Rebel songs, social commentary, biting satire and, of course, a roll upon the high seas.  Portland, Maine’s ‘Pirate-themed folk band,’ Shank Painters tackle the lot, on their 4^th album, Spitfire.

A FOLK BAND WITH A TWIST

Shank Painters: Charlie Swerdlow – aka Pirate Charlie – (vocals, guitar), Fairen Stark – aka The Fair Rapscallion – (vocals, banjo, flute, whistle), Nyx Leibiger – aka Captain NoBeard (accordion, percussion) and Zoe Pancic – aka Zetara of the Northern Isles (fiddle) came together in the summer of 2016.  Spitfire is the band’s fourth album and it follows their epic 2023 female-themed collection, She Shanties.

If you haven’t twigged by now, Shank Painters are a folk band.  But they’re a folk band with a twist.  In fact, they describe themselves as a: “Pirate-themed folk band.”  The band’s repertoire includes traditional folk songs, covers of well-known and less well-known songs and original material.  But, as their branding suggests, they hold a special place in their collective heart for shanties.  And that’s absolutely fine by us!

Shank Painters are particularly proud of Spitfire, which they’ve already described as “Our strongest album to date.”  They’ve defined the word ‘Spitfire’ as: “An individual with a fiery and passionate personality,” and their mission has been to make a series of statements that live up to that definition.  So, alongside the songs of piracy, passion and adventure upon the rolling sea, Shank Painters also tackle knottier issues such as social class, revolution and the political unrest that exerts an increasingly stifling stranglehold on the contemporary world.  And they do so with the aid of a healthy dose of satire and an optimistic approach.

SONGS OF THE SEA – AT LIGHTNING SPEED

The scene is set with a sincere and determined interpretation of Come Out Ye Black And Tans, Dominic Behan’s scathing critique of British influence in Ireland.  Shank Painters perform the song at lightning speed, with banjo, fiddle and whistle all firing at full-bore – as befits rebellious lyrics such as: “Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away – from the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra.”

The Captain’s accordion calls the shots for the bluesy Pirate Queen.  Charlie sings the song’s harrowing lyrics with a breathless passion that, perhaps, originates in a murky dockside tavern.  But The Captain’s accordion is definitely at home on the crest of the poop deck.

Mary Read was an 18^th century British female pirate who roamed the seas alongside the notorious John Rackham.  Little is known of her life, but Shank Painters pay an upbeat tribute to her with their song, Mary Read.  Fiddle and accordion dominate the backing, with Fairen’s whistle adding to the song’s jolly nautical feel.  It’s another fast-paced affair, and Fairen’s voice effectively conveys the passion that must have smouldered within the titular Mary’s heart.

SPIRITUAL? SHANTY? WHO CARES?

The violent swell of a stormy sea is mirrored by The Captain’s rolling accordion and shouts of “Yarr!” from the band echo the sound of a lashing whip, for the delirious The Blackheart Ball.  A pirate vessel sails into hell, piloted by a paralytic crew and Charlie tells the story as a crazed reel, spitting out his lyrics like bullets from a gun.  Indeed, he’s over two minutes into the song before he pauses for a single breath.

Shank Painters’ cover of The Dreadnoughts’ Roll Northumbria is almost operatic in its presentation.  The band set down a raucous ¾ rhythm, as Charlie’s dramatic, gritty vocals contrast with Fairen’s sweetly forceful tones; and they put everything they’ve got into it.

Is it a spiritual dressed as a shanty?  Is it a shanty dressed as a spiritual?  No matter which, Tumblebones is great fun – a bluesy, punchy and irresistible singalong with lots of shuffling percussion to get the feet a-tapping, tasty flurries of flute and accordion and a dash of Gypsy fiddle from Zoe to round everything off.

JELLYFISH, SHARKS AND SNAKES

South Australia is, without doubt, one of the best-known shanties around, so I guess it’s fair game for a comical rework – and that’s exactly what Shank Painters have come with for the album’s lead single.  “If you go swimming for a lark, you’ll be stung by a jelly, or eaten by a shark,” “The bathrooms have a special treat – a snake under every toilet seat” and “Place your head upon the ground, get used to walking upside down” are just a few of the antipodean cliches that the band have managed to work into their hilarious reinvention of the song.  And it’s all done with the best of jaunty intentions!

Corruption in public life – in the USA and, by extension, everywhere else – provides a fertile source for the bitter lyrics of Steal From Everyone (Except the Band).  There’s a whole lot of commentary to pick from the song’s scathing, satirical lyrics and Charlie’s breathless delivery of those lyrics owes as much to Gilbert & Sullivan as it does to Blackbeard the Pirate.

WHO IS THE HATED BARON?

Steal From Everyone… is one of the band’s own songs, as is The Death Of A Robber Baron – a stirring call to arms.  Preachers, rabbis, imams, Hindus, pagans, Jews, tradesmen of all kinds, people of all sexualities and all races and colours – all are included in the call to remove the hated Robber Baron from office and usher in a ‘more enlightened age.’  Now – I wonder who that Baron bloke really is…?  This time, it’s Fairen’s turn for a spot of drama, and she duly obliges by climbing inside the lyrics and thoroughly inhabiting them.

And, speaking of drama, Charlie takes things to the ultimate level as he uses at least three octaves to overact in his delivery of the atmospheric Three Harbours.  Fairen plays the straight role on this one, with a discrete, tuneful harmony vocal – and the band take care of the rest.

Spitfire closes the same way that it was opened, with another Irish rebel song.  The Foggy Dew, Fr Charles O’Neill’s famous chronicle of the 1916 Dublin Easter uprising, is performed with genuine respect.  Throughout Spitfire, a number of possible influences have surfaced; The Pogues and Gogol Bordello come immediately to mind and, here, I’m reminded of Bellowhead by the operatic elements of Shank Painters’ performance.  If Shank Painters really are taking a lead from Messrs Boden, Squires, Kirkpatrick and McShane – well- that’s not a problem, is it?

Watch the official video to South Australia – the album’s lead single – below:

Shank Painters: Website

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