am only vaguely familiar with."</strong></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/bound-for-jamaica-s-shore" title="Original sea shanty: Bound for Jamaica's Shore"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/791e75cb2601389f69dbb37051b998161ea66847/original/jamaicas-shore-song-art.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTkweDE5MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song art image for original sea shanty" height="190" style=" margin: 12px;" width="190" /></a>The short answer: sea shanties (sometimes written "chantys") were the working and recreational songs of sailors during the age of sail. </p>
<p>Shanties are generally very rhythmical, as they were mostly sung to help sailors keep a steady pace when hauling on halyards or heaving at a capstan. The form is usually "call and response". One voice, the "shantyman" sings different lines in the verses, and a group of voices respond with a recurring line, sometimes in harmony. There may be a chorus or refrain sung in the same way, or all together. On deck, the shantyman could be the bosun, a mate commanding a watch, or any sailor who knew all the lines of the song. The crew performing the task at hand would sing the responses as they worked.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/af19d658a26df7b093fff3aec77232c96de68653/original/penobscot-museum-weighing-anchor-on-ship-abbie-palmer.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTYxeDM0NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="346" width="561" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Weighing Anchor on-Ship 'Abbie Palmer' (Penobscott Museum)</em></p>
<h2>Surviving Steam Power</h2>
<p>With the advent of steam propulsion, the great sailing ships largely disappeared, leaving only a relatively few as <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.sdmaritime.org/star-of-india/">museum pieces</a> and <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.atylaship.com">atypical vacations</a>. The working and recreational songs of the sailors who worked the tall ships have subsided into a musical niche largely lost on the masses of music listeners. But they are not dead yet. Here are a couple of groups who are not only keeping sea songs alive, but spreading their popularity. </p>
<h3>Santiano (Germany)</h3>
<p>A hugely popular group in Germany, critics of <strong><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.universal-music.de/santiano/home">Santiano</a></strong> say they have "popified" the sea shanty. Perhaps, but I think they capture the essential spirit of the music very well. And an evolution that appeals broadly seems better than just letting the form die out.</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sCxURbI2WVE" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<h3>Bellowhead (UK)</h3>
<p>England's <strong>Bellowhead</strong> is an 11-piece ensemble of awesome power and creativity. They take classic English folk songs and sea shanties and mould them into brilliantly arranged performances that will simply paste you to the wall. (Can you tell I'm a Bellowhead fan??) Here's an example of what I mean:</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8fXHSRx3M5o" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<h3>Not just English and American</h3>
<p>While the most widely known sea shanties seem to be English, Irish, and American, there are shanties in as many languages there were seafaring nations with sailing ships. The work and the lives of the sailors were basically the same, and the songs served the same purposes no matter what the language. For example, here is a Russian one performed by the group I play with in Saint Petersburg:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173776518&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<h2>Are there any new sea shanties?</h2>
<p>The age of sail may be all but gone for now, but if there's anything left of the planet after the rapacious fossil fuel barons finally squeeze out the last drops of profit, sail will have to make a comeback in future generations. Meantime, there are folks like <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.sailtraininginternational.org/home">Sail Training International</a> who are making sure the knowledge and skills of the seafaring past are not lost.</p>
<p>I feel that one of the ways to keep traditional music alive is to write new music in the same vein. That's why, after I started playing with the <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/shantychoirmir" title="(Facebook page)">Shanty Choir Tallship MIR</a> in 2014, I decided to try my hand at writing "new old sea songs". I guess the jury is still out as to whether they're worth a cod fart in a raging sou'easter, and whether any sailors of the future will heave up the anchor to one of my tunes remains to be seen. You can judge for yourself by listening to <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" style="">my original sea songs</a> on this site.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057830
2015-03-16T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-16T08:34:29-05:00
The Most Fun You Can Have On St. Patrick's Day Without Beer!
