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Captain Darby O'Bill & His Matees 3

Last Updated: 11/23/2009

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Status: Single
City: ANCHORAGE
State: Alaska
Country: US
Signup Date: 10/29/2006

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Bilgemunky.com review of our album
Current mood:

cantankerous
Category: Music

Bilgemunky.com review of our album, 1/8/2007. Visit bilgemunky.com for ALL things piratey and awesome!!!

Genre: Original pirate songs of varying non-traditional styles.
Rating: PG-13
Target Audience: Late teens to early retirement

Captain Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3, an album performed by a group of the same name (I mean, what are the odds?) is exactly the kind of pirate music I love best - meaning that it in no way sounds like any of the other pirate music I already love. Right from the first track, The Skulls of Skeleton Peak, and on through the entire album, this CD defies categorization of any kind save one - this is PIRATE MUSIC!

To a song, the music blends the styles of old time traditional with elements and instruments of the modern age. Accoustic guitars, electric bass, trombones, accordians, washboards, finger cymbals... On its own, the music would be a piratey joy to listen to, but Darby and his mates also have a wickedly perverse sense of humor, which when combined with the music makes for audio dementia in the most wonderful sort of way. The Little Dutch Boy is a touching, happy song about a young, innocent dutch boy being hauled off to sea to become a man. The lyrics are at times difficult to register, which is a shame because I've a feeling the song might edge on the riskee (and having checked the liner note lyrics, indeed it does.)

Following songs are easier to understand, while remaining wonderfully odd in their own rights - For a Pirate Everything's Free, Margaret Mary, and The Barbary Coast are all great fun. Each maintains Darby's distinctive sound and style, and yet each is unique. Bulva, the Wicked Wench, is the first of the album to have a previously familiar sound about it, but only because it has a smack of OZ about it - think about the title, and you'll get an idea of what to expect.

Marina the Lovely Mermaid begins as a slower piece, but picks up pace later. But nothing can prepare you for Marina's own lyrics in the song. Her "lovely melody" isn't quite as femine as one might hope, but (s)he makes an effort, and that's why it's fun. Commodore Cortez is an adventure song, faster paced and full of danger. Hand of Glory is more of comradery and braggadocio, while The Ballad of Galley Schwaggennhann has a wonderful flow about it. One of my absolute favorite songs on the album, the vocals give almost an 80's flair, while the lyrics are all pirate and drunken, fighting Irishmen.

Forty Days begins fast and furious, and continues the same. With lyrics like "Yo-ho, the dary-o, it's the pirate's life that's never been told", it maintains the strong pirate themes that have been standard throughout the album, along with the same outstanding, fun instrumentals. Concluding things is Dutch Harbor. An odd track amongst odd tracks, it begins slow and sing songy, then picks up some peppy guitars and cymbals for several minutes, which are later joined by excited piratey lyrics. It then fades to a thunderstorm that lasts for several minutes, only to end with... well, for that you have to buy the album. But trust me, it's brilliant.

Captain Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3, whether we're discussing the band or the album, is definitely one for the Pirate Core Hall of Fame, if there were such a thing. This is non-traditional pirate music at its very oddest and finest, and something no self-respecting collector should be without.

8:26 AM

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Thursday, October 11, 2007

Northern Light Newspaper Darby O’Bill Album Announcement
Current mood:

nauseated
Category: Music

A&E Briefs

Kelly McLain

Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: A&E Briefs

Tales of pillaging pirates and rock 'n' roll featured in new album

The scallywags of Anchorage's pirate band have released their first and only album, "Captain Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3." The album features 13 tracks, including those that have been featured on their Web site, such as "Barbary Coast" and "The Skulls on Skeleton's Peak." The band has been providing landlubbers with entertainment at bars and festivals across Alaska.

Captain Darby O'Bill has disbanded, but the group will be playing two shows this month to promote their album. The band will be playing at the Paddleboat Café on Oct. 26 at 8 p.m., and at The Anchor Pub & Club on Oct. 27 at 10:30 p.m. The album will be available for $10 at both shows. To purchase an album online or listen to music from Captain Darby O'Bill, visit www.captaindarbyobill.com.

