Marc Gunn is Celtic American songwriter and podcaster from Austin, Texas. He combines a passionate affinity for alternative folk ballads, Irish drinking songs, fantasy, Sci Fi, and cats on the autoharp.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Help an Indie Author Top the Amazon Charts!
Playing for Keeps began as a serialized podiobook by my friend, Mur Lafferty. Mur is an awesome storyteller. I loved the podiobook. It's a superhero novel where there are different levels of superheroes. And those with less than "super" powers, get treated like crap by the arrogant "heroes". The book is total fun and now on sale on Amazon.com. Pick up your copy to help a fantastic indie author climb the charts and earn well-deserved recognition for a great book.
I bought mine a moment ago!
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
Tomorrow, we leave for Atlanta. I don't think I'm ready to go yet. Ugh! But at least I finally got some of the tour dates listed on the Brobdingnagian Bards website. And our latest CD Real Men Wear Kilts is available for pre-order. It'll take about a month to get to you. However, you can get your copy now.
This Week:
-- Quote of the Week: "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." Albert Schweitzer. A truer statement was never shared!
-- CD of the Week: Druid Wood by Celtic Stone. This album was first released in 1984 by Celtic Stone, one of the early bands on the Renaissance Festival circuit. The band is amazing!
-- Words on Tap. One of my best friends started a writing service. She does press releases, blogging, proof reading. If you have need of any writing services. Nancy is brilliant with words.
-- Download my first FOUR albums for FREE. Ever wanted to hear what I sounded like BEFORE I started playing Celtic music? Well, now you can. My first four albums, pre-1999, are available for free download on my website. If you like the music, just make a donation. Otherwise, enjoy!
-- Please Request "Catnipped Kitty" on Dr. Demento! I had TWO songs featured a couple weeks ago on Dr. Demento--"Catnipped Kitty" and "I'll Tell My Cat". Oh, and you can listen to my songs on Dr. Demento for just $2. Help me make the Dr. Demento Top 10 of the Month.
Andrew finished mixing and mastering Real Men Wear Kilts this weekend. Now I'm just hoping we can have it in time for DragonCon. The album features sixteen tracks of Scots-Irish music.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
Oy! Not sure this was a smart idea or not, but if you saw my What Color Is Your Podcast feature on my merch page, you'll know you can get your own custom podcast of music sung by me to you for a helluva deal (way too low, remind me to change that after DragonCon IF I keep it up).
Tonight I recorded the FIRST of these custom podcasts for my friend Robin, the first to order them. It sounds awesome! Done totally live. Aside from some bizarre song selections. I'm really happy with the direction this will take. I'm seriously wondering if this might be something worth keeping up over the long run... but let me finish a few more of these shows and I'll decide then.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
We now have our schedule for DragonCon. Lots of shows including TWO big filk shows. The coolest thing about them is that those shows are NOT in the tiny room. We have a BIG room that'll hold 350+ people. So bring all your friends. Let's show them they made a GREAT decision!
Fri, Aug 29, 2008 -- 2:00 PM Concourse - Brobdingnagian Bards on the Concourse Start your DragonCon off right with the Brobdingnagian Bards, rockin out on the Concourse.
Fri, Aug 29, 2008 -- 4:00 PM POD003 - Podcasting Promotion with Marc Gunn Are you a writer, musician, artist, or other creator of media or art who has or wants to use podcasting to promote your work? Come here to listen and join a discussion on the best ways to get your work and name out there to the mass public. See and hear how others are already doing it to ensure your success! Marc Gunn will be on the panel.
Fri, Aug 29, 2008 -- 7:00 PM Brobdingnagian Bards LOTR Panel Join the Brobdingnagian Bards as they discuss Tolkien-inspired music and play selections from their CD "Memories of Middle Earth".
Fri, Aug 29, 2008 -- 10:00 PM International North - Brobdingnagian Bards Concert After several years of packed filk rooms, we finally have a filk concert in a large room. Expect lots of room, so bring your friends so we can show them how much you appreciate the space.
