Country Music

I’m doing an interesting theme for my Wednesday online show that was suggested by one of my friends, Rosemarie Vest. She suggested to do country songs from my repertoire from A to Z. That’s a great idea, and I thought I’d tell you a little bit about my history with country music. I didn’t really grow up with country music. My parents and siblings listened to everything but country music. I first listened to country music when I was learning to play guitar and had friends who played country. Then I got into it a little bit more in the later 1980s when county music went a little bit more towards folk-rock from the 1970s. I was even in a couple country bands for a few years. A few years after that I had a couple of my senior folks who had been in country bands who gave me requests for lots of old country tunes from the 1950s and 60s. I eagerly learned these tunes and got a good feel for the beat and feel of the music. To this day I still l learn older country tunes often. I don’t really listen to current country hits though. I guess I spend most of my time learning requests or listening to podcasts or audio books. I do love country music. It’s deceptively simple but so deep - particularly songs by Hank Williams and other early writers. Everything is just right out there as bare as can be. It’s sometimes a little formulaic, but it’s mostly honest and to-the-point. And the recordings are clean and well-performed. So Wednesday I’ll do some favorites from A to Z. It’ll be fun!

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and it was National Nursing Home Week where many of them do daily themes that are a lot of fun. I play music that fits the themes if I can. There were Spanish tunes and superheroes and several other themes. It was fun. 

My Wednesday online show was garden songs, and it was fun coming up with songs about gardens and gardening or that mentioned gardens in the songs somewhere. I think everyone enjoyed these playful songs. 

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was a huge variety of tunes from all genres. It was so much fun!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 13 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. I may do some songs for Memorial Day, but I’m thinking that I may want to stay away from anything patriotic just so I don’t inflame tension on any side. Either way I will enjoy seeing folks and encouraging them. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be country songs A-Z as I wrote above. I have songs for every letter except Q, U, X, and Z. That means I will do 22 songs if there’s time. It should be a blast. Come on out!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back playing instrumental guitar tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant. Hopefully the weather will be nice, and lots of folks will eat inside and outside. I may need to put a speaker out there sometime. I’d love to have you out if you’d like a pretty view and good food with my music. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

Sunday 11-2 I’m also at the Grand View Restaurant at the Garden of the Gods Club playing guitar tunes. They do a very nice brunch, and I’d love to have you. Again reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always look forward to it so much. It’s just a great time of sharing and good music and stories. Come on out if you can!

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That’s it for this week. Summer is really ramping up. 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 country songs A-Z

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 instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, May 24, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Sunday, May 26, 11-2pm 

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 

Cabins

This weekend my siblings and I will be opening our rustic cabins that our grandparents built or acquired from the 1930s, so I thought I’d tell you what they have meant to us over the years. My grandparents (on my mother’s side) were teachers in the 1920s in Oklahoma. They had summers mostly off as teachers, and so they would pick up odd jobs in the summer in the heat and dust of Oklahoma. Family friends of theirs had a significant death in the family, and their church sent the friends to the mountains in New Mexico to have time to grieve in peace. They wrote to my grandfolks saying that it was cool in the mountains, and that there were no mosquitoes and no snakes where they were staying. My grandfolks had no money, but the temptation to be somewhere in the summer that was more amenable than Oklahoma enchanted them so much that they determined that they would go to the mountains to see if there was any way they could afford to spend their summers there. They put together just enough money to buy an old cabin in 1930 on a small bit of land, and they were so happy. They would do all kinds of jobs in the mountains in the summer, and their kids would too so they could afford to be there. My grandpa often had to spend part of the summer back in Oklahoma working there or serving in the reserves. But they made it work, and eventually they were able to buy a little more land and build or buy some of the rustic cabins that were adjacent to them so that they ended up with 4 cabins. As kids we would spend some of our summer vacation visiting our grandfolks in these cabins  and running around in the mountains. They were pretty primitive with no running water or electricity (added in the 1970s), but we loved them! This is where my family’s love of mountains and wild places really come from. We even got to go over to Taos when there were hippy communes and the American Indian Movement was active. It was quite a fun time. Our grandparents and parents are gone now, but we still keep up these cabins and try to spend time each summer there. My sisters and uncle did buy an adjacent property with a house this year so they can go down in the winter now (and have extra beds and space when everyone is there). Of course there is a lot of work to do there between keeping the road passable and mitigating fire danger by trimming trees (which we are in the process of doing now and for the past few years). It’s not as romantic as you might imagine, but it’s meaningful to us, and it has been a great place for nieces and nephews to also grow to love the mountains -  some of them even had their weddings there. So I’ll meet my siblings and take in the rat poison and drain sink traps and fix whatever broke over the winter when we go down there this weekend. It’ll be so good to smell the pine-scented air and see the snow on the peaks and the mud and flowers in the meadows. We might even see a bear or an elk herd! And I’ll post some pictures of the sunrise from there on Facebook if you’d like to see it.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week - I think I left out the one I was playing on Mother’s Day. It was a great week singing songs about mothers and seeing so many sweet and smiling faces. I love these folks.