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/09705a76a1a3c691e9d75a544ae2dc2c1f541dcc/original/palomo-irish-for-a-day-art-blog.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Listening to this song on St. Patrick's Day might just be the most fun you can have without beer. Or maybe even <em>with</em> beer! (Assumin' ye be av legal age, av coorse!)</p>
<p>Here's a song in <strong>classic Irish style</strong> (complete with phony Irish accent!) by an American of Hispanic descent, who lives in Russia, and plays and writes music for the banjo, which originated in Africa. (Folks, it's no big deal for ME to become Irish for a day!)</p>
<p>Written back in 2009 (I think) for a songwriting challenge, <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/irish-for-a-day" title="Irish For a Day home page"><em>Irish For a Day</em></a> has got <strong>everything</strong> you need to <strong>party hearty</strong> on <strong>St. Paddy's</strong>: saints, snakes, colleens, beer (green and Guinness!), parades... and there's even a caps-off reverent moment when the banjo and a cathedral pipe organ play together to honor the good saint for reasons you'll just have to listen to find out.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193671311&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oES4rFGdz2M" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<hr><p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057828
2015-02-02T19:00:00-05:00
2015-02-03T05:32:53-05:00
Marking Time Until the Green Returns
<p>The dark Saint Petersburg winters can really make you lethargic and listless. At some point you feel you're just going thru the motions to get to Spring. It was during the seemingly interminable winter of 2012-2013 that this little song came into being. It's about this time of year that you start feeling that this has gone on long enough, but you know that there's some little time yet before the green returns. And you find yourself just Marking Time...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hPzFToQhnQE" width="560" class="wrapped wrapped"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p><a href="/marking-time" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">More info & audio stream...</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/marking-time" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/48e41516e7e7291d88318c360761abac71809cb4/original/robert-palomo-marking-time.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjUzeDI1MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="253" width="253" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057827
2015-01-15T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-23T06:23:42-05:00
Musical Help for the January Blahs
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/cfc41f016e9008e9c964763f2407e958acbcc492/original/flowers-snow.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUweDE1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Flowers Under the Snow" height="150" width="150" />Welcome to mid-January, 2015. By now we've mostly shed the holiday whoop-tee-doos and have embarked upon the January Depths of Winter Blahs. Gray skies. Snow. Cold. #interminable. But, as my virtual songwriter buddy <a data-imported="1" href="http://alonetone.com/connor">Greg Connor</a> reminded me with his lovely song "FLOWERS UNDER THE SNOW" ...winter is not forever.</p>
<p>Besides being obscure songwriters, Greg and I have another thing in common: we know about long dreary cold winters. His happen in Minnesota, USA. Mine happen in Saint Petersburg, Russia. No matter. It's about this time of year that you start wondering if sunshine, warmth, and green have departed permanently. When that happens, a little cheery banjo music can help you hang in there until spring starts springing.</p>
<p>So here is my rendition of Greg Connor's musical winter optimism, followed by a couple of winter songs of mine. Hang in there, folks!</p>
<h3>Flowers Under the Snow</h3>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/82040187&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<h3>Marking Time</h3>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/126317386&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<h3>Waiting Out the Winter</h3>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/114759199&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057826
2014-12-06T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-23T06:27:23-05:00
Something FREE for Ye Auld Holidays? Hoots, mon!
<p>It's the winter holiday season again (or summer if you're south of the equator like I wish I was about this time every year). And that means everybody and their grandmother is out to separate you from some of your cash.</p>
<p>I have <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="Salty Holiday Songs" data-link-type="page" href="/salty-holiday-songs" style="" title="You need this. You really do!">a deal like that</a> too, but I also have this one: some <strong>free</strong> <strong>music</strong> for your <strong>new year celebrating</strong> (and inebriating!):</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/121378458&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>You can get it using the <em><strong>Download</strong></em> link on the player widget above. What? You're blotto and can't nail that little sucker? Well then...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/121378458/download?client_id=0f8fdbbaa21a9bd18210986a7dc2d72c" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Download Free MP3"><strong>CLICK HERE YE DAFT MANNIE!</strong></a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left; margin-top: 28px;">
<em>Another</em> version of Auld Lang Syne!!<br>WHY O Lord... <em>WHY??</em>
</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/fc0d1ec55e3f92dce63152012212e687861b87c0/original/auld-lang-syne-song-art.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjYxeDI2MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Auld Lang Syne - Loch Lomond Song Art" height="261" style=" margin: 6px;" width="261" />Well, judge, it was like this... the <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.banjohangout.org" title="Banjo Hangout - thousands of banjo players in one place. SCARY!">Banjo Hangout</a> decided to run a contest with some spiffy prizes for the 2013 holiday season. To enter, you had to submit a video of yourself playing <strong><em>Auld Lang Syne</em> on the banjo</strong>. This is what I came up with for my entry.<br><br>I took a strategic approach. I watched the vids of half a dozen early entries, and all they did was to play ALS several times through, the same way every time. "Ha! Those guys will be boring the voters to death," thought I. So I decided on a sure-fire way to grab their attention, garner votes, and win a spiffy prize.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I wove in a bit of Loch Lomond in the middle. And tossed in piano with thick chords. And played some jazzy little riffs on the banjo. The result was <strong>banjo the way <a data-imported="1" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Scruggs" title="Banjo player speak meaning 'Earl Scruggs' ">Earl</a> definitely <em>didn't</em> play it</strong>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I didn't win any of the spiffy prizes. The guy who took top honors played it just like Earl would have. On <a data-imported="1" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beverly_Hillbillies" title="Article on Wikipedia"><em>The Beverly Hillbillies</em></a>. (And they complain that we can't shake off the <a data-imported="1" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance"><em>Deliverance</em></a> image!)<br><br>But seriously, folks, I did have fun arranging, recording and producing this. I invite you to grab this freebie and play it when celebrating the new year this year and every year... or any time you've knocked back a few single malts and are feelin' sentimental.<br><br><em>I say, barman... two of Scotch neat if you please!</em><br><br><strong>VARIOUS CREDITS:</strong></p>