Sat, Aug 30, 2008 -- 4:00 PM Brobdingnagian Bards Art Show Combine beautiful fantasy art with enchanting fantasy music. Join the Brobdingnagian Bards at the art show as we stroll the show playing inspiring, instrumental music on autoharp, recorder, and mandolin.
Sat, Aug 30, 2008 -- 10:00 PM Regency 5 - Brobdingnagian Bards Concert After several years of packed filk rooms, we finally have a filk concert in a large room. Expect lots of room, so bring your friends so we can show them how much you appreciate the space.
Sun, Aug 30, 2008 -- 2:30 PM Brobdingnagian Bards Art Show Combine beautiful fantasy art with enchanting fantasy music. Join the Brobdingnagian Bards at the art show as we stroll the show playing inspiring, instrumental music on autoharp, recorder, and mandolin.
Sun, Aug 31, 2008 -- 11:30 PM Hyatt Regency 6-7 - Pirate Party with Marc Gunn Arrgh! The Piratey Party has grown every year. This year, it's in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. It is the talk of the town. Marc Gunn will MC the event as "Captain Black Jack" Murphy, Pirate Extraordinaire, performing some piratey songs in between events.
We shall also be at our CD table located on the Concourse at the Hyatt.
Another rainy day. I flew back to Austin on Sunday for my Grandma's funeral on Monday. It was a lovely service which made everyone feel good. The sun even came out just for the service. Now I'm back home. There's nothing like having Tiziano and Torre trading moments to be petted and sit my lap. With a good night's sleep, I feel rejuvenated. That's good. I have a lot to do today.
This Week:
-- Quote of the Week: "Work smarter, not harder." --Scrooge McDuck, DuckTales
-- NEW or is it OLD?! The Brobdingnagian Bards' first two CDs, Marked By Great Size and Gullible's Travels, are back on sale. They were made available on CD Baby yesterday. Though I think I sent too few CDs. There's only fifteen of one and thirteen of the other that are signed. Then I have to get more out there. Note: these albums will only be available online. -- What Color Is Your Dragon? Visually Awesome! I want to send a big thanks to Nikki O'Shea of Dragon Press Graphics who designed my new CD cover, What Color Is Your Dragon?. I thought it was cool how many eyes were drawn to Nikki's colorful album art at GenCon. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do. Please post your reviews on iTunes and CD Baby. You can listen to the album here.
-- New MarcSongs Podcast: "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits". It is almost time for DragonCon. The stories still abound about this song. It is based on a true story of when I made the mistake of drinking with hobbits several years ago at DragonCon. I'll never live it down.
-- DRAGON*CON! NO. I don't think we are listed on the website yet. YES, we are officially a part of the con. We even have a couple of shows lined up already. We're just waiting for the filk show to be listed. Also look for The Great Luke Ski, Carrie Dahlby, and Paul and Storm in the filk room. Stay tuned for the DragonCon Tour that follows the Con.
-- New Celtic Knot G-String Necklaces. The first order of Celtic Knot Necklaces made from broken autoharp strings sold out in the first few days before I barely had a chance to mention them. I have more necklaces on their way. Take your pick between a silver chain or black leather band. Get the same awesome Celtic knot designed from one of my broken autoharp G-strings. hehe!
-- Autoharps, Movies, Pouches and More! While I'm mentioning the necklaces which are on my swag and merch page, I have a bunch of other stuff, including one of my most-used autoharps. It's not in the best of condition any more, but it's a beautiful instrument for some lucky person who wants to own a piece of my musical history. I'll tell you all about it. AND. You can also get your very own custom podcast dedicated to someone special, for an obscenely low price! I'm still hoping to use the mullah for a lifetime membership to DragonCon.
-- Marc Gunn Chords and Lyrics. Oops! Someone pointed out that all the links there were dead. Sorry! I fixed 'em.
-- CD of the Week: Chess by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (of ABBA). I first heard this musical in college years after "One Night in Bangkok" became a hit song. Awesome musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. What a combination!
