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The Secrets and Blessings of Gobs O'Phun

Contributed by: Martin Lambuth on 3/3/2006

Gobs O'Phun 9th Annual
St. Pat's Folk 'n' Fun Concert
All Ages
Swallow Hill Music Association
Daniels Hall
71 E. Yale Ave., Denver
(between South Broadway & Lincoln)
Saturday, March 11, 8:00 p.m.

Advance Tickets: $12
($10 Swallow Hill Members)
Day of Show Tickets: $15
($12 Swallow Hill Members)

For tickets or more info, please contact Swallow Hill at
303-777-1003 or www.swallowhill.com

* * *
The Secrets and Blessings of Gobs O'Phun
A summary of fan comments compiled by Martin Lambuth

Gobs O'Phun is just that - lots of fun - they capture the essence of the Irish spirit and their unpretentious, tongue-in-cheek stage presence is infectious. This is exactly the type of authentic, traditional Irish entertainment people are looking for in March, played by folks who know how to have a good time (and the Guinness helps too)! The intimate and quaint feeling you get at a Gob's performance is like being in an Irish pub when the locals arrive and the entire pub joins in song and shares the experience. If you love the music of the Clancy Brothers, the warmth of the characters in "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and irreverent humor in the vein of the famed Irishman, Grouch O'Marx, then you'll adore the Gobs.

Gobs O'Phun is a family band, which makes it easy for them to turn their audience into an extended family. It's no surprise to find their 85-year old ma, "The Gobmother" at several of their shows. From the beginning, they have always had family members there to hear them, and they have developed a style to include those in the audience as part of the gang. When you "go to the Gobs", you're greeted with a genuine warmth; everyone from toddlers through seniors feel welcome. The music is fun, lively and high-spirited. Their songs tell stories about every aspect of life - the joys, the struggles, the injustices, the silliness, the need for laughter. Just when you think they never doing anything seriously, they throw you a curve ball and sing something to make you cry. To hear an a capella version of "Danny Boy" is a special treat. No one dares make a sound. You simply can't. It's so powerful you sit spellbound.

The trio draws on unconventional humor tempered with a serious history behind the songs, all of which entertains, amuses, provokes thought, raises eyebrows and sometimes leaves you with the rather embarrassing reaction of rolling on the floor laughing! Even though they minimize their musical talents compared to the ranks of truly professional musicians, their showmanship is amazing and their sense of humor just wonderful. These lads are unencumbered by the conventions of academic training in music, the classical regiment of harmony, and dignified stage behavior. All they do is get up and entertain with great songs, great singing, and make you laugh. Laugh hard. And keep on laughing. The audience can't help to feel the emotion, participate in the music and have fun right along with the Gobs!

What distinguishes Gobs O'Phun is how their music comes across in such a personal way. They have developed a relaxed relationship with their listeners which is never mean-spirited. Their music helps you escape from everyday problems - a place where you can come and laugh, and cry and share special time with friends and family. The singers care about the audience members who come to hear them, the regulars and the uninitiated alike. They know their patrons, their joys and sorrows (and of course their favorite drink). There's no barrier between performers and audience, allowing the room to become one big family. And the Gobs sing songs for every mood, with universal themes that appeal to all cultural backgrounds. Their songs lead you by the hand to a optimistic and whimsical place in your imagination and hearts.

Celebrating their 13th year, Gobs O'Phun is a County Denver institution, the quintessential Irish/Scottish pub band. The Irish brothers Tim and Denis Sullivan, along with their brother-in-law of Scottish descent, Martin Lambuth, form the trio. The term "gob" is slang in the Isles for your mouth, befitting a band that is more of a vocal group than instrumentalists. They sing traditional Irish and Scottish folksongs framed with spontaneous, ad-libbed humor. One thing you can always count on is their predictability - every time you go to see them everyone is smiling, clapping and singing along, tapping their toes, laughing and having a genuine good time. The other thing about them is their unpredictability - it's never the same show twice; without a set list or script, they charge full steam ahead in whatever direction their muses or audiences take them. And you never know what fun will come out of the Gobs - from Denis' sardonic quips, to Martin's makeshift bagpipe, "bagmonica" and the hand gestures employed by Tim that draws you into the song.

They started out in pubs across the region, and may have even been singing in some. But now they appear at a variety of venues - festivals, public events (including an alcohol-free New Year's Eve and the 2002 SLC Winter Olympics), private functions (weddings, memorials, retirements), grade schools, senior centers, nursing homes, churches and even a convent. As you can see, they have a wide demographic appeal as well. The emotion of the songs paint a vivid picture of green highlands, narrow lanes, mountainsides, pubs, sailing ships and the people that inhabit the songs. Although they know over 300 tunes, a sampling of their songs can be found on the five cds to their credit: "Liverdance" (a collection of drinking songs), "These Gobs are Revolting" (historical rebel tunes), "Major Phun's Loyal Hearts Pub Band" (most-requested pub favorites), the half Scottish, half Irish collection titled "Highland Derry Airs" and their most recent, "Barstools and Bad Habits". The titles alone tell you what to expect!

In a nutshell, the name Gobs O'Phun describes what they're all about. Audiences leave their performances feeling good, often better than when they arrived. Although Gobs O'Phun make it St. Patrick's Day all year long, a March celebration is not complete without the magical, wonderful, merriment of Gobs O'Phun. It's an opportunity you don't want to miss!

More gigs than you can shake a snake at: www.gobsophun.com


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Martin Lambuth

Denver , CO

Martin Lambuth has posted 14 stories and 1 comment since joining on 3/3/2006. Martin Lambuth 's average story rating is 5.
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