My Wednesday online show was playing mother songs too, and it was a nice evening of both sweet and some fun songs for mom. I think everyone had a good time.

Friday night I played instrumental guitar tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant for some really appreciative people. The weather was perfect for even outside diners even though there was a little rain.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and we did some more mother songs since it was Mother’s Day. This evening brought out some folk-rock songs that I didn’t expect as well. It was a good night with great friends.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m not sure what kind of songs they’ll be in the mood for. I may start doing songs for Memorial Day since that’s just 2 weeks off. I’m always ready to “go with the flow” and do requests or pick a theme and run with it. I love playing for these sweet folks so much.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be garden songs since this week after Mother’s Day is the traditional time in Colorado to start planting a garden. I don’t know if we’ll plant any produce this year. The grasshoppers were so bad last year, and they’re already starting again this year. But there are some great garden and produce songs, so we’ll definitely have a good time playing them. Come on out if you’d like to suggest a couple too or listen in. It’ll be a nice time, I know.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and since I’ll be coming back from opening the cabins I know there will be some great energy to share. Come on out and give me some requests!

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That’s it for this week. I spent most of the weekend working on our yard and trees when I wasn’t playing music, so my mind is really on that as we head into summer. It’s a lot of work, and it has me really thinking that it might be a good time to start thinking about downsizing and doing a little less. We’ll see how that works out. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of garden songs

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

When:  Wednesday, May 14, 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 18, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Mom

I like to do Mother’s Day shows at my facilities, but I’ve never done one for my online shows. At the risk of being too saccharin I think I should do a show to honor mothers. My mom has been gone for 10 years now, and I often think of her and how much I appreciate her. She was a tomboy, and when she was a teenager she carried a rifle and guided horse trips up into the mountains. She was definitely a very independent person with a lot of gumption. That said, she was a patient and kind mother. She and my dad were pretty strict, but they gave me and my siblings all kinds of opportunities for adventure and learning. Even with their strictness and insistence on us giving 100%, my mom still could be understanding and encouraging when things didn’t come easily to me. I remember when I was struggling with math how she helped me and even admitted that it was okay to fail if I kept trying. She even said that she had a hard time learning whatever math I was having trouble with. That made me feel better to know that I wasn’t alone. I was the kind of kid who was pretty capable, but I often was afraid to try new things. Jumping into the deep end of the pool was one thing I remember being afraid of, and having to join into group activities sometimes put me off too. I miss my mom. There are so many times I’d like to ask her a question about family or how to do something. She had done a lot of family genealogy, and even though we kids have followed up a little on that, there are still so many family branches we’d like to know more about. I do dream about her occasionally which I usually take as a wink from the other side. My dad comes to me that way more than my mom. I’ll be in a dream where I’ll look off to the side, and I will see him there just smiling at me. Luckily my mom went pretty quickly 10 years ago at age 90. She definitely wasn’t ready to go, but after a stroke it was her time. I don’t think about her as often as I used to, but I value all the things she taught me and the love she gave me. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and I was doing Mother’s Day songs for most of them. It’s so gratifying to bring a little joy and warmth to these folks. 

My Wednesday online show was the music of Chuck Pyle. Chuck was such a good writer with clever words and great guitar-work. We didn’t get to all the tunes of his I know, and so we did more on Sunday as well. 

