Running to Catch Up and a Few Changes

Whew!  This week is kicking me already, but I'm running full speed to catch up or stay ahead - I'm not sure which I'm doing so far.  The heat is causing part of it, and little changes in my calendar and conflicts in life are contributing too.  Nothing is bad though, and I know that a few bumps in the road just remind me how fortunate I am to have the life I have and friends and relations to love.  I've met so many interesting and genuine people over the past weeks and months, and I have to pinch myself often that I get to cross paths with so many worthwhile folks.  It's something that always amazes me.  People are so creative and resilient, and it drives my belief in humanity and the ways of love and life to be out in the world.  Life is good...life is good!

So what does this ruminating lead me to this week?  I have some interesting new bookings and gig changes coming up.

First, I'll be playing a concert July 15th from 8-10 at my old stomping grounds of Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.  I played at Philmont last year and had such a good time that I decided to ask for it again.  So I'm playing during a big staff reunion week and a 75th anniversary year that should be a blast!  Philmont meant so much to me when I was a teenager, and it has launched so many youths on exciting lives full of adventure and success, and it's a pleasure to get to connect with these past and future folks with whom I share so much - love of mountains, love of history, camaraderie of hiking and sharing campfires and good music.  I can't wait!  I'll tell you more as we get closer to the time.

Second I'll be playing fewer brunches at Shadow Hills.  They're going through some changes and have asked me to lighten their load a bit.  I'm not sure if it will affect their business, but I'm always the person to go with the flow and seek to be a benefit and not a hindrance, and so I'll be there basically every other week, but you can check my calendar or follow my blog posts to see when I'll be playing there.

Third, the Yellow Pine is starting a week later than I had originally stated which was this week on the 13th.  Instead we'll start next week on the 20th at 6:30.  Also they won't be doing a barbecue on the 4th of July which would be a Thursday that would fall into our normal schedule.  There's just too much going on in Cuchara that day.  So I may make a 4th of July run to the mountains or a visit to Philmont for the rodeo and all the folks who return to Philmont each year for an impromptu party.

That's probably enough changes for now.  Where am I this week?

Friday I'm back at the La Veta Inn 6-9 for what hopefully will be a wonderful night on the patio.  The last couple weeks have been beautiful nights under the stars with a fire in the outdoor fireplace and good friends to share music and stories with.  I hope you'll be part of the evening some night.

Sunday I'm at brunch at Shadow Hills 10-1 for Fathers Day.  There are so many great songs for Dad, and I can't wait to share them and some good food and beautiful views with the crowd at the View Restaurant.  Come on out!  And Happy Fathers Day!

That's it for this week.

Tom

Details:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  La Veta Inn, 103 W. Ryus Ave, La Veta.  719-742-3700
When:  Friday, June 14, 6-9 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, June 16, 10 am-1 pm

Times with Old Friends

I had an old friend visit this past week, and it reminded me how fast life passes by. I hadn't seen him in 33 years, and we picked up pretty quickly where we left off. It's amazing how many things change and how many stay the same. And it really made me think of the paths we choose and the paths that are chosen for us.  I've always been a "go-with-the-flow" kind of a guy, and that approach has led me to some more interesting places than I thought I would go.  I can't help but wonder what other places I would have seen if I would have been more aggressive in my career as well.  I guess we all do.  Anyway, as long as I'm making music and making people happy I think I've succeeded in my goals.

So this is a very busy week for me.  Let me tell you what I'm up to.

Friday I'm playing for the big Anniversary Party 6:30-7:15 at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo.  They have me on the Paseo overlooking the courtyard where the Festival Friday bands play, so if you're attending the event you will see me playing my little tunes on the balcony.

Saturday I'm playing the Boats, Bands, and Barbecue event in Pueblo 12-2 on the Acoustic Stage. I'm not exactly sure where this stage will be set up, but if you come to the main stage at Main and Alan Hamel I'm sure the Acoustic Stage will be somewhere close by. 

