We're Under Way with Our New Live Album 'And the Band Played On!'
- Micha Sweeney
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 3

A Time Capsule from the Storm...
Before “ShantyTok.”
Before the 2021 sea shanty craze.
Before we had any idea how much the world would change—Shipwrecked Shanty was already singing.
We started before the storm. And we sang through it.

What began as a porch project turned into something much more: a lifeline during lockdowns, a soundtrack to uncertainty, and a musical family for anyone who felt adrift. Today, we’re proud to share the next chapter of that story.
Our debut live album, And the Band Played On, is now available worldwide on:
Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio…and wherever shanties dare to be streamed.
🎧
A Sound from the Streets — Not the Studio
This is not a polished studio production.
This is a living, breathing time capsule.
Recorded live outside Sláinte Irish Pub in Jack London Square, Oakland, And the Band Played On captures a moment—rough edges and all. You’ll hear passing buses, clinking glasses, the low hum of trains, the occasional dog, and the joyful, unfiltered voices of our audience singing with us.
There are pitchy spots. Unexpected guests. Street noise in place of studio silence.And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
These imperfections mirror the moment we came from—a world in flux, frayed at the edges, but bound together by grit, heart, and song. This album is a testament to how we kept showing up. How we kept the music going. How we played on.
Meet the Crew

James Dean Nelson – Banjo & lead vocals - The Cap'n! The heart of the band and our steadfast storyteller. His voice is the anchor that holds it all together. Quintessential part of no less than 4 bands, Jim is the wind in the sails (luckily not the wind from behind!)

Micha Sweeney– Whistle, melodeon, bodhrán, frog & vibes - Our Bosun Mate and rhythmic compass. His long-lost grandpa actually died in a bar fight over who tied the best sailor knots! Micha steers the audience and the spirit of the set with melody, mischief, and momentum.

John Palme – Guitar & vocals - With a guitar licks that grounds the crew, John adds depth and soul to every shanty, and will typically sing out a lick or two with some recognizable, sea-related song.

Steven Strauss – Upright bass & vocals - Steven’s bass doesn’t just hold the rhythm—it dances with it. His harmony work ties us all together like rigging to a mast. He teaches and enjoys random pontifications.

Amanda Lewis - We would be remiss for not mentioning this Miss! The reason we started holding up lyrics is because of her. Let's not forget creating our logo, making business cards, running the livestream, grabbing refreshments, and generally anything the band needs that we don't think of - she's on top of it! Former Coast Guard employee, it's only natural that she keeps sailors safe and cared for.
Together, we are Shipwrecked Shanty.
What started as a gathering of sea-song enthusiasts became a voice for an era.
This One’s for the Ones Who Kept Singing
And the Band Played On is more than just a title.
It’s a message. A mood. A memory.
To the porch singers.
To the pub-goers.
To the lonely hearts who found connection in old songs.
To the communities that formed in the spaces between lockdowns.
This is for you.
Go listen. Share it. Let it be rough. Let it be real.
Let it remind you of the joy that survived the storm.
Listen now on the Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon | iHeartRadio links above,
And if you’ve ever clapped along, hoisted a pint, or hummed a verse in the night—you’re part of this band, too.
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