Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeSunday, Oct. 18, 2009
Rhythm of the ocean? Distance from coast doesn't stop group from monthly night of sea songs
By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer
RICHLAND -- Families grabbing a slice at a Richland pizzeria on the second Saturday of each month may find themselves in the midst of a lively sea chantey.
No, it isn't the latest karaoke fad or an American Idol tryout. But the infectious laughter and easy-to-learn choruses just may draw people in.
"We welcome everybody," said organizer and participant Kurt Mesford. "There are no bad singers; there are only interesting singers."
They are officially known as the Second Saturday Sea Song Singalong, or SSSSS, pronounced like a hissing snake. The friends and strangers meet up at central Richland's Round Table Pizza for a night of food, drinks and of course chanteys, or sea songs -- the kinds of songs formerly sung by sailors in rhythm with their motions while working on ships.
Mesford likes to refer to it as "a bunch of people who normally don't sing all being loud together."
Boisterous or shy, talented or musically inept -- walk-ins are encouraged. Just don't expect a performance venue.
"It's something that doesn't cost much money. People can do it without any special costumes or training," said Frank Cuta of Benton City. "There is nothing really quite like that in the Tri-Cities that I'm aware of."
The event is sponsored by the Three Rivers Folklife Society and the pizza restaurant at 1435 George Washington Way. There is no cost other than buying food.
It all started in the late 1990s when a group of out-of-town performers from the Tumbleweed Music Festival in Richland got together at the end of the event weekend to share pizza and beer.
The impromptu gathering, akin to Seattle's Northwest Folklife Festival after-party, led to the singing of sea chanteys.
"A lot of it was just singing for our own enjoyment instead of for an audience, and it was just a blast," said Mesford of Richland. Kurt and his brother, Kent, are a folk music duo known as "The Great Sanger & Didele," or "The Seamen of the Inland Empire."
Members of the Tri-City folk society decided it was so fun that it should be made into a monthly event. Kent Mesford organized the singalong until he moved to the Tacoma area. Then the siblings' father Bruce stepped up to the task.
Though Kent Mesford had led a lot of the songs in the beginning, other participants quickly picked up in his absence by bringing in their own songs and guitars, banjos and shakers. People can share songs they have recently learned, but there is no pressure to stand out because most of the songs are "based around real easy choruses."
"It's almost like a hangout for a few, if we're lucky, a few dozen of our best friends, which could include anybody who wanders by," said Kurt Mesford, who calls it a monthly party. "We're there as much to eat and socialize as we are to sing."
The singalong starts at 7 p.m. "and runs until we're tired," which typically is by 10 p.m., Mesford said.
Next month's event is scheduled Nov. 14.
Though Cuta admits that a beer or two along with a slice might help the timid relax and join the chorus, he is careful to point out that the event is not "a drinking thing."
"It is just great wholesome entertainment and something you can do once a month," he said. "I think it's important to stress that it's a family thing."
Jesse Robison of Richland said it now can be considered a tradition for the group of regulars.
"It's fun. It gives you a chance to make music with other people, and get together and talk and joke and laugh and just share a good time," said Robison, who writes some of his own songs and enjoys "old traditional folk music."
"It's always fun to meet new people and new musicians because you never know what somebody else is going to have to teach you."
Maritime music may be at the heart of the gatherings, but they are open to doing other tunes -- like Christmas songs around the holidays and Irish songs near St. Patrick's Day. Mesford said his parents' 50th anniversary just happened to fall on a second Saturday, so their party was held at the restaurant with love songs the night's theme.
Niel Kierulff of West Richland said he's been trying to learn the guitar since he won it in last year's Tumbleweed raffle. Kurt Mesford has been encouraging him to play a bigger role in the singalongs, he said.
"I have been known to sing a song or two in the last few months, but I don't consider myself a musician," said Kierulff, who tries to attend every event with his wife, Cheryle. "I get nervous enough that I don't do nearly as well as when I'm practicing at home."
But he enjoys the gatherings for the social aspect and the sea chanteys.
"Last month there was a table of folks there (at Round Table) that was really having a good time listening to us, so we opened up the door and they were able to listen," Kierulff said. "Oftentimes we've learned when we start playing rowdy songs it just kind of clears out the restaurant."
Like Kierulff, Bill Darke says he's not really a musician. He does this more as a hobby.
"After I retired I started playing the guitar again, and it was partly just to do this," said the Richland man. He is joined by wife Marilyn at the festivities. "It isn't so much about individual performances as it is about group participation."
* Kristin M. Kraemer: 509-582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com
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