This song was based on a true story. I think it was 2004 when I was invited to go drink with a bunch of people dressed as hobbits from West of the Moon, a fan fiction website about hobbits. It was Thursday night of DragonCon weekend when I met up with them. We drank till the wee hours of the morning and I awoke the next day with a sore throat. By Sunday, I had laryngitis. I couldn't sing a lick and felt like crap. Andrew sang and stalled through the Brobdingnagian Bards Sunday evening filk show. After that, I swore I'd never go drinking with hobbits again. Last year, I finally wrote the song about the event for my new CD What Color Is Your Dragon?.
Released under a Creative Commons Noncommercial ShareAlike License. If you enjoy the music, please purchase the MP3, buy the CD, post a review, repost this blog, or tell a friend. Every little bit helps to make to keep these free MP3s coming. Thanks! Find out more about the MarcSongs Podcast now.
Originally published at Irish-Song-Lyrics.com. Find lyrics, free MP3s, and chords to Irish folk songs.
Well after much begging and cajoling, we gave in and decided to make the first two Brobdingnagian Bards CDs, Marked By Great Size and Gullible's Travels, publicly available. Not only that, but the first 15 copies are signed by us.
Gullible's Travels was released in March 2000 at Things Celtic in Austin and then throughout. It featured our first recording of "Tolkien" which rocketed our popularity on MP3.com. Many of the songs were re-recorded on later CDs or added to compilations, but there's nothing like hearing the album in it's entirety.
If you ever wondered what the Brobdingnagian Bards sounded like... in the beginning. Now you can. Pick up a copy of the CDs while you can.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
We finally got some show times at GenCon. Brobdingnagian Bards have TWO shows.
Friday @ 9PM Indiana Ballroom C in the Marriott
Saturday @ 9PM Indiana Ballroom D in the Marriott
Please help us spread the word by telling your friends. Sadly, the shows are NOT in the schedule. So we need as much help as possible getting the word out.
Find the latest updates when you are on my Twitter.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
Marc's Musings: Announcing New CD "What Color Is Your Dragon"
MARC'S MUSINGS -- August 11, 2008
- Marc's Music News - 4-Hour Work Week - New CD: What Color Is Your Dragon? - GenCon and DragonCon - Twitter
Published 1-4 times per month. To manage your subscription, go to the end of this newsletter. Visit My Store Now!
Marc's Musings
Greetings Amici,
I started reading a book yesterday called The 4-Hour Work Week. Wouldn't it be great to work just four hours a week, earn what you are earning now, and get to do the things you do?
It has me thinking about changes that I want in my life, like seeing more of Europe, making more music, and being more in the present. I must say I've a lot on my mind right now. But I'll only touch on a little of that in this Musings.
MARC'S MUSIC NEWS I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I have a new CD out. I know you're, thinking, I haven't picked up a copy of Whiskers in the Jar yet (okay, I'm hoping your thinking that if you haven't bought it already). But yes, I have a brand new CD out called What Color Is Your Dragon?.
This latest edition to my maddening music schedule of recordings features a bunch of folk songs about some of my favorite fandoms like Lord of the Rings, Bugs Bunny, Firefly, Star Wars, Dr. Who, and Harry Potter. Most of the songs are completely original, but there are a couple gems written by others like "The Lusty Young Sith" and "My Father Was a Werewolf". And if you're not into the cat songs, then this album is definitely for you. But I hope cat lovers will still enjoy my voice and unique musical style as well.
In other news...
I am preparing to move from my apartment. So I'm clearing out a bunch of stuff and posting it for sale on my merch page. If you'd like some cool stuff from used DVDs to leather pouches and who knows what (I sold a Venetian mask last week), keep an eye on the webpage. I have a LOT of stuff that I need to unload.
I have a brand new song that you can download for free on the MarcSongs Podcast. It is called "Monahan's Mudders Milk". It's a song I wrote based on Firefly and everyone who's heard it has loved it as much as I do.
