Taxes done - WHEW! Spring snow and summer planning.

Well, I finished my taxes last night.  It was quite a relief!  As always, I found a bunch of errors where I entered things wrong or just plain didn't enter things at all in my books.  It seems that I never can be too meticulous or complete.  I don't know if you have those problems too, but if I hadn't have studied business in college I'm sure I'd be even worse off.  I'm glad some of that study paid off.  I really struggled through accounting and finance though.  I'm so glad to be done!  What a load of effort!

And winter is throwing it's last efforts at us too.  We had a very pretty dusting of snow last night and this morning to go with the scarier windy snow we had on Saturday.  I saw a beautiful satellite picture from NASA of Colorado from this last storm.  Snow blanketed almost the whole state!  It was something!  Here's a link if you want to see it - http://lance-modis.eosdis.nasa.gov/imagery/subsets/?subset=AERONET_BSRN_BAO_Boulder.2013083.terra.500m.  It's pretty big, so it may take a while to load.  Pueblo Reservoir and the Arkansas River are visible at the bottom center heading off to the right.

I'm booking up the summer still.  I just agreed to a bunch of Fridays at the La Veta Inn.  I always enjoy the La Veta Inn - especially the patio on a beautiful summer evening.  You can check my schedule anytime at http://tommunch.com/Tom_Munch/Calendar.html.  I try to have a link to a map for each gig if you click on the gig.  They don't always work, but I keep trying.

So that's enough yacking for one week, where am I this week?

Sunday I'll be playing Easter Sunday brunch 10-3 at Shadow Hills.  This is a pretty big event, and there are still times open for reservations.  I'd love to see you there if you're going out that day.  Brunch includes custom-made omelets, orange pecan french toast, ham, beef, egg casserole, green chili, chicken tarragon, scalloped potatoes, oven-roasted potatoes, coconut-cream tarts, amaretto-cream cake, blueberry cobbler, mimosas, bloody Marys, and much much more for $19.95 and $8.95 for children under 10.  Call 719-275-0603, ext 102 for reservations.  Happy Easter!

That's it for now.  Thanks for your friendship!

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What: playing and singing for brunch
Where:  Shadow Hills Golf Course, 1232 County Rd 143, Canon City.  719-275-0603
When:  Sunday, March 31, 10 am-3 pm

Directions to Shadow Hills:
(There's construction on the regular route, so you need to turn a couple blocks ahead of Elm on Cyanide and follow the Detour signs to get to Elm.) Go south on 9th Street from the main light in Cañon City to the bend in the road and turn right on Elm by the cemetery.  Then it's just one block on Elm before it veers/turns left and becomes Oak Creek Grade.  Twist through a few turns and come over a hill and you'll see the restaurant and club house on your left across the golf course. Then turn left into the drive at the Shadow Hills and The View sign and up to the main stucco two-story building.  The restaurant is up the stairs to your right or take the elevator straight ahead.

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes - UGH!

I'm coming up for air for a minute while I'm doing my taxes.  Even though I keep extensive records, I still have a mountain of work every year preparing my taxes for the accountant.  It's mainly going over all my statements, checks, receipts, records, and calendar to make sure I've captured every income and expense item.  Even though I think my records are good, I still find several big items I've forgotten on both sides of the ledger.  Every year I say that I can't find the mental acuity to do it again, but every year I take a deep breath and plod on until I'm ready to turn it all in again to the accountant and see what the damage is.  Do you all go through this much anguish as well?  Sometimes I wish I had a regular job where I got one statement from my employer at the end of the year, and my taxes would be simple.  But my life is music, and that's not how this life is meant to be.

On a lighter note, I've picked up several private events of late, and it's always very gratifying to have people remember me and ask me to play for their event.  A couple of these are surprise parties, so I won't tell you any details.

I will tell you that I've been asked to play for the Sharlot Hall Museum Folk Music Festival in Prescott, Arizona, the first weekend of October.  A good friend I used to know in Cripple Creek now lives in Prescott and helped set this up for me.  I'm thrilled, and again it's good to get around sometimes.  I haven't been to Arizona in a few years, and I miss the mesas and cactus of that beautiful land!

Speaking of Arizona, I won't be playing the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Prescott in August as I had written before.  I'll apply again next year and use some connections to hopefully get on the bill.  I love to play and sing the cowboy songbook!

I have a few other opportunities like this with a little travel involved, and as I get the gumption to strike out on the trail I'll tell you about them.  Stay tuned!

So what's up this week?

I just have one public gig outside of my regular Alzheimer's therapy and nursing gigs this week.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  Last week we had special Irish food for brunch, and I played just about every Irish tune I know.  This week will be the lull before the storm with Easter coming in the next week and a very big brunch.  I always look forward to the good food and good folks I see on Sundays, and I'd love to see you too if it works out this week.

Have a good week!

Tom

Details:

Who:  Tom Munch
What: playing and singing for brunch
Where:  Shadow Hills Golf Course, 1232 County Rd 143, Canon City.  719-275-0603
When:  Sunday, March 24, 10 am-1 pm

Directions to Shadow Hills:
(There's construction on the regular route, so you need to turn a couple blocks ahead of Elm on Cyanide and follow the Detour signs to get to Elm.) Go south on 9th Street from the main light in Cañon City to the bend in the road and turn right on Elm by the cemetery.  Then it's just one block on Elm before it veers/turns left and becomes Oak Creek Grade.  Twist through a few turns and come over a hill and you'll see the restaurant and club house on your left across the golf course. Then turn left into the drive at the Shadow Hills and The View sign and up to the main stucco two-story building.  The restaurant is up the stairs to your right or take the elevator straight ahead.

Back off the road!

I'm dictating this into my phone on the road. I'm passing through spring fields in Kansas, smelling the earth and listening to radio show about stories we tell each other. The show in Wisconsin was more than fun, it was uplifting. I got to see some old friends and make some new ones. I got to play some old favorites and some of my own tunes. It was exhilarating! Mark Dierker, the photographer for the event put some fine videos on Facebook. You can see them here -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ruFTYd0tOU&list=PLsT-RO5GoLPpOcs4eNDI7-TLjtgWpT40t. Thanks again to everyone who made it such a stellar time!

But I'm back in Colorado now (as I finish this) and anxious to tell of my adventures. One of the fun things we did was a night hike around a tree farm in knee-deep snow.  Wisconsin is pretty beautiful - even in the dark!  Another fun thing was driving in sideways rain along I-80 in the dark.  Anyway, lots more to tell you about.  Come on out to my gigs and I'll fill you in.

So where will I be this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10 for a down-under good time in the basement taproom. Come on down for more stories and favorite tunes among friends. I promise I won't do too many Irish songs, but it is St. Patrick's Day this Sunday!

Sunday is a Saint Patrick's Day celebration at Shadow Hills for brunch 9-1. There'll be Irish goodies and plenty of Irish tunes as well, so come join in the fun and the wearin' of the green!  I'm really looking forward to some corned beef and cabbage!

Best,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, March 15, 7-10 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What: playing and singing for brunch
Where:  Shadow Hills Golf Course, 1232 County Rd 143, Canon City.  719-275-0603
When:  Sunday, March 17, 9 am-1 pm

Directions to Shadow Hills:
Go south on 9th Street from the main light in Cañon City to the bend in the road and turn right on Elm by the cemetery.  Then it's just one block on Elm before it veers/turns left and becomes Oak Creek Grade.  Twist through a few turns and come over a hill and you'll see the restaurant and club house on your left across the golf course. Then turn left into the drive at the Shadow Hills and The View sign and up to the main stucco two-story building.  The restaurant is up the stairs to your right or take the elevator straight ahead.

Catching Up - A Year of Posts

I've been reticent about posting to this blog or the blog on my website, so here's an entire year's worth of posts from my weekly mailer.


Monday, March 4, 2013 - Betting on the Weather in Wisconsin

Well, I'm hitting the road for Wisconsin this week.  The forecast keeps changing slightly, so I'm just going to have to play it by ear.  Hopefully the rain over the weekend that's predicted for much of my route won't turn into snow.

And I'm trying out different scenarios for the house concert - different songs and stories to sing and tell.  The give and take that goes on in a concert is a very interesting thing that's like riding a great wave for surfers - you just have to work it as it goes along.  I hesitate to play concerts, and to be honest, that hesitation has kept me from pursuing more concerts sometimes.  Why?  It may seem odd to say, but the adulation and applause is tough to take at times.  Some audiences are so willing and enthusiastic that they laugh at every joke - no matter how bad, and clap at every song - no matter how well it's performed.  I like to earn the respect of my audience, and I like to be honest throughout the process.  Some folks don't think this is the way it should be, but that's what I like.  I don't necessarily want to be booed when I do poorly, but I don't want enthusiastic applause when I don't deliver the goods either.  Enough said.  I do know that I sincerely appreciate all the folks who support my music and want to be a part of it!

So the set up is that this concert is part of a reunion for Philmont Scout Ranch Staff and Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base which is part of the Northern Tier National High Adventure Base.  I'm doing the house concert Friday night, and then there are many more activities for the next couple days.  I wish I could be part of all of them, but I do need to come back home and to visit family along the way as well.  We hope to draw 20+ people, and it will be a cozy living room concert at Cathy and Finn Hubbard's house.  Cathy worked at Philmont back in the '70's just before I did.  The Executive Director of Philmont, Randy Saunders, will also be there to help out.  We'll have a pot-luck dinner and then proceed with my concert and then a jam after the concert if enough folks bring instruments and voices.  I think it'll be a blast!  I'll be playing a bunch of songs off my albums mixed in with some of our old favorites from Philmont.  These are some of my favorite songs and memories!

I'd love to do more of these kinds of concerts if it works out!

So be well, and I'll let you know how it all goes!

Tom


Monday, February 25, 2013 - New Kitty in Our Family!

Well, after over six months of grieving and thinking of our beloved little grey tabby cat, we have adopted a little black female cat from some friends of ours.  She is a sweetheart with lots of love to give.  They called her "Lick kitty" or "Lickety" because she is a licker and a lover.  We're thinking of continuing that name by also calling her "Anisette" which is a licorice liqueur, thus a licorice black kitty named for liquor or "licker."  Yeah, it's kind of corny, but hopefully it's also clever, and hopefully a name that she will respond to.  You have to pity folks who love their pets so much and dote on them. :-)  She is getting used to the house one room at a time, and will hopefully become accustomed to our big collies soon.  She has been with big dogs before, so it should only be a matter of time before she loves our big boys.  I posted a photo on Facebook a couple days ago.  She's jet black with some little stray white hairs here and there and green eyes.

And I'm planning for my house concert in Madison, Wisconsin the Friday after this one.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate with my drive since it's been walloping the route I'm planning on taking for a couple weeks.  This is a show for a reunion for Philmont Scout Ranch staff.  Philmont is the place I taught backpacking and cowboy lore in my summers of high school and college.  I'm really looking forward to sharing what I've been writing as well as many old favorites we used to play around the campfire.  I'm told that folks may bring instruments and we may get to jam afterwards on some old tunes as well, so I expect it to be quite a night!  Wish me good weather.

So what am I up to this week?

Friday brings Magpies once again 7-10 in Pueblo.  We had a wonderful time last outing with good friends and a little different music.  This time I'll start playing a little Irish music for St. Patty's.  I promise not to overdo it.  You all know how much I get possessed by the Irish spirit when I play these tunes.  The passion is palpable in this music and tradition!  I love it!  But we'll do some other favorites as well.

Sunday I'm back at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills in Cañon.  Last week saw a pretty good snowstorm from our vantage point looking out at the Wet Mountains.  We had a good crowd that cleared out when the snow started in earnest.  I got to sing Judy Collins' song "The Blizzard," which is always a treat to share.  I also did some fun songs with yodeling and other hijinks.  Would you believe Ozzie Osbourne at brunch?!  Anyway, it was great fun!  Hope to see you there this week.

That's it for this week.  If there are any Philmont folks who are contemplating the trip to the reunion in Madison, I'd love to see you.  There was a good post on Facebook by Cathy Hubbard to several Philmont groups, so just follow the links for details.

Best,

Tom


Monday, February 18, 2013 - Getting Ready to Travel

I'm getting ready to pack up and travel to a house concert in Madison, Wisconsin on the 8th of March.  This will be for some old and new friends I worked with many moons ago at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Philmont is a place where young boys and girls learn backpacking, rock climbing, burro packing, and and a whole host of other skills while they hike the wilderness of northern New Mexico.  I worked there for three summers during high school and college.  I'm really looking forward to it!  I'll be playing a mixture of songs we all knew during out time working there as well as newer songs I've written and performed about life and the outdoors.

House concerts are something I'd love to do more of.  I have friends all over the country, and I've always wanted the excuse to travel and see them.  A house concert is the perfect way to get to visit, pay my way, and share my music as well.  I've talked about house concerts a little before.  If you've never been to one, it's a great intimate performance in a living room or patio with a traveling performer.  Folks in a neighborhood open their living room to friends and coworkers for an evening of music and friendship.  It's more comfortable than going out, looking for parking, and paying for an expensive concert ticket.  There's a suggested donation of $10-$20 a person for the performer, and in return you most times get a better and more meaningful experience than going out to hear someone in a big concert hall or arena.  Check one out in your area if you can.  You can find them on Facebook and even just a Google search may lead to a nearby neighbor who is hosting house concerts.  Maybe you'll want to host one too.

Anyway, that's what I'm working on this week in addition to my regular duties.

Where am I playing this week?

Sunday I'll be back at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1.  I had some wonderful friends I hadn't seen in a long time come out this last Sunday.  It was great fun playing some tunes for them and catching up a bit.  A little fresh snow on the mountains made the view wonderful too!  Come on out if you can.

Thanks for your time and friendship!

