Introducing The Dubliners' Tabby Cats

The Dubliners' Tabby Cats forage their way out of the gutters of Ireland to create a musical menagerie that combines Irish drinking songs and the folk music stylings of groups like The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, the Irish Rovers, and "Weird" Al Yankovic to create a sound unlike any Celtic music group you've heard today. The songs will make you laugh and cry with delight or distension as this feline group reinvents traditional Irish folk music.

Yes, just when you thought it was safe to listen to folk music about cats, I started a "band" made up of cats... sorta, you will have to visit The Dubliners' Tabby Cats website to get the FULL details.

Needless to say, it's pretty amusing...

Free Cat Music Blog

You can never do enough promotion for a CD. So I started a new website called the Cat Music Blog dedicated exclusively to my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD.

I plan to post stories, cat facts, some MP3s, recording news, and of course, I'll keep people informed about the release of the CD when it finally arrives.

Happy Valentine's Day Music

I hope everyone is having a loving Valentine's Day, and not necessarily with a loved one. Because *HUGS* that's for all of you. Mreow!

Mine Valentine's Day is rather nice. Since I'm single, I have no real plans tonight. Just business as usual, and that's just fine for me.

My day has been lovely. It started last night as I finished my Valentine's Day edition of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. This morning I wrote a nice blog in The Bards Tales on Valentine's Day since I was promoting some free our free Valentine's Day mp3s.

A few hours ago, I got a special treat my amigo Rimbo who did a remix of me with an older version I made of "My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose." It's a beautiful version and I believe you can download it free on his website. It's my token contribution to The Secret World of Celtic Rock CD.

Celtic Music, Celtic Rock, and Cats

Last week, I posted a message on Austin Craigslist looking for a Producer for my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. I still haven't decided if I really want a producer. But I did think of one great use for one.

Right now, I'm finishing up a Celtic Rock compilation CD with my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. The CD is really taking off. I picked most all of the songs, but I think I will have to change a couple of the songs from the final mix. If so, I was thinking I might add a Celtic Rock cat song. ;)

Okay, here's the idea. Basically, this Japanese producer I met here in Austin has a studio and an incredible amount of knowledge on various projects. I have Harry Potter and The Rising of the Moon. I wanted to record a Celtic rock version of this Irish song to add to the city. I thought this producer has the right skills to make it happen.

Course, the one downside is I don't think I have enough time. I'd really like to get this CD done in the next week. I'm not certain we can pull it together in that time since he's in Japan right now visiting family.

If I can, I think this song will make a great intro to the purrfect CD about Cats and Celtic music. Then maybe I can help alleviate all the anxiousness I'm getting from cat lovers everywhere.

St. Patrick's Day Poetry & Music

I know, I know. There's still over a month before St. Patrick's Day arrives, but now's the time to start thinking about it. Here are a few great St. Patrick's Day resources.

A St Patrick's Day Poem
Thoughts and inspiration that comes from St. Paddy's Day.

Happy Birthday from Ireland
St. Patrick's Day is also my birthday. I wrote this poem as a happy birthday song for me St Patrick's Day children all around the world.

Songs of Ireland for St Patrick's Day
The ultimate collection of Irish drinking songs that are perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

St Patrick's Day Music 2004
17 Celtic music downloads for St Patrick's Day 2004.

St Patrick's Day Music 2003
17 Celtic music downloads for St Patrick's Day 2003. I don't think all of these sites still offer free St. Patrick's Day music downloads, but many of them do.

The Leprechaun, a St Patrick's Day Song
This is a fun little song I wrote for St. Patrick's Day about those fantastical creatures of Ireland, the leprechauns.

Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers
This is an upcoming CD of Irish drinking songs rewritten with lyrics about cats. As of Feb 2005, this CD is not done yet. But there is a free music download of "Furagone's Wake" (parody of "Finnegan's Wake"). Check it out!

Those are all my favorite resources for now, but subscribe to the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine to find out what are the picks St. Patrick's Day 2004 free music downloads.

Rediscover Your Irish/Celtic Heritage

"Imagine getting closer to your Celtic heritage with MUSIC when you listen to a CD of beautiful, inspiring, and fun Celtic folk songs that celebrate Your Scottish & Irish heritage."