I didn’t end up playing for the Garden of the Gods Club on Friday, but I did play for Sunday brunch. It was a packed house with just the right amount of snow on Pikes Peak with sunlight on the Garden of the Gods to make the view breathtaking!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and we did some more of the Chuck Pyle songs I didn’t get to on Wednesday as well as several other favorites all over the board. It was a sweet evening, and I really love these folks.

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I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to playing mother songs for most of them in preparation of Mother’s Day. Love these folks!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be mother songs, and I can’t wait to dive into all the great song’s for mom. Come on out!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant playing instrumental  guitar tunes. The evenings are so pretty there, and I love to have you join me. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and these evenings are always just great! There’s so much love and good harmony shared!

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That’s it for this week. We’re starting to work on the yard and property for the summer season, and I’m already anticipating the beauty and sore muscles the summer brings. I hope you are happy and healthy and enjoying the beautiful Spring sunshine. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of mother songs

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

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

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, May 9, 6-9 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 11, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Live Video

I’ve been doing live concert videos online since 2011 with the last 5½ years being on Facebook and also embedded on my website from Facebook. The places where I posted them before 2019 have all gone defunct, and Facebook changed their policy on keeping videos online this Spring to just 30 days. Before that they were up all the way back to 2019. I don’t know if very many people were going back to listen to my old shows, but they aren’t available anymore. I did save them all to my hard drive so they aren’t completely gone. As a result I’m going to go back to the old shows and playing some of the themes again starting with Chuck Pyle. Chuck is someone I met over 40 years ago when I was playing in Red River, New Mexico, at a steak house called Texas Reds. I’d play Thursday to Saturday, and Chuck would come in some weeks on his road trips to play on Sunday. All the locals who didn’t have to work on Sundays would come in to dance to Chuck’s solid right-hand two-step beat. Chuck and I became friends over gear talk as musicians do. He was doing mostly original tunes, and I was doing mostly covers. He played over two Klipsch home speakers stacked on milk crates powered by a clean amp fed by a little Tascam mixer. His sound was so pristine and full. His rhythm was impeccable, and his fingerpicking had it all - bass, rhythm guitar, and leads backing up his clever lyrics. I was fingerpicking with fingerpicks, but I was doing a lot of strumming too. Chuck even gave me a backhanded compliment one night from the audience when I played one of his tunes by saying, “Nice strummin’!” We stayed in touch over gear for many years until I crossed paths with him again about 10 years later. I had heard a couple albums he had done in the meanwhile where he had polished his style even more, and I decided then to incorporate some of what he did in mixing bass, rhythm, and lead on the guitar without fingerpicks. This is a style I still use on many songs I play. Chuck passed at the age of 70 in 2015, and I was honored to be asked to play for several tribute concerts at Swallow Hill in Denver. I’m pleased to keep his music and memory alive. He had a wonderful vibe that he called “Zen Cowboy”. As far as the live video, I may try to find a place where I can continue to offer the old concerts. YouTube may work although they frown on having copy-written music posted there as a rule.

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What have I been up to?

I had 12 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. A couple of them were back to masking for different illnesses, and I send out my best to them as they struggle to get everyone well.

My Wednesday online show was songs for Earth Day, and there were some good ones. It’s so good to honor the world we all live on. It’s pretty resilient although we don’t treat it right most of the time. The audience seemed to really like it.

Friday night I played Garden of the Gods Club, and it was so much fun riding the energy of the diners as I picked up all kinds of songs. Some old friends came out, and it was good to see them and play for them. It was my birthday, and they bought me a birthday drink that I shared with them at the end of the night.

Saturday I played a private gardening luncheon, and it was great to hear the gardening stories and play for them.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there was a lot of fun and some new tunes. I played my train whistles and a little guitarron for a little novelty. Everyone had a good time. Love these folks!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week, and I hope that they are all well. I’ll probably start playing songs for Mother’s Day now that we are moving into May.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Chuck Pyle songs, and I’d love to have you hear and celebrate his music. His music is full of images of the West with beautiful melodies and harmonies with his intricate guitar parts and infectious beat. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and it’s always a wonderful evening tunes and friendship. Come on out if you can!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’re enjoying the Spring and are healthy. Time marches on, and it’s important to always keep perspective and joy.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Chuck Pyle songs

