Monday, December 30, 2019

Happy New Year!

This is the time of year when we reminisce about the year gone by and gather our thoughts to plan for the new year. I’m doing just that. I can say that it’s mostly been a good year gone by. I played what I think were some pretty good gigs that meant a lot to me. Bistoro in Pueblo on first Fridays has gone very well and continues to grow.  My First-Sunday Online Living Room Concerts have been a real highlight that I continue to enjoy. I played Walters Brewery a few times in the winter and spring for some fun crowds. I played and wrote songs for Cuchara Chapel each month except during the summer which I thoroughly enjoyed and may use the songs for an upcoming album. I played a bunch of private parties throughout the year which were very enjoyable. I collaborated and recorded a few songs with a friend in Monument. I played a concert at the Bell Tower Cultural Center in Florence in the Spring. In April I got to do another “Crunch and Munch” concert with my friend Ken Saydak in La Veta at the Mercantile. I got to play a children’s dance recital in May. Weekly during the summer I played with bassist and singer Dennis Mills at the Royal Gorge Bridge and also at many private parties. In June I got to open for country star Anita Cochran. In the summer I was also back at the Yellow Pine for the weekly barbecue which was just plain wonderful. Summer also brought concerts at Lucy’s in La Veta, Cuchara Mountain Park, Red River Ski Area, Philmont Scout Ranch, Art in the Park in La Veta, Castle Rock First United Methodist Church, the La Veta Mercantile with singer-songwriter Daniel Market, and a couple house concerts. Fall brought more private appearances for folks like the Good Sam's and the Arts Center in Pueblo. I got to play in October in Denver at Swallow Hill for the final Chuck Pyle Tribute which was a great pleasure, and then I also got to play in Denver at the Littleton Museum in both October and December for different events. October also saw me back in the studio recording songs for an original album and also an old country album. I did a joint concert with the duo Close N Counter at the La Veta Mercantile. I also played in Del Norte at both the Windsor Hotel and Wildwood Sounds concert venue. December brought concerts at the  Bell Tower in Florence, a holiday concert with my friend Don Richmond at Society Hall in Alamosa, and a Christmas concert at the La Veta Mercantile. In addition to all these gigs I did my usual 50 senior facilities every month that I am so devoted to. I love these folks. So what will next year bring? To tell the truth I haven’t made a lot of plans. I like having some flexibility. I do know I’ll be back in the studio to finish up at least one album fairly quickly.  I also am booked again at Bistoro, at Cuchara Chapel, at the Bell Tower, at Francisco Fort in La Veta, at the Yellow Pine, hopefully at the Royal Gorge Bridge, at a few private parties - one that will take me to Nebraska, a few cool house concerts including a house concert tour in Texas in October and one in Colorado Springs in September, and of course I’ll continue my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concerts. I’ll book the La Veta Mercantile at least a couple times including another Christmas concert. It’s weird to look so far into the future when I like to live day by day, and there’s no way to know what each year will really bring. I continue to be positive and loving in everything I do. To me that’s the only way to live. It can be tough when fear is so prevalent in our culture and there are so many threats to happiness and peace. But in the words of the explorers  Lewis and Clark, “We proceeded on.” Life is good!

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What have I been up to?

I didn’t have any public gigs last week with the Christmas holiday. I got to see family and play a few Christmas shows for my senior facilities. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrated it.

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What am I up to this week?

Friday 6-9 I’m back at Bistoro for our first Friday dinner and music. I always say how much I enjoy these folks at this venue, and it is so true. I’ve met some wonderful new faces there, and I continue to look forward to it every time. Please come out if you can. It’s best to call ahead for a reservation - 719-696-9672.

Sunday 7-8:15 I have my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert, and I’m thinking of doing winter songs and standards this month. We’ve had a bit of cold and snow that is putting me in the mood for this. Of course I may change my mind if we have a warm week. Either way it’ll be fun, and I hope you’ll tune in - facebook.com/tom.munch.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you start the new year out well and have a safe celebration if you go out on New Year’s Eve.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  Bistoro, 109 Central Plaza, Pueblo. 719-696-9672
When:  Friday, January 3, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert from my living room
Where:  online at facebook.com/tom.munch
When:  Sunday, January 5, 7-8:15 pm MST

Monday, December 23, 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I’m just reaching out briefly to wish you a wonderful holiday. I have had one of the best holidays ever with wonderful family and friends and gatherings with so much cheer. We do have a sick kitty at the house who needs some care, but I’m hopeful we can nurse her back to health quickly. Happy Holidays to you wherever and however you celebrate!

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What have I been up to?

