Single Named & Cat News
Well, I decided to name the new single, When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling. I noticed there was a wee smirk in the my Dancing Celtic Cat so it works.
Yesterday, I listened to a bunch of new mixes for the When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling CD. They sound so dang good! I'm just blown away.
Note to self: Use a producer on future projects. Ari Koinuma is definitely a good pick.
In other news, I was also scanning over the Cat News website, which is a great site for well... cat news. Though they seemed to miss out on this humorous bit o'Cat News.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 9:43 AM
Help Me Name My Cat Comedy CD Single
At lunch, I played the latest mixes of my cat single for my friend Nancy. Her jaw was dropped for the next ten minutes. She was blown away with the sound quality and performance. This is by far the most-professional sounding project I've ever done.
A big thanks to Queen's Gambit. While I kinda knew I wanted to try recording with a producer, it was listening to the quality of their latest CD Pawn to King Four that sold me on it... well, that and hearing what Ari Koinuma has done with my recordings. Wow!
That said, I need to name the cat single. I'm having a wee bit o'trouble coming up with a good name to reflect the music and whatnot. I could go with a basic "Wild Kitty", and that's a possibility. But no decision is yet made.
Here are the songs on the single:
 Wild Kitty
When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling
Furagone's Wake
Oh! And this CD cover will use the Dancing Celtic Cat Knotwork that Ingrid Houwers made for me.
Have any ideas?
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 11:25 AM
Please Vote in Cat CD Poll
The Cat CD single will be done next week. I started talking to Ari about producing the rest of the album. We plan to finish it by August and release it in September. The official release date will be in October.
Now I need to finish picking songs for the CD. You can help. Please go vote for your favorite cat drinking songs here. I have my own idea. Now I'd like to hear yours.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 9:29 PM
Beautiful Flute Music Added to Cat CD
My sister rocks!
This evening my sister came into record flute on "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling". Hannah plays the flute. She's still in high school and is first chair in her band. She's one of the best flautists in her band. It certainly showed tonight.
She was a little nervous about recording. I don't blame her since she only had one day to practice. But the result was beautiful!
I think that is the last of it too. I should get some rough mixes in the next couple days. If all sounds good, then we'll start the final mix. Then The Dubliners' Tabby Cats will release their debut Cat CD Single.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 7:52 PM
What's Folk Music without a Wee Bit O'BASS
What a great recording session last night! Cedric the fiddler came in early to get the evening started. I really should've given him something to listen to before we recorded. Fortunately, Cedric's talented enough that he picked up on non-normal folk key and played "Wild Kitty" with precision like the pro he is.
Course, my producer, Ari Koinuma, knew exactly what he wanted. He had Cedric lay down a bold fiddle part with some a few points of tasty improv, plucking the fiddle strings. Then on "Furagone's Wake", we were all delighted by the addition of the mandola to mix.
Speaking of mixes, I forgot to mention what Ari was doing while I was at Excalibur Fantasy Faire this week... BASS!
That was amazing. I'm just not used to hearing my autoharp recordings with low end, but wow! Ari added some standup bass and other instrumentation to give the songs movement. It's really starting to sound like The Dubliners music now. It has a LOT of body.
It also helped to add Ben Hamley to the mix. Ben is a professional voice-over actor and also an actor at the Texas Renaissance Festival and Excalibur Fantasy Faire. At TRF, he is Italian, but he the man of thousand voices does a great Irishman. In "Wild Kitty", he puts on an award-winning performance as an Irishman who gets drunker and drunker through the song.
Blake McCaig had icing on the cake. I'd never heard actually sing, but wow, what a beautiful voice she has! Blake sings with a local cover band and has a five-octave range. She's not used to singing like Ben's drunk Irishman, but with a little coaxing from Ari, she sang the most beautiful and cute harmonies. That little giggle she does in the last chorus is adorable!!!