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

When:  Wednesday, April 30, 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 4, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Earth Day

I’m thinking about Earth Day as I write this on the day before. I watched a really good presentation on public lands in the US the other day that really stuck with me. It was a non-partisan look at the history and benefits we all get from pubic lands as well as the amount of money they make for economies all over the western US in particular. It was put together by former National Park Service superintendent, Walt Dabney, and it’s a talk he’s been giving all over the country to encourage people on all sides to support our public lands. I’ve enjoyed our public lands in many different ways over my years - from hiking and biking to fishing and four-wheeling. I can’t tell you how many vacations I’ve taken that were mostly to destinations in national parks and monuments. They are a resource in so many ways that most of the country uses and don’t really exist in most of the eastern states and south in Texas. I encourage you to watch the video and consider supporting our public lands too. It’s a non-partisan thing we can all get behind, and it’s good for the earth to boot. Here’s the link - https://youtu.be/K7U7rHlLTPk?si=edr44ojp4dd-_z3P.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. One of them required mask-wearing for an RSV breakout, but it didn’t dampen their spirits too much. I don’t mind singing in a mask, and it doesn’t seem to affect the intelligibility of the songs as long as I turn up the volume and the treble a bit on the mic. I love these folks and the opportunity to give them encouragement and entertainment.

My Wednesday online show was songs from 1965 again and it was a lot of fun. It’s amazing how much these songs still mean to everyone.

Friday night I played at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant, and I had a nice group of folks including a nice young couple with their daughter and their parents who were really friendly and kind. Their daughter asked for lots of requests, and I enjoyed getting to know them a bit. There was a lot of snow that day, so the drive home from Colorado Springs was pretty treacherous though.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it didn’t disappoint with some different requests than we’ve done in a long time. I always look so forward to these evenings of great interaction in the comments and sweet, sweet songs.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 12 senior facilities this week including a special performance Sunday at one facility where the TrikeTreks folks of Pueblo will bring out their trikes for rides for the seniors. It’s a very cool event, and it’s looking today like the forecast is for nice weather that day. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs for Earth Day which is Tuesday. There are so many good songs that celebrate our beautiful earth and our lives on it. This will be a cool show. Come on out!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant playing instrumental guitar tunes. It’s my 64th birthday that day, so I’ll probably play the Beatles’ “When I’m 64” a few times for fun. Come on out if that sounds like a good time to you. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

Saturday I’m playing a private luncheon for a women’s group that should be fun with Spring songs.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and who knows what songs we’ll play? These Sunday evenings are so fulfilling in every way with friendship, good tunes, and great engagement from the audience. I’d love to have you there as well!

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That’s it for this week. I need to mention that Facebook is not hosting my live videos past 30 days now, so if you were going back to previous shows to watch them they won’t be there after 30 days. I have saved them all to my hard drive, but I don’t have a place to post them online currently that will handle royalties, and if I did they would be missing the comments from the shows. I’m sorry for this. It was especially a nice way to look back at the feelings we had during the pandemic as the music supported us all. Everything changes though, and it was sure good while it lasted.

I hope you are healthy and content.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Earth Day songs

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

When:  Wednesday, April 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, April 25, 6-9 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, April 27, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

1965

This Wednesday I’m doing an online show of music for 1965 again, and I wanted to talk about 1965 a bit. I see 1965 as a transitional year - especially in popular music. The Beatles had been introduced to America in 1964 but in 1965 they came out with their “Help!” and “Rubber Soul”  albums which took a harder edge and more introspective and creative writing. Groups like the Rolling Stones with their blues-influenced sound began to have more hits. Of course, the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement, and this had included an escalation of the war and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. More unrest in the country was reflected in the music including songs like “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire and “Universal Soldier” by Donovan. There were still soft pop hits like “Hang on Sloopy “ and “Game of Love”, but increasingly there was more use of dirty and distorted guitar and organ sounds that more closely represented the feelings of the country. We just weren’t as innocent anymore. I was too young to remember much about this year other than what was on the radio and what my older siblings were listening to. I heard lots of Beatles and Motown and even 45s like “This Diamond Ring” by Gary Lewis and the Playboys spun on our little portable “suitcase” record players. I liked what I heard, and I’m sure it led me to become a musician even though it took me another 8 years before I got my first stringed instrument and started to play this music. I never would have thought that I would be playing it 60 years later with such fervor. How about you? What are your recollections of 1965?