<ul> <li>Robert MacPalomo: guitar, banjo, piano, mandolin, bass, etc. etc.</li> <li>Engineered and mixed by Bob MacPalomo at Total Chaos Studio, Toksovo, Russia.</li> <li>Mastered by Robbie MacPalomo using <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.izotope.com" title="The Izotopers">Izotope</a> stuff.</li> <li>Robert Burns painting courtesy of Robert Burns Dumfries Museum (Creative Commons)</li> <li>Glass of Scotch courtesy of The Macallan - mm, mmm, mmmm.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What? You <em>still</em> here?</h3>
<p>Then you can watch the video that didn't win the BHO contest, but which <em>did</em> net me a couple of marriage proposals which I declined because none of the proposers lived in Barbados and were desirous of supporting an aging banjo player in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VtOtPq5ThDI" width="640"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057825
2014-12-02T19:00:00-05:00
2022-03-03T10:45:01-05:00
Plain Old Ordinary F-ing Wednesday
<p> <strong>Black Friday</strong> - gone. <strong>Cyber Monday</strong> - gone. <strong>Giving Tuesday</strong> - gone. Today is <strong>Plain Old Ordinary F-ing Wednesday</strong>!</p>
<p>POOFW is the day when you...</p>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Listen</strong> to my new holiday sea shanty, <br><br>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Share</strong> the web page with everyone you can think of,<br><br>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Buy</strong> a few copies for people on the El Cheapo end of your holiday gift list, happy in the knowledge that you are...</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Giving something unusual and unique.</li>
<li>Getting off dirt cheap!</li>
<li>Supporting <a title="Doctors Without Borders" href="http://www.msf.org" data-imported="1">a great humanitarian organization</a> in the process.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>Ready? Here we go...</p>
<h2>Step 1: Listen</h2>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177223622&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<h2>Step 2: Share</h2>
<p>Copy the text in the box below and share it with family and friends via email and/or your favorite social media:</p>
<form><textarea onclick="this.focus();this.select()" name="Sharetext" rows="5" cols="40" readonly>Hey - I came across this page and thought you might like it: http://tiny.cc/hmha - music supporting a good cause!</textarea></form>
<h2 style="margin-top: 16px;">Step 3: Buy</h2>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 24px 0;"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomobanjocentric5" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/237cfe9c9a92f1d0602ceb8bf01d855cde761e25/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk1Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on CD Baby" height="95" width="178" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q3WBOUY/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/795dddc093975b3519d4dca5d0c4836720c80f43/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on Amazon" height="94" width="178" /></a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heave-me-hearties-all/id945066124?i=945066128" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/77ee2f270be51a268bfd7b86a1438bdc8ce63449/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc1eDkzIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on iTunes" height="93" width="175" /></a><br><em>I recommend <strong>CD Baby</strong> because you can get <strong>both MP3 and CD-quality</strong> audio.</em></p>
<p>If you miss POOFW today<span class="text_exposed_show">, there will be another one next week.</span></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057824
2014-11-26T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-23T07:53:21-05:00
Have Yourself a Salty Little Christmas
<p><img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10690083_689328337812297_4974957992261467303_n.jpg?oh=f89dda0699e51ed38cd1ae995f49bdf3&oe=54D784A7" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Robert Palomo playing with Shanty Choir Tallship MIR" height="168" style=" margin: 10px;" width="168" />'Tis the season once again. Another year winds down. Everybody and their mother with anything for sale is after you to buy "the perfect holiday gift!!!" So why should I be different? Well, actually I do have something to offer that...</p>
<ul> <li>is <strong>unique</strong> - you won't find it anywhere else</li> <li>
<strong>"keeps on giving"</strong> long after the holidays are past</li> <li>
<strong>helps people</strong> in desperate need when you buy it</li>
</ul>
<h2>A musical gift for those who've been "nautical and nice"!</h2>
<p>It was during the Christmas season 1 year ago that I hooked up with Saint Petersburg's <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/shantychoirmir" style="" title="Facebook page of Shanty Choir Tallship MIR">Shanty Choir Tallship MIR</a>. It's been a hugely fun year, and it has inspired me to write some <strong>original sea songs</strong>... fun music that will make a super, unique gift, especially for folks who are:</p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Navy personnel</strong> - active or retired, Uncle Sam's, The Queen's, or anyone else's "nai-vee"</li> <li>
<strong>Merchant seamen</strong> or women</li> <li>Recreational <strong>sailors</strong> and <strong>yachtsmen</strong>
</li> <li>
<strong>Boat owners</strong> of any sort</li> <li>
<strong>Folk music fans</strong> (English, Irish/Scottish/Celtic)</li> <li>
<strong>Banjo players</strong> - my arrangements include banjo</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Check our this "new old sea shanty" I wrote especially for this holiday season:</strong></p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177223622&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomobanjocentric5"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/237cfe9c9a92f1d0602ceb8bf01d855cde761e25/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk1Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on CD Baby" height="95" width="178" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q3WBOUY/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/795dddc093975b3519d4dca5d0c4836720c80f43/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc4eDk0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on Amazon" height="94" width="178" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heave-me-hearties-all/id945066124?i=945066128"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/77ee2f270be51a268bfd7b86a1438bdc8ce63449/original/buy-heave-me-hearties-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTc1eDkzIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Buy Heave Me Hearties All on iTunes" height="93" width="175" /></a></p>
<p><strong>You can buy other original sea songs on my <a data-imported="1" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" style="">Music page</a> </strong>(and you can listen to them before you buy!)</p>
<p><strong>THANK YOU for your support!</strong> And have a joyous year-end holiday season, whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate it!</p>
<p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><em>--Robert</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<hr><p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>ROBERT PALOMO'S MUSIC IS AVAILABLE FROM:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss" title="Robert Palomo's Music on Amazon"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e15171eb41d5f2379914820824aab98e11970/original/amazon-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Amazon.com logo" height="36" width="36" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909" title="Robert Palomo's music on iTunes"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/b945cfe2975e97509672ad0521a3cbe0387c9169/original/itunes-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="iTunes logo" height="36" width="36" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger" title="Robert Palomo's music on CD Baby"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/8b18bf8633db16d67e342a121ed13243e1a1f8ed/original/cdbaby-36.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzZ4MzYiXQ%3D%3D.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="CD Baby logo" height="36" width="36" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00IJU86WW?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Robert%20Palomo&index=digital-music&search-type=ss">AMAZON</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-palomo/id824910909">iTUNES</a> * <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertPalomoBanjoCentricSinger">CD BABY</a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057823