MARC GUNN LIVE! My CD releases for Whiskers in the Jar went great. Sadly, they are all over. However, I have a bunch of shows this month with the Brobdingnagian Bards.
A week after that, and we are on our way to Atlanta, Georgia for another fantastic year at DragonCon. Yes, that was a surprise for me too. So we WILL be at DragonCon.
We'll also have several house concerts on the way back. I don't have the details yet, but if you're on eventful or just keep an eye on my website, I'll let you know as soon as I know..
TWITTER What is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends and family to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
I tried my best to avoid signing up to it. But someone told me how I could use it effectively. Basically, I could send out a notice when and where our shows were at DragonCon and voila. I tried out the site. Now I just find it kinda cheesily fun.
So if you too are on Twitter and would like to find out what I'm doing as I'm doing it, start following my Twitter.
--- Many blessings. Drop me a line and say, "hello". Slainte! - Marc Gunn
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Marc Gunn is Celtic Geek songwriter from Austin, Texas with a strange affinity for ballads, Irish drinking songs, acoustic Alternative Folk, podcasting, Sci Fi, and cats.
The world is dominated by massive organizations that strangle the life out of the independent arts. You can stop it at the source. Your good will and support of the arts through kind donations, purchases, and friendly word of mouse will make your feel great!
My mind is in Italy right now. I'm not sure what got me started, but I'm jonesing for a trip. Italy is my home away from home. I graduated from high school in Vicenza. Now I have a bunch of wild and crazy ideas for bringing people to Italy and seeing places I know and love.
This Week:
-- Quote of the Week: "I vote for Joss." --Kari Haley, The Signal Podcast
-- What Color Is Your Dragon? Is Now On Sale. The latest of my many new CDs is now on sale. This one is mostly filky goodness highlighting many of my favorite Sci Fi and Fantasy fandoms.
-- Tasty Wine Under $10: Martin Codex Rioja. Spanish wine based on a Spanish troubadour from the 14th century. Suggested by Jamie H. who runs the wine tastings at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. Sign up now before space runs out.
-- Interesting Fact: 9 out of 10 forwarded emails I read that have some "Fact" is listed on snopes.com as untrue. Lesson: Don't read or forward emails.
-- New MarcSongs Podcast: "Monahan's Mudders Milk". Is this the "final" mix? Who knows. I might add more Firefly fans to the chorus if they come in. Meantime, you can now download the this Firefly filk for free through MarcSongs Podcast. Special thanks to the following people who recorded on the CD: James "Cedric" Hazelrig, April Porter, Jamie Haeuser, Katie Haeuser, Peggi Warner-Lalonde, Charlie Rogers, Mike Younger, Margaret Lipscomb, Jennifer Shrank. Oh! And if you're name is not here and you were there, let me know so I can add you to the credits.
-- Off to GenCon! The Brobdingnagian Bards hit the road next week on the road to GenCon. We'll be stopping off in Little Rock for another great show at Studio Joe's.
-- Marc Gunn Chords and Lyrics. Not all the lyrics listed on the Irish Songs & Lyrics website are songs that I play. So I'm starting to compile a new list of just those songs, plus some of my original music as well.
-- I fed 100 animals last month! I got a thank you letter from Thundering Paws after my show at the Cactus Cafe on the 30th. They said, that the $212 we raised for them would feed 100 animals for a month. Feels good to help! And thanks again to Cedric the Fiddler and Michelle Hedden for backing me up on stage.
Those who read my blog know I have a big problem with over-compressed music. New Music Strategies labels it "The Loudness War". There's a cool video where you can hear the problem I have with compression.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
Someone asked about my recipe for how to make homemade almond biscotti. I got the recipe from Joy of Baking .com. It came out tasting great. I want to try another batch with raw sugar since I'm not a fan of white sugar. But at the very least, I got exactly what I wanted. The biscotti are delicious!
Ingredients:
1 cup whole almonds 1 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp sal 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white sugar 3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Toast almonds at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
Let cool and chop coarsely.
Set oven at 300 degrees F.