Tom


Monday, February 11, 2013 - Learning New Songs While the Snow Softly Falls

It's a peaceful day with snow softly falling outside my window.  Be careful if you're out driving in it today.  As my subject line says, one of the things I do as part of my musical life is to learn requests for folks at the many places I play.  This can be a big task since I get such a variety of people at the many places I play - from old standards to even heavy metal (this is a real challenge for an acoustic player!)  So I try to get to the essence of these songs and put my own arrangement on them in a key I can sing.  The biggest hurdle?  My memory isn't as good as it used to be, and sometimes even after learning a song and rehearsing it a few times I still find myself at the gig staring blankly at my notes with no idea how the tune goes.  As you can guess, this gets worse with age, but I keep on loading new songs into my memory.  The coolest part of this is getting inside the song and figuring out what the requester likes in the song.  We all have songs that touch us in a certain space of our life or represent a time that we treasure.  I'm quite conscious of the honor it is to connect with a person in this way, and they are usually very appreciative for the effort and the result.  It's also interesting to realize what drove the requester to ask for the particular song they ask for.  Sometimes it's a personal connection to the song, and sometimes it's something in another song I performed that reminds them of another song.  Either way it's a thrill and a challenge that I enjoy, although quite often I have so many songs waiting to be learned that I don't get to learn a song before the next time I see the person who requested it.  So I learn to apologize and keep plugging away.

So what am I working on?  Well, I finished the sheet music for the Song of Pueblo, so now I'm back to working on the summer schedule and doing some house projects.  I don't have any new gigs to report yet, but I will soon.

What's up this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10 for some fun "down under" in the basement Tap Room again.  I may a bring another guitar this time even though last time we decided that my old standby sounded much better.  Oh well, it was worth the experiment.  It was a lot of fun with folks from as far away as the Springs!  Thanks for coming out!  I think we'll try some different things this Friday - especially with Mardi Gras and Valentine's day this week giving us plenty to draw on.

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I wasn't there last week because they had a Gourmet Sampler which was a benefit for Orchard of Hope.  I was originally scheduled to play for that as well, but somewhere along the way the plan changed.  That's okay.  I enjoyed a day off with my wife and a nice long hike along the river before the storm moved in.  But I'm looking forward to being back with the whole gang.  Brunches get to be even more fun with football season over.  Everyone looks forward to the food, friendship, and music even more.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day.  We'll be having some cajun spices and a little love food as well.  Hope you do too!  And come on out for some live music if you can.

Best always,

Tom


Monday, January 28, 2013 - Working Hard!

I've been working really hard on the Song of Pueblo this week.  We are doing a curriculum for the schools as part of the Song of Pueblo, and I've rewritten all of the sheet music for the project.  This entails hours of inputting music on the computer and making sure all of it looks and sounds right.  It's a mammoth job, but I think it's as close to right as I can make it.  I hope the kids and teachers can use it!

I'm also making plans for the summer.  I booked another concert at the Feed Store Amphitheater in Westcliffe on June 2nd.  This was a wonderful time last year - outdoors with the mountains and breezes and a really stellar group of folks.  I can't wait to play this again!  I'm also booking another Concert in the Park in Cañon City.  We haven't decided on the date yet.  Stay tuned for much more!

So what's up this week?

Friday I'm at Magpies 7-10 for another round of local fun.  We talked about switching this to 6:30, but I think let's try it again at 7:00.  I'm looking forward to it, and I'm thinking of trying something different this week.  I'm not sure what, but I'm itching to change it up this week.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  The new baker is really doing some interesting desserts, so there's always something new.  The view is really nice, and I've been enjoying the folks thoroughly at this gig.

So that's what I'm up to this week.  Please come out if you can.  I love to see everybody!

Tom


Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - Yuck!  Winter Cold Season

Well, I had my flu shot, but that didn't keep me from getting a cold.  Luckily they don't hang on very long with me, and I mainly had it this past Sunday and Monday.  I always hit them hard with sleep and a lot of Kleenex, and usually that does the trick.  I know that some of you probably aren't so fortunate, and I feel your pain.  Take care of yourselves!  This flu season has been especially bad.  I had just a good friend lose his brother - probably from complications of the flu.  So sad.  It's not something to take lightly, and I've seen some pretty fierce pneumonia and other results of the flu and cold.

I'm still trying to make my plans for this year.  I'm waiting to hear back on a few feelers I have out for some different gigs.  I become so comfortable in the winter months - not traveling and playing late gigs - that I get spoiled.  I love to play though, so the road will win in the end.  If you'd like me to play in your neck of the woods, send me some places you think I would fit and I'll try to give them a call.

So what's on tap this week?  I just have one public gig.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1.  We had another great week last week even though I was singing through a cold.  It was such a nice and relaxing day with great weather and food that I didn't even suffer that much through my sniffles.  I hope the folks didn't notice me blowing my nose behind my gear every few minutes.  It's makes for some interesting arrangements as I transpose everything down to the bass cold range.  I'll be back on par this week.

So take care of yourselves, and I hope to see you soon!

Tom


Monday, January 14, 2013 - Brrr!  I Guess It’s Winter

I guess it's officially January, because it sure is cold out here! I show 9° right now outside. It warms up pretty fast most days in this area, so we're seldom in the deep freeze all day. Still it makes for some chilly load-ins to some of my gigs, and it keeps the dogs in most of the day.

So I still haven't started planning for the summer. I just can't get into the mindset yet this year. I'm pretty sure I'll be back at the Yellow Pine and hopefully at the La Veta Inn some. I'd like to book some things farther afield, but it's so much more enjoyable to have a home life and sleep in our own bed at the end of the day - not to mention not having to be on the road in inclement weather. Still I'm often reminded of that old saying, "A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are made for." I'm hoping to play at a cowboy poetry gathering in Prescott, AZ,and I have a few other gigs that are exciting, so I do have a few things afield. I'll give you details as they come in.

So what am I up to this week?

Friday afternoon/evening I'll be playing the Winter/Spring Exhibition Reception at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center from 5-6:30. This should be a really cool event. They are featuring the work of Laura BenAmots. You can see more about the event and her work here - http://www.sdc-arts.org/exhibitions.html. I haven't played at the Arts Center in a while, and I really like the layout and vibe I get there. It's open to the public, so come on out. I'll pack up quickly afterwards and jet over to Magpies.

Friday night I'll be at Magpies 7-10. We had such a great group last time out, and I really cherish the evenings we've spent downstairs there! I
 think I'll try to change it up a little this time out. Come on down!

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1. Last week was the slowest week we've had in quite a while. I guess everyone was nursing their wounds from the Broncos' loss on Saturday. It was also some of the best dishes we've put it out in several weeks, so everyone missed out on some great food. Hopefully we'll get our timing right this week. Come on out if you'd like some great food and views with my music. It's a great deal at $10.95.

That's it for this week. Thank you for being such good friends!

Tom


Monday, January 7, 2013 - It’s a New Year!

Well, does it seem like a new year to you?  I can definitely tell that we just passed the holidays, but it hasn't hit me that it's a new year yet.  Usually I have all kinds of planning going on for the year, but other than a few long-range plans I haven't gotten into the new year mindset.  It's funny, when I cleaned up my office last fall and got everything in reasonable order in my life it made me more complacent somehow.  I think that everything is in its place and that I can relax now.  It's supposed to work just the opposite - opening up all kinds of creative energy since my mind isn't taken up with all the clutter.  I'm not worried, I just need to sit down and map out what I want and need this year in my life and career.  How about you?  Are you making plans or sitting back so far?

One of the things I want to do in the new year is to catch up on all the reading I've put off.  I must have 30 unread or partially-read books on my shelf or in my Kindle app.  I've been really good at reading books on tape (digitally), but when it comes to finding time to actually sit down and read I just haven't done it.  And I've got some great books laying around - Clay Jenkinson's "Meriwether Lewis, Explorer in the Wilderness," James Ronda's "Lewis and Clark Among the Indians," Steven Mithen's "The Singing Neanderthals," Sam Pisciotta's "Stray Dogs on the Mountain," Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel," Elena Mannes' "The Power of Music: Pioneering Discoveries in the New Science of Song," and so many more.  And I keep hearing about new books I want to read.  Reading really does keep you sharp and inspired.

Another thing I want to do more is write - both lyrics and prose.  I feel so good when I'm in the creative moment, and I feel I have something to say that is worthwhile.  Lately I've been feeling less clear in the little that I do write, and I know that this is something we get better at with practice.

But enough rambling for this week.  I should put this writing and more into my blog which I haven't touched in a year.

So what am I up to this week?

The only public gig I have this week is Shadow Hills for brunch on Sunday 10-1.  I've told you before of the wonderful consistent crowd we have now, and I'm so thankful that so many have made brunch a regular part of their routine.  It's a very enjoyable time of sharing stories and exploring all kinds of music for me.  I've been really digging into the archives and having fun.  I'd love to have you be part of this if you can.  The food's great, the views are beautiful, and my music is hopefully a bonus beyond all the rest.

More to come in the weeks to come!

Tom


Monday, December 31, 2012 - Happy New Year!

I hope you have a fun plan to ring in the new year tonight.  I'll be playing at Michael's on Main in Cañon City tonight to do that myself.  I haven't played solo for New Year's in quite some time, so I know this will be interesting.

And the new year itself is always an interesting exercise in figuring out what's gone by and what comes next.  I don't often take a look back at the year that was, but I think there is some value in that, so I'm going to try and sit down tomorrow to see what I liked and didn't in my life.  You never get better if you don't recognize what you can improve upon, and a little pat on the back is good as well sometimes.  And then I'll look to the year ahead and what things I have set up and what things I can set for goals.  I tend to go with the flow, and I figure that the things in my path are meant to be, but I also like to direct things a bit.  So I'll be doing these things as the year turns.

I did an interesting thing this morning.  I know that we like to make resolutions offer the new year.  I've also been reading "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg, and he says that you should share your resolutions with others so you can check up on each other to see how you're doing.  So at one of my nursing home gigs this morning I brought up the idea of making resolutions and sharing them and then checking up on each other.  Between the residents and staff we came up with four resolutions that we shared and want to work on.  The first was Sweets - We all agreed that we have a weakness for sweets, and that we'd all like to eat less of them.  The second was Kindness - We like the idea of doing random acts of kindness for each other and for strangers as well.  The third was Texting - This is pretty much anything we do while driving or with friends and family that is either unsafe or unkind.  The fourth was Swearing - Whether in public with friends or in private while driving, we agreed that this was something we could do without.  I see these folks once a week, so this will be interesting to see if we can help each other to keep our resolutions.

Do you have any resolutions we can share and hold each other to?

Anyway, those are some of the things that enter my mind at New Year's Eve and as the year begins.

So what's up this week?

I already told you that tonight (Monday) I'll be at Michael's on Main in Cañon City from 9-1ish to ring in the new year.  I say "ish" because I'll stop when it feels that folks are starting to dissipate.  This usually happens by 12:30 or so, but I'll stick around till 1:00 if people are still having a good time and dancing.  I haven't played a solo New Year's Eve gig in several years, so I'm really excited to do this.  I'm not even really sure what I'll play.  I'll go with the flow on this one to wherever the crowd wants to go - whether it's a couples' romantic evening, a cowboy dancing group, or a rock 'n roll party.  I'm up for anything.  I'll have my acoustic and electric guitars and my sound system that can rock just in case.  You can call 719-276-2233 to make a reservation.  They will also take walk-ins if there's room.

Friday I'm back at Magpies to start the year out right 7-10.  We had a blast in December, and as the new year starts I'll be raring to go with lots of energy and hope for the future.  Come on down under for a great time!

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch from 10-1.  I'm really starting to settle in and get to know the fine folks who come out on a semi-regular basis, and we really have a good thing going.  Come on out if you can.

So that's what's up for me this week.  Please be safe if you're going out tonight, and Happy New Year!

Tom


Monday, December 24, 2012 - Merry Christmas!

I hope you're in the bosom of your friends and family as you read this - enjoying some laughter and good food and company.  I have family arriving in a short while today and am looking forward to a couple of peaceful days in their presence.  In fact, let me put on some Christmas music to finish this mailer.  And the first song to come up on shuffle is from Bob Dylan's Christmas a couple years back.  Hmmm…think I'll skip forward.  Anyway, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!  Thank you for being good friends and sharing this wonderful world with me!

I'll keep this short.  I only have one gig this week.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  This should be a really fun brunch being that it's in between holidays and lots of folks will be out and about.  If you have family in town, this would be a great place to take them for a festive time.

I will mention that Monday I'll be at Michael's on Main in Cañon City 9-1 or so for New Year's Eve.  I still don't know the exact details for the evening, but I know it will be a good time with food and drink and dancing to my music.  Being that it's me it won't be your typical New Year's Eve celebration, so if you want to see what I mean then come on out and be a part of the fun!  You can call Michael's at 719-276-2233 for reservations and details.

Once again Merry Christmas!!!

Tom


Monday, December 17, 2012 - Final Celebrations Almost Done

After the saddening tragedy of last week it's hard to maintain the Christmas spirit, but Christmas and New Year's do not wait for us to mourn, so with a mournful heart we press on with a different perspective on the holidays.  It's difficult to not be numb to the holiday cheer, but it also brings us closer to family and friends who are so deserving and ready to share our love.

I hope you have made all the preparations and purchased or made all the gifts you planned for Christmas by now.  If not, then the crazy time is upon you as you scurry to finish up.  I guess I'm ready.  To be honest, Christmas is easier as you grow older and have less crunch as you learn from previous years.  I have a few things left to do, but for the most part I've just let the season settle on me and tried to be a participant and an enthusiastic supporter.  I love the songs and the finery and the traditions.  I hope you do too!

I did pick up a gig that I wanted to tell you about before I get to this week's gigs.  New Year's Eve I'll be playing at Michael's on Main in Cañon City 9-midnight or later.  I usually take New Year's Eve off, but this was a gig custom-made for me and my music, so I took it.  I'm not sure what the arrangements will be as far as price and offerings yet, but you can call Michael's at 719-276-2233 to get the details.  This should be fun!

I also wanted to thank any of you who tuned in last week for my UStream concert on Thursday.  It was a lot of fun, and I got to chat with several friends from all over the US.  If you'd like to see and hear the recording we made then go on over to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.

