Monday, November 26, 2018

Thanksgiving Sunrise

I posted an album of pictures on Facebook on Thanksgiving of the unbelievable sunrise I experienced that morning. You may have seen the album or a picture if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter. It really moved me. From the moment I walked out of the house with our dog Beau I could see that it would be special. We walked south on the path, and the sky was full of interesting clouds and an orange and yellow glow was already appearing on the horizon. As we got down to the end of our road on the path the clouds above me were starting to morph from grey to pink. There was a bright star or planet winking through those clouds. Then as we crossed the field to the next road the pink continued to creep across the clouds. Crossing the road and greeting the neighbor and his dogs in their yard, we marveled in the cold at how the scene just kept getting more vibrant and was changing by the minute. I remarked at how I felt drawn right up into the sky and the cosmos. I felt like my heart would burst. Then rounding the corner and heading to the east the orange and red intensified as the pink grew higher and higher into the sky above and to the sides - painting the mountains with a faint rose. As we progressed to the corner heading back south I looked to the west to see streaks of pink in the clouds like a fire lifting from the mountains. At this point I felt so energized and alive. Even Beau watched the light with wonder. As we turned south and then west the pink built and then began to fade fairly quickly to a muted grey as the sun began to wink over the horizon. We turned back north for home, and now the clouds to the east were bright white as the ball of the sun climbed through the yellow glow to make its appearance. It was quite an experience. When I got home I spent some time looking at the pictures I had taken and reliving the beauty. After a little while I picked up a guitar and tried to express what I had seen in music. The result is a new song called “Thanksgiving Sunrise.” I’ll try to play it at my online concert this Sunday. I just wanted to share the experience with you. If you want to see the album of pictures it’s at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10213414971065504&type=1&l=b37e4be1f1

What have I been up to?

Last Wednesday’s Tree Lighting at the Pueblo Zoo was really fun. We had a good crowd of families and friends ready to see the ElectriCriiters and check out the gingerbread house contest.

Thanksgiving was lots of family and food with good conversation and laughter. I hope yours was too.

Sunday playing for Cuchara Chapel was fun too. I played my new “Thanksgiving Sunrise” song with my slideshow of the pictures, and several good friends came. We even did a gospel-style “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” sing-along with suggestions from the congregation.

What’s up this week?

Saturday 7-9 I’m playing a very special Christmas concert at the Bell Tower Cultural Center in Florence, CO. I have played several concerts at the wonderful Bell Tower, but this is the first time I’ve played for Christmas. Beings that it’s in an old church I’ll bet there are some great Christmas vibes there, and I expect it will be an amazing time. Tickets are $8 for members and $10 for non-members.   The Facebook event page is here - https://www.facebook.com/events/309687999591956/?ti=ia

Sunday 7- 8ish MDT I’m doing my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert from my brother's living room in Taos with a live audience of friends. My brother and his wife really know how to decorate a house for the holidays, and this will be a beautiful concert full of Christmas cheer. Please tune in if you can. concertwindow.com/tommunch

That’s it for this week. I’m talking to the Pueblo Zoo about doing another concert/sing-along at the zoo the week before Christmas like we did last year. I’ll get back with details about that, and I’ll probably put it on Concert Window too. I also have several other places I’m playing in December - Littleton, La Veta, Pueblo, and Cuchara. It’s an exciting time. Hopefully there will be even more beautiful days with beautiful sunrises.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch
What: playing a Christmas concert
Where: Bell Tower Cultural Center, 201 East Second Street, Florence. 719-784-2038
When: Saturday, December 1, 7-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert from Taos, NM
Where:  online at https://concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, December 2, 7-8:15ish pm MDT

Monday, November 19, 2018

Season for Caring

Well, the holiday season is upon us.  I’m taking stock of my feelings today as I approach the season.  I usually have to pace myself and not get into the spirit too soon.  I’m still a sucker for all things Christmas even after all these years.  It probably suits me well since I love Christmas songs and love getting to sing them for people every day and watch the songs work their magic on hearts all around.  It really is a chance to show caring for others in an even bigger way than we do all year long.  This can be tough financially, but it doesn’t cost anything to let go of some meanness that may creep into your life and replace it with a caring spirit.  It really helps us all when we care for even just one more person out there.  So give it a try and see if it doesn’t help your holiday spirit and the greater world.  We all need each other, and this season is a great excuse for caring for others.