In a bowl, lightly beat eggs and extract together. Set aside.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until blended.
Gradually add egg mixture and beat until dough forms. Add almonds halfway through.
With floured hands, divide dough into two logs, 10 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Bake on baking sheet for 35-50 minutes, or until firm to the touch.
Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack for 10 minutes
Transfer logs to cutting board and, using a serrated knife, cut log into slices 1/2 inch thick on the diagonal.
Arrange on baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes, turn slices over and bake another 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool.
Eat your almond biscotti with espresso or tea. Yum!
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
I love my life as an independent musician. It's not glamorous. I'm not raking in cash, rather just staying afloat. However, I still feel like recently I've been in a rut. It's from sitting in front of the computer too much. I love interacting with people online, but sometimes it gets to be too tiring. It affects my health and my mood. It's not easy to break away from.
Basically, I have difficulty relaxing. You know, when you just sit still for a while. I'm always on the move. Today, I noticed three different types of people.
The Type A Workaholic. That's me. I work non-stop and when I do take breaks, I barely notice them, because my mind is still stuck at work. I have to be doing all the time.
The Work Hard, Play Hard Person. That's the one who is a not like me. They work hard, but they know how to stop and play hard. Sometimes they'll even relax hard. But they're still doing all the time.
The Other People. Okay, that's not a fair breakdown, but you get the drift. There's the other people who don't seem to need to accomplish things. Or maybe they do, but they don't work as hard at it. This could never be me, and I'm okay with that.
Then there's...
The Word Hard When You Work, Relax Easy. This is where I'd like to be. I love to "work". It's to some degree play time for me. But it's the "relax easy" characteristic that I haven't figured out yet.
Part of not relaxing comes from working on the computer. For me, too much time in front of the computer leads to zombiedom. While I loved being mauled by zombies in Deadbacks, I don't want to live like one. So I really feel a change is needed.
Part of that desire for change comes from listening to the audio book of The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris. I just started the book. Even though I feel I am in the position that I could have a 4-hour work week, I don't really want to. I enjoy what I do. But I do want to more productively manage my time.
The book got me thinking that I really don't know how to relax. Except on rare occasions, I am always doing instead of taking time to relax and enjoy. When I do take the time, that is when I feel most inspired by life. My mind is less foggy. That means no television or radio or internet or even allowing myself to be distracted by whatever needs doing around the apartment. Just relax.
Admittedly, I find it easier and more fun in the company of others. But that is the challenge of the solitary individual, to find time to do what needs doing alone and time to be still.
I think I really need to follow the example of my cats. They know how to relax. They lounge all day. They find new places and things to lounge on. I lay out a towel. They lie out on the towel. I sit down. They sit on me. I lay down to sleep. They lie on or next to me.
All in all, I need to learn how to lounge and relax a little better. Not so much that I become unproductive, but enough that I can really relish my life as a musician more. For me, I think that means, more swimming, hiking, meditating, yoga, wine on the porch, spending time with my cats, maybe even taking up scuba again...
How do you relax when you are alone?
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
I am thrilled to announce the release of my fourth new CD of 2008--What Color Is Your Dragon? is now on CD Baby. This album represents something different, especially to FuMPers like Worm Quartet. Why? I cover a LOT of different folk songs and filks on this CD and none of them have to do with cats... Okay, there's ONE small appearance in one song, but it's barely noticed and the song was written fifteen years before I became a cat lover. So that doesn't count.
Instead you get Lord of the Rings, Bugs Bunny, Firefly, Star Wars, Dr. Who, and Harry Potter in one big filky smackdown of autoharp folk goodness. There are a ton of original songs along with a few guest submissions from fans. One fan compared to the Brobdingnagian Bards' chart-topping album, Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales. I don't know about that, but it's a ton of fun.
It all began three years ago when I was introduced to Firefly, a Sci Fi Western by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I became a huge fan. The TV series is still one of my most-watched DVDs. One of my favorite episodes is "Jaynestown" where the ruffian Jayne Cobb becomes a folk hero with his own folk song, "Hero of Canton".