2014-09-13T20:00:00-04:00
2022-02-04T12:41:42-05:00
Totma Road: Rough Ride, Smooth Bluegrass - and a New Picker in the Musical Family
<p>In July of 2012, I rode the rugged road to Totma, Russia with <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.billevansbanjo.com/">Bill Evans</a> & Friends (<a data-imported="1" href="http://www.barbaralamb.com/">Barbara Lamb</a>, <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.timmaymusic.net/">Tim May</a>, <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.toddphillipsmusic.com/">Todd Phillips</a>) to play the Russia-America Bluegrass Jamboree, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General at Saint Petersburg.</p>
<p>Eventually the discomfort of the road subsided and the romanticizing of the experience set in. The result is this bluegrassy little tune and video. I wasn't quite ready to release it yet, but there's a <strong>special reason to let 'er fly now</strong>!</p>
<p>I want to celebrate, with my friends <strong>Anastasia Gusyeva </strong>(<em>the</em> best bluegrass and old time fiddler in Russia!) and her dad <strong>Vladimir Gusev</strong> (my staunch banjo pickin' buddy), the <strong>birth of Nastay's first child</strong> yesterday: a health baby girl, whose name I don't know yet. You'll see both Nastya and Volodya in the short jam scene about midway thru.</p>
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<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FwRTttowXgU" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Congratulations!! Поздравляем!!</strong></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;">P.S. The song isn't released for distribution yet, but it will be soon. Then it will be available from several sources in support of Doctors Without Borders.</p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057822
2014-08-27T20:00:00-04:00
2014-08-29T20:04:08-04:00
Zero Reasons Why Cape Cod Girls Don't Wear Clothes
<p>Well, the pundits say I should be blogging a lot more than I do. But I figure there's already too much noise out there in the blogosphere, and if you're going to bother with my blog you ought to get something out of it. So here's my arrangement of the traditional American sea shanty <em>Cape Cod Girls</em>. I arranged it for performance by Saint Petersburg's "Santy Choir Tallship Mir" that I play and sing with on occasion.</p>
<p>I ran across a video of a shanty group doing a similar last verse. The Cape Cod girls wearing no clothes part was OK, but their next line seemed out of nowhere and didn't really relate. I liked the idea of a last verse where "them Cape Cod girls don't wear no clothes" to give the guys in the group a chance to hoot 'n holler a bit, which gets audiences stoked up, and a good time is had by all. So I added it to the arrangement, but wrote in my own last line. If your low prurient mind runs that way, you might decide it is referring to S*X - so <span style="color:#ff0000">BE WARNED!</span> It could still be enough to get it banned on some U.S. sites (as my original <a href="/haul-up-the-main" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Haul Up the Main</a> was - woop!)</p>
<p>OK, enough out of me... listen to the song. If you like it, you can download it for free. Just be sure to tell your friends where you got it, OK?</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165194740&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>As with all my other tunes to date, this is a DIY project. I play and sing everything. Jack of many. Master of none. Enjoy!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/robert-palomo/cape-cod-girls" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e50d983b04249ebb427d89a5059b689cbe5a2c2f/original/song-art.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjQ2eDI0NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="246" width="246" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If the lyric isn't enough to get the tune banned,<br>maybe the song art image will do the trick!</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/store/" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2a19d7cf7964b015ba0ff4900775c7f16c6adadd/original/buying-supports-msf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAzeDEyNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="126" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="403" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057821
2014-07-25T20:00:00-04:00
2014-07-25T22:27:32-04:00
Bawdy, Irreverent, Salt-encrusted Banjo for a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5d324a484146d60a90629a2d74343f07e749b37c/original/haul-main-song-art.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjAweDIwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="Song art: Haul Up the Main by banjo-centric singer-songwriter Robert Palomo" height="200" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;" width="200" />Here's a <strong>new sea song</strong>, following in the footsteps of the old ones. It's more of a <strong>tavern song</strong> for crews ashore, rather than a working song for crews at sea. As such, there is a certain degree of <strong>bawdiness and irreverence</strong> that may offend some - so here's fair warning up front. (Actually, it's innocuous pablum compared to a lot of music these days, but still...)</p>
<p>You will need a bit of an attention span for this one. The "shanty man" is a sailor who has signed aboard a ship, leaving his lady of dubious virtue behind. He delivers a litany of his opinions of various members of the ship's crew, from the <strong>rum-soaked skipper</strong> to the <strong>less-than-virtuous chaplain</strong>. As with a tavern rendition, the verses are interspersed with commentary with varying degrees of rudeness. <br>(<a href="/haul-up-the-main" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page">Complete lyrics »</a>)</p>
<p>All proceeds from sales will go to support the work of <a title="Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) website" href="http://www.msf.org" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Médecins Sans Frontières</a> (Doctors Without Borders). So take a listen below, and if you like it, grab a copy for your personal music library and help me support the important work of MSF.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/157328485&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Buy "HAUL UP THE MAIN" for $0.99 and help people in need</h3>
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<a title="Buy on Amazon.com $0.99 (US)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/920a6ce08a1fbd20e83cf4eae69d18b06c8381cd/original/buy-haulup-on-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a> <a title="Buy on CD Baby - $0.99 (US)" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomobanjocentric2" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/454e0be6f9c95abcac2625b2cdb7a6e69e51cc8e/original/buy-haulup-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/haul-up-the-main-single/id897076846" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/86faaae51fe4db1f422255ebdbbea9e00923c0f1/original/buy-haulup-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a>
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<p style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a title="MSF international website" href="http://www.msf.org" data-imported="1"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2a19d7cf7964b015ba0ff4900775c7f16c6adadd/original/buying-supports-msf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAzeDEyNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="126" width="403" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057820
2014-04-30T20:00:00-04:00
2022-02-04T12:44:29-05:00
Incredible what this cat does while man plays the banjo!
