Monday, April 29, 2019

Music and Aliens

One of my favorite podcasts is a sound show called “Twenty Thousand Hertz.” It features all kinds of topics around sound - from music to hearing to ad jingles to nature. The show topic for this last show was the golden records that were sent on the Voyager spaceships. These records had all kinds of info that was intended to hopefully introduce us to other life forms someday who would come upon the ships and these golden records. There was human speech included as well as pictures and sounds of nature, but the thing that fascinated me most was the inclusion of music in many varieties from all over the world - some with integral mathematical complexity and some with folksy simplicity.  You see, we don’t have any idea what kind of alien life forms will find this information, and we don’t know what they’ll understand about us. Maybe they won’t have the visual or auditory systems that we do, so maybe they won’t have eyes to see the pictures or ears to hear the melodies we sent. Maybe they will only understand the mathematics of the music in the way the notes interact with pitch and timing and not the melodic beauty of the sound. Maybe they will communicate through ESP, and so our physical way of communicating and sending info will be lost on them. It’s amazing to think about, and really makes me wonder how we perceive life on our world. I have a feeling that we would be able to communicate with them on some fundamental level, but that goes to my thoughts that we are all a part of the universe on a quantum level - a topic I’ve talked about before and will again. Do you have any thoughts about this?  I wish I was a fly on the wall when the scientists were deciding what to include on these golden records.

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What have I been up to?

I’ve had a couple weeks off from weekend and public gigs, but I’ve been busy still.

Two weeks ago on Saturday I did my concert with Ken Saydak at the La Veta Mercantile. It was such a good time! We had a great group of folks come out and enjoy an evening of 1960's tunes and new originals. I will remember this night for a long time.

The following Sunday I played a new song I wrote at the Cuchara Chapel. It was very well-received, and then they asked me to play for Easter, and I wrote another song and played for that too with my good friend, Peggy Hoobler. I love playing for these folks immensely!

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What am I up to this week?

Friday night 6-9 is our monthly first-Friday at Bistoro, and I’m looking forward to it. It’s become a busy place on my Fridays, so make a reservation if you plan to come - 719-696-9672.

Sunday 7-8ish MDT is my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert. I haven’t picked out a theme for this show yet, but trust that it will be something entertaining and enlightening. I love playing these for you. Please tune in if you can - concertwindow.com/tommunch.

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That’s it for this week. I had a birthday last week, and we made a trip to Taos Saturday to celebrate and spend a little time in the mountains. It was grand! Be good to each other, and hopefully I’ll see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

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

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert from my living room
Where:  online at https://concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, May 5 7-8:15 MDT

Monday, April 8, 2019

Groggy

I’m writing today in a fog.  Our sweet dog Beau has taken to getting us up (principally me) at least once a night and sometimes more to go outside.  We know there’s nothing wrong with him, but he keeps on doing it.  I love him with all my heart, but meanwhile I’m living with dark circles under my eyes and a sleepless stupor that puts me in a weird zone thought-wise and emotionally.  I have been to many conferences and reunions over the years where I’ve had little to no sleep because of the excitement and the late hours talking or playing music combined with early mornings for meetings or sunrise walks with friends.  During these events I’ve noticed the same thing in my thoughts and emotions.  I am in a state of grogginess that is almost dreamlike in its hazy drifting in and out of dull brain-numbness combined with deep insights and waves of emotion.  It’s really fun on one hand and scary on the other as I question what I’m doing and where I am in my thoughts and in the progression of the day.  Have you ever experienced this?

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What have I been up to?

Last Friday was a really fun night at Bistoro.  There were so many fine friends and such a buzz all night that kept us going.  Marvelous!

Sunday was my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert, and there more folks tuned in than ever before.  I did songs from the ’60’s combined with a new original song and a few requests from different genres.  It was very special, and it was so good to see there were folks from all over the country who I haven’t seen in years.  Technology is truly a wonderful thing sometimes.

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What am I up to this week?

Saturday at 7:00 is my latest “Crunch and Munch” concert with Ken Saydak at the La Veta Mercantile.  Ken and I have been working on some fun ’60’s songs for the show (which is why I did some at my online concert.) These songs have great harmonies and bring up some sweet memories of days gone by.  We’ll also do a couple original songs.  Hopefully we’ll have lots of folks come out to enjoy the vibe we’re putting down.  We’re having a blast!  Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

Sunday 10-11 I’m playing for Cuchara Chapel morning service for Palm Sunday.  In addition to Palm Sunday Reverend Eileen’s theme is choosing love over fear to gain peace of mind.  This is right in line with so much I’ve blogged about over the past few years, and I’m writing a new song about this idea to perform at the service.  Come on up if you’re in the mood for a beautiful mountain valley and some genuine inspiration.

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That’s it for this week.  I didn’t do too bad considering my grogginess.  Be good to each other, and spread the love from knowing we’re all in this together.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch and Ken Saydak
What:  playing and singing a “Crunch and Munch” concert
Where:  La Veta Mercantile (The Merc), 300 South Main Street, La Veta 719-742-3387
When:  Saturday, April 13, 7-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, April 14, 10:00 am

Monday, April 1, 2019

Recordings

I’m wondering what you prefer in recordings. Do you like them to be intimate and simple, full and produced, or live and energetic? I’ve liked a lot of different types of recordings over the years. I like very intimate recordings like the recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio from the late 1930’s and early 1940’s where you can hear every note of each instrument and Nat’s voice. The sparseness of some recordings seems magical - especially solo guitar or piano. But then I also like the fully layered and produced recordings of Dan Fogelberg from the 1970’s where there were sometimes multiple guitars, keyboards, strings, and vocals along with bass and drums. I’ve not been very fond of live recordings because the quality is sometimes not very good and the instruments and vocals are not very clear, but I have friends who adore live recordings for their energy and even mistakes, and I do admit I have some favorite recordings that are live. I’m asking out of curiosity, but also because I’d like to know what you prefer in my recordings. I’m planning to do one or two recordings this year - one live and one in the studio. Thank you in advance for your response.

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What have I been up to?

Last Friday I played at Walter’s Brewery for a nice group of friends. I’ve been into 1960’s tunes lately as I’m working up an evening of those songs for my show with Ken Saydak on the 13th of April at the La Veta Mercantile. I played several 60’s tunes. It was fun!  We had a really close lightning strike at one point, so I unplugged and did several songs acoustically to avoid getting a shock if the lightning struck closer. That was pretty cool - the music, not the lightning.

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What am I up to this week?

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at Bistoro in Pueblo. I love playing for these folks in this lovely venue. I’d like to see you there, and if you come make sure you call for a reservation as it has been packed the last few times. 719-696-9672

Sunday night 7-8:15 is my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert at concertwindow.com/tommunch. I enjoy doing these concerts so much, and hearing from folks all around the country is such a joy. Please tune in if you can.

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That’s it for this week. Let me know what you think about recordings. To me the most important thing I can do with my music is to move you. Knowing your preference really helps.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  Bistoro, 109 Central Plaza, Pueblo. 719-696-9672
When:  Friday, April 5, 6-9 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert from my living room
Where:  online at https://concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, April 7, 7-8:15 MST