Seas of Mirth
Expect the unexpected from this merry band of comedy pirates with glued on beards and more sea shanties than the DVD box set of Captain Pugwash. Watch in awe as they create classical singalongs such as “la la la ladyboy’. Stand there open-mouthed in surprise as they battle an evil crab who has infiltrated his way into the crowd. Get a sweat on as they throw out a massive rope and involve you in a crowd vs crowd tug-o-war. You’ll laugh, you’ll dance, you’ll remember them forever...
How many of you are there?
Cannonball Paul: Nine at present... though since the beginning of the Mirth, four hundred years ago we've wavered though this mighty sound using twenty five members....
What can we expect from your live shows?
Fruitshoot Pete: Noisy folk. Plundering. A giant crab. A tug of war. People baring breasts and evacuating their everlastin' souls in pure hedonism... y'know, the usual.
Do you prefer playing live or studio time?
FP: Usually live, as we are a big show band, but havin' recently lost our already tampered minds in the studio with our first album we've taken quite a shine to the confines of Phil Booth's lil' Sneinton studio.
CP: Aye. Though arranging a 16 part harmony for a piratical opera does tend to grate one's nads like a rough cheesegrater...
Seas of Mirth at the Waterfront Festival 2011
What’s been the highlight of your band’s lifespan so far?
FP: Probably the thousand strong crowd at Falmouth Uni, any gig of gargantuan proportions by the sea floats my boat.
Zorba: The three day four gig bender last June, starting with Out the Box fest and ending with us fronting the Manchester day parade... you gotta doff the cap to the mayor!
CP: Headstock fest, what a blast...some of the finest crab wrestling this side of the Bay of Bengal.
What exciting things have you got coming up?
FP: The forthcoming album is definitely the most exciting thing on tha' horizon.. it is being mixed by the Boothmeister as we squawk, and sounding meaty god damn. Then there’s the festival circuit this summer- Boomtown Fair and the likes! Oh and the video for our single Phantom Vessel. And turning The Maze into a brothel boat this Saturday.
Tell us a quick gig/band story...
CP: At Y Not festival last year we were literally threatened with death by a man dressed as Mark Knopfler for violating him with a toothbrush. A bristly scrape for sure.
FP: Aye, thanks for saving my life, man.
Have you collaborated with other bands/vocalists we might know?
FS: J Beizsley (of Poundaflesh) used to be our meandering front man! We're always being likened with those renegades in Hallouminati, one time Emilios was joined on stage by himself.
Zorba: Huh?
What’s different when playing other cities?
FP: Places in Somerset often think we're mocking their accent a bit. We are.
Seas of Mirth
Is there anything about Nottingham that stands out for you?
CP: The Wenches! I've noticed you've a nice chicken outlet on the outskirts of town, Tooters, or something like that. Reminds me of Ocracoke Port...
Do you try hard to create your own sound? Or is it natural?
CP: Unfortunately so, it's a tough job writing "anti shanties". it's absurd storytelling, its about going to another world - there's romance in the seas, debauchery in the mist... Sharks, and narwhals.
What’s the hardest thing when being in your band?
Zorba: Cannonball Paul's cock when he sees an amorous ladyboy!
CP: Thank you Zorba, I'd say sleeping in the LDV, ahem sorry, HMS Convoy.... in an east London housing estate being forced to hear Engelbert Humperdinck on repeat until dawn.
Do you change your set depending on the crowd/ gig?
FP: Always! We've done weddings and cracked out Bonnie Tyler, and nearly ready finishing our funeral set. We've been known to knock it down to the acoustic level when needed but still packed with nuts, obviously. Not to mention our unique and infamous "happy birthday" shanty.
Tell us what you think about Leftlion, The Maze and I’m Not From London...
Zorba: Ballbag-errific!
CP: That means good... Er, Enchanting! A glimpse into heaven!
FS: Bloody shipshape. We'd be lost at sea with nothing but a bag of half chewed Fisherman's Friends without thee...
Seas of Mirth play The Maze 15th Birthday Extravaganza this Saturday, alongside 25 Past The Skank, Seas of Mirth, Just James and The Austin Francis Connection. Tickets are £5 or £4 if you come along in some item of fancy dress.
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