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<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe class="wrapped wrapped" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R0r48xiG50k" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">OK, folks, sorry for the bullshit click-bait. Actually, the cat just sleeps thru my original clawhammer banjo tune <em>Osage Catnap</em>, which I was originally going to call "Osage River Ramble" or some such catchy moniker, but then noted the effect on Junior the Cat whilst I was practicing it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">As to the click-bait... what can I say?"Der Teufel" made me do it! <LOL> That and an unholy desire to infect Facebook with yet another ridiculous come-on that would make P.T. Barnum proud. Yes, I know. I <em>do</em> need to get out more.</p>
<hr><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Here's the studio version of "Osage Catnap":</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/147983000&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" style="text-align: center;" width="90%"></iframe></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DID YOU KNOW THAT SALES PROCEEDS OF MY SINGLE 'GRAY"<br>GO TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS?</strong></p>
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<a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gray/dp/B00IJUCAUQ/ref=sr_1_595?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1396122218&sr=1-595&keywords=Gray" title="Buy on Amazon.com $0.99 (US)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/3983597366948c537c64b06f948f3ae01db30714/original/buy-gray-on-cd-amazon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo" title="Buy on CD Baby - $0.99 (US)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/05fe43c370f899c981678dff09f12b517a41f8bd/original/buy-gray-on-cd-baby.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gray-single/id824910902?ign-mpt=uo%3D4"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/15afd7135e3267405319fd847aca1d64bcf2f893/original/buy-gray-on-itunes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDEyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="120" width="225" /></a>
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<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/gray">Listen here</a>, then buy on your favorite site above!</p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e73c037200f3b7732406aa7dbf601ccbac81204b/original/robert-palomo-osage-catnap.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjI1eDIyNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="225" /></p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057818
2014-03-28T20:00:00-04:00
2014-03-29T09:49:46-04:00
Higginsville Thunderbolt and Battle Cry of Freedom - Banjo music inspired by Mark Twain
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/ab1ca2195f969994b036fb10ea1551ca91303185/original/higginsville-thunderbolt-and-battle-cry-of-freedom-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzQzeDE5NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Higginsville Thunderbold and Battle Cry of Freedom" height="194" style="margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; " width="343" />One of my favorite Mark Twain short stories is <a title="Read free on Project Gutenberg" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3189/3189-h/3189-h.htm" data-imported="1">"Journalism in Tennessee"</a>. Maybe it's my Missouri Ozark mountain toots, but I always get a hoot out of the newspaper names Mark Twain comes up with in this story... and I strongly suspect they are "based on a true story".</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Of all the great newspaper names he mentions in the story (<em>The Semi-weekly Earthquake</em>, <em>The Mud Springs Morning Howl</em>, <em>The Morning Glory and Johnson County War-Whoop</em>), for some reason I get the biggest tickle out of <em>The Higginsville Thunderbolt and Battle Cry of Freedom</em>. The story of why I named an original banjo instrumental song after this one (may "that ass, Blossom" the able editor forever rest in peace!) is explained in the video. So I suppose I should shut up and let you get on with it!</p>
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<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vzP25zaoqe0?rel=0" width="640" class="wrapped wrapped"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><a title="Listen to the entire song online, buy on CD Baby or Amazon" href="/gray" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/092c025074a8fc5a7c714d2041be3cb6848de2de/original/robert-palomo-gray-msf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NzAweDIwMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="203" width="700" /></a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057816
2014-03-15T20:00:00-04:00
2022-01-10T10:27:30-05:00
Banjos à la Bourguignonne
<p><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521205/robertpalomo-com-courcelles-fremoy.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_courcelles-fremoy.jpg','bp1','scrollbars=yes,width=800,height=614,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-400)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-307)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/2f68c63fe6ab012e855be5b12afd858846465ac1/original/robertpalomo-com-courcelles-fremoy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDIzMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Entering Courcelles-Fremoy, France" height="230" style=" margin: 12px;" width="300" /></a>Winding along a country road through the placid rolling hills of Burgundy with it's vine-laden slopes and pastures where the ever-present white Charolais cattle browse the hillsides, still green even in mid-October, our GPS, borrowed from a friend in St. Petersburg, thinks it knows where we're headed.</p>
