Fire

I’m sitting by the fireplace in a mountain cabin as I write this, and I’m marveling at the thing that is fire. Is there anything that warms a heart more than a glowing fire in the hearth? Surely our ancestors first felt this when they tamed fire enough to use it to warm their homes and cook their meals. The comforting crackle and the mesmerizing liquid flames dancing over the wood is just intoxicating. I could sit by a campfire all night just hearing that sound and feeling that gentle warmth. It’s just one of the wonders of this life that makes it so worth living. That’s all have to say without spoiling the simple magic. 

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What have I been up to?

I had just 5 senior facilities last week, but I enjoyed every one. There is something very special about sharing the magic of music. 

My Wednesday online show was songs about mountains, and it was one of my favorite shows ever. I just love sharing songs about one of the things in life that I feel so connected to. My audience enjoyed it so much that some of them said they would listen to it more than once or twice. 

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and it was a really fun show with so many good people in attendance. I love doing these shows. 

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities to play this week, and I’m looking forward to every one!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1970. This was a year with some true favorites that I am looking forward to playing. I’d love to have you join me if you can. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time would be favorites and requests as always, and I’m sure it will be a grand time. Sundays always bring out the finest folks to contribute and enjoy the music. 

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That’s it for this week. Next week starts the Yellow Pine Barbecue, and I’m excited to head to Cuchara to see so many good friends and experience the ambience of the old barn and fill it with my music. If that sounds like fun, then I encourage you to make a reservation and come down on a Thursday for some barbecue and music in a magical place. I’ll have details next week or you can Google Yellow Pine Guest Ranch for more info. I hope you are healthy and happy. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1970 songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, June 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, June 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Mountains

I’m thinking of mountains today and how much they have meant to me over the years. There are many things in life that are so much bigger than we are as individuals - mountains, oceans, canyons, stars, and many more. They remind us of just how majestic and mysterious life can be. When I’m on a mountain or even driving through mountains I am struck by their beauty and sheer power of presence. There is danger there, and there is delicate gracefulness as well. The jagged rocks and precious flowers are side-by-side in perfect harmony. And they offer “Because it’s there!” challenges and relaxation as well. Then of course there are the cool breezes and exciting wildlife. As I have written before, we have had family summer cabins in the mountains northern New Mexico that my grandpa and grandma built or acquired since 1930 that we would spend a week or so at in the summertime. Then I worked in the summers of high school and college either teaching backpacking or playing music in the mountains.  My family still has the cabins, and we spend a weekend at the beginning and end of the season opening and closing them every year. It’s that weekend coming up this week, so I have it fully in my mind and am looking forward to the sights and smells of the mountains even though there’s lots of hard work to be done fixing and maintaining them. So here’s to the mountains and every other facet of nature that delights and encourages us to live life to the fullest.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I had a blast at all of them. I really enjoy connecting with the folks when I get a chance to talk to them before and after my shows. There are so many great stories!

My Wednesday online show was doing summer songs as we were celebrating the start of the season with Memorial Day. It was great fun! I love playing for such good and caring people.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good new ones as well as old favorites. I’m still playing with lower tunings on my guitar, and it makes every song sound new and different. This community is fantastic!

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What am I up to this week?

I have just 5 seniors facilities this week - mainly because it’s the end of a 31-day month, and there aren’t as many monthly repeating days that fall in the last few days of a longer month. I’m sure I will love every one of them!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about mountains and mountain doings. This is a joyful theme that has me deep-diving into some of my favorite songs. Come on out and share it with me if you can!

I have a funeral on Friday for an elderly man whom I had the privilege of playing for him and his wife at their 50th wedding anniversary 20 years ago. What a joy to live such a long life with so much love.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I expect I’ll be pretty sore but happy after being in the mountains for a couple of days working hard. As a result, I’m sure the energy at Sunday’s show will be really something. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. My season for the Yellow Pine Barbecue starts in just 2 weeks on June 15th, and I’ll be writing more about it. Of course, there are many more summer gigs (mostly in the mountains!) that I’ll be writing about as the summer progresses. I’d love to see you at any of these wonderful gigs. Here’s my calendar if you want to read ahead - http://tommunch.com/calendar.

Happy Memorial Day!