Saturday my show at the La Veta Mercantile was out of this world! It was just very special in every way. The whole evening came together to create one of the best concerts I’ve ever had. There was lots of singing along and so many smiles and warm hearts. Magical!

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What am I up to this week?

I don’t have any public gigs this week. I’m only taking Christmas Day off from my regular senior facilities, so Jen and I aren’t taking any extended time off this holiday. Next week I’ll have more to share, but for now I’ll be enjoying the holiday with family and my seniors.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you have the most wonderful holiday.

Best always,

Tom

Monday, December 16, 2019

Moments

I just finished up my show with Don Richmond doing Christmas songs at Society Hall in Alamosa, and I’m struck by how many moments are shining in my head from tonight. I have so many snapshots of certain beautiful spots in songs or spoken memories that light the evening. It represents to me how the moments in our lives are like little gems we keep in a special place in our minds to take out and look at as cherished memories. It’s a wonderful thing to have these, and I’m convinced that these are the reasons we live this life. Moments of joy and even pain are the stuff of our lives. Cherish them and live life to the fullest, my friends.

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What have I been up to?

Last Monday in the studio was very fruitful, and we’re having such a good time recording and arranging the songs. I’m anxious for folks to hear our efforts.

Wednesday our caroling got cancelled, but hopefully we can arrange something again.

Thursday my event for all the state representatives went really well. Actually my guitar pickup stopped working, and I had to use the extra mic I had brought. Life always keeps us on our toes. It all turned out okay though. These are wonderful folks.

Sunday my concert with Don Richmond in Alamosa was such a joy. As I wrote above, there are so many special moments with new faces and old friends that represent a wonderful night!

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What am I up to this week?

Saturday at 7:00 I’m playing a Christmas concert at La Veta Mercantile. The good folks of La Veta and Cuchara are very dear to me, and this evening promises to be a very special one with Christmas cheer and warm memories. Please come out if you can.

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That’s it for this week. If I don’t see you before Christmas, have a wonderful one and a happy new year! Find those special moments that will be the gems in your heart.

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a Christmas concert
Where:  La Veta Mercantile, 300 South Main Street, La Veta 719-742-3387
When:  Saturday, December 21, 7:00 pm

Monday, December 9, 2019

Make Room for the Magic

Loving this Christmas season and all the opportunities to play for so many folks, but I must admit that some years it’s tougher to bring on the magic feelings that the music and the season engenders. This year has brought more and less. I’ve found new songs and details of those songs for me that have made the spirit much more deep and rich. But I’ve also found it difficult to connect to some of the joy that old favorites used to bring to me. The new songs have been “The Wexford Carol” and “I Wonder as I Wander,” They both are haunting and ancient in their beautiful and wistful melodies. Check out Moira Smiley’s or Alison Krause’s version of the former, and check out Linda Ronstadt or John Jacob Niles’ version of the latter.  “The Wexford Carol” has a melody that goes back to the 12th century or before. John Jacob Niles discovered “I Wonder as I Wander” as a folklorist in the Appalachian mountains in the 1930s and wrote new verses to it. But as I said, I have lost some of the verve for the older favorites. I think it is just a lack of paying attention on my part to the words and melodies as I perform the old favorites. Yes, it’s possible to go through the motions sometimes on songs you know so well. I’ll slow down and give these songs their due in these next couple weeks. And this all relates to my concert this Sunday with my good friend Don Richmond because we’ll be performing his song ”Make Room for the Magic.” It talks about feeling humbug about the music and the season and opening ourselves up to the joy and meaning we all share at Christmas. I hope we all make room for the Magic this season. It is here and gone before we know it, and we can all use a little wonder and joy.

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What have I been up to?

Monday in the studio was very fruitful. I’m fleshing out the songs for the old country album with bass and some other lead instruments. It’s sounding good and I’m anxious for you to hear it.

Friday at Bistoro was a packed house with loads of Christmas cheer. Love those folks!

Saturday was the Christmas concert at the Bell Tower Cultural Center, and it was a really fun show. So many nice folks came out on a wonderful evening.

Sunday morning was a very nice chapel service where I got to sing a bunch of Christmas songs in Cuchara and see all the fine folks I’ve come to love up there.

Sunday evening was playing at the Littleton Museum for their Christmas evening on their beautiful and historic museum grounds. This is always a treat. There were some lovely folks out to help celebrate what turned into a beautiful evening.

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What am I up to this week?

Monday I’m back in the studio continuing to add tracks to my old country album. It’s really shaping up.

Wednesday I’m going caroling with a bunch of friends in downtown Pueblo. It’s nothing official, but it should be fun.

Thursday I’m playing for a group of state legislators that I play for annually. It’s always fun and very heartening to see the drive and sincerity these folks have for what they do.