<p>But our 2005 Michelin atlas shows a different road number for the road we seem to be on, and the way looks shorter than the opinion offered by the навигатер ("navigator"). The road dips down into a hollow, winds beside a small stream for several kilometers, then up a steep hill, around a sharp bend and suddenly, voilà- the standard red and white sign informs us we have in fact found our way to the tiny village of Courcelles-Fremoy. Our dinky blue soap-bubble of a Citroën is welcomed by a big brown horse who regards us from his leafy paddock.</p>
<p>We round the bend into the village proper, following the GPS and looking for the address I'm seeking. We take a sharp right turn according to instructions, but miss the street sign. It's there, but not readily visible turning from the direction we're coming from. It seems like more of a catty-corner short alley-way than a street. The buildings look as ancient as I will later learn they actually are, and we don't see any house number on the one which, according to Madame GPS, should be the one we're looking for.</p>
<p>We reach the end of the tiny street and turn back toward the village center wondering "what now?" Madame GPS recalculates the route and insists on the same turn we already took. We creep down the street again, looking at the building we think must be the place, but which on the street side presents a mostly blank wall (the entrance will turn out to be in the rear). We get to the end of the street again, but this time, where the alleged destination building ends, I spot a small, modern-looking out-building, log-cabin style, with big windows and a big glass door through which I see — <strong>banjos!</strong></p>
<p>This is the place I've been hunting for... the workshop of <strong>French luthier Eric Stefanelli</strong>. It's one of the last places on earth that I, an American with Ozark mountain roots, would have thought to find a master builder of classic American banjos. And yet, it's somehow most apropos that this instrument, with it's country-folk roots, should be found in this idyllic rural setting far from its origins.</p>
<p>As I open the gate I'm greeted by a bespectacled gent with a graying goatee who welcomes my wife Diana and me into his small, neatly arranged workshop where one of his "Basic" model open-back banjos is being readied for delivery to a customer. I've come from Paris to deliver an old Vega Style F tenor banjo I recently acquired, for which I've hired Eric to build a 5-string conversion neck. After looking over this 1920's vintage banjo, which Eric's masterly eye finds in amazingly good condition, he proceeds to show me some of the fruits of his craftsmanship.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521206/robertpalomo-com-eric-stefanelli-banjos.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_eric-stefanelli-banjos.jpg','bgb2','scrollbars=yes,width=800,height=600,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-400)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-300)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/38af5ef6060f7323e1f1c910c1e76cedcfe37437/original/robertpalomo-com-eric-stefanelli-banjos.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="French luthier Eric Stefanelli with one of his banjos" height="300" width="400" /></a></p>
<p>A devotee of "old-time" clawhammer and ragtime banjo, Eric specializes in recreating several classic American banjos from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In all my years of salivating over beautiful handmade musical instruments, I can't recall seeing better craftsmanship than what I'm seeing in this tiny French village, well off the beaten tourist path. The finish work in particular is amazing, and I learn that Eric shuns factory-made spray-on finishes, preferring the so-called "French polish" technique, and concocting his own oils and varnishes. A whiff of the latter reveals the presence of a distillate of the famed regional vintages.</p>
<p>Business and workshop tour completed, Eric invites us for coffee in his adjacent home. This proves to be a 400-year old stone structure still in the process of renovation, which Eric works on between orders for custom instruments and banjo restoration and repair work. Inside we meet Eric's wife Patricia, and while the ladies go off on a tour of the domicile, I'm treated to a tour of Eric's collection of vintage open-back banjos, which sit on stands on the original brick floor, behind recently-exposed rustic partition studs of ancient wood. This simply begs the question:<strong> how did a middle-age French gent in this lovely out of the way corner of France get into playing and making banjos?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521207/robertpalomo-com-banjos-in-burgundy.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_banjos-in-burgundy.jpg','bgb3','width=800,height=600,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-400)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-300)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/e0d7679e816257d8f63ec4d4ad6ad69c0dcffe4a/original/robertpalomo-com-banjos-in-burgundy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Banjos in Burgundy, France" height="300" width="400" /></a></p>
<p>"I've been around banjos most of my life," says Eric. "My grandfather was a (merchant) sailor who frequently landed in Savannah, Georgia where he was exposed to American old-time and ragtime banjo. He bought several banjos on voyages to the States. While in port he would take some lessons, and then practice on the voyages back to France. He started teaching me when I was a boy. Later, as I became interested in woodworking, I just naturally found myself combining banjo playing and building. I'm fortunate that I've been able to make a business from it."</p>
<p>But I discovered that banjos are not his only product. In addition to performing as a banjo duet with his wife, Patricia, which has taken them as far as Japan, Eric is also a "luthier" in the original sense: he build lutes.</p>