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of mountain songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 29, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, June 2, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Here Comes Summer

It’s that time of year again - just before Memorial Day when you can just feel the summer ramping up. I write about it every year, and I feel no different this year as I scramble to keep up with yard work and so many projects on my list - not to mention more gigs. I always feel it like a wave that I need to swim at full bore to match speed with as it approaches. I love the excitement, and I love the long days and beautiful seasonal flora and fauna all around me. I often wonder how long I can keep up the pace in the summer, but then I feel the intoxication of the season, and I just fly. When I walk in the mornings with Beau we can hear the birds chirping and smell the earth and plants. It’s pretty magical. And when I’m off to my gigs I get to see the summer mountain folks and catch up with everyone’s life. What’s not to love? How about you? Do you love this time of year?

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What have I been up to?

Last week I had 11 senior facilities, and it was so much fun doing different themes at some of the facilities for National Nursing home Week. I love playing for these folks.

My Wednesday online show was songs I’ve never done at my online shows, and there were some good gems and old favorites that I hadn’t played in many years. I think everyone enjoyed it. I surely did.

Saturday I did an online show for Philmont alumni that was full of memories and favorite mountain songs plus some new tunes I thought fit very well. It was so good to hear from old friends from more than 40 years ago.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones there as well. I have such a vibrant community of friends who support me and each other through music and friendship.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to them so much. I’m trying to learn requests more for these folks as they ask for them. It’s always a challenge, but it’s so good to connect with someone over a favorite song.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be fun summer songs as I wrote above. The energy of this season is just magical and fun to wrap up and present in a show. I’m sure there’ll be some great requests too!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will be a blast once again. With summer chores I don’t have as much time to work on songs for everyone, but we have a great time all the same. It is so fulfilling to be part of such a vibrant group of folks.

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That’s it for another week. I can’t believe this year is flying so fast. I hope you’re doing well and enjoying your life. Come on out and listen to some music, or reply to this email and tell me how you are doing.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of summer songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 22, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Color

I’m standing at my desk and looking around my room when suddenly I’m taken by so many beautiful colors I see on items around me. I’m amazed at how enchanted I am by color and its depth. I know many of us are - just look at how excited we all got at the appearance of the northern lights over the last weekend reaching all over the northern hemisphere. I tend to go for purples and turquoise greens - the influence of my high school colors of purple and gold and also all the turquoise jewelry I saw as a kid in New Mexico. I have pens, pocket knives, jackets, scissors, shirts, and even guitars with my favorite colors. But I really love all colors from subtle to bold. It’s part of the reason I take sunrise photos every day. There’s just something magical about how light plays on different objects and picks up the dust, water, and chemistry in the atmosphere. The fact that the sunrise lasts only a short time makes it even more special. But then as I think about color I’m reminded how much I love black and white photography too, especially the work of Ansel Adams. I guess I’m just a visual junky for contrast and depth and anything that evokes strong feelings. I say it all the time, but I am really amazed by the beauty of this life and our universe. I hope you are too. It’s such a simple thing that can bring so much joy.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and they were all really wonderful. I was doing mostly songs for Mother’s Day, and my folks seemed to appreciate them all.

My Wednesday online show was doing instrumental songs, and it was a blast. There are just so many fun and meaningful songs from the past 80 years as well as my own songs. I especially enjoyed the surf songs. I wish I had more time to listen to instrumental music.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones. We did a lot of songs for mom as well to celebrate Mother’s Day. This is such a great group of folks.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and this is also National Nursing Home Week, so there’ll be all kinds of fun themes and great energy. This will be fun!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be another round of songs I’ve never done for my online shows. I love doing these never-done shows because I get a chance to surprise my audience with new songs they don’t know and old songs they didn’t know I do. I get to play a lot of songs I haven’t played in years as well. Come on out if you’d like to hear them!

Saturday night 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show on Facebook and my website of Philmont songs for the friends and acquaintances I’ve made from Philmont Scout Ranch where I worked 3 summers in high school and college. These are always nice nights of memories and favorite mountain songs. If you’re a Philmont friend then join me on my Philmont Songs Concert Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These are always the best night of the week for spontaneous friendship and songs. I relish them. Come join in!

