So according to Marc Gunn‘s Dragon*Con profile, he calls himself the “Celtfather” Celtic music is Marc Gunn’s deal. If you like Celtic music, read on. If not, well, I’m guessing you don’t frequent the Pern or Filk or Tolkien tracks at Dragon*Con. I don’t like Celtic music. I’m just going to put that out there.
Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies of the London Olympics? I did! I loved it, despite people being all “WAH IT WASN’T BEIJING,” which, hello, nothing can be Beijing, and also it was SO. BRITISH in all the best ways. I also really loved when the children’s choirs from the England., Wales, Scotland, and Ireland sang traditional songs from their countries. Marc Gunn does a bit of this–the difference is, I don’t tear up with emotion (the children, guys, the children all united!) when Marc Gunn sings “Danny Boy.”
I am really into neo-folk music: Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom, Decemberists, Beirut. But these all have a bit of winky irony to them, and also move forward with their genre. Marc Gunn is firmly–from what I can tell, correct me if I am wrong as I am literally being introduced to his music today–in the un-ironic, actual folk-song camp. I mean, check out this video: the long hair and the pirates and the kilts and the autoharp (which makes me think of the incomparable Catherine O’Hara in A Mighty Wind).
Guys, it is so Ren Fest! And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you like that, but I can only do it in very small doses. So here is another small dose:
Okay so that was about cats. I like cats. I don’t think I liked that?
One more, just to see if I can handle it:
So that’s from Dragon*Con 2011 and, um…no, no I still don’t like it. I take back my earlier statement about him not having any irony–I think it is there, it just isn’t really my kind of irony. Or sarcasm. I like things with snark and no, there’s no snark here. He has a nice voice, and he’s clearly good at what he does, but it just isn’t for me at all.
Talking points:
–A man and his autoharp
–Celtfather
Two thumbs down. I’m sorry, Marc Gunn, I am sure you have a very large following, I’m just not going to be a part of it.
The Dilettantista 
He did a Browncoat show last year that was excellent, including some very funny stuff.
Hi Deb–thanks for your comment. I am very much of the feeling that everyone’s opinion is valid and that people like different things, and I just didn’t like much of what I heard of Marc Gunn. I don’t like being mean!!! But it would be remiss of me to lie, ha. I’m glad he has a following and I’m glad we have all sorts of different musical styles represented at Con!
Shame. To each his or her own though. Marc is brilliant! Not only is he an awesome Browncoat (I saw that show), but he made an entire album of firefly drinking songs. It’s so shiny! His live show is fantastic. It’s like a cross between Voltaire and Emerald Rose. Yes. He’s a bit folky sounding but it’s just awesome fun. I laughed so hard last year, I near peed myself. His zombie love song (see Voltaire) was amazing. Anyway, it’s not for everyone, but it’s for any major sci fi geeks out there!
Like I said (and you said) to each their own! I also think that men need to cut their hair at some point, but, again, that’s just me. 😉 Firefly also ranks fairly low on the Sci-Fi love meter for me–I like it just fine, but there are just a bazillion things I like (love) A LOT more, like Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible, Battlestar Galatica, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Portal, etc. I laughed at Marc Gunn’s videos, but probably not in the way you did–I just couldn’t believe that that guy was for real, heh. Maybe if I’d known what I was getting into, maybe? Anyways, I think the point is that I take myself too seriously for Marc Gunn. 😉 But like I said, the nerd world is vast and infinite, and there’s definitely something for everyone!
But yes–I figured I’d ruffle a lot of feathers with this post. It sort of made me nervous to post it–but opinions are opinions, and it’d be a disservice for my blog readers and for me to not speak mine! Regardless, thanks for reading!!!