So what's up this week?  Well, I have several private parties - almost every night and day somewhere.  There are still some Christmas songs I haven't performed yet, but I'm sure by the end of the week that I will have touched every corner of my Christmas song list.

Saturday I may bop over to Alamosa to join Don Richmond at Milagros for the ALMA Christmas sing-a-long at 7:00.  I did this last year because I can't refuse an excuse to play good music with Don and other fine folks, but it makes for a late night, so if the weather is frightful I may opt to not go.  If you're in Alamosa or nearby I highly recommend it as it's a blast and what Christmas is all about - sharing memories and music with friends and family.

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I don't remember if I talked about the decorations they've made for the holidays, but they're really something!  The food and the music's not too bad either, so come on out for some holiday cheer before Christmas with your family.

That's all for now.  I'll try to send out a Christmas greeting next week with more details about New Year's Eve as well.

Tom


Monday, December 10, 2012 - Snow and Cold!  Brrr!

Well, we finally had some good snow and cold to remind us that it is indeed winter and Christmas is almost upon us.  It made Sunday brunch a lot of fun with a packed house and everyone buzzing with excitement about the snow and the season.  It also made me laze around the house doing projects today.  I need to start brewing tea and enjoying the inside this winter.  If I was home more I could really get into settling in.  Maybe it's a good thing that I stay on the go.  Still, looking out the window on a snowy day from a cozy house is a pleasure.

I've had more fun than I should reminiscing about Christmases past at some of my gigs.  We talk about favorite goodies that our families made - especially things specific to our region or ethnicity.  There are so many interesting traditions among different peoples.  I'm reminded of the colaches that my Czech friends made in college - danish-like pastries with fruit or cheese.  I also think of the first time I had tamales in Pueblo at Christmas.  My grandmother and mother made German cookies pfeffernusse and lebkuchen - anise and fruit cookies.  Of course in Pueblo you see a lot of potica as well - layered dough with walnuts and honey.  There are so many more.  Does your family have any traditional foods and treats at this time of year?  We also talk about funny stories - memories of sledding and skating and opening presents and so much more.  It's so much fun sharing this time of year.

And of course I'm loving the music as always!  So many of these Christmas songs are old friends.  I've been listening to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby among others.

But I'm rambling.  What's up this week?

Thursday night at 7:00 Mountain Time I'm going to do another online concert on UStream.  This will be principally Christmas music, but there are many other songs I love at this time of year, so there'll be some variety.  This is probably easiest to listen to on your computer at this address - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.  You can also listen on a smartphone or tablet if you have the UStream app.  Just search for my name, and you should be able to tune in easily.  I really enjoy doing these online concerts since I can reach folks all over the world, and I do have some friends overseas who tune in when they can.  This will be recorded if you are busy Thursday night so you can catch it whenever you'd like at the same address.

Sunday 10-1 I'm back at brunch at Shadow Hills.  Last week was a blast with so many nice folks and the beautiful snow drifting down all around.  They still have the pool filled and uncovered, so it was an interesting sight out the window to see the snow blowing over the blue water of the pool.  I'm still working on James' recipe for green chili that he makes there - it's really good!

That's it for this week.  We're flying toward Christmas and the magic of the holidays.

Tom


Monday, December 3, 2012 - Christmas Is Coming

I can't believe that Christmas is only 3 weeks away.  Where does the time go?  Reminds me of that old Judy Collins song - "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?"  How beautiful and yet kinda terrifying at the same time.  I guess I'm feeling the pressure of making it count again, and yet I'm thankful to be past the election and just drifting for a while.  The new year is when I seem to gain new energy again, so I'll just sit back and enjoy the beauty of this season for now.  And Christmas season is so full of wonderful thoughts - memories of cookies and music, watching the beautiful twinkling lights and decorations, enjoying a lazy evening with a good book or show and something tasty to sip on, celebrating friends and good food.  It's such a great time to be alive!  I hope you can sit back and enjoy it for a moment too.

I have kind of put the UStream concert off in my mind, and I need to get to that before the season is gone.  I'm looking at next week's calendar.  I'm thinking of Thursday the 13th at 7:00 Mountain Time.

I also was told of a new internet radio site that I'm really enjoying.  It's called "Pootwaddle" and plays a huge variety of really nice tunes.  You can check it out at http://www.planetpootwaddle.com.

And what is up for me this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10.  I'm really looking forward to playing this week.  There's something magical about Magpies, especially during the holidays.  Please come out if you can.

Saturday I'm playing for the Reflections ceremony for Sangre de Cristo Hospice at the Arts Center in Pueblo at 2:00.  I'm doing one song for the ceremony, and it should really be a special time.  I'm proud to help out such a worthwhile organization.

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills 10-1 for brunch.  We had another big crowd last week with several old and new friends.  They have a new baker who is making some very tasty treats for dessert.

That's it for this week.  Hope to see you if you can.

Best,

Tom


Monday, November 26, 2012 - Cold!  Is It Time to Sing Christmas Songs Now?

Well, it's feeling more like winter today.  The sun keeps playing peek-a-boo and the house is quiet with all our guests gone from the holiday.  I think it's time to start singing Christmas songs.  I tried a couple yesterday at brunch, and it didn't feel too awkward.  It always takes me a little while to warm up to them even though I love them so.  How about you?

I'm not quite sure what this Christmas season will bring.  I have a few interesting gigs, and I'm kicking myself for not organizing some sort of a sing-a-long night somewhere to share Christmas songs.  I've really enjoyed those in the past when I've been able to do them.  There are a couple parties I'll be playing for that may turn into a sing-a-long once folks get into the spirit.  We'll see.  I may even bop over to Alamosa to assist Don Richmond with the sing-a-long there on the 17th like I did last year.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the season!

On to this week.

The only public gig I have this week is at Shadow Hills for Sunday brunch again 10-1.  I had a great time last Sunday with family and lots of good friends around.  I'd love to see you there too if you can make it.  There's always good food, a nice view, and my music to make your Sunday.

That's it for this week!

Tom


Monday, November 19, 2012 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! This is a time of year I always cherish. Between family and food and tradition there is a peaceful familiarity that warms the heart. Maybe it's the calm before the storm of Christmas or the start of the holiday season starting, but the sacred stillness that creeps in is very special to me. I hope you can cherish it too!  I'll be spending the day with family and taking off a couple days.

I won't try to do a UStream online concert this week with the holiday, but I may try for next week. Stay tuned for details.

Sunday I'll be back at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills. It should be a fun day of starting to venture into Christmas music. Please come out with your family if you can.

I'm thankful for your friendship,

Tom


Monday, November 12, 2012 - Election’s Over, What’s Next?

Hope you had a good couple of weeks.  I didn't have any public gigs last week, so I spared your inbox.

Well, the election is over.  I know that some of us aren't entirely happy with the outcome, but that's part of being in a democratic republic - someone wins and someone loses.  I just hope we can come together a little and accomplish something in these next four years. We can't really afford to wait for the next election, I think.  I felt crippled before the election.  I couldn't write and couldn't really be myself with all the tension in the air and the bad feelings swirling around.  I'm really glad it's over.

And now we're getting close to the holidays and the colder weather moving in.  I hope the holiday spirit is strong this year.  I never know how it will hit me.  Some years I have to coax myself into good cheer.  The music always helps, of course.

I'm thinking that it's time to do another online UStream concert now that the election is over as well.  I may try for next week, but then again the week after may be better.  I'll let you know in next week's emailer.

So what's up this week?

Friday I'm playing a private event in the Springs where one of the guests will be the great Clay Jenkinson of the "Thomas Jefferson Hour" from National Public Radio.  I've long admired Clay and his show.  If you've never heard it, Clay is a Thomas Jefferson scholar and historian among many other historical interests, and he impersonates Thomas Jefferson on his show for an hour each week - answering questions about current events and giving Jefferson's take on the as well as explaining the life of the third president.  It's very entertaining and educational.  I highly recommend it!  It will be an honor to meet him.

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1 after a one-week hiatus so I could play a Veterans Day show last Sunday in Walsenburg at the state Vets home.  The show went great, and it was a treat to get to entertain the great veterans.  I'm looking forward to being back at brunch though, so please come on out if you're looking for a good meal and live music at the restaurant they now appropriately call "The View" for it's great vista on the Wet Mountains!

That's it for this week.

Tom


Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - Thinking About the Storm Victims - Including My Sister

Whew! That storm was something else! Confirms my respect for the ocean and our powerful earth. My heart goes out to the folks dealing with the situation directly in the East. My sister is on Long Island and is without power. They were lucky with no direct damage, but I know their lives will be affected for months to come. Truth be told, I think we all will feel the repercussions of this storm somehow. If you know someone suffering, my heart goes out to you and them too.

Meanwhile we all have to go on with our respective lives as we keep an eye on how they are recovering. I'll be talking about the storm at my gigs this week - especially Friday night at Magpies and Sunday brunch at Shadow Hills. Of course it's hard to take your mind off the current situation, plus we have this election to deal with too. We voted by mail this year which takes a lot of pressure off. I highly recommend it. It's off my mind, and I can tell the many political phone calls that they're too late.

So come out this week if you can to Magpies on Friday and Shadow Hills on Sunday. We can share about all that's going on.  I won't give the usual rundown since you've all heard me give it before.

Tom


Monday, October 22, 2012 - Is It Really Fall?

It's been so warm that I swear it must still be summer even though the leaves are changing all around us. We even took a drive today just to enjoy the day and the fall - something we haven't done in quite some time. Colorado doesn't get the dramatic reds and oranges that some parts of the country enjoy in the fall foliage, but the bright colors along the river and in the draws are beautiful nonetheless. It will be winter soon enough, and we will be fondly remembering the warmer days.

I'm starting to get back into writing mode again. I'm never too far away from the creative side of my brain, but lately I'm feeling more poetic. I'm also feeling a need to add my two cents to the world of music. The are a lot of musical voices out there, and I love some and alternately don't think as much of others. I'm growing older, but I still have something to say, and sometimes the years bring a wisdom that is often unheard in younger writers'' music. That sounds pretty heady, I know, but if I didn't feel I had something to add then I wouldn't be saying it.

So what's up this week for me? Just one gig to tell you of.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1. We've had some personnel changes, and I'm enjoying the new folks whilst missing the old ones. Again I'll say that if you haven't been to brunch at Shadow Hills then you are missing some great acoustics, wonderful food, beautiful views, and a darn good deal - only $10.95! Come on out if you can.

Best,

Tom


Monday, October 15, 2012 - Reminiscing Old Friends and Favorite albums

I've been doing a bit of reminiscing this week.  It started when my mom emailed me to tell me that one of my friends going back to elementary school and my old neighborhood had died.  I hadn't seen him in a long, long time, and I knew that he hadn't been doing well of late, so I was saddened though not surprised to hear that he had passed, and of course I was sorry I hadn't corresponded with him over the years and that we had drifted apart.  I was a kid who things came fairly easy to - doing okay in school without trying too hard at most things (except math), but my friend struggled more, and of course he resented me sometimes as kids do.  Despite this we were good friends through school and boy scouts until his parents transferred him to a different school in about 10th grade.  I only saw hime a few times after that.  So I've been in touch with a few friends from back then as we reached out to each other over his death, and that led us to a bit of remembering him and reminiscing about so many things that happened in our shared childhood.  I think it's good to take stock of where you started and the journey you've traveled.  It certainly is different than what we envision for ourselves, don't you think?  For the most part I think that's good and natural.

And that led me to some of the old music I listened to back then.  I heard much of the music of my family - from my dad's classical, big band, and musicals, to my brother's Motown and my sisters' folk rock and popular music.  Because of my interest in the acoustic guitar I got into folk rock the most - John Denver, Michael (Martin) Murphy, Cat Stevens, Dan Fogelberg, and many others.  So this week found me listening to a couple of John Denver albums I hadn't heard since the LP days - "Aerie" and "Rhymes and Reasons."  His stuff holds up pretty well for the most part, although he had some strange choices on those two albums like "60 Second Song for a Bank, With the Phrase "May We Help You Today?" and "The Ballad of Spiro Agnew", but there are some wonderful songs I cherish there too like "The Eagle and the Hawk" and "Rhymes and Reasons".  It was good to reconnect with these old tunes.

Anyway, I'll miss my old friend and will hold those memories dear along with the music and images I carry with me from that time.

But enough reminiscing, what does this week bring?

Friday I'm joining the original crew of the Atomic Fireballs - Larry Heid, Rusty DiSanti, Dennis Heid, and Matt Kouba - to play for Florence Eureka Days Kick-in-the-Butt BBQ Competition 6-10 in Pioneer Park in Florence.  This is a fun festival with some great food that we've been playing for several years.  The people are always loads of fun, and the barbecue is top-notch.  If you're planning to come be sure to dress warmly as the temperature drops once the sun goes down this time of year.

Sunday I'm back at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1.  I rave about Shadow Hills every week, and I really mean it.  This is killer brunch for only $10.95 with a great assortment of meats, green chile, fresh fruit, desserts, custom omelets and waffles, panoramic views, and of course my music.  I'd love to have you if you care to make it this week.

So that's what's up for me this week.  I hope to see you soon!

Tom


Monday, October 8, 2012 - Slowing Down a Bit

Well, it's definitely cooling off.  I guess fall has arrived.  We may get our first frost this week, and it feels good! I hope you are feeling it too. The leaves are changing although we haven't been to the mountains to see them. It's just been too crazy this fall again. We used to go four-wheeling over Medano Pass this time of year to see the aspen and the first signs of ice on the stream crossings. It was always beautiful and so peaceful. Maybe we can do that next year again.

And I'm getting back into my office now slowly. I'm trying to go through all my stuff and weed out what I don't need anymore. It's tough because I'm a hoarder, apparently. I'll get through it sometime before Christmas - I hope.

So what's up this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10. This is always a wonderful homecoming, and I'm looking forward to seeing the gang and reconnecting after the summer. Come on out if you're in town.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1. I can't say enough about how good the food is, and also the view - which is also the name of the restaurant now. It sure brings back memories of the Pueblo West Inn in its heyday!