Let's face it, you can't escape your Celtic heritage. Everyone of Celtic blood will one day rediscover the power of their heritage. The real question is "when?"

Every Celt knows that music is an essential part of the Celtic experience. The beautiful harp sounds of Turlough O'Carolan and the rousing Irish drinking songs get your blood pumping.

Think about the relaxing music of Enya or the sing-a-longs of The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers, or the beautiful romantic ballads of Christy Moore and the Scottish National Poet, Robert Burns. They convey the mystery, the joy, and the most utterly thoughtful.

Celtic music is largely a lost and forgotten art. Not long ago the music swept the the world and used the songs to work magic. People were swept off their feet by a sweet, sincere ballad.


Today, there are musicians still playing Celtic music hidden away in pubs, but rare is it that you will hear one of these magical songs on the radio. It's about as rare as finding a leprechauns pot of gold.

Listen to Celtic music and you might find your own pot o'gold at the end of the rainbow, but there's one wee problem... finding great music!

You can try to hunt down some decent internet radio stations playing Celtic music, or worse, wait around until you hear something on public radio.

But instead of knocking yourself out trying to something you "might" like, listen to something that's been tested and received hordes of praise.

Re-Discover Your Irish/Celtic Heritage now!

St. Gertrude, the Patron Saint of Cats

Oh, this gets better and better. I got an email from SaintsPreserved.com. Patricia told me about the St. Gertrude, the Patron Saint of Cats who's holy day is also on March 17, St Patrick's Day (and my birthday).

Is it just me or is that absolutely brilliant! I mean cats and celts celebrating the same day. It makes my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD seem like an even better idea than when it started.

And I also FINALLY did some recording today. Laid two rough tracks for "Wild Kitty" and "Furagone's Wake." I need to listen again in a couple days, but I think I may've gotten some decent recordings.

Auctioning My Cat on eBay to Raise $$ for New CD

Well, at least a picture of him is. ;)

A friend from LiveJournal, Gabriela Avila, saw my kitty and decided to paint a tabby cat portrait of Tiziano with pastels. She made a startlilng resemblence of him. You can now buy bid on Tiziano, Tabby Cat painting on ebay.


Tiziano The Tabby Cat Portrait

I got Tiziano and Torre, my two tabby cats from a friend. I remember Tiziano had a hemp collar made by one of the gals I got the kitties from.

Tiziano was the quiet one. And it's always the quiet ones you have to watch for. That was the case with Tiziano. From the beginning, he was a bit of an explorer... meaning he got into everything.

The Great Tabby Cat Explorer Finds Riches in the Most Unlikely of Places

It started when I first left them in the bathroom. He quickly learned how to open the cabinets and drawers to hide. Once they had free roam of the house, then he started getting into my dresser drawers. I wouldn't mind so much if he'd stop wearing my underwear on his head.

What can I say, he's an explorer, always looking for the smallest darkest corner to cozy up into. Course, this also means, he's the one gets trapped in places he shouldn't, like the time I came home and found all my dresser drawers open. I sighed, mumbled under my breath, and closed them.

A few hours later, I noticed Torre hanging out in the bedroom, but no Tiziano. I started searching the house, thinking he found a nice little spot. Oh, he did! He was tightly packed in my sock drawer!!

Tiziano, a Lady's Cat

Yeah, he's a bit o'a ladies man, err, cat. He has a way of rubbing up to women when they come to visit. Smiling that cute little kitty smile as if to say, "Hey baby, wanna watch me wave my tail around. Aw yeah!"

My friend Stacy calls Tiziano her kitty. Every time she comes over, she pulls out the "Happy Quilt" lies down in my long couch, and Tiziano comes a-running.

The Tabby Cat's Meow

Oh, and then there's that meow! Sheesh. That's liable to sweep any lass off her feet. And it's not so much a "meow" as "mew, mew, mew."

He loves to go into the bathroom in singing, "Mew-mories, all in alone in the bathroom light..." Yeah, he fancies himself quite a singer. I couldn't help, but to record him for my upcoming CD, Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. Course, now he thinks he's Tiziano Pavorgatti.

Ah well, I'm really grateful to Gabriela. She's really made an incredible likeness of Tiziano and was kindness enough to a 50% donation of the money from this painting to go towards the release of my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers (imagine celtic music combined with cats) CD.

