Turning Everything Off / Magpies this Friday

I’m finding this morning that I can’t focus as easily as I usually do.  One of the things I like to do is listen to podcasts or books on a bluetooth headset paired with my phone while I’m exercising and doing my daily routine.  I try to find things that are educational or otherwise brain-stimulating so that they help me to keep sharp, but I also find that the continuous undercurrent of words can pull me under or give me a little angst when I need to slow down and dig deep.  I just turned off a podcast, and so I’m feeling this as I try to write this morning.  There’s been a lot of talk lately about shutting off devices where we get continuous notifications of updates and messages, and this is a concern for me as well (although you’d be surprised at how little of that I actually get).  I know that some people meditate or do other solitary things to gain perspective.  Music can do that for me sometimes - both listening and playing.  I think even a good run/walk or a shower can do that - there’s good physical stimulation and solitary stillness involved.  Turning off and listening to that stillness within can be very gratifying.  I just did a little and came back to writing - a bit of a stretch, a close of the eyes, and a little breathing, and I’m back to center.  Ahhh…

So what have the past two weeks been like?

St. Patrick’s Day was a blast.  I think I got the Irish out of my system for the year, but I have to say that a lot of songs are sticking with me as I move on.  There’s such passion in those songs!  Magpies was a great time again.  I did the mix I talked about doing - Jimmy Buffet, Beach Boys, John Denver.  It was actually a little weird.  We drifted onto other things as the night progressed.  Then I played a friend’s mother’s funeral last Friday which I’m always honored to do, and they requested a newer song which I really enjoyed getting to know - “Dancing in the Sky”.  It’s an honest take on loss and reflection on the afterlife that I really appreciated.

I’m also booking more for the summer.  I just found out that I’ll be back at the Yellow Pine Guest Ranch in Cuchara for the Thursday-night barbeque mid-June through mid-August.  I’m working on some dates for 8 Mile Grill by the Royal Gorge too, and I’m working on a big reunion the first weekend in October in Iowa for Philmont friends.  And there’s more - stay tuned!

What’s up this week?

Friday I’m back at Magpies.  This will probably be the next-to-last time at Magpies for the season, so come on out if you can!  I haven’t made a plan for what music to do yet, but I think I’m leaning towards some mountain music as I look forward to getting into the mountains this summer.  Is anyone up for that?  Also I’m not playing anywhere for Easter - we have family plans, but I’m playing a lot of Easter and Spring music this week.

So that’s it for this week.  Thank you for reading and corresponding and being such supportive friends!

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, April 3, 7-10 pm

Getting to the Essence or Heart

I used to use a line in my publicity that talked about me having the ability to get to the heart of a song, and I have often wondered about that notion. What I meant in my publicity was that I liked to get to a bare representation of a song with just the melody and chords and the spirit of the song. We all have what we get out of a song, and I try to find this. I still try to, and I think looking at life in this way would reflect a kind of wisdom and distinction that we should all strive for. I have often seen situations where it was difficult to figure out what was going on - arguments between people or groups, or complex problems of building or failure, or maybe questions of logic and fallacy in a situation. The first thing this requires is making some distance and getting an overview or some perspective. The second requires reflection and drawing on previous experience and knowledge. Then it may require some research or questions. Finally you can make a comment or decision. Of course this all takes time and patience, and this is more rare nowadays, but I think it is important and worthwhile. What do you think? Is it worth getting to the heart of it?

Highlights from the past couple of weeks

Magpies was a lot of fun, although I tried to stick to what I talked about in my mailer as far as sticking to cowboy and comedy songs. It was a weird mix, to be sure, but we made the best of it, and I eventually broke away to requests and some crazy stuff. It's all good! I've also been playing a ton of Irish tunes to put people in the mood for St. Patrick's Day and bring out the Irish in me. It has been rest fun!

What's up this week?

Friday night I'm back at Magpies 7-10, and I just finished John Denver's autobiography, so I'm sure some of his songs will drift out of me. Other than that the better weather is putting me in the mind of fun outdoors music, so maybe a little Jimmy Buffet or the Beach Boys would be in order. I'm up for wherever the evening goes, so come on out and join in the energy of the music! We're sure to have some fun!

I just finished my taxes, so I'm up for a great week, and I hope you are too.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, March 20, 7-10 pm

Being Finished

I have a weird personal quirk I want to share with you that maybe you also have or have insight into. I'll give my philosophy about it as well. What is it? Well, I have this compelling desire to be finished with things. I mean, when I start a project or pretty much anything with a sequence of tasks I am always looking forward to when it's completed, almost as if once it is completed I will never have to return to it again. That makes sense when it's a big thing that I only do a few times in life like buying a house or taking a big trip, but I'm talking about things that I repeat every so often like washing clothes or trimming the weeds. Maybe it's sentimentality over doing things the "last time" - like the last time you used a certain pen or tool before you broke or lost it. Or maybe it has to do with wanting a sense of accomplishment and importance in completing a task. Or maybe it's fear of what comes next. Or maybe it's laziness that just wants to sit after completing a task. (Wow! There's a lot more to this than I expected when I broached this topic.) Maybe it's a lack of concentration or desire for work that requires keeping things organized and flowing - you know, just plain old fear of hard work. What do I really think? I think that I long for the peace that comes after completing a task, and I forget that the journey is sometimes as fulfilling as the destination. I also forget that the joys and little details in the experience can be even greater than the outcome. I wrote last week how the moment is so important. Funny how I come back around to this yet again. Ah, this life is sure interesting to figure out along the way! So how about you? Do you find a struggle within yourself with this same desire to be finished?

Highlights from the last couple weeks

Magpies was very fulfilling last time with some new faces and a bunch of '70's songs. It was definitely a little different than what I usually do at Magpies. And yet every time out is a little different as I go with the flow of the night and the folks who make it what it is. Music (and life) sure is fun!

What's up this week?

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10, and I'm thinking of doing something a little different again - maybe some cowboy songs or some comedy songs that I haven't done in a long time. Does that sound good? What would you like if you're coming? I'm always up for the good time we create together!

Better run. I just know it's going to snow again, and there's always so much to do.

Best,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, March 6, 7-10 pm