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That’s it for this week. The summer season starts soon, and I’ll have lots of gigs to tell you about and places to travel to. Hope you are having a good week, and I hope to see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of never-done songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 15, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont tunes

Where:  facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370

When:  Saturday, May 18, 7-9 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 19, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Instrumentals

My Wednesday show is going to be instrumental tunes, and my feelings toward instrumental songs might be different than you would think. I’ve only made one solo instrumental album although I’ve written many more instrumental tunes. The interesting thing about instrumental songs is that without lyrics the listener can imagine the song is about anything they want, independent of what the song title or description is. When I play an instrumental song I usually talk about what inspired it, but the listeners often say that they envision many images and feelings that I never saw or felt. Instrumental songs can bring out deep emotions and trigger all kinds of senses more than just sound. It’s amazing. And they really trigger profound feelings in me that I try to convey when I perform them. I once wrote a song about sitting on a cabin porch watching a mountain sunset, and when I recorded it I was suddenly transported back decades to when I first saw the sunset there. I improvised a whole new section of the song that was inspired by memories of my long-gone grandparents who were at another cabin across the meadow at the time. I was flooded with so many memories as I felt their presence and went with the melody that was flowing through me. It was quite an experience! That song is “Moreno Valley Sunset”. It was so profound for me. And of course there are lots of fun instrumental songs that are kick to play. I’m sure you have favorite instrumental albums of all kinds of music, from guitar to piano to full orchestra. It’s a very worthwhile experience listening to melodies and rhythms without words sometimes. Do you have any favorite instrumental albums?

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all with quite a variety of songs. I so enjoy getting to play for these folks!

My Wednesday online show was rain songs, which was more fun than anyone had an idea it could be. There is so much joy in seeing the life-giving effects of rain. My audience was in fine form.

My Saturday night concert at the Center for Inner Peace in Pueblo went really well. I had a nice audience of great people, and it was so much fun to be able to shine for a group of folks with some meaningful favorite tunes. Thank you to everyone who helped put it on - Neema, Kelli, and Tom, and one name I’ve forgotten with his sweet pup, Smoky - and to all who came and shared an evening with me.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and I had spent so much time on the weekend preparing for my Saturday concert and working on the yard on Sunday for Spring that I didn’t have much time to get ready for the show. Everyone really gave me some great requests and made the whole night a blast. I love this group!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. The opportunity to serve others is always worthwhile, and it’s fun to boot!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be instrumental songs as I wrote above. I have to admit that I get more nervous playing instrumental tunes than I do singing even though I love to play the guitar. There are so many wonderful tunes to play from slow to fast though that I know it will be a really fun night. Come on out if you can.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will also be a sweet evening of tunes and camaraderie. I always look forward to Sunday nights! I’d love to have you in the audience.

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That’s it for this week. Spring is rushing headlong into Summer around here as everything is growing and I’m already struggling to keep up. This is an exciting time of year. I hope you are enjoying it, and as the Munch Bunch group says, “Howls and hugs” to you!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of instrumental songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 8, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Showtime

I have a a concert in Pueblo on Saturday night that I’m putting a lot of effort into, and it has me thinking about all that’s involved in putting together a show. I truly love getting the chance to play to a listening audience in a beautiful space. The most interesting part for me is putting together the playlist for the show. What do I want to say? What do I want the mood to be? Who will I have in the audience? These are all things that I think of as I contemplate the show. I usually start with a big list of my favorite songs that I have been doing or have written or learned recently. This is at least twice as long as the time I have allotted for the concert. I consider the tone and the audience here. What is my overall topic or emphasis of the show? Are there any favorite songs that I need to do - “hits” if you will. Am I going to do any requests I may get before the show? (I usually don’t do requests because I’ve found that it usually throws off the flow of the night.) How many fast and slow songs do I need to do to keep the energy up? Do I have good songs to open and close each segment? Is there a storyline that will carry through the show? What keys are the songs in and will they fit together well? How much practicing do I need to have each of the songs polished and ready? Will I bring multiple guitars for different tunings or different textures like a 12-string guitar or electric guitar? I have done enough shows to remember shows that surprised me that my song order and choice went over so well and others that seemed to flag halfway through the show. So I have made a preliminary list for this coming Saturday show, but I’ll be testing it this week at my senior facilities to see how songs come across. Plus I’ll just be trusting the muse, the evening, and the audience since it’s always up to the energy of the night too. Anyway, I thought I would share with you all the things I think about when making up a show. I’m SO looking forward to it!