Saturday I'm also playing at the La Veta Inn 6-9. I've been getting wonderful folks in La Veta so far, and I always enjoy playing there - especially on the patio like we did last Friday. It's still a little chilly by 9:00, but we're tough right?

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1. I've missed the last two weeks there, so I'm anxious to see the staff and great regulars I enjoy so much. 

Come out to one of these venues if you can. I always love seeing you and getting to share memories and good times!

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch

What: playing and singing

Where: Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center on the Paseo, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo, CO

When: Friday, June 7, 6:30-7:15 pm

Who: Tom Munch 

What: playing and singing

Where: Boats, Bands, and Barbeque, Main and Alan Hamel, Pueblo, CO

When: Saturday, June 8, 12-2 pm

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing

Where:  La Veta Inn, 103 W. Ryus Ave, La Veta.  719-742-3700

When:  Saturday, June 8, 6-9 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, June 9, 10 am-1 pm

Feels like summer! Big concert this Sunday!

I'm coming off a weekend at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the Atomic Fireballs and also solo at the La Veta Inn to kick off my summer.  It was a big dose of summer all at once that kind of overwhelmed me. I'm bouncing back, but there's no denying that I hit the ground running last weekend. Sure, I used to do this and more 20 years ago, but there's something weird about doing this still in my fifties. I used to love to challenge myself to see how much I could take, playing eight-hours-a-day or more plus travel and setup time.  I loved revving myself up and seeing what limits I could break through.  (I think we're capable of a lot more than we think!)  Today I know that I'm in the best shape of my life with diet and exercise, but I still wonder if I'm crazy sometimes.  So my calendar has slowed down a bit overall since slowing seems more prudent, I value home-time, and I'm kind of a lazy booker, but I still love to go, go, go at times!

So where am I going this week?

Friday I'm back at the La Veta Inn 6-9.  I didn't set up on the patio last week since it was windy and the dust was flying when I arrived.  It turned out to be a beautiful evening though when the wind calmed down, so I guessed wrong.  I still had some wonderful folks in the restaurant and bar who were very kind and appreciative of my offerings.  I'm so lucky sometimes!  If you're in the area or want to take a drive on Friday, then come on down!  They have a new chef, and the charm is wonderful as always.

Sunday is a very special event.  I'm playing at the Feed Store Amphitheater and Park in Westcliffe at 2:00 as part of their summer concert series.  If you've never heard of the Feed Store, check out their website and particularly the video on the homepage that tells all about the Feed Store itself and the amphitheater - http://www.westcliffefeedstore.com.  This is an honor to play this venue, and I'm in some very good company with the other folks they're having this summer - Susan Gibson, Acoustic Eidolon, and Jimmy Stadler to name a few.  This will be a beautiful outdoor event with great views of the Sangre de Cristo range and the wonderful mountain air.  I'd recommend bringing a comfortable lawn chair although there are a number of chairs there as well if they're not all spoken for by the time you arrive.  They have refreshments, and you can walk around the park as well.  I'd love to have you there!

That's all for this week.  I hope you have a lovely start to your summer.

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  La Veta Inn, 103 W. Ryus Ave, La Veta.  719-742-3700
When:  Friday, May 31, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert in the mountains
Where:  The Feed Store Amphitheater, 116 North 2nd Street, Westcliffe.  719-783-2771
When:  Sunday, June 2, 2-5 pm

Annual Digging up sprinkler system / The summer begins!

I just spent the last three hours digging up the sprinkler system and repairing leaks and clogged heads.  It's an annual event around our place, and I would sure welcome a better option.  Burying up something so prone to failure seems crazy, and I have dreamed up several solutions involving putting the system in the fence or putting it in edging so it's easier to access and repair.  Hopefully I won't find another leak right away!

