The Frontier

I’m doing Alaska and other points north songs on Wednesday to celebrate the running of the Iditarod sled dog race this week, and that has me thinking about the frontier and all it has represented throughout our American history. I have always had a romantic affinity for the folks who came west in the 1800s and then later some up north to Alaska. The adventure and uncertainty appeals to the wild explorer in me although who knows if I could have done what my predecessors did. I once wrote a song with my friend Don Richmond about what it would have been like to journey with the pioneers called “Horizon Line”.

Green shoots of spring on the plain, Sunshine that falls through the rain

Not knowing what we leave behind, Or what beckons that we can't explain

CHORUS

There's a light I would find, on the horizon line

Shining beyond the mist and the mountains to climb

Dreams that we wear on our sleeve, Stories we barely believe

Gold that lies strewn on the ground, And more wonders than we can conceive

CHORUS

BRIDGE 

Fly up to the moon, sail across the sea

Walk among the stars above, will you go with me

Seems we have traveled so far, It's so hard to know where we are

The pathway still rises ahead, Straight toward a beckoning star

CHORUS

That song seems to capture a lot of the emotion and excitement of these folks. I also just finished an A. B. Guthrie Jr. book about trappers, and I’m reading another about pioneers now, so I’m really thinking of what it would take to be daring enough to set out for the territory. Wednesday we’ll celebrate these folks who went to Alaska through a bunch of songs. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and they were all so much fun and so worthwhile. It is a privilege to sing for these folks!

My private Valentine’s show on Monday was wonderful too with such sweet folks. One of the couples there fell in love while starring together in a production of “Brigadoon”, and it was so much fun singing a song from that and hearing their stories.

Wednesday’s show of Burt Bacharach was also a fine time with so many great tunes with clever beats and melodies. Burt really wrote some memorable tunes. He’ll be missed.

Sunday’s show of requests and favorites was great fun too with a great bunch of friends and followers. I am blessed to have such good people around me.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. I know there will be some great moments this week.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the Alaska and other northern songs I wrote about above. I may have enough songs just about Alaska without any Canadian songs if I can get several more songs under my belt by then. Come on out if you want to hear some great northern songs.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be requests and favorites as always. Each week I make sure I have songs ready for all of our regulars even if they didn’t have a specific request for that week. It’s always a good time, and you’re always welcome.

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That’s it for this week. We’re starting March, so I’ll be tuning up my Irish guitar and starting to play songs from the great Irish songbook. I look forward to this time every year!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Alaska songs

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

When:  Wednesday, March 1, 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 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Burt Bacharach

I’m doing a tribute to Burt Bacharach on Wednesday night, and Burt’s music may surprise you if you know something about music and songwriting. He was teamed with Hal David as a lyricist for much of his success, and the inventive combinations of notes, words and syncopations they came up are very catchy and at times difficult to play. Burt often came up with melodies and musical phrases that he didn’t realize were changing time signatures and keys until he began to notate them on paper. When I’ve written my own lyrics that were difficult to fit into simple melodies and syncopations it has made me pull my hair out. I have great respect for those who can do it so easily. That said, it is sometimes uncomfortable to listen to music that you can’t really tap your foot to and follow without concentration. Burt somehow was able to make his music complicated without listeners being uneasy with the sophistication he presented. There are some songs that I’m still flummoxed by, but I grew up loving so many of his tunes that I am honored to try my hand at them. Of course,  I won’t have his signature trumpet sounds and other recognizable elements, but I can strip the songs down to the essence and try to pull them off. It will be a great workout.

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities last week, and they all went really well. Most of them are not requiring masks now. It’s such a pleasure to get to play for these folks.

Tuesday at Gold Dust Saloon was fun playing table-to-table for the diners. I was a little hesitant to interrupt people, but a lot of them were friends and it turned out to be a fine time!

Wednesday was Mardi Gras songs online and it was a lot of fun. There are some great tunes for Mardi Gras, and I think the group really enjoyed it.

Saturday I did a Philmont songs concert online, and I got to see a lot of old friends and do a lot of old favorites and a few surprises. It’s fun to be with this community!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I spent the better part of the day working up songs for these friends. It’s always so good to share these evenings.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and it will be so much fun doing some more Mardi Gras songs for them and getting to serve them with music.

Monday lunch I’m doing a private Valentine’s show for a church in Pueblo that I have played for many times. It’s so much fun to put together these special shows for good people.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Burt Bacharach songs as I wrote above. Many of these songs are a real challenge, and although I am a little worried about my delivery, it will be so much fun to get lost in these songs and memories. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I’d love to have you if you’d like an evening of requests and good times. Send me your requests!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day, and I hope you’ll have a little gumbo to celebrate Mardi Gras. We always do at our house!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Burt Bacharach songs

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

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

Mardi Gras

I’m doing Mardi Gras songs on Wednesday in preparation for Mardi Gras the following  Tuesday. It’s an opportunity to do some really fun songs, and it’s a chance to pay tribute to New Orleans, the place that birthed most of the music that the United States is known for. The port of New Orleans brought in such a mixture of folks from different cultures who settled on her shores and up the banks of the Mississippi River, and when all of this began to simmer it created jazz, blues, and rock and roll. It’s pretty amazing how this all came together, and it’s a pleasure to do some of the more representative tunes of Mardi Gras. When creative folks let it flow we end up with much more than the sum of the parts. That’s a lesson in letting it be! I like it!

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities last week, and only a few are still requiring masks. It seems we may finally be at the edge of COVID although I know that some folks are still getting sick. I sure enjoy getting to smile at these folks and have them see it.

My Wednesday online show was romantic songs, and it was so wonderful to spread love to everyone. My group had some great requests.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones. It was a joyful evening. This group is so giving and thankful.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and it should be a fine time at all of them with Valentine’s Day songs and then Mardi Gras songs.

Tuesday 5:30-8 I’ll be playing table-to-table for Valentine’s Day at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo on