Life and Purposes

I’m contemplating life and purposes today - a common thing for me. If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know I’m working on another album of original songs. I’ve been writing this album for the better party of this year although I honestly haven’t had enough long stretches of writing time to get as far as I had hoped. And the purpose of the album has been convoluted. I want to create something that is a comfort to our cultural angst in this moment. I’ve been tentatively calling it my “hippy-love” album because I wanted to put some of the love from the 60’s out into the world in my own way. This is partially prodded by my own awakening in the past few years. I dare to think I have something to share that’s worthwhile - imagine that. But you already knew that. I’ve been sharing that in my blog for several years. So I did hit the studio a few times this last month with the hope that I would be able to finish the partial songs I had started and record the songs that were complete. Well, I got three songs recorded before I had to rethink. The other new songs weren’t so easy to finish, and the feedback I was getting was that the songs I was hoping to include weren’t real enough and were too preachy. So I spent a few angst-filled days trying to decide whether I should push through and release something possibly half-baked or let the project have the time it needs to make something truly good. I won’t lie to you. It’s tough to go through this mental wrangling. I don’t know how many more years I can do music at the level I want to do. Father Time is not always kind to fingers, vocal chords, and musical brains. So with the studio time I had booked I decided to pursue something else that I’ve been interested in - an old country album and a live album. I was able to record a dozen old country songs in one session that we are now fleshing out, and I’ve been recording my shows for almost three years so that there’s plenty of material there - I just have to listen through it and pick out good recordings of good songs. So that’s where I am in my life right now. I don’t really ever plan to retire, but there will come a day when it doesn’t all come together for me when I take my guitar out of its case. And it’s hard to maintain a good mental outlook when there is so much angst in our culture. But we press on - trying to love others and spread good in the world. Don’t we?

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What have I been up to?

Sunday a couple weeks back was playing for Cuchara Chapel, and it was wonderful getting to play for the folks and spend some time with good friends.

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What am I up to this week?

Wednesday at 5:30 I’m playing for the Pueblo Zoo for the Tree Lighting and ElectriCritters opening which runs from 5-8. This is always a wonderful display full of holiday cheer and fun. They always have new sculptures to see that are whimsical and festive, and I look forward to it! Please come out if you can. You can find more on their website pueblozoo.org or on Facebook.

Sunday 7-8:30 is my First-Sunday Online Living Room Concert, and this will be a holiday show from my brother and sister-in-law's house with all of their wonderful decorations and cheer. We’ve done the past two live Christmas shows from their house either here in Pueblo or near Taos, and they’ve been a blast with folks in the house and online. I do these shows on Facebook Live now, and you can access them on my Facebook page - facebook.com/tom.munch. Please tune in if you can.

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What’s coming up?

I have a bunch of places to play in December with the holidays. In addition to all of the private parties and nursing and retirement facilities I’m playing I have the following:

6th, 6-9, Bistoro, Pueblo, CO
7th 7-9, Bell Tower Cultural Center Christmas Concert, Florence, CO
8th 10:30-11:30, Cuchara Chapel, Cuchara, CO
8th 5:30-8:00, Holiday Evening at the Littleton Museum, Littleton, CO
15th 7-9, Society Hall Christmas Concert with Don Richmond, Alamosa, CO
21st 7-9, La Veta Mercantile Christmas Concert, La Veta, CO

I’d love to see you and give you a big holiday hug if you’re in the area for any of these shows.

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That’s all for this week. I hope you are well and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and ElectriCritters
Where:  Pueblo Zoo
When:  Wednesday, November 27, 5:30-6:30 pm


Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing a concert from my brother and sister- in-law's living room
Where:  online at facebook.com/tom.munch
When:  Sunday, December 1, 7-8:15 pm MST

Writing About Music

I’m working on music for the album I’m recording in the studio, and I’m in a bit of a quandary. I’m tentatively planning on calling the album “Love”, and my idea is to harken back to the 60's with an emphasis on helping each other and bringing a little love into our current culture. But my quandary is exactly how to do that. I’ve written several songs already, but they come across as kind of preachy or weird at times. If you know me you know that I’m pretty mellow and accepting of everyone, and I definitely don’t try to offend. But as I’m aging I’m wanting more and more to spread what little wisdom and insight I’ve gained in my short 58 years on this planet. It’s a tall order, and not one I take lightly. My blog over these past several years has been leaning toward this same goal. I’m just convinced that we all do better when we accept and help each other instead of tearing each other down and spreading fear. Yes, we all have our differences and unique ways of looking at the world, but many of our ills could be helped by just small gestures of care and love. There is plenty of everything to go around if we stop fighting and start caring. Of course, my own spiritual beliefs go very deep into directions that I don’t expect others to adopt or understand, but I think we can all prosper and live joyful and full lives no matter what our beliefs are if we just try.

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What have I up been up to?

Friday night at Bistoro was full of wonderful friends and new faces. I can’t wait ’til the next time!

Sunday night my online concert on Facebook was a blast. I did Beatles tunes with a few other writers thrown in from requests. It was an unplanned party!

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What am I up to this week?

Monday I’m in the studio working on the album I mentioned above. I really enjoy the creative process, and it’s so good to be back into it.

Sunday at 10:30 I’m playing for the chapel service at Cuchara Chapel in Cuchara, Colorado. I’m working up a new tune that I’m really looking forward to sharing. If you’re up for a beautiful drive in the mountains and seeing fresh snow on the Sangre de Cristo mountains then come on down.

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That’s it for this week. I appreciate you and your friendship. If you have any comments on my ideas above please reply.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:


Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, November 10, 10:30 am