This is the first week of the summer season for me, and it brings so much excitement!  I'm hitting the ground running though, and hopefully I can keep up with the pace.  I've scaled it down a bit from past summers, so it shouldn't be too much trouble.  I need some new tires on my car though, and I'm still making sure I have enough batteries and CD's - and general energy!

So what's up this week?

Friday I start the season at the La Veta Inn 6-9.  I'm in hopes that the weather will be good enough to start out on the patio since it's so beautiful out there.  I know there have been some staff changes, and I'm anxious to meet everyone and see what the vibe is in La Veta this summer.  Come on out if you can!

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I'm at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the Atomic Fireballs 12:30-4:30. We'll be playing lots of fun music from old rock to country to blues.  We'll be on the south side of the bridge, so you'll either have to cross over or come up the back way (the south entrance is accessed three miles west of the main entrance.)  It's always a blast playing at the Gorge, and this is the first time I've played with the boys this year, so I'm really looking forward to it!

Of course Monday is Memorial Day, so I want to wish you a Happy Memorial Day, and I hope you get to spend it doing whatever you like to do - remembering loved ones as you barbecue or boat or fish or whatever you enjoy.

Best to you always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  La Veta Inn, 103 W. Ryus Ave, La Veta.  719-742-3700
When:  Friday, May 24, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch and the Atomic Fireballs
What:  playing and singing
Where:  South side of the Royal Gorge at the Royal Gorge Bridge
When:  Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 25, 26, and 27, 12:30-4:30 pm

Catching My Breath Before Summer

This is my last week before the summer season really starts to kick in, and I'm catching my breath and trying to visualize all the great gigs I have coming up.  I get to see old friends and meet new ones, and I get to play in some beautiful places.  This is always a time of going through my gear and making sure I have everything I need for the summer, shoring up the last gigs I've been working on, and thinking about the gigs I'd like for future summers.  I don't spend enough time planning and thinking on these kind of things, and I think that's important.  Here's a brief rundown of my summer.

Ongoing gigs include almost weekly appearances at the La Veta Inn starting next week, the Yellow Pine in Cuchara mid-June to mid-August, and my regular brunches at Shadow Hills.  Special gigs include Memorial Day weekend and the last weekend in July at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the Atomic Fireballs.  Also I'm doing the first Sunday in June in Westcliffe at the Feed Store amphitheater and the last Tuesday in Cañon City for the Concert in the Park series.  I'm playing for Boats, Bands and Barbeque the first weekend of June in Pueblo.  We have three performances of the Song of Pueblo oratorio (June, July, and August), and I'm doing a series of performances for Boy Scout groups at a rafting company at the Royal Gorge.  I'm playing with the band in Westcliffe for the Westcliffe Stampede dance in July as well as Gold Rush Days in Buena Vista in August.  Along with that there are several private parties, and I am still talking to Philmont, the St. James in Cimarron, and Little London in the Springs about playing.  And there are always surprises!  So I'll enjoy this last week of prep before the season starts in earnest for me.

I just have one public gig this week.  It's National Nursing Home Week, so I have a ton of private nursing gigs.

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  Last week was crazy there for Mothers Day.  I saw so many friends and families - I think we had over 250 people out for brunch.  I put remote speakers in every room.  This week will be a little quieter, and the last week before I take a couple off to play for Memorial Day weekend at the Gorge and the concert in Westcliffe.  Come on out if you can for some good friends, food, and a little music.

Hope you have a great week!

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, May 19, 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.

Funky weather and its effects

It's a grey day this morning out my window and a little bit chilly to start out.  Although I really like it when the year's weather doesn't get hot too quickly, I can't deny that it affects my state of mind when there isn't a bright morning sunrise to greet us.  That said, I love afternoon mountain showers and morning drizzle to sleep in to as well.  But some days you feel more fragile than others, and a little inclement weather can give you a noticeable bump in the road.  All the seasons of life and spirit are precious in their own way, and I shall cherish this and proceed on.