So I hope to see you this week.

Best wishes,

Tom


Tuesday, October 2, 2012 - Getting My Office Back, Definitely Fall

Well, it's definitely cooling off.  I guess fall has arrived.  We may get our first frost this week, and it feels good! I hope you are feeling it too. The leaves are changing although we haven't been to the mountains to see them. It's just been too crazy this fall again. We used to go four-wheeling over Medano Pass this time of year to see the aspen and the first signs of ice on the stream crossings. It was always beautiful and so peaceful. Maybe we can do that next year again.

And I'm getting back into my office now slowly. I'm trying to go through all my stuff and weed out what I don't need anymore. It's tough because I'm a hoarder, apparently. I'll get through it sometime before Christmas - I hope.

So what's up this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10. This is always a wonderful homecoming, and I'm looking forward to seeing the gang and reconnecting after the summer. Come on out if you're in town.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1. I can't say enough about how good the food is, and also the view - which is also the name of the restaurant now. It sure brings back memories of the Pueblo West Inn in its heyday!

So I hope to see you this week.

Best wishes,

Tom


Monday, September 24, 2012 - Cool Day, Fall Must be Here

It's nice and cool today, and I'm typing to the sound of carpet being laid.  I've been wishing for cooler days, and it looks like they've finally arrived.  The haze isn't quite as thick today from the western fires either, so I can actually see the mountains.  It's wonderful, I tell you.  And yes, the carpet will be wonderful too.  It'll just be nice to spread back into the house and get organized again.  And the smell and feel of something new is always a welcome experience.  I guess that's why they sell "new-car-smell" air fresheners.

So what's up this week?  Well, I'm actually off for Friday and Saturday night, but I do have bookings Thursday and Sunday.

Thursday 7-8:45 is the final Song of Pueblo performance for the season.  We always do one on a weekday for those folks who can't make it on a weekend, and so this show will be on Thursday at El Pueblo Museum.  I've said it before, but I'll say it again, if you are curious about the history of southern Colorado and how Pueblo came to be, then you really need to experience this show.  It's live music and narration with special lighting along with slides and video - sort of a live Ken Burns' documentary if you will - that really captures the essence of the people who call this place their home.  The players are:  yours truly, Johnny Watson, Linda Amman, and David Enke.  I'm very proud of this production, and I know it will make you laugh and make you cry while you feel a deep sense of pride for this community and the people who made it.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for Sunday brunch 10-1.  They've just named the restaurant a great name which is right in line with what I've been telling you about this place.  They're calling it "The View" which is absolutely appropriate with the great views out the windows looking out on the mountains and foothills surrounding the grounds.  The food has been really good of late - custom omelets and waffles, fresh fruit, beef and chicken and often fish entrees, homemade green chili, biscuits and gravy, and more.  Hungry yet?  They also have wonderful desserts, mimosas and bloody Mary's.  It's great!

So that's it for this week.  Once we've settled back into the house I'm going to do a UStream online concert again.  Hope to see you this week!

Tom


Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - Slowing Down

The fall slowdown is kicking in for me.  I love it when the nights grow colder and things begin to slow down.  It makes me want to write a song.  I haven't done that in a while, so the urge is a good thing.  We haven't been to Penrose to get apples and pumpkins yet, and we haven't been into the mountains to watch the leaves change either.  Time to do those things before they're gone again.  Life just gets a little hectic sometimes, and we forget to enjoy these wonderful gifts of nature.

I only have one public gig this week - Shadow Hills for Sunday brunch.  Friday and Saturday I'll be at private parties - one playing and one participating.  If you've still not been to Shadow Hills for brunch, then you're missing out on some scrumptious food and wonderful views.  I know I sound like a broken record, but almost every week someone comes out for the first time and remarks and just how beautiful the room and the spread is.  The acoustics are even really good for my music, so come on out if you can.

Hope to see you this week!

Tom


Monday, September 10, 2012 - Living in Limited Space

Well, we're in the middle of getting carpet to replace all of the carpet that was ruined by our sweet little cat who passed away this summer.  As a result we're living like we're in a hotel out of just a couple rooms of our house.  It's tough having all the music gear and computer stuff and files handy when you need them, but we're getting by - not to mention having the bathrooms torn up as well.  Hopefully this means we'll have the opportunity to put things in better places as we rearrange back into our living space.  It's actually kind of exciting - like moving to new digs!  And it's good for the soul to change things up occasionally, you know?  So we choose new colors for carpet and walls, and we look forward to a new chapter of life.

And things are slowing down quite a bit gig-wise like they usually do this time of year.  I'm still trying to book some new venues, and I should have Magpies scheduled for the fall within a couple days.  (Remember I said I had something booked the third Friday of October and November?  So I'll have to probably go for first and fourth Fridays - there are five Fridays in November, so that should work out fine.  I'll let you know.

So what's up this week?

Saturday I'll be at the La Veta Inn 6-9.  Last week was a beautiful night on the patio with some great friends and new acquaintances, and hopefully it will be another nice night this week.  This may be one of the last nights this fall at the Inn, so please come down if you can.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1.  I had some really nice folks out last week, and I had one of the best omelets smothered with green chile.  Yum!  Come on out if you're in the mood for good food and great views and music.

I have a couple private parties as well in public places, so don't be surprised if you see or hear me.

That's it for this week!

Best always,

Tom


Tuesday, September 4, 2012 - September Thoughts

Well, the last hurrah of summer is over (for me at least.)  It's funny that I'm so wistful about it since my favorite season is really the fall.  It's the fall when I used to love the first crisp morning and the first football game.  It's the fall when we would go four-wheeling amongst the golden aspens and look for the first signs of ice on the creek.  It's the fall when we finally have the free time to take a vacation and enjoy smaller crowds at our favorite spots.  And as I write this I find that it really is the fall that I love.  It's time to go get apples and think about hay-rack rides.  It's cool enough at night to open a window and cool the house.  It's a wonderful time of slowing down and enjoying life a little more.

It's also the time that I get to see my local folks more as I come back to Pueblo for gigs and drive to the mountains less.  So what's up this week?

Friday night I'm in Cañon City at Michael's on Main 6-9 for their gallery show and First Friday Art Walk.  If you've never been to Michael's you're missing a beautiful restaurant/coffee house in old downtown Cañon City that's really special.  Upstairs is an art gallery that really shines with very original art.  I play in the front so both the diners and the folks upstairs in the art gallery can hear me.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I've written so much about how much I like the folks there and the wonderful views and food.  If you haven't been I hope you'll try it this week.

I haven't scheduled the La Veta Inn for this month although we're trying to work out some dates.  Also I haven't set the dates for Magpies coming up yet, but I'll have a little different schedule for October and November than my usual first and third Fridays since I already have a couple big events scheduled for the third Friday of both those months.  And if I ever get to it I'll be scheduling at least one date at Front Range Barbecue in the Springs.  Also I should set up a UStream concert soon.

So that's it for this week.  Hope to see you if you're game for it.

Tom


Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - Happy Labor Day!

Well, it's Labor Day weekend again.  Do you all have barbecue plans or outings with the family for Labor Day?  Me?  I'll be with the Atomic Fireballs at the Royal Gorge.  In past years I can remember all kinds of activities - from regattas to community cookouts, and four-wheeling in the mountains to winterizing mountain cabins.  Labor Day was always the last hurrah of summer - marking the start of school and the coming of cooler nights and hayrack rides.  It's definitely a divide into the next season it seems.  It also means I fix my thoughts on the road ahead again and make plans for the winter months and the next projects.  No, I haven't thought that far ahead.  We're working on the house - replacing carpet and changing things around a bit, so I haven't been thinking as much about career as I usually do.  It's nice to do some hard manual labor around the house - feeling aches and pains that remind me I'm alive.  No worries - I'll be back to crazy gigging before you know it.

So what's up this week?

Friday I'll be at the La Veta Inn 6-9.  The last two weeks we've had rain and haven't been able to be on the patio.  It's actually been really nice indoors even though I really love that beautiful outdoor setup at the Inn.  Last week I got to meet a wonderful Texas songwriter named Vince Bell.  I've been a fan of his work for several years.  His songs have been recorded by the likes of Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith - two of my favorites.  He cut his teeth in the early seventies while running around with the likes of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt - two more of my favorites.  Anyway, he was staying at the Inn with his gal, Sarah, and I talked to him quite a bit of Friday night, and then Saturday night Jen and I got to hear him do an acoustic concert outdoors at Lucy's RV Park in La Veta that just knocked me out!  Check out his work if you get a chance - http://www.vincebell.com.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday during the day I'll be playing at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the Atomic Fireballs 12:30-4:30 on the south side of the bridge in the Juniper Junction picnic area.  Come on out if you're looking for a fun way to spend a day on Labor Day weekend.  We had a great time the last time out at the Gorge this summer, and I expect no less this time.  It'll be great to see the guys in the band and jam on our old favorite tunes!

Saturday night I have a special event.  I'm playing at Coyote's Coffee Den in Penrose for a special concert as part of their summer concert series starting at 6:30.  I've been wanting to play this event for a few years now, and through the help of my friend who will be opening for me - Jerry Miller (with his daughter, Sherry Elbourn) - I finally booked an evening there.  If you've never been to this venue, then you really need to check it out.  They have some spectacular acts there during the summer - http://www.coyotescoffeeden.com/entertainment.htm - and I understand the food and coffee are first rate!

So that's a pretty good lineup this weekend.  If you're in the area, please come on out and join the fun!

Tom


Monday, August 20, 2012 - Reading David Rakoff

I'm sitting here listening to an audio book of a great writer who just passed this week - David Rakoff.  You may have heard him on "This American Life" on NPR if you ever listen to that show.  He was a really talented writer - especially at rhyming couplets.  I highly recommend his work if you like something stimulating and sometimes a touch satirical and sarcastic.  He's very clever and makes you think - sometimes darkly.  I really like that because that's where my music often thrives.  Anything that opens up creativity in me is a joy.

My music has really settled into a comfortable sphere lately.  My voice has been a bit raspy, but I'm learning tricks to warm it up, and I'm using a great vocal spray from Santa Fe called Singer's Saving Grace that works wonders.  I'm able to turn words in my mouth very smoothly and it's very easy to put emotion into the lyrics that is genuine as my age and experience informs me just to how to interpret those words.  My fingers seem to find notes more easily on the guitar than ever before, and the tones seem to be sweeter and richer no matter what guitar I'm playing.  That makes it so much fun to play!  It's so fun to be able to offer this to an audience!

Anyway, it sounds like I'm boasting somehow, but I just wanted you to know how it feels to perform nowadays.

And to those who wondered how the Song of Pueblo would go without David last week and with me playing his leads and the native flute, it actually went really well.  I didn't make any big goofs, and I moved Johnny to tears with my flute playing.  That could have been because how bad it was, but he said it moved him, so I'll take it!  Big thanks to Karma Bright for stepping in on the rain stick and playing with us.

So where am I this week?

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 (hopefully again) on the patio.  Last week we had some wonderful rain that was welcomed, but it kept us off the patio.  It was still a really good time!  Come on down if you can.

Saturday I'm NOT at Bingo Burger in Pueblo.  I just sent an email to confirm, and they didn't have me on their schedule.  I'm sorry if this messes up anyone's schedule who was planning on this.  I really try to deal professionally in my bookings and confirm things well in advance, but this one slipped through the cracks.  That's too bad, because I was looking forward to another venue in Pueblo where people would like to come to and hear me play.  Maybe we can set another date up in the future.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills in Cañon City 10-1.  I keep raving about how much I enjoy this venue and the food, but it really is great!  Great views, great people to work with, and great food!  Come on out!

That's it for this week,

Tom


Monday, August 13, 2012 - Making Fall Plans

I'm making my fall booking plans.  I know it's a little late, but this always happens to me that I'm so busy in the summer that I neglect the fall.  I'll be back at Magpies in October although I may have to jockey the dates off my usual 1st and 3rd Fridays a little since I already have things booked on the 3rd Friday in October and November.  I have a few special events like playing at Michael's on Main in Cañon City on Sept 7 and playing for a Good Sam's Samboree on Sept 21.  I'm also playing with the Atomic Fireballs for Eureka Days in Florence on Oct 19.  I will most likely have some dates at the La Veta Inn on many weekends as well - we haven't looked at the calendar yet for fall.  I'm also planning to book a couple things in the Springs coming up this fall and winter.  I will continue to play Sunday brunches in Cañon City at Shadow Hills too - those have been going very well.  I may do a couple Fridays at Shadow Hills too again.  So there's always things in the works.  I'll probably start to do my online UStream living room concerts again soon as well.

I have to say before I get to this week's schedule what a great time I had in Buena Vista Saturday and Sunday at Gold Rush Days.  The folks were so supportive, and they let me drift into some musical spaces that were really special.  That doesn't happen as often as I'd like, and it was something I won't soon forget.

But meanwhile back to this week.

Thursday we won't be doing the last barbecue of the summer at Yellow Pine.  Turns out last week will be the final time for this summer.  I sure had a great time this summer with all the wonderful folks I got to see and play for!

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn on the patio 6-9 under the stars again.  It's starting to get cooler in the evenings as fall approaches, but we still have some great nights left, so I hope you can come out if you're in the area.

Saturday I'm performing the Song of Pueblo at 7:00 with Johnny Watson and Linda Amman.  David Enke is out of town for this one, so I get to expand my playing to fill his shoes which is not an easy task.  It will be a rare treat for anyone who'd like to see the show presented a little differently.  I'm looking forward to it.

Sunday I'm back at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1.  I missed the folks there last week, and I'll be raring to go Sunday.  Please come out if you'd like to have a great meal at a steal of a price with a great view and my music.  It's a fine way to spend a hot and lazy Sunday.

