The Bilge Pumps - Past Landings: San Diego Sea Shanty Festival 2017

San Diego, CA Sunday, August 13

We once again got our arms severely twisted by the offer to go to sunny SoCal in 78 degree summer weather, dress up as a pirate, and perform on a tall ship to lots of people who are there specifically to watch people sing on a tall ship. It took lots of encouraging, but we finally caved to the pressure. Our third trip to the Sea Shanty Fest brought the fewest Bilge Pumps we've ever had perform at a show (3) and we still managed to pack 6 people's worth of bad jokes, bad music, and bad news into 2 rousing sets of nauticallery. We probably should ask for hazard pay next time.

Flying to a gig for the first time in 10+ years, Maroon has to pack up all his large instruments for travel.	Waiting to board the plane Harvey the Corpsman chats up Babe Laufenberg about his flying habits.	Being forced to wear our tricorns on the plane to save space got us lots of strange looks. Got a couple of double looks from the TSA as well.
Here is our host for the festival, the Star of India tall ship!	And here is the Surprise, famous for being in "Master and Commander", but even more famous for Maroon's excursion on it in 2000.	The day started off with a memorial set to departed past performers. Maroon was selected to perform "Nautical Talk" by Sam Hinton and he had to go solo.
The bad news was, only three band members made the trip alive. The good news is, we fit on the stage much more easily.	Harvey suckers in some of the seafarers to dance with us on "Sailor's Hornpipe".	The San Diego Bay provides a nice view for the show, along with ocean breezes to blow away our stench.
This shot exists just to remind everyone how cool it is performing on a tall ship.	It doesn't take long for cabin fever to strike the landlocked pirates.	Our Jack the Rum Runner poses as both master and commander... and swabbie and bilge rat.