I loved it so much, I wanted to write my own Firefly song, but I was too busy watching the show to really spend any time writing about it. Then I was inspired to write "She Said Her Name Was Saffron" for a contest last year. I hoped more songs would come. It didn't until a couple weeks ago. I finally decided I was gonna write a song about mudder's milk, the alcoholic drink from "Jaynestown". The song evolved into a worker's rights folk song ala Woodie Guthrie. I recorded it, and for the icing on the cake, I got a bunch of Firefly fans to sing back up in the chorus, the way a good drinking song should be sung.
Released under a Creative Commons Noncommercial ShareAlike License. If you enjoy the music, please purchase the MP3, buy the CD, post a review, repost this blog, or tell a friend. Every little bit helps to make to keep these free MP3s coming. Thanks! Find out more about the MarcSongs Podcast now.
Strange Turn of Events. DragonCon Officially Confirmed
I just got a call from Andrew who heard from the Con Director. Brobdingnagian Bards are now officially confirmed for DragonCon. How this happened, I'm still in a daze and unsure. But I'm told we are official, and we will be on the Filk Track. We should be up on the website in a couple days.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
What Color Is Your Own Podcast? Getting an Eternal Membership to DragonCon
I love DragonCon. Knowing now that I might not get invited back as a guest and get a guest membership pass, I decided I really, really want an Eternal Membership badge. The problem is that it costs $750!
So I decided I'm gonna try and raise the money for an Eternal Membership badge. At first, I thought I'd pre-sale my new CD What Color Is Your Dragon?, but I don't think that alone will raise the money quick enough (I need to send it off ASAP). So I decided to do something different. I'm a podcaster. I will podcast... for YOU!
You may've heard some of my live show Pub Songs Podcasts. I basically play a live show post it online for free to download. I'm gonna do that for 15 lucky people. You will get your Very Own show. You pick Ten of your favorite songs of mine. I will play my heart out for them. It is completely dedicated to you.
The cost? A mere $50 for a copy of What Color Is Your Dragon? and your podcast burned on a CD or available for download. Your choice.
Don't want it for yourself? Why not offer the podcast as a dedication to a loved one, a birthday, anniversary, a proposal? It's your choice. Just fifty bucks to make dreams happen!
A couple months ago, I received an email from Sarah McUmber-House asking if I would like to review her new book "Nemofotmad Chord Book, Vol. 1: Chords for More than 200 Tunes in the Celtic & Old-Time Traditions". Seeing as how I play the autoharp, a primarily chordal instrument, I was mesmerized by concept and highly skeptical, but my fascination was such that I had to see it.
Let's jump right to it. The book is exactly as it is says. It is a chord book. There are no dots on lines like in sheet music. Instead, you have square blocks with a letter, representing the chord, in it. It looks kinda weird. It looks exceedingly simple. Almost boringly simple. At the top is the tune names in alphabetical order and a chord and the style of tune: Reel, Jig, Rag, Polka, Set Dance, Hornpipe, etc..
After receiving it, I lost interest and looked for someone else to review the book. Then the day of reckoning came. I had a show and brought in a fiddler to play with. We needed a tune at the end of a song. He picked "Soldier's Joy". On a whim, I thought, "I wonder if it's in the book." I opened it up. There was the song. There were the chords. I had no trouble playing along to the tune. It was exactly as the the title named it, and it turns out it was PERFECT for what I needed, a quick easy reference for playing chords to Irish tunes.
Included in the book is an easy Key/Chord Transposition Chart for those instrumentalists who want to play in different keys, a nice description of the different types of tunes and how to recognize them, and some blank pages at the end to annotate your own tunes.
All in all, if you are a chord player and need a quick and easy guide, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to play Irish tunes, and I can't wait Volume 2 to appear. What a great idea! Thanks Sarah!