I've been ramping up for the summer season.  I finally got the first date confirmed for the Yellow Pine barbecue in Cuchara as Thursday, June 13.  If you've never been, it's a fun Texas-style barbecue each Thursday night in an old barn at the Yellow Pine Guest Ranch in Cuchara, CO, which has been in operation for several decades.  It's a really special place with great folks, the cool old barn, and my music - Texas style.  Quite often we have a bear sighting on the grounds during the evening, and sometimes we even do a little dancing as the night progresses.  It starts at 6:30 and goes until 8:30 or so, and you must make a reservation by Monday each week if you'd like to attend (719) 742-3528.  Sometimes it even books up the year before with returning guests!  I'm not sure what the price will be this year.  I'd love to have you if you can make it sometime.  You don't have to be a guest at the ranch, but it's a great place for a getaway if you'd like!

I have many more great places to be this summer, and I'll be sharing them as we draw nearer.

I only have one gig to tell you about this week - Mothers Day brunch at Shadow Hills.  We had to cancel brunch at the last minute last week due to illness and vacations of the cooks, but we'll be ready and raring to go again this week.  It's always a great time with some really good food and folks.  The time is 10-3, and they are taking reservations now at (719) 275-0603.  The price is $18.95 for adults.  (Correction for Mothers Day brunch. The price is $21.95.)  I'd love to see you there!

That's it for this week.  Best to you always!

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, May , 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.

Visit to Taos

Writing from Taos today (Monday, April 29). We're enjoying a couple days off and thought an overnight to Taos and the area would be a nice escape. I love seeing the country in the spring, although I have to tell you that it's very brown most places out here right now. I thought that we had gotten enough moisture recently to start greening things up, but that's not the case most of the places we've been. We still had fun walking around Taos and having some good food for lunch. Last evening we went to a CD-release for the duo Bittersweet Highway where my good friend Don Richmond was part of the band helping celebrate. It was a great time with some good music at the Taos Mesa Brewing Company. Taos has changed a bit since the last time I did the night life scene, but it's just as artsy and creative as ever. Today we're going through Eagle Nest and over to Cimarron where they've agreed to carry a couple of my CD's this year which we'll drop off at Philmont Scout Ranch. It should be a beautiful drive and a fun day. I'll write more tonight before I hit the pillow.

For any of you Philmont folks, my "Cowboy Americana" and "Songwriter" CD's will be carried by the Tooth of Time Trader's this year!

Back home again. We had a fun day hiking in the mountains a bit and eating at a historic hotel (The St. James in Cimarron) and then dropping off CD's before we headed back north to home.  It was great to get away, even if it was just overnight, and it makes you appreciate the simpler moments in life!

So on to the week ahead.

Friday I'm back at Magpies 7-10 for one last night before the summer season starts.  This is a bonus performance since I usually stop at Magpies in April, so I hope you'll all come "down under" to the Tap Room for some good food and friends and some of my music.  Maybe we'll do another theme night like we did last time for some different groups and artists.  I'm always up for an adventure!

Sunday I'm back at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1 for a regular week before the big Mothers Day brunch the following week.  If you want to come out the week before the rush, then this is the week for you.  (In case you came out last week, there was no brunch due to a big wedding celebration on that Sunday.)  We always have fun enjoying the view and eating some good food.  The acoustics are good, to boot, so come on out if you can!

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

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, May 3, 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, May 5, 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.

Summer plans and working with partial capos

I've been listening to some new music as I plan for the summer and also experimenting with some guitar gadgets that can make my sound more interesting.

The new music is mountain songs I'm learning for my gigs in La Veta, Cuchara, New Mexico, and beyond.  I get to play for a diverse mix of folks every year, and I always like to give them a flavor of Colorado and the mountains as much as I can.  I taught backpacking many years ago at Philmont Scout Ranch and spent a lot of time in the mountains, so they became very dear to me - as you might guess.  I don't get up in them as much as I used to, and sometimes I yearn for them.  Singing songs about the mountains can get me into them in my mind and heart, and so I like to learn new songs occasionally about the mountains.  And who knows, maybe I'll get farther up into them this year.