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and they were all wonderful. Several of the facilities were having me play for their monthly birthday celebration, and since it was my birthday last week it was doubly fun. I love playing for these folks.

My Wednesday online show was one-hit wonders from the 1950s, and it was so much fun. There are some great songs on this list, and I think we did them up proud. I love getting the chance to play these.

My Sunday online show had some great requests and favorites. I’m finally settling into my new opening song called “Here We Go”, and it gave the right energy to the night to make it a good one. I love the folks I get to play for on these shows.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I will start playing Mother’s Day songs this week. This is always a wonderful time of year when we get to sing some old favorites for moms. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about rain since it’s that time of year, and we just had a really rainy weekend in southern Colorado. Of course, I’m aware of the storms that wreaked havoc on so many places in the last few days, and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected. I remember well the tornado that ripped through my hometown when I was 19 that damaged my parents’ house and many others including the one I was visiting. It definitely took a long time for the town to rebuild and establish some normalcy again.

On Saturday from 7-9 I’m playing the concert I wrote of above at the Center for Inner Peace in Pueblo. This is a great venue for a concert with good people and sweet acoustics. I’m going to bring out the best songs I know for this show, and I think it should be a very nice evening of music. I’d love to have you in my audience if you’re in the area that night. Here are the details: May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace, 740 West 15th Street, Pueblo, suggested donation of $20 at the door, doors open at 6:30. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and every one of these Sundays turns into a fine evening of music and interaction. I love my online audience. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. I’m so looking forward to this week - especially the concert on Saturday night. I hope your week goes well, and I hope you’re well and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of rain songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 1, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing a concert of fine tunes

Where:  Center for Inner Peace, 740 West 15th Street, Pueblo.

When:  Saturday, May 4, 7-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Transitions

My online show on Wednesday is one-hit wonders from the 1950s, and that has me thinking about transitional periods in history. I wasn’t born yet in the ‘50s, but I have a feel for how the times were changing - at least musically. I’m not sure what had a greater impact on music of the era. It could have been the prevalence of the electric guitar as it went from a hollow-bodied instrument to a solid-bodied instrument that could be played much louder and with more grit and distortion. It could have been because the song style went from a jazz/pop progression style to more of a blues-based progression and repetitive lines that formed rock and roll. Obviously there was less reliance on big bands with horns and full arrangements and more on small combos that were amplified - especially as the electric bass guitar was invented and PA systems were required to hear the singers. There was lots of experimentation, and many people tried their hand at writing and recording songs to be played on the radio. Some of these songs were real novelties as they could even do “sound-on-sound” like Les Paul and Mary Ford did, and alter voices for special effects like Sheb Wooley with the “Purple People Eater”. So there were a lot of individual songs that gained airplay and became hits. What a fun time to be in music! And it opened the door for what eventually became the transitions to music in the 1960s that were part of much bigger cultural changes.

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What have I been up to?

I had 12 seniors facilities last week, and with my allergies I really had an interesting time singing. I got some meds by mid-week that really helped. I love singing for all these folks!


My Wednesday online show was doing songs for Earth Day, which is today as I write this. There were so many great songs to do, and even though it got a little hippy-dippy, I really love these songs that encourage us to love our Mother Earth.

Saturday I played a birthday party for some friends in Cañon City that was just too much fun. It was raining so we couldn’t be outside, and that made the indoor party that much more fun. Happy Birthday,  Michael!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were a landslide of requests to keep the evening hopping. It was so much fun! What a great group of folks.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and they’ll take me all around the area. I say it every week, but you can’t believe how rewarding it is to share music with these folks who really love it.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be one-hit wonders from the 1950s as I wrote above. There are some really great tunes on my list, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with everyone. I’m even learning a few new ones. Come on out and join in!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I think this week I’ll surprise the folks with some lesser-heard songs for the ones I pick. Of course, I’m game for any request they throw at me as well. It’s always a good time.

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What’s coming up?

I want to mention my Pueblo concert again on May 4th at the Center for Inner Peace. I’m really looking forward to getting to be in concert in Pueblo for an evening of tunes. I haven’t played a Pueblo concert like this in a long time, and I know it will be a wonderful night to remember. Come on out if you can. Here are the details: May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace, 740 West 15th Street, Pueblo, suggested donation of $20 at the door, doors open at 6:30. 