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities to play for last week, and they were all such a joy. I played a lot of Spring songs, but also there were many who wanted to hear some of the songs from 1965 that I was playing for my online shows. I love playing for these folks.

My Wednesday online show was 1965 songs as I wrote above, and it was just what I had hoped for - lots of reminiscence and great tunes. The audience really got into it as well.

Friday night I played instrumental guitar tunes for the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant, and it was kind of a laid-back crowd this time. I threw in some rock numbers, but they didn’t respond as much as some nights. I mainly played Spring songs. It was a beautiful and warm evening with the big glass-wall doors wide open to enjoy the beautiful view.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and the group was into a wide variety of tunes including John Denver, Bob Dylan, Glenn Miller, and Chuck Pyle - pretty diverse. Everyone seemed to enjoy it even though we were missing some regulars due to lack of sleep or work. I even had 4 new tunes I’d never played before. I love these folks.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’ll continue to play some Spring songs and also Easter songs although I have only have a few of those. It’s always a thrill to set up and play for my seniors.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be 1965 songs again as I wrote above. I have a list of 75 or so songs from that year, so there are plenty of good ones left to celebrate and enjoy. Come on out if you’d like to hear them and join in!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at the Garden of the Gods Club playing instrumental guitar tunes in the Grand View restaurant. I’m sure I’ll have fun pulling out some surprises and maybe a couple Easter tunes. Come on out if you’d like a great meal and view with some guitar noodling on my part. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I seem to have a renewed energy for these Sunday shows that I can’t explain. I’m diving in with gusto! Come on out if you can.

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That’s it for this week. We’ve had a little bit of a heat wave so we’re working on the yard more to get ready for summer. There’s never a dull moment in this life when you’re engaged in it. I hope you’re enjoying it and 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 1965 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, April 16, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, April 18, 6-9 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, April 20, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Music and AI

I watched a video by Rick Beato on YouTube this morning that once again brought up in my mind that the future of music may not involve singers and players like me. Rick is about my age, and he has been in the music business at a top level for all his life and knows what he’s talking about. I believe that music is a gift, and I’ve always felt that it was my purpose to use it for the benefit of those around me in whatever way I could. That sounds high-minded for sure, but it’s a joy to be in service to something bigger than myself. This morning I realized that people like me probably won’t be necessary to write music and probably perform it very soon. If you watch this video (https://youtu.be/JSswFa8Ta1k?si=4ttepIuMsZTYp_ZT) where Rick Beato plays some current AI music created from simple prompts or descriptions of what each song should be, you will see that the quality of the recordings and even the chord structure and lyrics are so close to what is currently popular that it is astounding. He concludes by saying that people won’t be able to hear the difference and won’t mind listening to this AI-generated music. I would say the same thing after I listened to it. Some of the chord progressions and lyrics were more clever almost randomly than what current songwriters come up with for pop and country songs. Of course this is not a live performance by a live person, but if in the future it isn’t necessary for a song to be written and recorded by a real person, then will there be anyone trying to perform them live anymore? I would hope that AI would be a tool to inspire and work out tough passages for musicians instead of a way for non-musicians to create music, but it sure doesn’t look like we’re headed that way. And of course writing and art are following similar paths. The creative arts that have made the books, songs, and artwork that we have cherished for centuries may no longer be an expression of our culture and our dreams and struggles that is created by people. It boggles my mind to think of it. How about you? Listen to the video above and tell me what you think.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, but 1 outdoor show had to be rescheduled for weather since we had a storm come in on the weekend. I enjoyed playing Spring songs for my facilities, and they really enjoyed them.

My Wednesday online show was Spring songs, and it was honestly a lot of fun. There were some great requests, and I know the audience loved the thoughts and songs about Spring.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and what a nice night it was with lots of great requests and a new song or two. This group of Munch Bunchers as they call themselves is so supportive and sincere. It’s a pleasure to know them and play for them.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m sure I’ll be playing more Spring songs including rain and flower songs. This is just a great time of the year with all the new growth and excitement in nature all around us.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 60 years ago this time - 1965. I love songs from this year including songs from the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Sound of Music, and Roger Miller just to name a few. I’ll probably write in my blog about 1965 next week to talk more about this great year in music. It will be a really fun evening, and I’d love to have you in the audience.