Hope to see you this week,

Tom


Monday, August 6, 2012 - Reminiscing as the Summer Closes

This is the time of the summer that is always like the drawing up of a drawstring for me.  When I was in college and working in the mountains, my grandfolks' anniversary was the 4th of August which always had some sort of a dinner celebration that drew my family together, and then my friends started to leave to go back to school, and I was left wrapping up jobs by filling in and making my own plans to go back to school as well.  Then when I was a little older this time of year meant that the tourists were beginning to thin out and things were slowing down wherever I was gigging.  It also meant the state fair and all the bands who came to town whom I got to meet and jam with a bit.  Now that I'm a little older it's a sweet mix of those memories and my love of the approaching fall with a little time off (hopefully.)  There are still a bunch of gigs of course, but things are slowing down a bit in the tourist world I still inhabit in the summer.  It's all good, and I know there are a few songs in this feeling if I just listen to the muse.  I love this time of year.

But back to the calendar.  Where am I this week?

Wednesday I'm at the La Veta Inn (hopefully) on the patio 6-9.  It was a wonderful night last Wednesday at the Inn with lots of folks out for a beautiful evening.  Rain threatened, but it never came down more than a few drops - luckily.  I'm amazed at how nice the patio feels on a summer evening.  I have so many good memories there.

Thursday I'm at the barbecue at the Yellow Pine 6:30-8:30.  We only have a couple more of these this summer, and I have to say how great it has been to see and meet so many genuine folks this summer!  The Yellow Pine is truly special.  If you want to come, please make a reservation by tomorrow night - 719-742-3528.

Saturday and Sunday I'm at Gold Rush Days in Buena Vista 11-3ish both days in McPhelemy Park.  This is always a really fine time with the folks I get to see in Buena Vista.  I bring a tent and set up next to the lake amongst the vendors' tents.  They set up chairs for me in the shade facing my tent, and it just turns into a really nice day of music in the park.  They have all kinds of events, entertainment, and history around the lake along with crafts and food, so it's a great place to spend an afternoon in the mountains.  If you've never been, then please consider making a drive up to the mountains for Gold Rush Days.

That's it for this week.  If you're making plans for the rest of the month, don't forget that the Song of Pueblo is the 18th, I'm at Bingo Burger on the 25th, and I have a special appearance at Coyote's Coffee Den in Penrose on September 1st - Labor Day weekend.  Of course I'm also at the La Veta Inn weekly through the end of the month, Shaodw Hills for brunch, and one more Yellow Pine barbecue.

Best,

Tom


Monday, July 30, 2012 - Pangs of Summer Being Half Over

It's almost August, and that always fills me with a little pang of loss from the summer nearing the end.  I guess I'm just a sentimental old sap.  There's so much fun stuff left to do this summer, so I'll just turn my eyes forward instead of looking behind.  I've really enjoyed so many of the gigs I've played this summer, and I've talked with so many great folks and had such memorable times that I'm really thankful to have had.  It's all of blur of sweetness in my rear-view mirror right now.  Last week's highlights included a great time playing for Francisco Fort Days in La Veta, and special wedding reception, and some fine folks at the brunch at Shadow Hills.

And this week has even more great gigs ahead!

Wednesday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 again hopefully on the patio.  Last week I got to meet some truly interesting musicians in a new duo called National Parks.  They play (the way they describe it) a kind of spacey folk/jazz original music that I can't wait to hear.  We talked a lot about jazz chords and performing.  I played a bunch of jazz standards with the kind of chords and progressions we had talked about for them.  It was a blast!  Who knows what this week will bring.  I have some folks coming out who I talked to at Francisco Fort Days that I always enjoy.

Thursday the barbecue is back on 6:30-8:30 at the Yellow Pine after a week off.  I'm pretty sure we'll have a bear visit again, and I've really enjoyed the folks I've gotten to play for up there.  If you like barbecue and the old west you really should try to make this before the season ends August 16th.  Make sure to call by Tuesday evening for reservations - 719-742-3528.

Friday I'm doing a concert/dance 7-11 or so at UpTop Tavern and Ghost Town on the old La Veta Pass road.  I've done a couple of these with Drive over the past couple of years, and they are always unbelievably fun!  Fine folks, a rustic and cool atmosphere in the old dance hall, and cool mountain air.  What could be better?  I'll be playing music for dancing, so expect some cool two-step and swing numbers as well as some old standards and rock and roll as well.  To get there, take Hwy 160 from either side of La Veta Pass and turn on the old La Veta Pass road (the road meets 160 from both sides).  I usually take the road from the west since it seems a little smoother, but the road from the east is a beautiful drive on the old highway route.

Saturday I have a private dance in Cuchara for the Hermosa folks doing old Las Vegas Rat Pack tunes for a casino night.

Sunday I'm back at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills in Cañon City.  This last week everything fell into place even though I didn't have enough sleep, and it was a magical day!

That's what's on my plate and my mind this week.  Hope to see you!

Tom


Monday, July 23, 2012 - Saying Goodbye to Our Little Tabby Cat

It's been a sad week around the Munch household.  Our little grey tabby we have lived with for the past 18 years passed away last Tuesday night.  She had been sick with diabetes for the past year, and she had developed kidney problems and anemia towards the end.  She was making messes around the house for several months that we had dealt with by putting puppy piddle pads all over the house.  She just kept on trucking along long past when I thought she would.  She was a very sweet and skittish kitty who lived in my office for the first half of her life while she was hiding out from our big male tomcat who enjoyed beating her up when he got the chance.  After we put him down with kidney problems, she blossomed into the princess of the house, and took over the bed in our bedroom.  Anyway, it's very hard to say goodbye to someone who spent so much time with us, and especially since we had to take such special care of her over the last months of her life.  I used to sing to her when she was in my office many different songs "Daddy's Little Girl", "Little Girl" by Nat King Cole, and several others.  I'll miss her dearly.  There's an intimate bond with a pet that you don't share with anyone else, and so it hurts in a very personal way.

I also lost a good older musician friend, Elmer Swartwood, this last week.  If you've heard me doing old country songs in the recent years there's a good chance I learned them from and for Elmer.  He was fun to swap stories with.

But life goes on, and there are many more adventures to share and companions to love, and so we move forward while we grieve for those who went before.

So what's up this week?

Thursday's barbecue at the Yellow Pine has been cancelled this week due to some scheduling problems, so if you were planning on that then please pick a future week to come out for that.  Last week we had a visit by the bear they've dubbed "Bubba."  It always adds a thrill to the night.  There were some good friends there too!

Friday I'll be at the La Veta Inn 6-9 on the patio (weather permitting.)  Last week was a wonderful group of folks.  I said then and I'll say it again, there just isn't a more magical place to play on a beautiful evening.  The meal I had was a to-die-for chicken mole dish!

Saturday I'll be playing at Francisco Fort Days 2-4 in La Veta at the old Francisco Fort.  This is a really cool community event, and I get to follow my good friends Don Richmond, Rod Taylor, and Jim Bradley of the Rifters.  I'll be mixing historic songs with my own music in the old courtyard.

Saturday night I have a private wedding reception in Cuchara.

Sunday I'll be back at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills in Cañon City.  Last week was a little slow which is to be expected with so many folks on vacation, but I'm still there, so if you've wanted to come out but haven't yet, Please consider brunch this week.  They had some great food last week - especially the desserts - sweet potato cake with maple/pecan frosting and a banana trifle.  Yum!

So that's what in store for me this week.  Please come out if you can.

Tom


Monday, July 16, 2012 - Enjoying Summer!

This has been a great summer so far, and even with the lack of sleep I'm still enjoying it immensely!  It seems that the fires hurt business a bit for a lot of the places I'm playing, but we're still getting along just fine.  My mind is so wrapped up in all the places I'm planning and preparing for that my head is just spinning, so I'll be brief today.

So what's up this week?

Wednesday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 (hopefully) on the patio, and they asked me to tell you about a special just for this week.  If anyone would like to come hear me Wednesday and spend the night at the Inn, you can get the room for $49 if you mention my name and this email when you make your reservation.  I don't know how many of you have the flexibility in the middle of your week to take advantage of this, but I'd love to have you visit at the Inn if you can make it.  The evenings on the patio have been spectacular this summer - so inviting and warm.

Thursday I'm at the Yellow Pine 6:30-8:30 for the barbecue once again.  Last week we got a visit during the dinner from a beautiful black bear.  He took a swim in the lake and did some fishing and then ran across the lawn and ate some bird food at the feeder.  It was quite a show for the folks! I'm betting he'll be back this week.  If you want to come please call by tomorrow for a reservation - 719-742-3528.

Friday we have the July performance of the Song of Pueblo at 7:00.  The show is so engaging to perform, and we've made so many worthwhile changes that it's really begun to shine, so I hope you'll come and see it if you haven't yet.  Also we'll be selling and signing the new CD, so if you haven't gotten your copy come on down!

Saturday I'm playing with the Atomic Fireballs for the Westcliffe Stampede rodeo dance at the rodeo grounds 9-1.  This is always a crazy-fun time, and if you like cowboys and dancing then this is the place for you!  There is a cover charge at the door although I'm not sure how much it is.

Sunday (if I'm awake after Saturday night) I'll be at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I've had such nice folks there, and I look forward to this venue every week.  The food has been outstanding, and it's a great way to spend a relaxing Sunday morning.

I hope to see you somewhere down the road this week.

Tom


Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - Welcomed Rain!

Great to have the rain again!  Now we get to remember what it's like to drive in the rain, deal with washed out roads, and mow the weeds.  Ahh, we're never happy.  But the cool is welcomed, and I'm sure I speak for all of nature when I say "Bring on the rain!"

I drove in some pretty hard rain last night late on my way back from the concert at Philmont in Cimarron, New Mexico.  Sometimes I couldn't see the edge of the road.  That's not what you want to deal with when you're struggling to stay awake, but as I was basking in the glow of a wonderful concert and after-jam with some of the current staff, I was able to keep my eyes open and my little auto between the lines.

And the summer is almost half over now.  I have to say that although it's going fast, I have been able to enjoy many moments so far.  I can't always say that about my summers, but this one seems to be allowing me to "smell the roses" occasionally.  I hope you are doing the same.  Life is precious.

So what's up this week?

Yesterday (Monday) was the Philmont concert I mentioned.

Tuesday is a show for the rafting scouts I've mentioned before.

Thursday I'm back at the Yellow Pine Ranch 6:30-8:30 in Cuchara for the Thursday-night barbecue.  I had some wonderful old friends there last week, and I hope to have the same this week.  It pretty much books out full by Tuesday night, so if you'd like to come you'd better call now for a reservation - 719-742-3528.

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 (hopefully) on the patio.  Last week was the picture-perfect evening on the patio.  A great group of diners, the perfect temperature, and a guitar that stayed in tune were the ingredients.  If you've never been to one of these evenings, I hope you will before the summer is done and the patio closes down for the cooler weather again.

Saturday I'm playing for the rafting scouts again.

Sunday I'm at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills in Cañon City.  I've missed a couple of these Sunday, and I'm always glad to get back to this inviting room and nice folks.

Sunday evening I'm playing yet again for a group of rafting scouts.

Pretty full week!  Please come see me if you can.

Tom


Monday, July 2, 2012 - Happy Independence Day!

A happy July 4th to you all!  I hope you can find some fun things to do on Independence Day.  Out our way there are fireworks bans mosts every place, so we won't be shooting off our own fireworks, but there are still a few community fireworks displays and events to attend.  Our dogs are so petrified with the noise of fireworks that we spend most of the day trying to provide background noise and keep them in the house, so we don't normally do anything fireworks-wise.  I have been doing a lot of patriotic songs and reminiscing about fun 4th of July's I've had in the past, so there's no lack of patriotism in my heart this year.  I miss the days of seeing a brass band in the bandshell in the park or shooting off Roman candles and bottle rockets like when we were kids!  So how will you all spend your holiday?

I've no lack of gigs this week.

Wednesday (Independence Day) I have a gig playing a show for a Boy Scout group after their rafting trip on the Royal Gorge, so that will be a fun way to spend the evening.

Thursday I'm back at the Yellow Pine 6:30-8:30 for the barbecue.  We're in the heart of the season now, and I'm getting wonderful crowds of new and old friends.  Last week I had a 14-year-old girl sit in and knock a couple of her original songs out of the park, and also a previous owner of the ranch do some great songs he'd written in years gone by about Cuchara and the Spanish Peaks.  It was pretty special!

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 for dinner (hopefully) on the patio.  We had a perfect night outside last week after I decided the rain was only going to threaten and not pour down.  I love the nights on the patio down there, and hopefully you'll come and share one soon with me.

Saturday I'm off to see family in New Mexico and help celebrate a 25th anniversary.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I always look forward to this room with its special views and great food.  Then I'm off to play for another Boy Scout rafting group after brunch.

Hopefully I'll have time to write before I leave Monday for New Mexico again, but if I don't I'm playing a concert at Philmont Scout Ranch at base camp 8-10.  If you're a former Philstaffer and will be in the area please come out to the Baldy Pavilion in the staff area behind the main dining hall.  This will be reminiscent of the concerts I use to play at Philmont in the '80's.

That's it for this week.  Hope to see you!

Tom


Monday, June 25, 2012 - Fire and Smoke!

The fire and smoke along with the heat is scary here in southern Colorado. The new fire by Manitou Springs is particularly distressing. For those of you outside of Colorado, they've been covering it non-stop on all the local TV channels for over 24 hours now.  Hopefully things will get under control, and we'll get some rain to ease the danger for the remainder of the summer. Otherwise we're in for a long summer. The worse part of it is that we've had an arsonist setting some of these fires, and there's no excuse for that. I feel for the forest and the tough spot Mother Nature is in this year. We need rain!!!

So where am I headed in the heat and the smoke this week?

Wednesday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 for my weekly outing. I had a really nice crowd last week, and I'm hoping for the same this week. We didn't get to be on the patio last week because it was booked for a private party, but hopefully this week we'll enjoy an evening of music under the stars.

Thursday I'm at the Yellow Pine 6:30-8:30 for the barbecue. We're getting into the heart of the season now, and the regulars are some of my favorite people of the year.  If you like good Texas barbecue, then this is the place.  Good food in a rustic mountain barn with my music.  Be sure to call for reservations - 719-742-3528

Friday I'm playing for the scouts after they raft on the Arkansas River.  I always enjoy these shows!

