Grace McDunnough Review
One Man’s Opinion
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I went to see and listen to Grace McDunnough perform at the Penn State sponsored ‘Thon’ last night. The event is being held in Second Life at The Mill Pond, and all proceeds are going to the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer at the Penn State Children’s Hospital. (event continues most of the day today February 17, 2007)
Grace performs acoustical folk type songs with a velvety voice which reminds me of Melissa Etheridge’s style, sexy and sultry, with less of Melissa’s high energy. As with most of the Live performers, without the benefit of many takes and retakes, she doesn’t hit all of the notes perfectly, but most will not be bothered and it certianly doesn’t detract from her talent.
Grace’s stage presence can stand a little work. For some reason I can not begin to conceive, she seems a little nervous or uncomfortable on stage. I would hope she finds a more comfortable zone and interacts with the audience a little more freely, and that is about the worst thing I can report about her performance.
Overall, I truly enjoyed Grace McDunnough’s performances and can easily recommend your attentance at any you may have a chance to attend. Grace will be performing Sunday February 18, 2007, 3:00 pm SLT time at The Freudian Slip followed by her weekly performance at The Tavern at Mill Pond at 5:00 pm SLT.
Please remember these reviews are just one man’s opinion. I welcome your agreement or your disagreement to be left in the comment section. Even if you only want to do so anonymously, but we would love to hear your opinion. It will help readers find what you think is good talent.
February 17th, 2007 • 
Weirdharold • 
comment | February 17, 2007 at 11:17 | individual comment-link
In my humble opinion I think that Grace has the most beautiful singing voice I have heard in a long long while (female that is) I just wish I could make it to more of her performances, as far as her stage presence, hmmm I have never found any thing at fault.. I myself can’t even speak online without stuttering and stammering from the nervousness that floats around me, I could hardly imagine what I would do in front of several of my peers.
on a side note… Keep up the awesome work Grace, I love hearing you!!
If you have never talked to this woman.. beware.. ok? she is a priceless jewel , full of fast wit and a good soul *chuckles*
personally i think Harold is just a little miffed she “fired” him.. (side joke peoples)
I wish I had more time to attend the “Thon” benefit, I always try to donate generously to anything dealing with cancer, in all forms.. for research, treatment… since it hits so close to home and in many family members…
ok.. nuff there.. KEEP IT SMOOTH
Cry
comment | February 17, 2007 at 11:22 | individual comment-link
Love That VOICE !!!!!!!!!
comment | February 24, 2007 at 00:34 | individual comment-link
I admit to possible bias because I love having Grace perform at my venue and I have come to consider her a friend, but I write objectively for an SL-based living, so I’m content in what I’m posting here.
I don’t know if it’s a personal or publicity issue, or if you were just cranky the day you wrote this, but this article gives a completely inaccurate portrayal of Grace’s performance habits. I have attended many live music events in SL over the last year and a half and we all know there are performers in SL who, while delightful people, are lacking in the talent department in one way or another. SL is littered with hobbyist musicians and hacks. Grace is not one of them. Maybe her music isn’t her day job, but you only have to hear her once to know that she is the real deal.
Some performers may play an instrument incredibly well, but lack vocal skills. Others may simply not be smooth in their delivery. Still others may be truly mediocre in all aspects of talent, but good at playing to their audience. Some people are just awful but crave attention and bewilderingly continue to find people to loan them a stage. For this reason, a place writing reviews of the SL music scene is a fabulous concept, but I’m not understanding your criteria unless it’s simply “I like X” and “I don’t like Y.” I know you title these “One Man’s Opinion” but if you’re going to write reviews then you should be able to establish some sort of baseline of your opinion for readers to take into context when they read - otherwise, what’s the point? It’s hard to reconcile - for example - that you gush repeatedly about Dallas Horsefly - a lovely women who, while entertaining, and an absolute peach of a gal to my understanding - needs serious work on her performance and has had difficulty keeping an audience at almost every venue I’ve seen her perform at (even when sandwhiched between some of SL’s top draws). I mean no harm to Dallas - as I said she is a warm and wonderful person by all accounts and does have some legitimate talent, but she is far from the most engaging performer (or even female performer) in SL.