What have I been up to?

I haven’t been playing out as much as during the summer.  This gives me a chance to catch up on all that stuff I said I’d do when things slow down.  It also gives me time to spend with family which is always good.

My monthly online concert was great fun as always.  I did some very different songs, I think, and it felt good to branch out a little from my usual fare.

I didn’t play at Cuchara Chapel that week on Sunday because we had a pretty big snow storm blow through, and the roads in that direction turned to ice and packed snow in a hurry.  I did get out in it a little to have a rehearsal for a Veterans Day show in Walsenburg on Monday that went really well.  We stuck to patriotic songs this year which was a little heavy but honorable.

What am I up to this week?

Wednesday 5:30-6:30 I’m playing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Gingerbread House Contest at the Pueblo Zoo.  I did this for the first time last year, and it was a blast!  The zoo folks are such good people, and it’s really gratifying to be involved in such a happy event.  There’ll be hot cocoa, adult beverages, and more.  Come on out if you can.  Tickets are $10 which also gets you 2 tickets to see the ElectriCritters lighting display.  There’s more info on the evening here - https://www.pueblozoo.org/gingerbread.

Thursday is family and Thanksgiving.  I’m taking the day off.  Hope you can too.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday I’m playing at Cuchara Chapel service 10-11 in Cuchara.  I’m looking forward to it.  Cuchara is beautiful with the recent snowfall, and nothing will put you in the holiday spirit more than a beautiful morning in the mountains with mountain views and inspiration.

That’s it for this week.  I have a bunch of holiday gigs coming up, and I’ve created Facebook events for many of them if you’re a Facebook person.  If not, check out my calendar - http://tommunch.com/calendar.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and start to the holiday season.  Spread the caring!

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony
Where:  Pueblo Zoo
When:  Wednesday, November 21, 5:30-6:30 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, Nov 25, 10:00 am

Monday, November 5, 2018

Chapters

Fall is always a wonderful time of year - the crisper days, the beautiful leaves, and the general slowdown of life is always a welcome change, but it also brings about a change of chapters that is sometimes hard to deal with. For me it slows down my work in radical ways. I’m sure if you read my regular missives you see that I don’t have as many gigs to share, and sometimes I don’t post and mail weekly at these times. Usually I see this as an opportunity to get to those things I put off during the summer, but this change of chapters sometimes puts me in a little bit of a funk too. I really enjoy seeing friends and being on the go, and my budget gets a little tighter. Life is just more fulfilling when we’re fully engaging. So I start the next chapter and adjust my activity and mindset with a little angst and a little love. And I always appease myself by trying to rise above and look at the view from 40,000 feet. That’s when I remember that we’re all in this together and my life is not that different than everyone else. If I keep creating and giving what I have to give then it will all work out. It’s just another chapter.

What have I been up to?

Friday at Bistoro was a really cool night of old and new faces. The food was fantastic, and I really enjoyed pulling out some musical gems. I think Bistoro will be a nice musical home.

Saturday the St. Jude fundraiser at CaT's Pourhouse was very successful and a lot of fun. I got to feed the energy of the room with some cool old songs, and many children should be helped by our efforts.

What am I up to this week?

Monday at 7:00 MST I’m doing my monthly online living room concert. I have a few requests, and I’m planning some other fun surprises. Please tune in if you can. More and more I’m seeing this as a wonderful way to play for friends all over the globe. It’s a pretty cool thing to be able to do this. Here’s the address - concertwindow.com/tommunch.

Sunday 10-11 I’m playing for the Cuchara Chapel again. They had a pretty good snow at Halloween, so I’m sure it’s beautiful up there. I’m looking forward to it. If you feel like seeing the winter wonderland and beautiful mountain views with a little inspiration, come on out.

That’s it for this week. Things coming up include playing for the Pueblo Zoo treelighting just before Thanksgiving and doing my December online concert live from Taos. Check my calendar for all my other things as well - tommunch.com/calendar.

Best,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  online at concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Monday, Nov 5, 7-8:15ish pm MDT

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, Nov 11, 10:00 am