Saturday and Sunday I'm playing with the Atomic Fireballs at the Royal Gorge Bridge 12:30-4:30.  I always enjoy playing with the band, and we've been playing at the Gorge for many, many years.  It's good to get back up there and see the changes they've made from the previous year and see old friends I worked with for so long.  We're on the south side in the Juniper Junction if you come out.  It should be a blast!  I'm also playing for the rafting scouts Sunday evening.

So please come out if you can.  It's so much more fun to play music when there are friends to share it with!

Tom


Monday, June 18, 2012 - Whew - Too Hot!

It's too darn hot!  That's an old Cole Porter tune, and it's true today out our way.  99° already as I write this and headed toward 102°.  I'm sure it may be hotter where some of you are.  It wouldn't be so bad if we weren't a tinderbox already with many, many fires every day.  We don't go outside when it's smoky if we can help it, and we try to keep the dogs in as well.  I hope you can stay cool wherever you may be.

I'm really enjoying the summer though - even with the heat.  Yesterday I had one of the best concerts ever in Westcliffe at the Concert Park of the Feed Store restaurant.  It was a bit cooler up there, and everything was clicking just right.  I'm so grateful to everyone who made it into such a memorable time!

So what's up this week?

First of all I have another special event tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Cañon City from 7-9.  It's a concert in Veterans Park as part of the "Concert in the Park" series.  I've done this a few times before, and it's always been a lovely evening with some great folks and memories.  It's held in the park at the west end of Cañon City called Veterans Park (on the main highway).  I'm in the band shell, and the folks are on the grass, so bring a blanket or lawn chairs if you come.

Thursday I'm back at the Yellow Pine 6:30-8:30 in Cuchara for the barbecue.  It's starting to take off this summer, and I'm really enjoying the fine folks who come out to this event.  It's a Texas-style barbecue with all the trimmings in an old rustic barn that feels just right.  Call the Yellow Pine Ranch for a reservation if you'd like to come. - 719-742-3528

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 on the patio (hopefully) for a special evening under the shadows of the Spanish Peaks. (I guess Cuchara may be more in the shadow of the peaks.)  I really love the vibe I get at the Inn, and the food is top-notch too, so come out if you can.

Saturday I'm with the El Pueblo Ensemble performing the Song of Pueblo oratorio 7-9 at El Pueblo History Museum.  We had our album-release party last Friday which was well-attended (Thanks, everybody!)  This show continues to impress and inspire, and it's a pleasure to be involved with it as music director.  If you haven't seen it you're missing a chance to be enlightened, entertained, and made proud of southern Colorado and Pueblo.  And the album is available at the museum and online now as well at iTunes and CD Baby.

Sunday I'm back at brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City.  With the hot days I'd rather be inside enjoying some good music and great views with some fine food, wouldn't you?  Come on out then!

So you can see I don't know how to slow down.  I hope to see you this week!

Tom


Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - Big Week!

Man, the summer has really kicked in and beaten me up right off the bat. But I'm running to catch up, and I think I'll make it. It was a long weekend with a lot of playing, but I made it through and had a great time to boot. I almost lost my voice Saturday night. After all these years I still end up pushing too hard with a band.

And the summer is starting off beautifully. It's a little dry, but everything is still green, and the gigs in the mountains are wonderful!

And this week is a heck of a week!

Starting with tomorrow, Wednesday, I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9 in La Veta. It's the middle of the week so I don't now what kind of crowd I'll get, but if you're in the area please come out. The patio nights have been really outstanding!

Then Thursday I'm at the Yellow Pine for the barbeque 6:30-8:30. The inaugural week for the summer last week was a lot of fun. I always enjoy the folks and the room (the barn) at the Yellow Pine.

Friday is a big night for me and the Song of Pueblo. We release the album we've been working on all winter long with the current cast of the show. The party will be at El Pueblo History Museum from 6-9. We'll do some kibitzing and also some playing and talking about the recording of the album. It should be a great time! Please come out if you can. There'll be food and a cash bar. I'll post the invite on my Facebook page if you'd like to see it.

Saturday evening I'm playing for a group of Boy Scouts at a rafting party by the Royal Gorge. I do several of these shows every summer, and I really enjoy them.

Sunday (Father's Day) I have another big event. I'm playing a concert at a wonderful venue in Westcliffe called the Feed Store 2-5. It's a really cool amphitheater in a park built for the venue. You can read more about it here - http://www.westcliffefeedstore.com/FS/park.html. I think this will be a really special afternoon, so consider a trip up to Westcliffe if you can
Sunday afternoon. And Happy Father's Day!

Whew! What a week! Hopefully I'm not getting this out too late for y'all to make plans if you want.

Tom


Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - Getting Crazy!

It's getting crazy again. I love summer and the buzz it brings. So many great memories of hikes in the mountains, swimming at the lake, picnics with family, and tons of fresh produce.  It's an exciting time, and I revel in it every summer.  Usually it doesn't really take off for me until late-June, but this year it's taking off now - this week!  And I'm ramping up to meet the challenge, and I plan to run full-steam until I drop!

So what's up this week?

Thursday I start the season at the Yellow Pine Guest Ranch in Cuchara, CO 6:30-8:30.  I have played the Thursday-night barbecue for over a decade, and it's a gas every time.  They hold it in an old barn that feels so authentic that it's pretty special.  It's old-time Colorado from 50 years ago or more.  The food is Texas-style barbecue with all the fixin's - chicken, ribs, brisket, potato salad, corn-on-the-cob, pinto beans and bacon and so much more, followed by Joann's fantastic peach cobbler!  It's great fun, and I'd love to see you if you can make it.  It does fill up fast with ranch guests, locals, and visitors, so make reservations early (a week or two in advance if you can) - 719-742-3528.

Friday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9.  I've been getting some wonderful groups of folks at the Inn, and I set it up so I have speakers throughout and there isn't a bad seat in the house for a music - on the patio or the restaurant (or the bar.) Hernando (the chef) has some really tasty food, and the mountain air just does a body good - you know? So come on out if you're out and about on Friday.  Hopefully the weather will allow us to be on the patio!

Saturday morning 10-1 I'm at a new place for me, the Little London Outdoor Market.  This is a fun, once-a-month outdoor market in Colorado Springs run by a good friend of mine that I'm really looking forward to.  Set on the western edge of downtown at 109 South Sierra Madre, Little London is a fine consignment shop set in the same building as Auction House 109 which is known for it's fine auctions.  I've never played this event before, but I'm really looking forward to it!  If you're in the Springs Saturday morning then come on by!

Saturday evening I have a gig with a trio at a branding party that should be fun.  I'm playing with Johnny Wells from Trinidad, a drummer I haven't worked with before but who sounds like a great player, and Linda Amman whom I play with in the Song of Pueblo band, El Pueblo Ensemble.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I continue to really enjoy this gig.  The people are really nice, and the food is always great and is a bargain at $10.95 per person.  The views are just icing on the cake, and there is always some great cake too!

Don't forget that next week the Song of Pueblo CD becomes available with our album-release party at 6-9 at the El Pueblo Museum.  It will probably be online before that at iTunes and cdbaby.com.

So that's it for this week.  Come out if you can.  I love to see you.

Tom


Monday, May 28, 2012 - I Think Summer’s Here

Hope this Memorial Day finds you well and happy.  It really feels like summer to me once Memorial Day is here.  I watched "Sargent York" last night to get into the Memorial Day spirit (I'm always a sucker for Gary Cooper movies) and I've been thinking about my dad and other relatives and the time they spent in the military and the stories they told.  I know we owe a lot to those who gave up their time and effort and some even their lives to give us our freedom.  I can't forget.  And with Memorial Day comes the excitement that is always summer and the memories of engaging things that summer has brought in the past - fun trips, adventures in the mountains, great gigs, sunshine, and thunderstorms.  It's such a thrilling time of the year!  I hope you revel in it, and I plan to do the same!

So what's up this week in my world?

First of all, my apologies to anyone who came out to hear me last Saturday at Bingo Burger in Pueblo.  It was an outside patio gig and the wind was gusting to 50 mph and beyond, so we canceled it Saturday afternoon.  I put the cancellation on Facebook and Twitter, but I'm sure it didn't reach everyone.  I'll try to make sure it gets posted there always when there are changes, and I'll try to do a mailer too if there's time.  We've rescheduled to August 25th, so we'll give it another shot if you're game.

Friday noon 11:30-1:30 is the start of the annual "Music and Munchin' on Main" concert series in Pueblo that I usually kick off, and I am this year again.  This is a fun lunch concert that features good food, music, and a couple giveaways by the Pueblo Downtown Association.  Lunch is $10 and is provided by the Convention Center or you can bring your own brown bag.  This is at Gateway Park, which is kind of at the end of the Riverwalk where the boats come in across the street from the Convention Center - close to Veterans' Bridge.  I typically get a fun mix of folks from all ages for this event, and I feature songs from my albums interspersed with announcements and giveaways from the Downtown Association.  It's a fun event that I look forward to each year!

Friday night 6-9 I'm at the La Veta Inn and looking forward to seeing some of the summer regulars that are so great to kibitz with every summer.  Hopefully it will be under the stars in the patio.  It was last week, and it was magical!  Please try to make it if you can.  It's always a memorable evening.  As I said last week, the owner is offering a 25% discount for a room through the end of June if you mention my name when you make your reservation, so come on down for an overnight and enjoy some food and music and a little exploring in the land of the Spanish Peaks.

Sunday 10-1 I'm at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City for Sunday brunch.  We had a really fun crowd last week for Memorial Day weekend, and I'm really enjoying this gig.  I'm getting to do all kinds of oldies and cool songs that I just don't get to sing anywhere else.  Of course the food is great (I always have a custom omelet with green chile) and the views are really pretty looking at the Wet Mountains.

That's about it for now.  I'm running fast to keep up, so I'd better not write more.  For you Philmont folks, I get to go down to Philmont next week to do a little seminar on music and campfires for a couple different cowboy camps.  It should be a blast!

Tom


Monday, May 21, 2012 - Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you have fun plans for Memorial Day.  I sure have some wonderful memories of Memorial Days in the past, especially when I used to compete in sailboat races with my dad when I was a kid.  We would travel to a lake and camp out and then race one race in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The wind in my face, and the excitement of the competition and camaraderie with my dad and the other sailors was really invigorating.  We would even win sometimes!  On other Memorial Day weekends we would spend at a trailer we had on a lake where we would cook out or go skiing.  When I was younger we might even take a rowboat out and go exploring the coves or go fishing on that same lake.  Such memories!  I'm working this weekend, but maybe you'll think of me at your cookout, or better yet, come out where I'm playing and help celebrate the fun!  If not, have fun wherever you are!

So with that in mind, here's where I'm playing this weekend.

Friday 6-9 I'll be at the La Veta Inn (hopefully) on the patio.  I told you before how magical the nights on the patio can be, and with the wireless system I'm using now, the folks can hear me in the restaurant and bar even when I'm on the patio.  So make the beautiful (with the green prairies) drive out to La Veta.  Don't forget that the owner is offering a 25% discount on rooms through the end of June if you mention my name when making the reservation.

Saturday 6:30-8:30 I'll be at a new place for me, Bingo Burger, located at the intersection of Union and 1st Street in Pueblo.  I've seen other friends of mine play here, and I've wondered what it's like.  The food is great, and I'll bet the crowd is as well.  You can be part of it too!

Sunday 10-1 I'll be playing for Sunday brunch at Shadow Hills in Cañon City.  I'm using my wireless there too to provide sound for the bar and patio, and it's starting to feel like home there with the good food, nice folks, and great views out the glassed-in room.  It's really nice, and so reminiscent of the glory days of the Pueblo West Inn.  I hope you'll come see me there sometime soon!

Gotta run for now!

Tom


Monday, May 14, 2012 - Courting the Magic

Just had a great Mothers Day with my mom and family!  They also set some records for the brunch I played - over 300, and I got to see some new faces.

I've got to be honest with you, there are many times when I have to take stock of my progress and my position. I know that's a good thing, but quite often I get lost in the logistics of life and forget that playing music is a pretty cool thing. I mean, there are a lot of truly magical processes and experiences in life, and I get to grab hold of the wind that is music and ride it on a regular basis. So with a little reality check I'm off and running again - courting the magic!

So what's up this week?

Friday at 7:00 we have the first official show for the Song of Pueblo this season at El Pueblo History Museum. We've made some really great changes that I think you'll like. First of all we are adding big-screen monitors to use instead of the projector and screen. This makes the video much brighter and clearer, and it also allows us to do the show on the long wall of the room at El Pueblo museum. We now have some staging too, and the combination of the staging and new position with the screens will make the show much more engaging. We're excited to add this, and I hope you'll come see the show this season with our changes. The album goes to press tomorrow, so we'll have it for sale within a couple weeks or so. Our album-release party will be Friday, June 8 at 6:00 at the museum. Visit the museum if you'd like to reserve a spot at either show - 301 N. Union in Pueblo. The dates for the season are: May 18, June 23, July 20, August 18, and September 27. All shows are at 7:00 and will be at the museum.

Saturday 6-9 I'm back at the La Veta Inn.  I have really been getting some great folks out to hear me. I early appreciate and enjoy it. The owner of the Inn has a special for you, my friends. He's offering 25% off lodging for anyone who books a room through the end of June and mentions my name and this special. That's a pretty good deal, and I hope you'll take advantage of it. 719-742-3700 I won't be there every week on Saturday, so check the schedule on my website if you're planning a trip down - tommunch.com.

Sunday 10-1 I'm back at brunch at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City. We had such a fun time last week even though the brunch went for six hours. I'm really settling in there now, and I added a wireless system so folks can hear me on the patio and in the bar. The views are really pretty on the patio, so I hope this will encourage folks to sit wherever they like if they'd like to still hear my music. Come on out!

I'd better wrap up for now. This is National Nursing Home Week this week, and I have a lot of places to play in addition to the afore-mentioned gigs.

