My Druthers were a new discovery for me—a collective of grog-fueled rabble-rousers from the gritty port city of New London, Connecticut, self-described purveyors of songs of the sea and ballads of rebellion.
Their debut Coming Up 3’s delivers 15 tracks of raw, rum-soaked sea shanties with a modern punk rock bite. Blending timeless traditionals (like “Whiskey Johnny,” “Hangin’ Johnny,” “Cape Cod Girls,” and “John Kanaka”) with seamless originals, it’s a high-energy haul that evokes the spirit of the old New England whalers, the Catalpa that faced down the British empire, and the Essex from Nantucket lore.
Produced by Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls (who also produced the Rumjacks’ most recent), the album packs top-mast vigor and an unmistakable edge: driving acoustics, bodhráns, and harmonies that pull you into an onboard pub sing-along one moment, then hit with pirate aggression the next.
If you’re craving energetic shanties that honor the tradition without getting corny, hoist the sails for this one—it’s a stormer.
Shite'n'Onions 