Grace, on the other hand, is relatively new on the music scene and maxes out her venues regularly with audiences who respond to her with mad enthusiasm. Her raw talent is breathtaking and while you may characterize her unassuming qualities of performance as low energy, the simple fact is that performers are not organ grinders’ monkeys and stage presence isn’t just about hamming. Grace, much like Mel Cheeky - another unassuming SL gem - spins a very delicate web of vocals and while it may not include stage gimmicks, it is, nonetheless, a professional and perfectly captivating performance. No one I’ve spoken with when seeking feedback on Grace has or would characterize her as nervous or uncomfortable. Perhaps you were only in attendance for some of her earliest gigs?
As for interacting with the audience, most of the best SL acts don’t spend a lot of time kissing up to listeners. They’re professional and focused on the music and instead of stalling and waiting to ham it up during lag so they can placate fans, they’re onto the next song. Friendly, certainly, but the good acts don’t have time to make sure everyone has a comfy chair and a cookie. Take a count of how often Frogg and Jaycatt look at the screen and waste the time to pander to the crowd and you’ll only need one hand, but no one would ever question that they are some of the most in-demand and engaging performers on the SL scene.
I think it’s a wonderful idea to write music reviews for SL performers and a lot of non-music information and opinion that you offer with this blog is interesting (especially for gamers) but if you’re just going to tout your friends and pick at the others with criticisms that seem, forgive me, but lacking in objectivity, then you’re going to devalue your own writing and that would be a shame.
comment | February 24, 2007 at 09:52 | individual comment-link
Salome, I do appreciate your taking the time to leave a comment here. I encourage everyone to leave their opinion here to help balance out what I have to say, and you have done a fine job of leaving a balancing comment.
I have no idea where you can come up with the thought that I don’t like Grace because I think very highly of Grace both personally and her talent. After the One Man’s Opinion was written about Grace; I have found out that just my presence at her shows have made her nervous and maybe that was the cause of the nerves showing during her performance. Several of my best friends really took odds with me over this review, but I wrote it like I see it. I do assure you that I regret not knowing that I made her nervous, and then highlighting that I saw that nervousness in her performance. I did so in an effort (in my mind anyway) to point out that was the only weakness I saw in her performance; with the hope she would grow from it… not to bring her down in any way.
I personally think Grace is an excellent singer, but, when I have seen her, slightly lacking as a total entertainer. You seem to think as long as a performer moves smoothly from one song to the next that is what an audience wants. You may be correct, but I think if that was what an audience wanted… they would only listen to the CDs. I think the audience at a live event wants to make a personal connection with the performer. Gain a little more insight on the performer. Be ENTERTAINED more than the smooth transitions of a CD. Leave the performance feeling like that performer is a part of their life.
Now to attempt to give an example of what I mean. Bill and Pam Havercamp, a lovely couple performing in Second Life. They always seem to have a very good crowd every time they perform. Why is that? I love Bill and Pam to death, but their singing abilities are somewhat lacking in vocal excellence. Yet they still draw a crowd and the reason is they entertain with bickering on stage drawing the audience right into their performances.
In real life some performers are able to get by up on stage making those smooth transitions CD style, but in those concerts the audience actually get to make a personal connection by seeing that person move around, dance, and show they are real people. The truly successful performers go way beyond simply singing… they entertain… look at Garth Brooks’ performances… his audiences left with something they will never forget.
Second Life performers don’t have much of a chance to leave that feeling with an audience. They have to give the audience a feeling of personal contact… allow the audience to leave feeling that personal relationship which was established at the performance. This is one of the things Dallas does well… She entertains by connecting with the crowd… although her performances were getting a bit stale… anything she was lacking in her vocals she made up for with personal contact and drawing the audience into her performance… Dallas is an entertainer… and now taking time to freshen her act… I agree that Dallas is not the best of singers… although that super sexy gravelly voice does turn me on… I am sure that many others don’t have the same point of view.