I hope someone out there finds as much joy in the painting as I have in little Tiziano. What's that? You wanna play fetch now? Tiziano! You're not a dog, ye know... Oh, alright, go get it! To me, bring it back to me!

I'm so whipped!

The Legacy of Britney Spears - Butt Cracks

I used to think that butt cracks were limited to fat, white trash plumbers or ex-high school football players who are no obese mechanics. Seeing them bent under the hood of car or kneeling under the sink, their pants hanging lot and that nasty butt crack smiling at ye. Sadly, that is no longer the case thanks to Britney Spears.

I'm sure the former pop icon would much rather be remembered for her singing or dancing, butt it was the low-cut shirts and hip-hugging pants that really made the grade.

Sure, there are still aging men who download the latest Britney Spears video to ogle at the tight flesh that wiggles and gyrates like an exotic dancer. But I caught the other side that just, well did not turn me on.

That's the image I saw walking through my univeristy office as a pretty young girl, wearing hip huggers, sat in front of the microfiche working away while her butt crack flirted with me.

I'm sorry. To me, there's just nothing sexy about a butt crack. I mean, it's bad enough seeing pretty young women with flab hanging over their jeans, butt to have to see their butt crack too?! No thanks!

No. I am not suggesting that every body should fit perfectly in Vogue. God no! A woman blind to the fact that she's on the brink of starvation is no more sexy than a butt crack trying to hold a conversation.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is Britney Spears SUCKS! (and probably not all that well). So ladies AND gentlemen, help the world Kill her legacy and keep your ass in or out of your pants.

Cat Sponsors Start Purring In

After heading out for some tea last night, I came home and decided to go ahead and watch Groundhog Day before I passed out. I wonder if they have a special edition version on DVD? Maybe one with extra scenes. ;) *snicker*

And I drank some Jasmine tea... Mmm... I Love jasmine tea. Not sure what it is. Maybe it's all the happy memories of Chinese restaurants growing up. It's so tasty.


Cat Drinking Songs Update

I've gotten a few comments recently from people interested in my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. One lady got me thinking about sponsorship for the CD. The idea comes and goes as I think about it. I could probably get a cat company to sponsor the CD with a wee bit o'work. Not sure if I'll have the time before I finally release it, but it's definitely something I'll look into.

Today though, a lady from Clan Macpherson told me they are the Clan of the Cat. Their motto: "touch not the cat but a glove." "That means that if their claws are out--"ungloved"--they should not be approached, but if we are gloved, or you are gloved, then you will be friends.

Pretty dang cool. I need to read more about them.

Course, she was asking about a bulk order of CDs that would pretty much make it a breeze to actually print up the CD. Thus, no more excuses. I really need to get started on this CD.

So stay tuned for a bunch o'free music downloads from the CD. You can start with a cat free music download of "Furagone's Wake."

Celtic Rock Secrets Revealed

My new compilation CD, The Secret World of Celtic Rock, is pretty much done. There may be a couple changes if I have any problems with Diskfaktory, but all else should be a GO.

I'm listening to the CD right now, and I think people are gonna love it. It really is a helluva mix if I do say so myself.


Here's the tentative Track Listing:

1. “Mordred’s Lullaby” by Heather Dale
2. “Moore St. Girls” by The Elders
3. “In Like Flynn” by The Indulgers
4. “Cold Glencoe” by Rise
5. “Johnny Jump Up/Swallow Tail Jig” by Amadan
6. “Slip Me” by Brothers 3
7. “San Patricio Brigade” by Black 47
8. “Nothin’” by Lenahan
9. “The Grass Is Greener” by The Electrics
10. “Day After Day” by Tears for Beers
11. “Sovay/Halting March” by Paisley Close
12. “My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose” by Rimbo (w/Marc Gunn)
13. “The Chieri” by Avalon Rising
14. “Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda” by RavensWing
15. “Erin Go Bragh” by Jayah
16. “The Day We Set Sail” by Tale | Theo Niessink
17. “The Great Whale Road” by Fathom
18. “A Soulin” by Arminta
19. “Groovy Scooby” by The Rogues

I love all the songs on this compilation. So hopefully, all the artists will respond quickly. So I can order the CDs and start sharing one of the most-exciting Celtic music styles with the world.