Marc Gunn is a musician and podcaster specializing in the Celtic culture of music. He has helped hundreds of tens of 1000s of people around the world connect with their Celtic heritage through his Celtic MP3s Music Magazine, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Song Henge, and his unique style of Celtic and folk music on the autoharp. Now you can download "FREE Celtic MP3s" and podcasts when you visit his website and subscribe to his free newsletter at www.marcgunn.com.
I got back from the last of my Whiskers in the Jar CD release house concerts. This final edition of the Whiskers Tours took place in Watauga, TX, just outside of Fort Worth. The show went smooth and was a ton of fun. Thanks to Raenell for putting this on.
I must say, I like doing house concerts at cat homes. It's a great opportunity to meet new cats, and cats know how to add atmosphere to shows. Two of the house cats noticed all the people who came to see and worship them. So they made sure to give us all opportunities in song, with cameras, and with laughs to shower them with attention. I need to do more house concerts like that!
This Week:
-- Quote of the Week: "I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson.
-- What Color Is Your Dragon? Is Here. How many albums does that he plan to release? Good question. Answer: a Lot! The new album was secretly finished up last month. It is now in the good hands of CD Baby where it will go on sale on their website in about a week or so. The album features filk songs about Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Dr. Who, and Firefly.
-- GenCon and Arkansas. The Brobdingnagian Bards hit the road next week on the road to GenCon. We'll be stopping off in Little Rock for another great show at Studio Joe's.
-- The Tales of Beedle the Bardby J.K. Rowling is now available for pre-order on Amazon. There's also a Collector's Edition tha includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition.
-- Marc Gunn Now on Twitter. Yes, I broke down and signed up. I'm trying to use it sparingly. Just not too easy.
So we've had a LOT of questions about when the Brobdingnagian Bards' next CD, Real Men Wear Kilts would be released. It's been a big question for everyone. We just haven't made any progress on the album in about a year.
Today, we finally sat down to see what was left to record. Right now, we have 19 potential tracks for the CD. So there's plenty of room in case we need to scratch something. Most are Scottish songs, though there are a few Irish songs as well. Eight track are fully recorded and just need mixing. Eight need backup vocals or additional instrumentation. Three are in a 'record-from-scratch' state.
Right now, we're kinda hoping to have these CDs for DragonCon. If so, then we're gonna need to finish recording the album this week. So stay tuned for more news about the CD coming soon.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
I'm listening to something I found on iTunes U, a service that brings college courses for free download. It's called The Folkways Collection. This actually doesn't sound like a university course, but as a documentary on the Folkways record label. It is fascinating.
Folkways was a record label found in 1948. It featured recordings that documented folk music from around the world. It was a label that might print 5-10 copies of an album every year. Yet, while it didn't print many copies of an album, it made up for it by the number of albums it released. The label released 2,168 albums before the death of its owner Moses Asch in 1986.
That's a different philosophy from the major record labels who focus on releasing blockbuster hits instead of building a large catalog that cumulatively adds up to a decent sustainable income. The Folkways method is the Mage Records method. That is how I approach releasing music.
My reason is subtitled on my new CD What Color Is Your Dragon?. It reads "Folk Music with Delusions of Grandeur". Yes, I would LOVE to sell a million records, and be played all over the world on regular rotation. God willing, maybe one day I will. While I hope for the best I plan for the worst. I know that the more albums I record, the more solid my financial future.
And so I record. What am I at four albums this year? With more to release... Sure many of these albums don't sell well. Some about as well as the Folkways fivers, but I've earned back my money on most of them. So as I see it I'm making a profit and will continue to for years to come.
Now that's not to say releasing one studio album every couple of years doesn't have its merit. It does. I admire people who save up and make an absolute brilliantly produced album. But I believe that for the indie artist, it is better to just record, and record often. The more you make the better your ability to turn your musical passion into a long-term career of musical bliss.
Not to mention, I hate it when albums disappear forever. One of the reasons I appreciate the amazing service Modern Bard gives to the Renaissance festival world.
Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.
Tomorrow, we leave for Atlanta. I don't think I'm ready to go yet. Ugh! But at least I finally got some of the 
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