Marc Gunn - Irish Pub Songs, Scottish Songs, Cat Music in Texas
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A master list of journal articles, reviews, features, and news to various webpages around the net. These are my free gifts to you.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Cat Companion CD Release at Things Celtic in Austin, Texas

Wow! I was looking at my calendar, and it was this time last year that I did my last show at Things Celtic. Last time, I had a theme--summery visions. I don't remember what I played though.

This time, I am releasing my... um... third solo CD, Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. Okay, I'm a little slow since I officially released the album in June. But better late than never, eh?

Sat, August 11, 2007
Things Celtic @ 2PM
1806 W. 35th Street
Austin, TX 78703

Some come out and sing some Irish songs with me!

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Friday, July 27, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 

Help Bring More Love Into the World

Yesterday, I was listening to an audio book by Seth Godin. He talked about living the marketing message you want to share. I realized that's probably the reason Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers has done so well. I love cats!

Last night, I was watching a movie and Torre climbed up on little fold out table and stood there like an Egyptian God. He stared off quietly as cats do, looking off into a parallel universe or something.

When he saw me staring, he took a careful moment measuring the distance to the sofa with his eyes. His legs flexed, and he leapt onto the sofa and climbed on my lap. He looked at me to see if I would object. Of course, I didn't. And a couple minutes later, he circled and lay down quietly to nap.

I love when cats do that. I love the way they love. It's so different and yet similar to the way we humans love. My cats are extremely loving and faithful to me. They know their daddy and show it all the time. Sure, sometimes it's a bit stand-offish, but that's just the nature of the cat. If you try petting him when he doesn't want a petting, he shakes you off and walks away. Torre hates it when I kiss him on the forehead. Sometimes he bares it. Sometimes he struggles away. But he's always back with more love to give and share.

That's the amazing thing about love. I'm working on a CD called "A Tribute to Love". Admittedly, I'm far from an expert. I am single, after all. But I do know that love is two-way even if I can't always adequately balance it.

In order to receive love, you need to give it.

But too often our pride gets in the way. We let it hinder our ability to receive by not giving it to others. It works in many arenas too. That's one of the reasons I try to help indie bands so much. It's to receive that feeling of respect that I so greatly desire too. Love is the same way. You have to give it to receive it.

I was thinking about this as I was driving home listening to that Seth Godin audio book, thinking about it in terms of my Love CD. I don't just want to release another CD. This feels like it should be something different. The album is mixture of love songs. Some are traditional Celtic, but most are original songs that I've written over there years that express different aspects of love that I've experienced.

Yesterday, I was thinking about even raising the price on this CD while donating a significant portion to a loving charity. I've thought about limiting the release to only people of a certain loving disposition who want to love and be loved. But I'm not sure either of those things really get to the heart of what I want.

I want something that shares my love with others. I want something that you can share with people you love. I want to hear hearts beat rapidly throughout the world, all in the name of love.

Maybe it's a little hopeful since I still need finish recording and mix the album. Maybe it's too big a dream to expect from one little album, but love is important in life. And with any luck, I hope to bring a little bit more into the world.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Friday, July 27, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Update Lyrics - My Puddy Tat, Sylvester

Even before I became a cat lover, I never liked Tweety Bird. Arrogant SOB with big feet and an annoying voice. So as I was thinking of parodies for my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, I came up with an idea for a song that I called "Big Strong Cat ("My Puddy Tat, Sylvester)". But recently, I went in and edited some of the lyrics I didn't like and renamed simply, "My Puddy Tat, Sylvester".

The song parodies the Irish American song, "Big Strong Man (My Brudda, Sylvest)". And I'm happy to say I finally get rid of that blasted bird!

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Sunday, May 13, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 

New CD Cover Art for Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion

Graphic artist, Molly C. Loar, finished the CD cover Marc Gunn's upcoming CD, Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. The result is a stunning piece of art.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Sunday, May 13, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Monday, April 23, 2007

Cat CD Reviews Purring In

Well, the reviews are pouring in for my new CD of Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. I've gotten a LOT of fantastic reviews, everything from women wanting to mother my children to fond recognition of my stylistic differences between The Bards and solo work to blissful enjoyment of traditional Irish songs. Come to think of it I don't think I gave everyone warnings when I sent out those CDs. I always consider myself more a balladeer than a comedian. I think this CD does a good job of reflecting that.