When all the main vocals were done, the three of us added some cat meows and claps for "Furagone's Wake", and then everyone departed. As for me, I fell asleep with a joyful smile on my face.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 5:24 AM
Wanted: True Comedic Cat Stories
I decided I want to put together a small book of comedic cat stories. I want true stories about funny things your cat has done.
I am looking for a minimum of 20 true stories with a minimum of 750 words. Anyone who submits a story that is published will get a free copy of the my Cat Single featuring three fun cat songs from the Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. The single includes "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling", "Wild Kitty", and "Furagone's Wake".
To submit your story, email me. Please make sure to edit your story well.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 8:55 AM
Excalibur and the Cats of the Round Table
Had a great weekend at Excalibur Fantasy Faire this weekend. I also was able to secure two CD performers: Ben, and Cedric of the Bedlam Bards. They're both coming in Tuesday evening for recording. Ben has a voice that puts mine to shame. He's singing backup on "Wild Kitty". He also performs out at Excalibur Faire.
Cedric is an awesome fiddler. We did a wee bit o'jamming on the song Sunday morning, much to the winces of Andrew. ("I leave you alone for a minute...";) The song went fairly well and was enjoyed by other cast members as well. Even had Queen's Gambit singing and playing along.
After tomorrow, I'll have one more part to do to finish the single. So we're almost there! Now if I can only sell more cat t-shirts or other gifts, I may be able to afford to finish the ablum.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 8:36 AM
Austin Producer CATches the Best Meows!
I love having Ari Koinuma, my Austin producer helping me to record. Ari really knows his stuff. He seems to really understand the big picture, how instruments blend. He did a great job helping me to set my character while recording "Wild Kitty". I'm really pleased with the vocals we recorded tonight.
Next week, I hope to have Cedric from the Bedlam Bards come into play on "Wild Kitty". Next I have to talk to my sister about recording on "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling".
So what do you think? What should I name my cat single? I figure I'll use the Cat Logo for the single.
Tiziano and Torre had a blast with all the action this evening. Torre was pinned to the sliding porch door, watching and attacking a moth outside. The nail clicking was a bit much, so I had to lock him in the bedroom. Oddly enough, he is never the one who escapes. It's always Tiziano. I swear that cat has an opposable thumb!
When I finally went in to check on Torre, he was buried like E.T. on my bed. But instead of being among stuffed animals, he was buried among my clean, unfolded laundry. I tried catching a picture. But he meowed, got up, and jumped off the bed before I had the chance.
Next week, the cat music recording adventure continues...
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 9:27 PM
Cat Music Recording Studio Anecdote
In most professional recording studios, you aim for a purity of sound. You don't want a lot of exterior noises. Engineers will turn off air conditioners, lamps, and anything that might add a buzz to the sound. That's what concerned Ari Monday night.
I have two cats, Tiziano and Torre of The Dubliners' Tabby Cats. Normally, they walk around with their collars, and the collars jingle. My studio is in my apartment and every little sound will stand out. So Ari was worried that jingly curious kitties would make a lot of noise. So I took off the collars. He still wanted to put them in another room since they like being the center of attention. I was a bit worried about that idea but complied.
I put TnT into the bedroom and shut the door. Fortunately, my boys aren't the type to meow to be let out... well, much. This time they didn't bother. And they didn't need to.
Imagine it. The cats are locked in the bedroom. I'm standing in my study/computer room. I have headphones on. I'm wearing my autoharp singing "Furagone's Wake". Ari is sitting staring at the computer watching the sound levels. Then over to my left, I see a cat casually walk down the hall past the room. I couldn't help it. I laughed and ruined the take.
So Ari picked Tiziano up and put him back in the room. This time, he made sure the door was shut tight. Either my cats have an opposable thumb, or the door just doesn't shut properly. Either way, I'm busy re-recording when I see Tiziano casually strut down the hall again. I grin, but keep singing. Then Torre walks by. He looks up at me and keeps walking. I'm sorry, I couldn't hold it in!