Friday night 6-9 I’ll be back at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant playing instrumental guitar tunes. Take note that I’m playing a half hour later now that the sun goes down later with the time change and the days growing longer. I’d love to have you if this sounds good to you. Reservations are at 888-994-3156 or you can usually sit at the bar or the small table near me in the bar.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and it’s always a good night of wonderful songs and good camaraderie. These nights are very special to me. Come on out if you can.

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That’s it for this week. I know it has been a tense time for a lot of folks with the volatility in the world and the markets, but I hope you are doing well and are healthy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1965 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, April 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, April 11, 6-9 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, April 13, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Spring

I can’t believe that Spring is here once again. As I watch the trees and prairie and hear the sounds of the birds awakening on my morning walks with Beau, I am delighted to feel the changes. It’s an invigorating energy like the earth is inhaling after long sleep before the sprint and marathon of summer. I write about it every year, and yet every year I’m swept up by it once again. I love it! Of course it means a lot of work in planting and tending and pruning, but it’s all about being alive and involved in what we’re here for - living and loving. I get to watch for the eggs and little songbirds and prey birds as well as baby rabbits and coyote pups. Occasionally I’ll get to see a fawn or a group of young quail scurrying after their parents. It’s pretty magical. I’m always amazed at the resilience of the earth and the beings we share it with - from worms to wolves. And it does the same in me - I take that energy and apply to my tired, older body to drive me to start each day with vigor and joy. It helps me remember that I am part of this earth, and we are starting to see all the wonder of rebirth as we take another trip around the sun.

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities this week, and it was so good to see them.  I’m doing Spring songs among others for these facilities, but I’m always up for anything they want to hear. One facility was a birthday party for one resident who is a friend that was so much fun. Two facilities had to cancel with norovirus unfortunately. I always hate to see this, and I hope the folks heal well and safely. 

My Wednesday online show was more songs from 1975, and it was so much fun. As I wrote before these songs are the ones that I was learning when I first started playing guitar, and so they are really a part of me. It was so gratifying to play these songs, and I think the folks who tuned in got so much out of the songs and the reminiscing.

Friday night I played instrumental guitar at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant, and it was so much fun doing requests and watching the diners react to my tunes. It’s a real joy to experiment with arrangements and tunes in a spontaneous way on these nights.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was a wonderful night of great tunes. I even did a song I had written 40 years ago. This audience is just amazing.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m hoping that more aren’t affected by illness this week. I look forward to seeing the folks and hopefully making their day better.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Spring songs, and these songs are so full of everything I wrote about above - the rebirth and joy of new life and the beauty of Spring. Come on out and join in with the wonderful audience.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I’m sure there’ll be some great moments and sweet requests. I’m happy to play yours as well if you tune in. These nights are so much fun!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’re enjoying the changes that come with Spring.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1975 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, April 2, 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 6, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Sunrises

If you have known me a while or follow me on Instagram or Facebook you’ll know that I love getting up early to see and capture pictures of the sunrise. I’ve been both an early-riser and a late-night person at different times of my life. I love both. They’re quiet, peaceful and full of reflective time that I thrive on. Of course the sweet reality of the early morning is getting the chance to see the sun rise in all its glory. It’s not always the moment that the sun breaks the horizon, but the buildup when the clouds are just right to catch the light and there is just the right amount of dust or volcanic ash in the air to make an outstanding display. I studied just enough meteorology in college to know different cloud formations and conditions. I also did enough professional photography to know my way around a camera, but I’m using my phone for all my sunrise photos, and for the most part the phone does all the settings except for adjusting exposure and composing the shot. The key is just to enjoy the moment and watch the light for just the right time to take each shot. Of course I’m also walking Beau, our almost 10-year-old dog and taking pictures of him too. He’s a very good boy on walks - always stopping when I ask him so I can get a shot. He doesn’t always pose when I’m taking a shot of him, but I get some good shots of him anyway when I can. And the real reason I do it is just to capture the beauty and stillness of the moment to share with others. There are so many things you can do to encourage others, and I’m happy to have a gift to give to others. If you want to see them you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. I also do a couple calendars every year on lulu.com. I’m not saying this as an ad, just wanting you to know in case you want to see them.