9:32 AM

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Pirate Band Drifts Away (Northern Light Newspaper article July 31, 2007)
Current mood:

bouncy

Pirate band drifts away

Landlubbers learn the pirate life through songs of Darby O'Bill

Kelly McLain

Issue date: 7/31/07 Section: A & E

Pirate bands are as scarce as the treasure-pillaging rogues that inspire them. Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3 have entertained the music scene with their original pirate tales and rock and roll influences. Their music presents catchy bass hooks, drumbeats and an accordion player that is known to cause audience members to dance a pirate jig. The men's deep vocals are exaggerated with thick accents, annunciations and plenty of pirate slang.

Unfortunately, the group will be disbanding after a few remaining shows in August and the release of a full-length album.

Contrary to the band's name, there is no member named Darby O'Bill, nor are there only four. The story behind the band was conceived mostly by guitarist and vocalist Greg Rhodes (also known as Peg-Leg-Greg), who is so convincing with the story that you'd think he was a real pirate. The story goes that during the summer of 1743 in the Netherlands, the Dutch Harbor Pirates took schoolboy Hermann-Maria von Gustafson II captive. He later grew accustomed to the pirate life at sea and found his talent in music. He changed his name to a fitting pirate title, Darby O'Bill, and went on to write several songs and gain infamous success with his pirate band.

"We're more like a tribute to Captain Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3, who are a fictional band," said Rhodes.

The truth behind the band is that the idea was a fluke. Rhodes and guitar player Chris Eisert were with a friend, John Bowen, during the summer of 2000. The trio originally considered being a holiday band and writing original songs for each holiday. Another possibility was a band of zombies. But the pirate theme seemed to fit after a writing session of three songs late one night. Most of their lyrics have been written on bar napkins with a round of drinks.

"All of us were kind of laughing and coming up with a ridiculous story that makes sense and rhymes," said Rhodes. "We have a lot of fun doing it. It's really fun writing pirate songs."

Eisert's brother, drummer Jason Eisert, figured out a marching beat to play along and created pirate drumming. Rhodes says it's a combination of imperial drum marching and rock and roll.

"We started off with a comedic, folk-shanty style. We've turned into a bluegrass rock pirate band," said Rhodes.

After three years, the Eisert brothers and Rhodes continued their pirate endeavors with new material. Two summers ago they added accordion and bass player Ryan Bohac to the group. Since then, they've added Nate Foerster on bass, flutist Ezra Coffman and fiddler Gwen Bradshaw to complete their band of seven.

It was originally a tradition for the guys to do a lot of drinking with the excuse that it would help them get into the pirate persona. Later they realized how much they drank and cut back for the sake of their music.

"Because of that, maybe we're less real pirates, but I think our music has definitely gotten better," said Rhodes. "We still definitely sing about drinking just as much."

The group still has a sense of humor about their music, but they've taken more interest in their musicianship. Their performances have become tighter, and their lyrics continue to tell elaborate tales of Darby O'Bill and his adventures at sea.

In the song "Skulls of Skeletons Peak," the pirates follow a treasure map to Skeleton's Peak. Once they reach the Peak, they find a cave full of gold. With the sound of chattering bones, they see dancing skeletons trying to protect their treasure. The pirates make a run back to their ship with their pockets stuffed with gold.

So how does a pirate band in Alaska find its inspiration?

For Rhodes as a songwriter, inspirations for the mindset of being at sea come from authors Daniel Defoe and Herman Melville. He also listens to mid- to late-18th century opera. Music from the original film "The Wicker Man," with its unique style of folk, serves as inspiration for several members of the band.

The reaction from their Anchorage audience has been mixed but mostly positive. They've recently wrapped up shows in Wasilla, Fairbanks and festivals around the state.

"People really seem to enjoy it," said Rhodes. "I think at festivals you have a lot of performances with the same style of music. I think it makes people step outside their bubble and pretend they're pirates for an hour. Our band has proved that there is a need in Anchorage for people to have some sort of outlet to act like a pirate and go a little bit crazy for a while."

With lyrics such as "I'll slit your throat and slay your goat," it's a challenge for the band to accommodate their music from the bar scene to a family crowd. Most of the group members are musicians in other bands who come to Darby O'Bill for something different.