Saturday I had a cancellation, so if anyway wants to throw a party I’m open.

Sunday night at 7:00 I’m in Alamosa at Society Hall to play a Christmas concert with my good friend Don Richmond. I’ve played Christmas music with Don several times, but this will be the first concert we’ve played of Christmas music in many years. And Society Hall is not just any venue. It’s a lovingly-restored concert hall that is perfect for acoustic music. I’m so looking forward to it. Don and I have some very special music planned, so I’ll hope you’ll come see us if you’re in the Alamosa area.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you are enjoying the season and feeling the magic wherever you are.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch and Don Richmond
What:  playing and singing a Christmas concert
Where:  Society Hall, 400 Ross Avenue, Alamosa. 719-937-2636
When:  Sunday, December 15, 7-9

Monday, December 2, 2019

Energy and Gumption

I’m beginning a crazy-busy month with lower than my normal energy, and I wanted to write about where energy comes from for me.  I’ve written before about the ways I try to maintain a positive outlook on life.  I try to look at simple things with wonder and gratitude.  I stop to look at the bigger picture instead of the little problems that pop up in my path.  I try to exercise regularly and eat things that don’t make me feel logy.  I fill my day with things that delight and inspire, and I try to avoid things that depress and dispirit me.  I try to give in every way I can - knowing that giving fills me in a way that is hard to explain.  I guess giving is like priming the pump of life - once it is flowing from me it opens me up to even more energy coming from the spirit of life all around me (kind of woo-woo, but it works.)  I am prone to feeling a little hopeless sometimes.  Aren’t we all?  When I was in college I would drive around town in the middle of the night.  In my later years I would get up and do a project.  Nowadays I have the whole arsenal above I mentioned to get me going in the right direction.  Ultimately I know everything will work out, and that is the final place I get energy.  How about you?  Do you have ways you give yourself some gumption and direction?

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What have I been up to?

Wednesday was the tree lighting and opening of ElectriCritters at the Pueblo Zoo, and it was cold but fun.  The highlight was singing all the Christmas songs for the first time this year. And I invited the zoo director Abbie Krause to sit in, which was a blast!  The display is gorgeous this year, and I really encourage you to go see all the beautiful sculptures and lights if you’re in the area.

Sunday night was my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert, and we did it from my brother and sister-in-law’s house in Pueblo.  Their house was decorated beautifully for the holiday, and they had lots of friends over to share the evening which made it extra special!

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What am I up to this week?

Monday I’m in the studio working on my “Back to the Old Country” album I wrote about last week.  It’s such a thrill working and creating in the studio, and I can’t wait to have you hear what I’m working on.

Friday 6-9 is First-Friday at Bistoro, and I’m looking forward to seeing my favorite Pueblo folks out for an evening of good food, drinks, and music.  Come on out if you’re in Pueblo.

Saturday 7-9 I’m doing a Christmas concert at the Bell Tower Cultural Center in Florence.  I really enjoy getting to play in this grand old church converted into an arts center.  The folks are wonderful, and the room is magic.

Sunday 10:30-11:30 I’m playing music for the Cuchara Chapel.  I so enjoy playing monthly for the folks of Cuchara all winter, and it being Christmastime I know that the service will be wonderful.  I just learned an old Christmas carol from Ireland called “The Wexford Carol” that I plan to sing for special music.  It’s a melody I’ve known for years and was delighted to find had words too. There’s a dandy version of it by Alison Krause and Yo-Yo Ma.

Sunday 5:30-8 I’m in Littleton to play for A Holiday’s Evening at the Littleton Museum.  This is always a fun event in Littleton with lots fo families and holiday cheer.  If you’re in the Denver area please consider coming out for some music, hot cider, and Christmas cheer outdoors by the old barn.  Bundle up. Even though there’s always a warm fire nearby, it still gets pretty chilly in the evening in Littleton.

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That’s it for this week.  I hope your Christmas season is starting out well, and I’d love to hear how you pump yourself up on a regular basis.  This life is an adventure and a journey, and sharing our thoughts and ideas is a big part of what makes it worthwhile.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  Bistoro, 109 Central Plaza, Pueblo. 719-696-9672
When:  Friday, December 6, 6-9 pm

Who: Tom Munch
What: playing a Christmas concert
Where: Bell Tower Cultural Center, 201 East Second Street, Florence. 719-784-2038
When: Saturday, December 7, 7-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, DecemberNovember 8, 10:30-11:30 am

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for A Holiday’s Evening at the Littleton Museum
Where:  Littleton Museum, 6028 S Gallup St, Littleton, CO, 303-795-3950
When:  Sunday, December 8, 5:30-8 pm