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That’s it for this week. I hope your Spring is going well, and that you’re well and happy.

All the best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of one-hit wonders from the 1950s

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 24, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 28, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Earth

I’m doing songs about the earth on Wednesday to celebrate Earth Day, which is coming up on the 22nd of April. I think about our earth a lot. This comes from spending so much time out walking and enjoying the outdoors all my life. I’m always happiest when I have the breeze in my face with the smells of the earth and the trees. I was once accused of being a “tree hugger” by the other students when I took an oil spill course to receive a certification to teach oil spill recovery. That was in another life, but I guess I do care for the earth although I wouldn’t say I’m an activist. I think most folks would agree that we could manage the earth a lot better than we have the last few hundred years. For instance, Thomas Jefferson thought that it would take us several hundred years just to fill up North America, and that happened within a century. And we have thought that our resources are limitless, but we’re starting to realize this isn’t true. I think we can make the adjustments to make this earth livable and beautiful into many more generations. The main thing, as it is with everything, is just awareness and the willingness to be flexible. There are always growing pains with change. So I celebrate the earth. We are on that “pale blue dot” that Carl Sagan wrote of so long ago after the Voyager captured that picture of our earth in a ray of sunlight.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. I was suffering with some sort of congestion, so I wore a mask to many of my facilities. I had tested negative for Covid, so I wasn’t worried about spreading anything. It’s probably just allergies. I love playing for these folks so much!

My Wednesday online show was playing songs from the 1930s. This was a really sweet show with lots of great songs and good comments. My research wasn’t great though as I ventured outside of the 1930s for a few songs inadvertently. I really do like to be accurate.  Oh, well! It was still a very nice time!

My Sunday online show was playing favorites and requests, and there were some really good ones. I’m always impressed with the depth of music my audience requests. It’s a joy to play for them.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 12 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. I may have to cancel one tomorrow morning for a doctor appointment so I can get over this congestion completely. It’s still hanging on a bit.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs for Earth Day as I wrote above. There are a lot of great songs that fit the bill, and I’m looking forward to playing them. I know my audience will be into it, and I’d love to see you!

Saturday I have a private party that should be great fun too. It’s for some folks that I have played for several times before. They love the good music that I love, and so it should be a swell evening.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always say how these evenings turn out to be very special. Well, they do, and I’m not afraid to say it. Come on out and join in.

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What’s coming up?

I keep writing about my concert in Pueblo on May 4th, and it’s because I know it will be a very nice evening in a great-sounding room. Come on out if you’re anywhere near Pueblo and enjoy a night of song and camaraderie. So many people say that they love my online shows, but they also say that they like an in-person show even more with the great sound and shared space. Here are the details: May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace, 740 West 15th Street, Pueblo, suggested donation of $20 at the door, doors open at 6:30. I hope to see you there!

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That’s it for this week. Here’s to a great week and celebration of our dear old earth.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of earth songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 17, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 21, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

1930s

I’m doing songs from the 1930s for my Wednesday show, and that has me thinking about what I know about the 1930s. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the Great Depression. People of my generation grew up with stories and reminders of what our parents had gone through in the Depression. We were taught frugality sometimes to a fault. That decade was also the development of much of the entertainment industry with great movies, plays, musicals, and music. The music was mostly jazz, popular, and hillbilly or western music. My dad grew up learning tunes in the 1930s as a teenager off the Hit Parade radio show and later playing those on the piano in the evenings in our house in addition to other songs he loved. These songs were mainly the jazz-influenced popular music of the day, and so that is what I mainly know although I’ve also learned much of the western and hillbilly (folk) music of that decade as well. Some of these songs were kind of innocent in their content and lyrics, but the melodies have stood the test of time, and even the words, though sometimes quaint, have an honesty that I really love. Those times and values led us into World War II, and so there is a sweetness and nostalgia for what strengths and weaknesses shaped the minds of the folks that progressed into the war years. It was an interesting time that is fascinating to relive through the music of that era. Most of the music is just plain good!

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and they were all so enjoyable. It’s funny that I’m writing about songs from the 1930s because my seniors are mostly too young to want to hear these now. When I started playing these facilities back in high school they wanted to hear songs all the way back to the 1890s.