There are several really great voices in Second Life that I am concerned will not get the recognition they deserve because they aren’t making the personal contact with the audience, allowing the audience walk away feeling a personal connection. Performing in Second Life is harder than performing in the real world because a performer has to actually work to bring that personal contact to their fans.
All that said, I must also state that I hate writing anything bad about anyone, but someone has to call them as they see them. As for as I could tell… no one else was stepping up to the plate… and even if I simply strike out… at least I am in there swinging trying to decide what I find entertaining… and maybe what I think will help make something that is good a little more entertaining…. and maybe I should get an alt to attend performances just in case my presence makes a performer nervous?
comment | March 3, 2007 at 01:15 | individual comment-link
I really have no insight into what kind of effect your presence may have on Grace or any other performer, but the male ego is obviously a wondrous thing, so alt away, sugar – lol.
I got the idea that you may not like Grace purely from reading your review, hon. And if your close friends took odds with you about it, perhaps there is something in your tone you may want to examine to be sure you’re expressing the thoughts and ideas you are intending to impart. To me, the review doesn’t read as balanced; it reads as though you’re categorizing Grace’s performance as a disappointed yawn. That would seems to contradict the other comments you make here – so there is a disconnect that I think, perhaps, you didn’t intend. I’m guessing that what you felt was only pointing out a small flaw in her performance, read to the rest of us as the focal point of your entry.
What is clear to me in reading between the lines of the acts you seem to favor is that your personal taste leans in the direction of what could be better characterized as “entertainers” rather than “talented performers.” There’s nothing wrong with that – some people capture the attention of a certain kind of audience better than others, while some rely on talent and cater to another segment of listener. There is a special pool of individuals who are able to please a larger base and those are the true gems. I don’t presume to claim my preference is the only one of merit, only that I don’t like to see one put down above or below the other.
I do feel compelled to say, for the record, that just because an entertainer has an understated manner does not mean they are trying to emulate a CD, or that they deliver a drone-like performance. Maybe I’m just a child of too much coffee house folk, but I have very little use for attention-grabbing antics, although I know some are greatly entertained by them and take them all in good fun. I, personally, do not want to be “entertained” by people who lack talent and most of the people I hang out with feel the way I do. However, it’s clear that you feel differently and there are certainly those in SL who have a following which demonstrates several people feel the way you do. I’m sure there is a spectrum of others between us.
Also, I think it’s presumptive to assume that what you want is what any overall live audience wants, Grace’s last audience at my small venue topped 60 attendees and that’s pretty damn impressive for a quiet SL Thursday night at a new little spot. I can’t speak for how many felt some kind of personal connection or how many expected or wanted it – I think, again, that’s a personal preference or expectation that you’re projecting as a general desire of others. Moreover, I wouldn’t be so bold as to declare what constitutes someone demonstrating that they are a “real” person to their audience, so I can’t follow you on that path, but I do know that there is a difference between a successful performance and a gimmicky performance and those who experience the real deal tend to recognize it regardless.
Garth Brooks is a good entertainer, but James Taylor can kick his ass in the ring of talent. Ask a room full of people if they’d rather watch Garth fly around a stadium, or sit in a room with James Taylor playing acoustic quietly in a corner and you have the difference between the types of performances you and I value and the different levels we seek.
You say you just want to “call them as you see them” and I agree that’s what expressing an opinion in a blog is all about, yet the way your entry reads contradicts the message you say you were aiming for. I think the confusion lies mostly in readers like me being unable to gauge what you find of personal value. Without your comments here, I’d never have understood some of the things you’ve made clear.
As a thought - you may want to denote different aspects in your reviews and consider following a kind of pattern that readers can use as a guide to be able to walk away with a more valuable understanding of the opinions you’re expressing. If you presented your opinion in sections that each addressed different aspects like the talent of the performer, the entertainment skills of the performer, the choice of material, etc. it would give those of us who read a more rounded view of what you experienced and where your expectations are coming from. Plus, as a fellow blogger, I can say that following a loose format when writing reviews often makes readers more comfortable and helps the act writing to flow easier