<p>"Patricia is a lute player and she got me interested in building them," he says. I had seen lutes and heard them played during my student years at Indiana University's school of music, but that didn't prepare me for what Patricia showed and played for us: an incredible "theorbo". More that 2 meters long, it was unbelievably lightweight and amazingly balanced.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521208/robertpalomo-com-stefanelli-throbro.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_stefanelli_throbro.jpg','bgb4','scrollbars=yes,width=800,height=600,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-400)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-300)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/a8433de18d17a655776c52b4c97806aefa99ae65/original/robertpalomo-com-stefanelli-throbro.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="A throbro made by luthier Eric Stefanelli" height="300" width="400" /></a></p>
<p>By this time, we were getting well into "midi" — the two hours between noon and 2 pm when, in rural France, everything stops for lunch... and you'd better too if you want anything to eat before restaurants reopen for dinner. Eric and Patricia suggested a place in a nearby village that specialized in regional cuisine. This turned out to be a lovely old "auberge" (inn) with seating around the original old fireplace hung with copper cookware which had my wife, a devotee of French "brocante" (antiques or junk, take your pick), longing for more than just food. I realized that if I was ever going to sample truly authentic Boef à la Bourguignonne now was the time... and so it proved!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521209/robertpalomo-com-burgundy-inn.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_burgundy_inn.jpg','bgb5','scrollbars=yes,width=800,height=600,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-400)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-300)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/d1e8db7fbe36101bec47ecd6293a6c22988d2d86/original/robertpalomo-com-burgundy-inn.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDAweDMwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Villiage inn, Burgundy, France" height="300" width="400" /></a></p>
<p>After lunch we bade adieu to our new-found French friends, leaving the Vega banjo and various parts with Eric and moving on towards a scheduled rendezvous with our Paris-based daughter, from whom via circuitous machinations, it eventually got back home to St. Petersburg. It was a long wait, but that only made my "banjo à la Bourguignonne" all the more special.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="/files/521210/robertpalomo-com-stefanelli-vega.jpg" onclick="window.open('http://robertpalomo.com/img/blog/robertpalomo.com_stefanelli-vega.jpg','bgb6','scrollbars=yes,width=450,height=600,left='+(screen.availWidth/2-225)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-300)+'');return false;" title="Larger pic (popup)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/17b7f012e72a8a40f4af1426664413a4fb7b6306/original/robertpalomo-com-stefanelli-vega.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6Mzc1eDUwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Vega 5-string conversion neck by Eric Stefanelli" height="500" width="375" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The finished Burgundy Banjo</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYp4saaf8qA" style=""><strong>SEE & HEAR IT ON YouTube</strong></a></p>
<div style="text-align: center; border-top: 1px solid #76a6a6; margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 1em;"> </div>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057817
2014-02-26T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-10T10:28:43-05:00
Throwback Thursday - Banjo roots in a toy fiddle?
<p> This was my <em>favorite</em> toy nearing age 3. I vaguely remember it. I don't think it really played, but I do remember I could dink around with it for <em>hours on end</em> - pretty amazing when you consider the attention span of your average 3 year old.</p>
<p>So why did I not end up a fiddler? Well, that's life for ya.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/9405fdc28fc5e152c7f61164d18de52b7eb6f701/original/pre-history.jpg/!!/b%3AW10%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Retro boy with toy fiddle" /></p>
<p>Happy Throwback Thursday! Thanks for visiting. Have a nice day. Stay out of jail.</p>
<p><robert></p>
<hr><p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057813
2014-02-22T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-11T15:35:55-05:00
Banjo single "Gray" released worldwide. Listen online free!
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertpalomo" style="" title="Buy on CD Baby (0.99 USD)"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/5c2e11d57147229d749af4bc36f4a8c25eaaec54/original/robert-palomo-gray-300x300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUweDE1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="Song art: Gray by Robert Palomo, Banjo-centric singer-songwriter" height="150" style=" margin: 12px;" width="150" /></a>My "banjo-centric" song <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/gray">Gray</a> has just been released for worldwide distribution! It's available on iTunes, Amazon, and a bunch of other outlets soon. More on this blog when that happens.</p>
<p><strong>YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW:</strong><br>All sales proceeds from <em>Gray</em> will go to <strong><a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.msf.org/" style="" title="About Doctors Without Borders...">Médecins Sans Frontières</a></strong> (a.k.a. <strong>Doctors Without Borders</strong>). So you should also <strong>share</strong> this post with lots of people (subtle hint!)</p>
<p><strong>HAVE A LISTEN NOW!</strong><br>I don't see why you should be asked to let go of 99-cents, even for a great cause, unless you like the music. And a 30-second clip isn't enough to go on. So here's a <strong>stream</strong> of the <strong>complete song</strong>:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83628899&color=76a6a6&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057811
2014-02-16T19:00:00-05:00
2022-01-23T06:13:56-05:00
Idiot Musician Shooting Himself in the Foot?