At this point, I explain to Ari that these are my kitties. Trying to keep them locked up is well, kinda pointless. Where there's a will, there's cat! Maybe I should add that quote to one of my cat t-shirts?
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 12:49 PM
Welcome to the Cat Family!
This is a beautiful idea:
"When a cat sits with both feet tucked inward and studies you with the same admiration you would direct toward a Rembrandt, you know you have been adopted."
--from Cat Nips ezine
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 2:33 PM
Another Cat Lover Spreading the Word
I love to hear stories about how people are sharing news about my cat CD.
Last week, I got a call on my cellphone from Oklahoma. Emilee Collett was visiting a PetSmart in Oklahoma when she saw an interesting flyer. She just glanced at it for a second, and then did a double take. Lo and behold, she read the words Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. She read on and found my lyrics for "Catnipping Green" were listed, plus info about the CD and a URL. I could literally hear her bouncing on the other end of the phone!
Then this past weekend at the North Texas Irish Festival, I had another pleasant surprise. I just finished watching the Trinity River Whalers perform, when a lovely red head I've seen at some Texas Renaissance Faires stopped me. "Are you Marc Gunn?" she asked. "The one who is recording the Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD?"
"Yes." I replied.
She then told me how she heard about the CD. Apparently, someone in Wisconsin was telling someone in Ireland about the CD in a chatroom. She just happened to see the message.
That's just too cool. Thank you all for telling your friends, and let me know who else you are telling.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 2:28 PM
Cat T-Shirts Are In!
My dancing cat logo is now redesigned on t-shirts and other swag at cafepress. These cat t-shirts are a great way to help build visibility for the Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD.
There are cat t-shirts, steins, bumper stickers, posters, greeting cards (I love the Irish proverb that goes along with 'em) and postcards, coffee mugs, tote bags, and even a clock. I'm pretty impressed by how great the logo looks on all these products. I hope you will find out for yourself. All proceeds go towards supporting the CD.
Yesterday, I recorded my second Podcast. This one includes a performance of "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling", one of the songs I will re-record with my producer tonight. Love to hear what you think about the song too.
Now this is interesting. I found a couple of interesting sites: - A Cat's Life
Ever wondered what a cat would say if she could speak? Great idea for a blog. - The Cat Album by Doug Newman
This sounds like a fun album. Twenty-thre songs about a cat who adopted Doug Newman. It's all acoustic. The samples are pretty amusing.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 10:55 AM
Surprising New Addition to the Cat CD Performers
Whoa! I tentative "Yes." That was a surprise.
Monday night, my Producer asked me if Andrew, my bandmate with the Brobdingnagian Bards would be willing to play mandolin on my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. I sadly told him "no," because Andrew is not a cat fan.
But I thought I would ask Andrew again. So yesterday I asked, and he said, "sure". That was a big surprise. Very cool. Not to say anyone could expect to hear us perform the songs live, but it was a pleasant surprise. I don't like excluding him from this project. So a big huzzah!
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 9:33 AM
New Celtic Cat Knotwork Logo
I asked friend Ingrid to create a new Celtic Knot Cat logo for my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine that could also integrate a cat so I could also use it with my Cat Drinking Songs CD. And WOW! What an amazing job she did!
 In other news, I talked with the my Cat CD Producer, Ari, last night. Eek, boy that was kinda scary.
I mean, I'm confident he'll get a great sound, but the cost... eek! Ah well. The important thing is getting a great product. He loved what he heard.
So I decided to work the project in steps. We plan to prepare a three-song single for release in early April with "Wild Kitty", "Furagone's Wake", and "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling." With the Single, I hope to try and find some sponsors. Looks like my total cost for this CD will be about $8,000. So I will seriously need to raise some money.
So if you know any Celtic or Cat businesses who might want to sponsor the project starting at around $500, let me know. They can email me at marc at thebards.net.
For that matter, if you're interested in helping me raise some money by talking to business or individuals, let me know.
posted by Marc Gunn of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Gift CD @ 9:19 AM
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FREE GIFTS WHEN YOU
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