Monday, April 18, 2016

The Little Things

I was walking down the hall and marveling at the turquoise color on one of our cabinets, and it struck me again how much I love the little things in life. Beautiful colors and rich textures and golden light - those and so many more simple things just reach out and grab me. Maybe I'm just simple (and maybe that's okay), but I've always been thrilled at the world around me - even if it was just the shine dancing on the water or the roughness of a pebble. I forget to let these things remind me how much I love this life. Sharing joy and love and music are three key ingredients to enjoying life, and these spill right out of the little things all around us. Enjoy!

What happened last week?

Last week was Song of Pueblo all week - rehearsals and then great shows. Thursday we did 3 1-hour shows for schools and seniors, and we were thrilled at the response that even the littlest gave - here's to historically inspiring the young (and old). Then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were full shows for wonderful groups of friends from today and yesterday that really gave us a workout. The dancers were outstanding, and except for me forgetting to introduce the band on Sunday (D-oh!), the shows were stellar tributes to Pueblo and the area.

What's up this week?

I'm playing Friday for a fun event in La Veta at Sammie's that we're calling "No Jelly, Just Jam" that is sure to be a good time. This is a band of mostly La Veta musicians put together to play for the Spanish Peaks Music Festival in July that will be playing some warm-up gigs in La Veta to have fun, give us some practice, and generate enthusiasm for the festival. If you're in La Veta Friday, we promise you a "Jammin'" good time of rock and country tunes.

That's it for this week. I'll be off next weekend getting ready for my album-release party at Magpies May 6th and spending more time in Nebraska on my mom's house.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch playing with Jason White, George Galvan, Cass Cruz, Trudy Price, and Dennis Mills
What: No Jelly, Just Jam - playing music to dance to and enjoy
Where:  Sammie's in La Veta - just northeast of the tracks on the highway into town
When:  Friday, April 22, 7-10

Monday, April 11, 2016

Music Is My Magic Refuge

I just realized (again) that I use music as a refuge when I feel wrapped up in the world and its problems. Music does so much for me - from both sides - playing and listening. It really does seem like it has magic beyond what seems imaginable. The main thing it does for me is to give me a playground where I not only escape for the moment, but also get to experiment with rhythm and pitch and intensity. It lets me plug myself into a storyline with emotions that I have the opportunity to express and present to the listener and to myself. There is a whole world within a song and the elements that comprise it, and that world is amazing to be a part of. I count myself lucky every time I pick up a guitar or turn on my music player.

What have I been up to?

Magpies two weeks ago was great fun! I ended up playing a variety of songs since I hadn't announced any theme. It was quite an exploration.

Song of Pueblo with Daniel Valdez was fun as well - playing for the senior class of Chavez Huerta High School and their staff and supporters.

What's up this week?

This week we perform the Song of Pueblo multiple times at the great Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We have been doing a lot of rehearsing with the dance instructors from the Arts Center and also the dancers from Grupo Folklorico, and have made some really beautiful changes with full lighting and new video and stills with the addition of the dancers, and I'd love for you to see it. Thursday we do three "Nutshell" one-hour condensed shows for students and seniors at 9:00, 10:30, and 12:00. This is a great opportunity to see a healthy taste of the show for only $5, and there are still tickets available as well as possible seats for walkups at the shows. Friday we do an evening show at 7:30, then Saturday a matinee at 2:00, and Sunday a matinee at 2:00. Prices for the full show are $25 ($20 for Arts Center members). We are so looking forward to this series of shows, and we'd love to see you there!

That's it for this week. Remember that my album-release party for my new "Guitar" album will be May 6th at Magpies!

Best,

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch with Johnny Watson, David Enke, and Alan Polivka
What: playing and singing the Song of Pueblo oratorio
Where: Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N Santa Fe, Pueblo, CO 719-295-7200
When: Thursday, April 14, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00pm "Nutshell", $5
Friday, April 15, 7:30 pm, Saturday, April 16, 2:00 pm, Sunday, April 17, 2:00 pm, $25 ($20 for Arts Center members)