<p>I figure it this way, folks. When it comes to obscure music that you've never heard of, mine probably ranks waaaaay up there in the obscurity stratosphere. So HTF are you supposed to know whether you like my music or not if I won't you listen to it?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.robertpalomo.com/songs/" style="" title="Streaming Audio - complete songs"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/84a5cf6da9a9587885663c3d52dabba27fcb11f1/original/bam.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6Mzc1eDMzMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="330" width="375" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-imported="1" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://https:/robertpalomo.com/music/" style="" title="Listen to complete songs online"><strong>GO AHEAD... LISTEN TO MY SONGS!</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And do stay tuned - there are more to come!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day. Stay out of jail.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><robert></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: right; font-size: 60%; font-style: italic;"><a data-imported="1" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">Creative Commons</a> Photo: flickr.com/<a data-imported="1" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/datacharmer/">Giuseppe Maxia</a></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057810
2014-02-08T19:00:00-05:00
2022-03-03T10:48:47-05:00
Why a Baby Boomer Man Went For His First-ever Manicure
<p>I posted this question to <a title="Facebook page which I shamelessly invite you to LIKE" href="https://www.facebook.com/RobertPalomoMusic" data-imported="1">my Facebook page</a> to see if anyone could guess. The Musician Factor is a bit of a giveaway. Classical and finger-style guitarists are really serious about their fingernails, especially on their plucking hand. For an example of what I mean, check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj5-vKuXT8s" data-imported="1">great video by guitarist Keith Medley</a>.</p>
<p>So one page follower's guess about me finger-picking the banjo was <strong>close</strong>... but alas... no cigar. For bluegrass and 3-finger style banjo, I use a plastic thumb pick and metal finger picks. Professional manicure might help some with making those more comfortable, I'll see.</p>
<p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 105%;">"OK, ROBERT, STOP STALLING!! WHY DID YOU DO IT??"</p>
<p>Right... OK... sorry... the answer can be seen in this photo:</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/d76eb321c059782463ac3deb3c07301bc3fbc83e/original/reason-for-manicurist.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6ODAweDQxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Why baby boomer banjo player went to the manicurist" height="415" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" /></p>
<p>It's a little hard to see because it's so clear, but I went and had a <strong>sculpted nail</strong> put on my right <strong>index finger</strong>. No others, just that one. Why? Because I'm practicing a lot of <strong>clawhammer style banjo</strong> these days. In that style, you play melody and other notes by striking strings with a downward motion using the fingernail of your index or middle finger. (Index works better for me.)</p>
<p>Even if you have thick strong nails (and mine are thin and wimpy), clawhammer banjo can quickly wear your nail down to the point where you can't play for a while. Clawhammer players have a variety of ways of dealing with this. There are specially designed finger picks available, or you can try reversing a standard finger pick. I've tried those and just didn't like them. Another approach is this one... an artificial nail applied to the stroke finger.</p>
<p>I expect it's an eye-opener for any manicurist for a late middle-aged gent to walk in carrying a banjo and asking for a sculpted nail on only one finger! Certainly it was for Svetlana, manicurist at a nearby Saint Petersburg salon. But she took it in stride like a true professional!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/ac6768c1e2c533f7675cd205e6bf94fd42d60922/original/robert-palomo-1st-manicure-sm.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDM4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="384" width="600" /></p>
<p>After one good practice session, I must say I like the result so far. The tone is pretty much the same as with my natural nail, but with at least twice the volume, and it feels very natural. How well and how long will it hold up whacking against metal strings? Time will tell!</p>
<p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 105%;">"ROBERT, YOU LOST ME! JUST GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF <em>WTF</em> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, OK??!!"</p>
<p>Ah, er, oh... right... sorry. OK, here's a little video where I'm playing clawhammer style (or at least my version thereof):</p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HYp4saaf8qA?rel=0" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" class="wrapped wrapped"></iframe></div></div></div></div>
<p>BTW - herein lies a clue about a new musical project I'm looking into. More if and when it materializes. Meanwhile, y'all can speculate! Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day. Stay out of jail.</p>
<p><robert></p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo
tag:robertpalomo.com,2005:Post/6057809
2014-01-31T19:00:00-05:00
2014-02-01T07:26:58-05:00
And away we go... again!
<h3><strong>Welcome the the Banjo-centric Blog, version 2!</strong></h3>
<p>I've just pulled the plug on my web site and moved it to a new hosting service that specializes in sites for musicians. There were some trade-offs involved, one being that the blog from the old host could not be preserved. That's OK... I can re-post some of the better stuff and pretend that it's never been seen before <lol>!</p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/396377/93162e5ee5376c09a1b66ccd623162298924e2ed/original/away-we-go.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTIweDE3NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="And away we go!" height="177" width="120" />This is where I will post any new songs and videos first.</strong> But there's going to be more here than just music. Among other things I'm thinking about:</p>
<ul>
<li>This is my very own forum for Polemic Pontification and I will indulge myself... occasionally. ;-)<br><br>
</li>
<li>I like to cook. My grandma started teaching me when I was 7 - been at it ever since. Look for some favorite recipes amid things musical.<br><br>
</li>
<li>The new host really limits descriptions of pics in the Photo Gallery. So I'll be posting pix from there with the full story behind them. And of course, I hope to be doing stuff that will result in new pics!</li>
</ul>
<p>What else would interest you? Leave a comment and let me know!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day. Stay out of jail.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em>- Robert</em></p>
<p> </p>
Sea Shanties and Songs - Robert Palomo