Jamie again, for one more week! Marc is back next time, so I'll take this last opportunity to brag about the new CD, Happy Songs of Death just once more.

And check out the live shows; I have been booking like a mad fool, and we have a big announcement that I will let Marc do next week. Yes, you will have to wait for it.

First, though, a note from Marc, sent last week from Assisi. He was in Venice yesterday, and may go to the beach in Ostia today.

It's hot in Rome which is why I escaped it and headed to Assisi today.
Well, that and it's one of the most serene places on the planet. It
was a quiet and reflective day with a great lunch that was only
partially spoiled by the elevator music on the speakers. Rick Steves
didn't mention that. Ah well.

I had much quiet time to reflect. I definitely *think* better when I'm
cooler. That's one of several reasons I'm heading North to Padova. I
want to visit family and I also want to escape to the mountains and
Bassano, home of Grappa. Mmmm… I can't wait.

Assisi is one of my favorite places. I wish I could wander about listening to Hearts Ease there.

Other members of the Celtic Invasions group are avid photographers, and are back in the states, so I am guessing Marc may post some pics next week.

And remember that Marc is contemplating another trip this year, to Ireland in September. Air fares on Aer Lingus have been killer low, so it is a great time to think about autumn in Erin.

Now some more about Happy Songs of Death:

Some of these songs you may have heard Marc perform on other CDs or shows, but you have not heard them like this. Marc and Ari Koinuma have breathed magic into all these tracks. Here are more previews:

Won't You Come With Me? (Gunn) is another original, a murder ballad about a sailor having an encounter with a girl who cleans fish for a living. I will not spoil the ending for you, but it will sure make you think twice about a beachside pick-up. This one will be fun for the Happy Songs of Death show at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in November.

Johnny Jump Up just may be my favorite song on the CD, because it is a really new take on such an old standard: jazzy, sexy even.

Whiskey You re the Devil is a great old song about Irish soldiers fighting with The Duke of Wellington against Napoleon. I love this version; it feels more authentic than either the Clancy Brothers or Pogues covers. I can see Marc now, slogging along some muddy path in Portugal, singing away. In an 1812 uniform of course; gotta love the garb.

Well, that is my take. I was not sure about this whole idea at first but now I am breathlessly anticipating the release of Happy Songs of Death.

Listen to the Song of the Week: “When Kitty Eyes are Smiling” from Live at the Cactus Cafe: Cat Songs and Celtic Music

CD of the Week: The Celtic Viol by Jordi Savall. “Jordi Savall reveals the hidden beauties of Irish and Scottish music from 17th to 19th Century. The transcription from fiddle to baroque viol sounds so obvious that everyone realizes the closeness of traditional and ancient repertoires at once. Some of the pieces are irresistibly vivid and virtuosic, some are more melancholic-but all of them deserve the renasissance Jordi Savall offers them in this collection” -Amazon Review

Book of the Week: From St. Francis To Giotto by Vincent Moleta. “From Francis to Giotto Brings together and reviews some of the most familiar expressions of early Franciscan culture, such as the fresco cycle in the Upper Church of San Francesco and Canto XI of Dante's Paradiso, while it merely touches on related questions such as the debate over poverty and the influence of Joachim of Fiore. These issues, though they loom large in the early history of the Franciscan Order and have become a preserve of scholars, are not central to the theme of this book.” Vincent Moleta.

Review these iMixes: Irish Music Hits, Irish Music Gems, and Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Marc's started messing with iMixes on iTunes as a promotional tool. He could really use your help. Go post a review. And if you like some of the music, pick up a copy. It's filled with some of the songs and tunes from Marc's extensive catalog of Celtic music.

Marc Heard Round the World: Just a few of the places that played Marc Gunn music recently:

• David Ritche's SoundClick station added “Isn't It Grand, Boys?
• “The Bridge” was played on TSP Radio's “All Folked Up” which is heard on 400 radio stations around the world
• Punky Pete's SoundClick station added “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”

–– UPCOMING GIGS

Don't forget to make a demand to see Marc perform!

• 6.5-6 (ARLINGTON, TX) Texas Scottish Festival
• 6.21 (AUSTIN, TX) Saxon Pub
• 6.24 (SPRINGFIELD, MO) The Coffee Ethic
• 6.26 (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) Cummings House Concert
• 6.27 (ELMHURST, IL) Benefit Concert for Feral Fixers
• 6.28 (BROOKFIELD, IL) Irish Times Pub
• 7.1 (WINCHESTER, KY) Panzarella House Concert
• 7.8 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Neutral Ground Coffeehouse
• 7.11 (COVINGTON, LA) Etoile Restaurant
• 7.25 (RESTON, VA) Fogel House Concert
• 7.30 (DENTON, MD) Market Street Public House
• 8.12-16 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) GenCon
• 8.28 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Bacchanal Wine Bar
• 11.7-12.13 (ROBERT, LA) Louisiana Renaissance Festival
• 1.16.10 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Concert with Jed Marum

— Check me out on Sunset Connoisseurs Society, Myspace, SoundClick, Demand a Show on Eventful, Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook, Livejournal, Sonicbids, and DeviantArt. And if you'd like a CD…

More from Marc next week. In the meantime, enjoy Memorial Day by sitting back and taking it easy.
Love and respect from Jamie