The guitar gadgets are partial capos that you may have seen me perform with.  My song "Ad #3" uses a partial capo, and if you've heard me play "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" you've heard what two partial capos making an open "C" tuning sounds like.  What is a partial capo?  It's a device that places a bar across some of the strings that changes the tuning of the guitar without having to retune the strings.  A regular capo goes across all 6 strings, but a partial one only covers a few strings like your fingers would.  A combination of these in different places can make the effect of having fingers placed on the strings in different places to form a chord.  It takes a lot of brainwork to calculate how the changes effect what tones are played on each of the strings, but the sound is a different open-ringing tone that really makes for interesting and beautiful accompaniment.  And that's the point - it makes the sound more interesting and very pretty or striking.  I'm not sure how quickly I'll incorporate these new partial capos into my sound, but I'm enjoying the journey!

And I have news about Magpies.  I had only scheduled through April at Magpies like we usually do, but I thought it might be nice to do one more into May before we break until fall since it's the only real chance I get to play for my Pueblo friends.  So we'll do the first Friday in May as well - the 3rd - if you'll all come out and make it a fun night.

So where am I this week?

Friday night I'll be at Magpies 7-10 for what I hope will be a fun night of good friends, good food, and good music.  Maybe I'll get a wild hair and do some theme hours of different bands and writers.  How would you feel about a Beatles hour or a Dan Fogelberg hour?  It could be fun!

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  We had a slower week last week after a packed week the week before.  I have such an interesting crowd that I really enjoy.  Come be a part of it if you can!

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

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, April 19, 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, April 21, 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.

Fine tuning my sound and gear (and life!)

We're bracing for another blast of winter tonight and tomorrow with possible blizzard conditions.  It's hard to remember that we get snow in Colorado all the way into May most years.

But what I really want to write you about is fine tuning.  I was thinking about how much of my mind this occupies in my life and career.  I'm a 'detail' person, and everything I do tends to involve the tiniest adjustments and sensitive incremental changes.  This is important with the guitar and my voice.  The slightest change in touch on the strings with my fretting hand can make a string ring in a different way.  The use of my fingernails related to the amount of fingertip I use on my right hand makes a note be crisp or muted.  This is repeated in the timing and syncopation of the music as well.  Likewise there is an infinite amount of adjustment to a note and word when singing.  The stress in my chest and diaphragm and mouth when forming a word and a pitch is all thrown in there too.  I think about all this as I play and sing - mostly unconsciously, but sometimes very much at the forefront of my thought.  And it spills over into the way I drive and exercise and use my phone and even type on the computer keyboard.  I get a kick out of it although I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.  Being 'in the moment' is all related to this.  It's quite a trip to think about, but I think it's what makes some truly excel at their passion and others merely get by.  It's something to contemplate anyway.  Live life to the fullest!

But enough yacking on for today.  I have news to share.  I have agreed to almost weekly appearances at the La Veta Inn starting in late May.  You can find these on my website on the calendar page - http://tommunch.com/Tom_Munch/Calendar.html.  I'll have dates for the Yellow Pine up soon as well, so check them out!

And where am I this week?

Tuesday night I'll be playing an online concert from our living room at 7:00 mountain time on UStream - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.  Please come by if you're online then. You can listen and even sign into the chat and make requests and comments if you'd like.  It's a lot of fun and a great way for me to get to sing and play for friends and family who are far away.  The sound quality is usually very good even though the video can be sketchy at times.  Hopefully I'll get a fast connection this time for best quality.