Be well, my friends,

Tom


Monday, May 7, 2012 - Brrr - Rainy Weather, But Good for Writing

What do you think of the cool and rainy weather if you're in southern Colorado or are getting this weather in your neck of the woods?  It makes me want to sleep in, and it also puts me in the mood to write!  Have I written anything yet today?  No, but I've been thinking about it, and that's half way to writing something for me.  I remember writing songs about the rain when I was a teenager.  I loved the change and the dynamics of the weather, and I still do.  The pitter-patter on tin roofs and the lingering reflections in the puddles are easy and relaxing.  I know that some folks are depressed when the sky is grey, but today it's invigorating me.

I'll be playing this summer at so many fun places. I just booked a Saturday at the Little London Market in Colorado Springs on June 9. This is a neat consignment shop run by a good friend from days gone by in La Veta that has a special Outdoor Market once a month. I'm looking forward to it. I also just booked the Francisco Fort Days at the end of July in La Veta. I played this historic event last year and had a blast!  I'm also playing a concert at UpTop on the old La Veta Pass that will be a night to remember. More details about these and lots of other fun gigs in the weeks to follow.

On to this week's gigs.

Friday night I'll be at the La Veta Inn 6-9. We're going to switch away from strictly Saturday nights through the summer, so stay tuned. Last
Saturday was the first time I've gotten to be on the patio this year, and it was a magical evening! I can't tell you how neat this patio is on a warm summer evening. I hope you get to see it sometime.

Sunday I'll be playing brunch for Mothers Day 9-3 at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City. This promises to be a special day, and I love paying tribute to my mom and all the moms out there. Please call for a reservation if you'd like to come out - 719-275-0603. I think it will be booked solid by the end of the week.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Tom


Monday, April 30, 2012 - Changing Direction a Little

I'm having a bit of a quandary this week. I have this new album and am still excited by it, but I find myself unsure of how to promote it best. I had had hoped to set up a series of house concerts this year, but I haven't been able to figure out how to generate enough interest yet. I still think its a good idea because it puts music in an ideal environment for both the audience and the musician - a comfortable atmosphere and really good sound in an intimate setting, but it means either going into an established house concert market or trying to establishing one for myself. And then of course I have to free up my schedule enough to go on the road for at least a couple weeks at a time. That's easier in concept than practice. I have a lot of gigs during the week, and we have older pets who require medications and special care. So you can see that I may have to promote this album more locally until I can figure a way to change our situation. That's okay, it just means a change in direction and a bit of thought to make it happen. And you thought the music business was easy!  Hey, I love being a part of it, but it ain't easy!

So meanwhile I have this crazy summer rushing toward me with all kinds of events set up, so I'd better focus a bit and get to it.

So what's up this week? I have another Friday off for now, but that's okay.

Saturday I'm back at the La Veta Inn 6-9. I had some wonderful folks again, mostly from Denver, at the Inn last weekend. I continue to be so lucky that folks respond so well to what I do. I'm just hanging on by my fingernails some days, and yet the moment happens and something truly great happens between people. That happens quite a bit at the La Veta Inn. I swear it's in the land. That's what I wrote about in that song on my recent album - "Playing in the Land of Volcanoes." Come on out if you can this Saturday.

Sunday I'm back to brunch at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City 10-1. We're gearing up for Mothers Day, but we're there every week, so come out this week if you want to miss the rush. Or make a reservation for Mothers Day and join in the fun!

I'd better run. I'm getting my little car serviced this morning, and it's probably almost done.

Best,

Tom


Monday, April 23, 2012 - Beautiful Spring!

I hope you're enjoying the spring as much as I am.  As I travel around southern Colorado I'm loving the greening up of the fields and meadows.  And occasionally there are touches of color as flowers begin to bloom and trees burst in spring blossoms.  It's beautiful, and I'm glad to get to see it.  Of course it also means a lot of work tending to the grass, digging up sprinkler leaks, and cutting down dead limbs and trees, but it's all part of the grand circle we're part of, and that makes it all worthwhile.  I just have to find time to do it all.

Speaking of time, I've been busting my butt trying to finish the Song of Pueblo album, and I just got the proofs back a few minutes ago.  They look great, and I'm anxious for you to see and hear this project!  We have a little mastering left to do with some new software, and then it's off to the presses to finish it up.  We will have the official album-release party in June it looks like now.  (We had to put off our May release party due to a scheduling mixup.)  So I'll let you know when that will be and how to sign up.  We're going to have a grand party featuring some special performances and a lot of kibitzing with yours truly and the band and supporters.  It should be a blast!

And then it's about time to take a big breath and dive into the summer season.  I'll give you a big rundown in an upcoming email.

But for now here's what's going on in my world this week.

Friday night I'm taking off.  Hey, I've got to find time to at least do laundry once in a while.

Saturday 6-9 I'm back at the La Veta Inn.  I had a great bunch of folks last week, and it was a really wonderful time!  I treasure these moments with old and new friends.  Come on out if you're down south!

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  I got to see some friends I haven't seen in years this last week, and it was great catching up.  I really have fine-tuned the sound there now, and I had a really good time exploring some old favorites with new vigor.  I wish you all could have been there.  Well, come out this week and we'll re-create it!

So that's all for now.  I hope you all have a great week!

Tom


Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - Crazy Weather (AGAIN!)

I hate to talk about the weather so much, but it has been so crazy again that it is always on my mind.  Saturday night in La Veta the snow was coming down hard and straight sideways, and then the sun was shining 20 minutes later.  And the wind.  Ugh, the wind!  I think we should live in an underground house so we can't hear the wind.  It's just amazing how it gets inside you.

But enough about the wind and weather.  I just booked a really fun gig for August.  I'll be doing a concert/dance at UpTop on La Veta Pass August 3rd.  I've played this great spot a couple of times with Drive, and I'm excited to get to play this solo this time.  If you've never seen it, UpTop is on the old La Veta Pass road, and it is the old town buildings and dance hall from the '50s that used to really cook (and still does on special occasions!)  It's a great place to visit and also to have a fun event like this.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'll have more details as the date approaches.

I have several more fun things brewing, but now let's focus on this week.

Friday 7-10 I have my last outing before the summer at Magpies in Pueblo.  This promises to be a good time as we wrap up another fun season "down under."  Magpies has been a wonderful home for me in Pueblo for many years, and I always get a little wistful when when we part for the summer.  Come on out!

Saturday 6-9 I'm back at the La Veta Inn in La Veta.  I never get over how nice the folks are to me down there.  There's just something in the water and in the psyche that meshes with my music perfectly.  I also had a really fun photo shoot with an old friend from college down there last week, and I'll be showing off the photos as they come in on FaceBook and my website.

Sunday 10-1 I'll be playing for brunch at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Canon City.  I've touted the great food and views several times, and now that I've settled in it's become a really sweet place to be in every way.  The acoustics are great for me, the food and service are great for the diners, and all around it is just a special time each Sunday.  I hope you can experience it soon.

That's it for this week.  Hope to see you soon!

Tom


Monday, April 9, 2012 - Sounding Good on Coffee

Just got done with a busy Easter weekend with too little sleep, and you know what? Coffee not only makes you sharp, it also warms up your throat and makes your pipes sound smoother. Not that I want to become a javaholic, but it's good to know. The world is just full of surprises. Seriously, it was a fun weekend with some great folks. Thanks for coming out!

I get to do a photo shoot this week with an old friend from college who does some wonderful photography. It's great to have friends with so much talent!

We're almost done with the Song of Pueblo album. Just a couple more details and we'll submit it to be pressed and uploaded to iTunes and all the other download services. It's pretty exciting.

So where am I this playing this week?

Saturday I'm back at the La Veta Inn 6-9 for my weekly visit with the folks of La Veta. Last week the crowd was really wonderful. I've said it before, but I always like playing there.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch again 10-1. I'm starting to establish a nice rapport with the regulars now, and I'm enjoying it. If you're in the area, stop by.

I'd better run.

Tom


Monday, April 2, 2012 - Dang Wind!

Whoa! This wind is unbelievable!  I have a running song in my head that I need to finish about the wind being a monster that prowls the land.  If you saw our patio furniture and dog beds thrown around the yard today you'd know what I mean.  I can see why it drove the pioneers crazy.  Luckily I didn't have to be out in it much today.  Hopefully you didn't have to either if you're in southern Colorado.

So what's been happening?

Well, I've been working on finishing the album for the Song of Pueblo.  The recording is finished other than the mastering now, and the layout is pretty far along.  We just need to agree on the fonts and pictures and colors and we can send the project off to be duplicated and posted to iTunes and the like.  It's excited to be on the cusp of a new release.

I have a bunch of other stuff I need to get back to.  Taxes took me a couple weeks of hard work and was mostly done last week, so with that out of the way I can go back to making videos of the songs off "Songwriter", and then finish booking the summer and getting everything in shape for the busy season.

So where am I playing this week?

Friday I'm at Magpies 7-10.  I alway enjoy Magpies and you good folks who come down to see me.  This is our last month until last fall, so if you've been meaning to make it down you have two more times before summer.  The food is always good, and there's something special about that old subterranean spot that's always been a home to me - from the Savoy to Magpies.

Saturday I'm at the La Veta Inn in La Veta 6-9.  I had some really great folks out last week, so I'm really looking forward to it again this week.  If you've never been, then come on out!

Sunday I'm playing Easter brunch (Happy Easter BTW!) at Shadow Hills in Canon City 9-2.  If you're interested in coming to Easter brunch then get a reservation in ASAP.  It's just about full.  719-275-0603

That's it for this week.  Thanks to everybody who came out last week - especially the Thursday night online concert.  It was a blast!

Best,

Tom


Monday, March 26, 2012 - Turn Down the Heat!

I'm feeling a little groggy this morning as I write you from lack of sleep.  It was just so hot yesterday that the house never really cooled down by nightfall and it was hard to sleep last night.  We even had a fan on like it was summertime.  I love when warmer weather rolls around, but March is too early!  But we soldier on, don't we?  And now I hear the wind beginning to wail again in the trees and the joists of this old house, so weather again will creep into my thoughts today.  Having grown up some of my childhood in the tornado-ridden lands of Nebraska, I still get a little chill when I hear a good gust.  But enough about the weather.  It's spring and it's great to be alive!

I'm still working on summer bookings and Song of Pueblo, and I've been writing with my friend Don Richmond this spring. One song is about pioneers crossing the plains, while another is a cool idea Don got while on a rafting trip last year. I can't give it away yet, but it's fun. But onto this week's adventures.

I have a bunch on my plate this week.

Thursday I'll be doing an online UStream concert from 7 to 8 Mountain Time again. I really enjoy these as it gives me a chance to play for old and new friends around the world. The quality is amazingly good - both video and especially audio. There's a chat as part of the UStream service so folks can interact with me and each other. The chat sometimes doesn't work so well, but it's getting better. Come on by if you get a chance - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.

Friday 5:30-8:30 I'll be at Shadow Hills for dinner for the first time. The folks have been so good to me up there so far, and I really like the room and the people. Come on up if you get the chance. Directions at the end of this email.

Saturday I'm at the La Veta Inn 6-9. I had some wonderful folks over last weekend again, and the new chef made some wonderful walleye and hush puppies that was really tasty.

Sunday I'm also at Shadow Hills 10-1 for brunch. Some of you on my email list came up last week, and I really appreciate it. It was a nice day with some great green chile and omelets. I hope you can make it again soon.

I'd better get moving. Taxes are finally done, but there's everything else that was on hold while taxes were in progress.

Best,

Tom


Monday, March 19, 2012 - Recovering From Irish Fever

Well, the Irish storm has passed, and I'm getting back to my regular mostly-non-Irish existence.  I've had corned-beef, cabbage and potatoes three or four times this week, and I've had some dark Irish beer and even some Irish whiskey, so I think I did my Irish forebears proud.  I've also played every jig I know and every beautiful and sad ballad, so it's time to get back to a little folksy music and normal fare.  It's great to sample another life and culture, and knowing that some of my ancestors came from the Isle of Green, I'm very proud to celebrate that tradition and fine life.

I need to do another online UStream if anyone would like that.  I have a few songs to share, and a few stories, so it feels like it's time again.  Let me know if you'd like another concert.  You can view the past concerts anytime at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.  I think I finally have the audio and video dialed in so that it looks and sounds good.

I'm also working towards my next album even though I'm in the middle of promoting my current one.  I'm thinking of an all-instrumental album next.  I have at least a half dozen songs ready now and several more ideas started, so that sounds like something that will expand my repertoire in a good way.

I'm also working towards having all the songs off my current album on YouTube.  If you haven't seen them yet, "The Sky Is Blue" is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBW3gqX9Fyw and "We Build the Ships" is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PiQIposdDM.  There are other resolutions on YouTube that you can find with a quick search for my name.

Lastly I'm also close to being finished with the Song of Pueblo album that I've been working on with Johnny Watson and Juan Espinosa and the rest of the El Pueblo Ensemble.  It's sounding very good, and we're hoping to have it ready for an album-release party on April 27.  I'll give more details soon.

So enough rambling, where am I this week?

Saturday 6-9 I'm back at the La Veta Inn in La Veta.  The Inn sold a bunch of Living Social and Groupon deals throughout the winter, and the rooms are full with nice folks who seem to love my music, so I'm very happy to play for these folks and anyone else who ventures into this rustic and beautiful inn.  The food is great under the new chef, Toby, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.  Make sure you call for a reservation if you want to sit in the dining room - 719-742-3700.  You can also hear me just fine in the lobby or in the bar.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills Golf Course 10-1 in Cañon City for Sunday brunch.  They have a new sign up at the entrance so it's a little easier to see where to go now, and the folks have really been responding to my music and enjoying the food and beautiful views.  Please come out if you're a brunch-type person, and who isn't!

That's all for this week.  More to come!  Life is good!

Tom


Monday, March 12, 2012 - Slainte to You!