It's actually kinda interesting to see what happens when Andrew and I get together and play music. We have a style all our own. It's always fun. But how can it not be with Andrew there. He's got amazing wit and comedic timing, plus a helluva musician who puts me to shame. I'm much tamer than my old rock music days.

I've also decided I'm gonna try to put together a special release to see if I can top some charts on iTunes. But all that's another month away.

Meantime, here's the first of the reviews:

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Monday, April 23, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

More Irish Drinking Songs Coming Soon!

Well today, I received the final master of Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. It sounds great. Ari Koinuma did a great job mixing and mastering this CD.

So if you like Irish drinking songs, this song will be a treat... Although I should point out, this CD is for the cat lover. You'll hear kitties talking throughout. This means the CD will be available for sale next month. Keep an eye on my Celtic Music CD Store to pick up your copy of the album.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Wednesday, April 11, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Today's To Do List and Update

Yesterday, Andrew and I were back in the studio working on Real Men Wear Kilts. It was a lighter workday than usual. Gigs are forcing us to take a step back. In April, we'll jump back into the studio with fervor, but too many gigs in March to do just that.

This weekend, we fly to New York for I-Con. The following weekend, we'll perform at Four Winds Renaissance Faire. With all the gigs, I can barely keep up with many podcasts. Heck! I can barely organize all my blog entries to find out which one to link to. hehe. Ah well...

Yesterday, I booked my flight to Ireland with a return trip via Rome. I also listened to more mixes for my Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion CD that Ari sent me. I'm still hoping that I'll have that done by the end of April. But we'll see. Still lots to do. Heck! I don't have a CD cover for that yet. Hmm...

Other things on my list to do:
I'm sure there's more to do, we'll stop there for now.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Tuesday, March 20, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Monday, February 19, 2007

A Day of CD Living and Recording

Productive day. Ari finished all the guitar parts for Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. That means there's just his backup vocals and mixing to do for that CD. Well, that and I need to come up with some graphics for the album. He did another great job. There's some more tasty solos. Ari is awesome.

While he was recording, I worked on graphics for Victims of Irish Music. I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the album cover yet. But Roy Janik sent me links to a lot of Ireland photos that I was able to use for the rest of the CD. Now I just need to finish mastering the album.

And I need to record my Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm a wee bit behind on that one. Though the shownotes shouldn't take long. Maybe once I get back from my Italian Language meetup.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Monday, February 19, 2007 0 comments links to this post

 
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion CD

Back in high school, I was huge fan of Weird Al. It was a natural progression because my dad was a fan of his comedic predecessors. When I grew up, he sang lots of comedic songs. He'd parody songs and write songs on the fly while playing his banjo. So it was natural for me to hear Weird Al's parodies and become a huge fan.

I bought Weird Al's albums and listened over and over again. But I had one small problem. Not all the songs were parodies. And those that were I wasn't entirely sure what the original songs were because I lost the cassette jackets or the jackets were incomplete. So in my senior year of high school, I made my own compilation tape featuring the Weird Al song, followed by the original version. It was neat to hear the differences.

It was this desire to hear the original that inspired me to record a new CD: Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion CD. This album features all of the original songs found on my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. You can hear how a song evolved from a fun Irish song into a purrfectly fun song about the cats we love.

While the production isn't nearly fancy as on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, it still has all the energy and fun that you enjoy from that CD. All the music comes from my producer Ari Koinuma and Marc Gunn.


Here are the songs you will find on this CD:
  1. Finnegan's Wake
  2. Black Velvet Band
  3. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
  4. The Moonshiner
  5. I'll Tell My Ma
  6. Patriot Game
  7. Black Is The Colour
  8. Bonnie Ship the Diamond
  9. Gypsy Rover
  10. Wild Rover
  11. The Barnyards of Delgaty
  12. Fiddler's Green
  13. Lord of the Dance
If you enjoy Irish drinking songs, then this is a delightful album for you, full of feline vitality, and also a nice compliment to the Brobdingnagian Bards latest CD, The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs. These are the CDs you will want for St Patrick's Day.

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posted by Marc Gunn @ Tuesday, November 21, 2006

 

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