I do have several nursing homes and Alzheimer facilities this week and every week.  I don't write much about these, but they are an important part of the way I serve my community, and occasionally I see some of you when you're visiting relatives and friends at these places.  They are always up on my calendar too, and you're welcome to check out a show if you happen to be in the area where I'm performing.  Some of these are locked facilities that you need to ring into and sign the visitor's book.  They are very gratifying gigs for me.

Saturday I have two private parties I'm playing that I can't say much about.  I just wanted you to know about them.

Sunday I'll be at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  Last week was a really good crowd with lots of wonderful folks and fun music.

So that's it for this week.  Thank you for supporting me and my musical art!

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  online on UStream http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live
When:  Tuesday, April 9, 7-8 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, April 14, 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.

What I wanna be when I grow up

I hope you are enjoying beautiful spring weather wherever you may be. It's in the 60's here today and sunny. We could use a little rain, but hopefully that will come. I'm sitting in the DMV renewing my license. Hopefully I won't be here more than an hour. (Turns out it took an hour and fifteen minutes.) It's definitely a bizarre mix of folks here - quite a slice of life in many ways.

I had an interesting conversation this morning when I told my accountant that I wasn't sure what I 'wanted to be when I grew up' in response to his, "How are you?" My one enduring desire in my career is to play music that matters for people who want to hear it. This has taken me into many different venues to play in front of a wide variety of folks. Of course I have to find a way to make a living at this too, so I have to charge for my service, sell some merchandise (albums for me), or ask for tips. I also either have to play for the same people repeatedly or else travel to where my audience is. I have opted to have a home life and stability and senility, and so I don't travel much which means I play for the same people repeatedly except for the summer when I play for people traveling to and through the area at tourist destinations and festivals. I also see a value in recording my music for posterity as well as to express and promote myself, and so I've made a dozen albums both solo and with others over the past 30+ years. I always think that I'd like to travel more, but the stack of bills and correspondence I return home to is daunting whenever I have, so I resist this. Plus, it's hard to be away from friends and family and all the routine of normal like.  Still I love to travel and try to work in some gigs when I can travel.   If I ever 'grew up' I suppose I always thought that I'd travel more and be some sort of folk-rock star.  As I age I think less and less about that though, although someday…

So enough wandering for now.  What am I up to in the near future?

I'm going to do a living room concert on UStream next week on Tuesday, the 9th of April at 7:00 pm mountain time.  It'll be at the same address where it always is - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tom-munch-live.  I haven't decided what I'll play yet, but if you log in to the chat that night you can make a request.  These concerts are always a lot of fun, and it's the only chance I get to play for my friends who aren't nearby enough to come out to a venue where I'm playing.  I hope you can make it.  Just point your browser to the address above and join in.  You can also watch and listen on some phones and tablets - especially if you download the UStream app.

And I'm also booking what looks to be every week in the summer at the La Veta Inn.  We're not firm on dates yet, but I'll be posting them as soon as we are.

So what does this week hold?

Friday I'm at Magpies 7-10.  This is the last month of Magpies until next fall, so if you've been meaning to come out, you only have this Friday and the 19th to catch one until next October.  We always have a great time, and I always enjoy catching up with folks and putting on an interesting and engaging show.

Saturday some good friends are playing a Beatles tribute and fundraiser at 7:00 pm in La Veta at the Parkside Gallery on Ryus Ave. that I may make the journey for.  The show is a benefit to raise funds for the Citizens for Huerfano County.  The players are Ken Saydak and Willson and McKee, some good friends and marvelous musicians.  Maybe I'll see you there?

Sunday I'm at Shadow Hills for brunch 10-1.  Easter Sunday was a really nice time with lots of familiar and new faces.  It's so much fun to see all the families dressed up in their finery for the holiday.  This week will be a little more relaxed.  I hope you can make it if you'd like some good food, nice atmosphere, and my music.

I'd better sign off for now.  Thanks for your friendship and your ears!

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, April 5, 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, April 7, 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.