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What have I been up to?

I had 14 senior facilities last week, and I was still singing Irish tunes for many of them even though St. Patrick’s Day was just the first day of the week. I just couldn’t let it go, and the energy it gave me and the audience was amazing.

My Wednesday online show was songs from 50 years ago - 1975, and there were so many memories tied up in these songs. Everyone had a great time, and we’ll do some more songs from 1975 this coming Wednesday.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some great ones as well as a couple new songs. I did a couple Jesse Colin Young songs too in tribute to him on his passing. I love this group of folks so much.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’ll be doing Spring songs for most of them. This is the time of year when everything starts to green up and the birds beginning singing in the trees again. It’s a wonderful time to share.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be more songs from 1975, and it’ll be so much fun. This was a really good year as music transitioned from the folk rock of the early ‘70s into the rock and dance music of the later ‘70s. Come on out and hear some old favorites and relive some memories.

Friday night 5:30-8:30 I’m back playing instrumental guitar tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant. Last time I was there I was getting folks who wanted a little bit more rock and roll which was a lot of fun. I’m ready to play whatever the diners want to hear.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and it’s always a very special evening of music and friendship with my online community that I am so privileged to play for and share time with. You’re always welcome, and it’s always a worthwhile time.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you had a good St. Patrick’s Day, and that your Spring is starting well. We’ll probably do Spring songs next Wednesday for my online show.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1975 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, March 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, March 28, 5:30-8:30 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, March 30, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

1975

1975 was an interesting year. Some of my favorite music came out then, and  I was learning a lot of popular songs. It was a little past the very acoustic folk rock era, but there was still a lot of music being recorded on the kind of instruments I was playing and that I was interested in. Our local radio station, KRGI, played a little bit of everything as a lot of AM stations played back then, and so I heard a good cross-section of what was being released. My favorites were the songs I could pick up mostly by ear off the radio. I had a little portable cassette player that I would set next to the radio during the top 40 weekly countdown to capture the songs I wanted to learn. I did buy sheet music and songbooks for a few of the songs I liked that year including “Wildfire” and “Black Water”. Of course you had to pick up what the intros and outros of the songs were through the DJ patter of the day. I got to be pretty good at recognizing the little guitar riffs that people like James Taylor or John Denver would play. I liked the challenge of learning these, and I also started to write my own songs too in little notebooks I’d carry. I mainly played baritone ukulele that year. It was easier on my younger fingers, and it was tuned the same as the top 4 strings on the guitar, so the fingerings were the same. It was the next year when I’d finally get a guitar and launch into more serious playing. But 1975 was a good year for me. I was a pretty short kid until I had a growth spurt later in the year, and it was finishing up junior high school and 9th grade. I was coming into my voice and myself. The music made it all the better. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I had so much fun putting on rambunctious Irish shows for all of them. The Irish tunes are just too much fun. I had a resident that had passed away at one facility who always requested the best songs, so I did a few of his favorites in his memory. You’ll be missed, Lee. 

My Wednesday online show was Irish tunes as well, and there were some great ones with a nice group of folks supporting. I love these people. 

Friday I played the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant, and I had kind of a rowdy group who wanted to hear more rock and roll than Irish music. It was fun!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some new Irish tunes too. I love this group!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 14 senior facilities this week,  and I’ll only get to do Irish tunes for a few before St. Patrick’s Day season is over. I’m sure I’ll do some 1975 songs for those who would like those. It’s such an honor to play for these folks. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1975, and there will be some wonderful tunes. Check out online how many favorites came out that year if you have the chance. Looking through them I see so many favorites that trigger many memories. I already have 101 on my list. This will be a sweet show, and we’ll do it again next week to make sure we hit a lot of the best songs. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know there’ll be some good ones. I’d love to take your requests too if you’d like to tune in. 

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That’s it for this week. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, so I’ll wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ll shout, “Slainte!” (To your health!)

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1975 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, March 19, 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, March 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time