Derby band Seas of Mirth are preparing to take the city by storm with debut album Septopus
LOCK up your daughters, Derby's favourite pirate band are taking the city by storm with a long-awaited album launch gig, writes Ella Rhodes.
Not for lily-livered land lubbers, the Seas of Mirth believe in audience participation, if you brave the gig be prepared to take part in a tug-of-war at least.
The nine-piece have a passion for sea shanties, pillaging, crab-wrestling and other hilarious onstage antics.
They formed five years ago and have had 25 members since they started out but in recent times have managed to keep the same line-up.
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The band has already released a free download of their single 1000% Overproof Rum and a video for Phantom Vessel online but the delights of their album Septopus is yet to be unleashed on the unsuspecting public.
Paul Lynch, who founded the band, said production of the album had started very well.
He said: "We decided to try and do it all in one weekend last summer. We had a very productive weekend and rattled off five of the songs.
"But then it took us over a year to do the other five! The first five songs are a bit more rough and ready. But they were the easy ones. The songs we've been playing for a while."
Loz Brown, cellist, said although the first five songs were good they knew they could do better.
He said: "The ones we recorded that weekend are fun shanties then the later ones are different. You can hear the transition in our sound."
The band started as an acoustic act with Paul Lynch and Al Judkins as the founding members, but later roped friends in to joining their gigs.
Emilios Pavli said he had started playing the shaker in the band.
He said: "Everyone has to start on the shaker. I've played about five different instruments in Mirth but have now worked my way up to playing bouzouki!
"The band's changed a lot over the years. There's a massive difference between old Mirth and how it is now."
Al Judkins, founding member, vocalist and djembe player, said: "There used to be a lot of teaching people how to play our songs backstage.
"They'd arrive on the night of the gig and we'd have an hour to show them how it was done!"
Paul said: "I once introduced myself to one of our temporary bandmates while we were onstage!"
The band have been busy this year and just returned from playing a pirates vs panto themed event in London called Rumpus.
They are also playing a New Year's Eve gig in Canalhouse in Nottingham as part of the Waterfront festival and next year are embarking on a tour including dates in Europe.
Septopus will be available to download from seasofmirth.com and their Facebook page www.facebook.com/seasofmirth for £8. Hard copies of the album, with artwork designed by Amy Freeman, will be available from the band's upcoming gigs.
Their album launch gig is part of the City-Zine all dayer at the Hairy Dog on Sunday, December 16, to raise money for the magazine, and Seas of Mirth will be appearing at 10pm. Entry is £3 during the day and £4 in the evening.
The line-up also includes: Sebastian Moody - Bass, Grace Capper - accordion, Adam Mcgrath - melodica, Robert Fairs - drums and Sarah Pickin - violin.
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