"When it's late at night and we're in the bar and people are drinking, we can get a little more vulgar, get a little bit more crazy and theatrically overexpress our drunkenness. At something where there are families and kids, we kind of tone down the language and attitude a little bit to make it more acceptable," said Rhodes.

Rhodes imagines that a long-term goal would be to make the pirate theme into an opera or musical. He says they've constantly had ideas of grandeur they could achieve, such as including actors, a choir and orchestra for a real theatre experience. For now, their theatre experience is limited to their lively stage presence and makeshift pirate costumes.

"When we put our costumes on and start playing, it's a game we're playing. It just makes the imagery more vivid and the experience more fun for us," said Rhodes. "We have a small following of people in Anchorage who go to our shows and dress up, so whenever we show up, there's already twenty people dressed up as pirates."

There's no captivating tale as to the end of Darby O'Bill and His Matees 3. Two of the band members recently had a baby, and Bohac is moving to Portland. Like any infamous group of pirates worth their rum, they've peppered the high seas of Anchorage's music scene with adventure.

The album is expected to drop mid-August. Those who have been to their live shows can expect a high-quality recording of their usual music in thirteen tracks, including a secret narrative track. For updates and where to purchase the album, visit the band's Web site at www.captaindarbyobill.com.

[this article can also be viewed through this link: http://media.www.thenorthernlight.org/media/storage/paper960/news/2007/07/31/AE/Pirate.Band.Drifts.Away-2928556.shtml ]

6:18 PM

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Friday, July 06, 2007

~From the Diary of Percy Hollis Lancastershire, Esq., Imprisoned British Officer~
Current mood:Dreadful

Dear Diary,

I awoke this morning dripping of my own bodily fluids, and having not eaten nor drank for nearly eight days. Last night the rats nibbled their way through my tailor-fitted uniform stockings and completely ruined the French embroidery of my mittens! I am almost completely and unwittingly absent of yet unsoiled undergarments. And how many days and nights have I been here, you may ask, in this dismal, dingy prison? I know not! But only to guess by the tally marks I've made 'pon a plank in my tiny cell, 't must be more than two fortnights! Oh, blast these dastardly Freebooters! These Brutes! These Scallywags! To be held against my will: a Crime! And worse yet, an act of Treason!! Oh, these wretched pirates shall soon meet their fate, when His Majesty's royal fleets come swiftly to my rescue. For, under the Great British Empire's Holy Decree, all traitors shall be hanged!

But these days, any happiness I find is measured only by the quality of my memory of my dearest Henrietta Willingsworth of Nottinghamshire. Oh sweet cherubic Henrietta! How your plump thigh and soft cheek do entice my fancy! Why, I lay awake some nights just musing upon her.

And now for a brief description of my captors. The Portuguese fellow, who occasionally brings me slop- he calls himself Nasty Nate. And he is Nasty, indeed! A short, awkward fellow, with a stench befitting of his poorly-groomed mustache. Judging by his most unbecoming features, 't would not be untoward to humour the idea that his mother had been suited by a swine, or some other beast! And the portly fellow they call Dead Jim, who seems to mill about on the deck doing nothing more than snorting and hacking; all the while a strange crimson fluid streams continuously from his olfactoram. Egad! A horrid crew indeed! And we shan't forget the captain, Darby O'Bill himself, aye a mysterious fellow. When're he appears upon the deck from chasm of his cabin, and ever so seldom does he appear, all shipmates stand at attention!- for the unmistakable hollow 'knock' of his ghastly wooden leg upon the deck, all turn their attention in reverence and fear…an eerily charismatic man, at least four knuckles taller than any man on board. His wide-rimmed tricorne casts an unrevealing black shadow on his face at all times, from which his voice, deep and raspy, yet unwavering, rumbles. I feel this man may be Beelzebub himself!

But now, I mustn't fret with all this, and pray I think of dear Henrietta, that one day she might permit that I sprinkle snuff powder on her 'kerchief, or, at least, that I may softly touch her forearm with my gloved hand…….

Wishing only to be home in Mother England,

Percy Lancastershire, Esq.

9:09 AM

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