Well, it's Saint Patrick's Day this Saturday, and I think I told you we found out that we're Irish this year.  I've loved Irish music more and more as I age, and I asked my mother last year if she was sure we didn't have any Irish ancestry.  She has done extensive genealogy on our family, so when she said we didn't have Irish ancestry in past years I took it to be true, but last year she said we might have an Irish ancestor.  Turns out she just found out that indeed we do.  So I have a blood-reason to love Irish music now, and I can proudly eat my corned beef and cabbage and taters with the knowledge that way-back-when I had an ancestor who probably did the same.  So you'll forgive me if I shout a healthy "Slainte!" ("To Your Health!") this week as I play a few jigs and beautiful ballads from the Isle of Green.  I won't go overboard, but I cherish my heritage.

So what does this week hold?

Friday night 7-10 I'm back at Magpies down-under for some good friends, good food, and a wee bit of Irish music mixed in with our usual folk and oldies fare.  I always have a great time at Magpies, and I look forward to seeing old friends and new friends alike.  Note the time change - we'll start at 7:00 now that the sun is going down an hour later.  How did that happen? ;-)

Saturday night I was to be at the La Veta Inn, but they booked a private party for the whole place, so I'll be free-wheeling and enjoying my corned beef and cabbage with my lovely wife wherever we end up that night.

Sunday I'll be in Cañon City at Shadow Hills Golf Course 10-1 for Sunday brunch.  I've told you how cool this place is and how much it feels like the Pueblo West Inn of yore, but you really have to see it for yourself.  The food is wonderful (I had a breakfast casserole with potatoes and green chile that knocked me out!)  The views (especially last week with clouds and snow on the mountains overlooking the piñon pines) are really special, and the acoustics are just right for my music, so come on out if you have some free time on Sunday for an outing and a good meal.  Directions below.

That's it for this week.  I'm working on all kinds of things for the summer, and I should have a new video up soon.  I'll probably be doing another online concert soon too.

Best,

Tom


Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - Blustery Days!

Hope you've been able to stay battened down with all this wind.  Since I've been running down south quite a bit on I25 into the wind tunnel that is the area south of Colorado City I've been thinking of putting a sail on my little car to save on gas.  I can see why the pioneers went crazy when the wind blew and didn't stop.  But as spring blows in I start to think of all the pretty things spring brings (say that fast), and I look forward to all the changes to come.  Just stay glued down if you can for a few more weeks.

I posted my new video of "We Build the Ships" last week.  I'm very excited about it!  Please have a look and a listen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PiQIposdDM

I'm taking off La Veta Inn this week and will only have one public gig - Sunday brunch 10-1 at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Canon City.  It's becoming a very nice place to play on Sundays, and quite a few of you have come out to sample the food and fine views.  The brunch actually runs from 9-1, and I sometimes start early for those who arrive before 10.  If you haven't made it yet, I won't give you the long spiel of how it's so much like the Pueblo West Inn with the food and views and all, but please consider yourself invited to join me.

Directions to Shadow Hills:
Go south on 9th Street from the main light in Cañon City to the bend in the road and turn right on Elm by the cemetery.  Then it's just one block on Elm before it veers/turns and becomes Oak Creek Grade.  Twist through a few turns and come over a hill and you'll see the restaurant and club house on your left across the golf course. Then turn left into the drive and up to the main stucco two-story building.  The restaurant is upstairs to your right or take the elevator straight ahead.

Hope to see you!

Tom


Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - New Video Almost Finished

Hope this note finds you well. I'm rolling through this late winter trying to make some videos for the songs on my new album and get the summer all lined up. I'm almost done with the video for "We Build the Ships", the song I wrote about the Percy and Small shipyard at the Maine Maritime Museum. The museum gave me some wonderful old photos to use of ships and the builders. You may remember that originally they were going to build the video, but they ended up asking me to make it after seeing the video for "The Sky Is Blue." I'm very honored to earn their trust enough to make this video, and I'll send you a link when it's posted and ready to view. I may end up traveling out to Maine this year again to perform at the museum. This is their 50th anniversary at the museum, and it would be a blast to help them with their celebration!

I'm suddenly playing a lot this late winter, and it's tough to keep up sometimes, but I keep trying! I'm riding the wave.

So what am I up to this week?

Friday 6-9 I'm back at Magpies. I always enjoy the atmosphere and the audience at Magpies. We have something pretty special going on, and I'm happy to be there. So last time I tried doing some themes throughout the night. It went pretty well.  We mostly did different artists through the evening, and it seems we ended up in the '70s a lot of the time. That's fine by me.  So I'm not sure where we'll go this week. Come on out and see. It'll be fun no matter what!

Saturday 6-9 I'm back at the La Veta Inn. We started these appearances to be a sort of house concert, but it's ended up working better in the restaurant and bar, so if you come I'll be in a prime spot in the restaurant. The crowds down there are so warm and genuine that's it's always a treat to play for them. They have a new chef named Toby, and his cooking is exquisite. Come on down and taste!

Sunday 10-1 I'm back at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Cañon City. Last week was really fun! I had several folks come up from Pueblo, and it was kind of like old home week. I've said it before, but this is as close to the Pueblo West Inn as I've been in 13 years - the food, the views, the people. If you miss those days, then you really need to come up for brunch at Shadow Hills! I'll put directions below.

So I'd better not get too windy here. Come on out if you can. I love to play for you!

Tom


Monday, February 20, 2012 - Sleepy Day

I'm having one of those sleepy days.  I've been gigging more night gigs the last couple weeks, and it's catching up with me.  My voice is a bit hoarse and I'm feeling sleepy.  I have three gigs today, so I'm not getting a down day.  I'm not complaining - it's always good to have work, but I'm dragging more than usual.  The weird part is that it puts me in an interesting mood.  It's kind of like when I've been to conferences where I don't get enough sleep and I function in a different mind-state - kind of half in a dream and also more in touch with my emotions and more able to connect with the deep parts of songs.  It's something that's kind of fun to participate in for a short time.  My morning gig today - playing for patients in a rehab facility - made me more reflective and made me choose songs that elicited more emotion from my patients.  I think that's a good thing.  I'm thankful for all of it, so I just wanted to share it with you.

So what am I up to this week?  Well, I have a couple gigs and I'm also trying to find good ways to promote my new album.  I put up a video on YouTube last week of the song I wrote on September 12th of this last year with my friend Don Richmond, "The Sky Is Blue".  I found a great archive of photos online that was free to use and had some wonderful photos of people and reflective scenes that I think is just perfect to express the emotions of this song.  You can have a listen and watch it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBW3gqX9Fyw.  I'm also working on a video for the Maine Maritime Museum of my song "We Build the Ships" using the museum's historic photos.  More on that as it comes along.  I have a few more people interested in doing house concerts, and so I'm pursuing that, and I also plan on doing another online UStream concert soon.  I only have a couple new gigs for the summer, but that is coming along nicely.  Also, the Song of Pueblo is shaping up to be wonderful this year with quite a few changes in addition to the new album we'll be releasing at the end of April.  More on that to come as well.

So here are the gigs this week.

Saturday I'm back at the La Veta Inn 7-9.  We've been toying with making this evening a house-concert type of show, but it hasn't quite worked out that way these past couple of weeks.  So this week I know I'll be there, but I'm not sure if I'll be playing on the stage in the back or in the restaurant at the front.  If you come out it'll be a good surprise either way, and the food and folks down there are the best!

Sunday I'll be back at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Canon City for Sunday brunch 10-1.  I told you a lot about Shadow Hills last week, and I'll reiterate that it's the best of what the Pueblo West Inn brunches were like in our heyday.  It's a wonderful atmosphere with windows and sweeping views of the mountains.  The food is cooked by James from the Pueblo West Inn and his brother, so it's a double-dose of the food that was so good at the Inn. I have a prime spot in a corner surveying the beautiful high-ceilinged room and diners and enjoying the great acoustics.  So please come out for a little reminiscence and some great food!

Until then, all the best always,

Tom


Monday, February 13, 2012 - Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you have some wonderful plans for Valentine's Day.  I've been singing love songs for the past two weeks and enjoying it.  Is there anything like love (other than Homegrown Tomatoes?)  I'll never tire of it.  I'm taking the night off to have dinner with my sweetie, but there are plenty of places to go out and enjoy the evening.  I hope you do!

Things are plugging right along.  I had scheduled a songwriting day in Alamosa today, but the roads were a little dicey this morning, so Don and I put that off for a few weeks.  I'm striving to keep the creativity flowing now that I've got it back in my life, so getting together to write and record is paramount in my life.  I started up a new venue last week that I emailed you about last week - Shadow Hills Golf Course.  The first brunch went really well with a lot of folks coming out.  The food was just like the Pueblo West Inn brunch which is no surprise since the cook, James Tracy, was also the cook at the Inn when I was there.  It was like eating at home!  The first concert at the La Veta Inn last Saturday also went pretty well.  We had some first-time jockeying to do, and this is kind of a work-in-progress, so I expect to make it better and better as we go.  Otherwise I am loving life and trying to keep up!

So what's up this week?

Friday 6-9 I'm back at Magpies for a fun evening "down under".  I haven't decided what kind of music to do, but I'm toying with something different - mixed in with my new music, of course.  Maybe we'll do a John Denver hour or Dan Fogelberg hour.  I think it would kind of fun to jump around that way.  Any ideas for something you'd like to hear that way?

Saturday 7-9 I'll be playing the second concert at the La Veta Inn.  The folks last week were really good to me, and I tend to do my own music mixed with southwestern favorites and western tunes in La Veta.  They've freshly painted the stage, and we're going to try some interesting lighting and possibly some slides and video while I'm performing, so it will get very interesting going forward.

Sunday 10-1 I'll be playing for the brunch at Shadow Hills Golf Course in Canon City.  As I said, the food is really special and tastes as good as you may remember at the Pueblo West Inn.  It kind of felt like a reunion of the Inn brunches last week (a little deja vu too) with some friends I haven't seen since the days of the Inn.  It's a great price at just $10.95, and features all kinds of goodies - mimosas, omelet and waffle station, desserts, and more.  I have a great spot to play, and there are great views of the mountains.  If you've never been, it's located on Oak Creek Grade just a mile or so south of Elm Avenue.  I go south on 9th Street from the main light in Canon City to the bend in the road where I turn right on Elm by the cemetery.  Then it's just one block on Elm before it veers left and becomes Oak Creek Grade.  Come over the hill and you'll see the restaurant and club house on your left across the golf course and turn left into the drive.  The restaurant is upstairs or take the elevator.

I hope to see you this week!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Tom


Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - Got to be on the radio last night

Hope your winter is going well.  It's been a little cold and snowy lately, so it feels a lot more like winter here in southern Colorado now.  It's winter, so we can't expect beautiful weather all the time, and you know the contrast of weather is what makes us appreciate the good days.  (The inclement days are better for us photographers too.)

I've added some new folks to my mailing list, so if you're getting this for the first time, this is a mailer that I send out whenever I have an event or some news to share.  If you'd rather not receive it, please just reply and ask me to take you off.  I won't be offended.

So what event or news am I sharing today?

First, I'll be starting a series of concerts at the La Veta Inn in La Veta, CO, this Saturday night.  This is going to be kind of like a house concert in that it will be semi-private with a suggested donation if you want to attend the show.  It's part of a winter promotion in the off-season for the Inn, and it will be fun to a part of it.  The Inn has a wonderful back room with a stage that is really inviting and has great acoustics.  I've had some very memorable nights playing there, and I expect we're going to have many more.  The show starts at 7:15 so that folks having dinner can come early to eat and then come to the concert.  I'll play until 8:45 or 9:00, depending on the crowd, and I'll be playing songs from my albums - especially the new one, "Songwriter".  You can call the Inn for dinner reservations at 719-742-3700.

Second, I've finished a completely new website with all kinds of new content and pictures.  You can listen to clips of my music and buy it from the homepage.  I have a new blog and also info about house concerts and the Song of Pueblo oratorio.  There's a "News" section with all kinds of fun things that have been happening for me including my music being played on the radio on the Beat Infusion show on AM 690 and FM 100.3.  See my website for details - http://tommunch.com

Third, I have all kinds of new bookings for the summer including a concert at the Feed Store Amphitheater in Westcliffe, CO, on Fathers Day - June 17.  I'm excited about this and am setting up more interesting venues, so stay tuned.

I hope to see you or hear from you soon!

Best,

Tom


Monday, January 30, 2012 - A lot going on this week

Life is getting crazy all of a sudden.  I'm in the midst of starting to promote my new album, and things are starting to fall in my lap.  That's a good thing, but it still means a bit of scrambling on my part to keep up.  We do have a couple of sick pets around the house too, so throw in a bit of caregiving and things get a little hectic.  It's just life as all know.  Exciting, isn't it?  I'm glad to be part of it!

So what's falling in my lap?

La Veta Concerts
First of all I've been offered to be part of a concert series at the La Veta Inn in La Veta, CO.  This is a promotional vehicle for the Inn as part of a mid-week package of room and meals, but the public is also welcome.  We're aiming at doing this on a weekly basis on Wednesday nights from 7:45 to 9:00, and the cost is $9 per person or $15 per couple.  I don't have to tell you that it's also a great opportunity for me to be part of this since I'll be part of all the promotional material that goes out.  We start the first week of February - this week!  And we may also do some concerts on the weekends too as part of this.  I'll let you know as this takes shape.

Summer Bookings
Second I've already scheduled a whole bunch of things for this summer from Yellow Pine barbecues to rafting concerts for the Blue Sky Adventures group and many special events like the Royal Gorge and the Concert in the Park in Canon City.  And I'm just getting started.  I'm hoping to book some house concerts and festivals as well.  Stay tuned for that.

Magpies
And this week I'm officially celebrating the completion of my "Songwriter" album in Pueblo at Magpies this Friday.  I'll be doing songs from the album and sharing how we wrote and recorded them.  This was such a joyful experience that I'm really looking forward to sharing it with you!  Of course you can purchase one and I'll be happy to sign it.  We may do some special food and drink, so it will be a very festive and memorable night!  Please come help me celebrate what I hope is a strong rebirth of my creativity!

That's it for this week!  Be well and please come out and see me if you can.

Best,

Tom