My Wednesday online show was songs about the sun and moon for the eclipse. That was a lot of fun! I wish there were more songs about eclipses. I had a very nice audience of great folks.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones including a new opening song I’ve been working on for a couple months. Of course, I’ve already rewritten it since last night, and I still don’t have a title for it. There were so many nice folks in my audience.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and they should all be very rewarding. Seeing the smiles on faces and getting the chance to share some memories makes it all worthwhile.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from the 1930s as I wrote above. I have almost a hundred songs from this decade on my list, and I’m sure I could add a bunch more. It will be a stellar evening of tunes. Come on out if you can.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and these shows have morphed into an even more freestyle evening of requests and surprises. I’d love to have you in the audience if you can make it.

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What is coming up?

I have a very cool concert coming up on May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace. This building has great acoustics, and the openness and generosity of spirit is wonderful. I’m planning to do a mix of original and album tunes so there should be a wide variety of laughter and tears. There is a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Doors open at 6:30. I’d love to see you there if you’re in the Pueblo area or want to make the trip. It’s located at 740 West 15th Street in Pueblo.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you get a chance to view the eclipse (with proper eye protection) today, and I hope to see you soon!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1930s songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 10, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 14, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Eclipse

There is a solar eclipse next Monday throughout much of the U.S., and Jen and I had hoped to go to see it in totality, but we can’t make the trip this time. We’ll settle for seeing the partial eclipse here if the sky is clear. A solar eclipse is such an amazing event. It reminds us of just how small we are and how much we depend on this big burning ball in the sky that powers our earth and most all life here. I think the ancient people who lived in the outdoors every day understood that more than we do nowadays, but it can still affect us in profound ways. I have a natural affinity for the stars and the outdoors, and when I look up at the night sky I feel that I am a part of them in many ways. We are stardust as Joni Mitchell said in her song, “Woodstock”, and star-stuff as Carl Sagan wrote. Seeing star events and solar events rings that bell in us that we all seem to understand somehow. I imagine some of you are going to be able to be in the path of totality, and I salute you and encourage you to see it in all the ways you can. Many folks will make those little boxes that you can see the eclipse in, and hopefully all will get the cheap eclipse glasses that you can gaze directly at the eclipse with. There is a list of fun things to see and even an app that tells you when to look for interesting phenomena during the eclipse called “Solar Eclipse Timer”. There is a great video to watch with lots of these detail here -  https://youtu.be/791qJZivHpk?si=H8jxu6VWIGfHml0k. I would love to hear your eclipse stories if you have any to share!

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week (I forgot to include one in my blog last week that I had on Easter), and I enjoyed every one so much. I mostly sang Spring songs although. A couple still wanted to hear some Irish tunes. Of course I did a few Easter songs as well.

My Wednesday online show was doing songs I’ve never done for my online shows, and there were some very sweet tunes that I think the group really liked. They said as much too!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I included a couple songs there that I’ve never done online as well. It was a very sweet evening.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week, and it’s time for more Spring and also April rain songs. There are so many good ones, and it is so much fun sharing them with my seniors.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about the sun and moon to celebrate the solar eclipse that happens next Monday. This is such a neat event, and even though it’ll just be a partial in Colorado I’m still looking forward to going outside and seeing it through eclipse glasses. Come on out on Wednesday and hear some great sun and moon songs.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These are very special evenings with good friends listening and supporting each other. You’re always welcome to join in.

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What is coming up?

I have a very cool concert coming up on May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace. I just haven’t done that many real concerts since the pandemic, and I haven’t done one in Pueblo for many years. I haven’t made my setlist up yet, but I’m thinking it will be a really heartfelt evening of music and stories. The Center for Inner Peace is one of those buildings that just brings it out of you. I saw my friend Don Richmond play there about 3 weeks ago, and the vibe was amazing. There is suggested donation of $20 at the door. Doors open at 6:30. I’d love to see you there if you’re in the Pueblo area or want to make the trip. It’s located at 740 West 15th Street in Pueblo.

There’s more coming up in the summer, but I’ll write about those dates as they come up. I have made Facebook events for most of those, and you can always see them on my website calendar at http://tommunch.com/calendar. 

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That’s it for this week. I hope your life is going well, and that you are healthy and happy. No April Fools!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of sun and moon songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 7, 7-8:45 pm mountain time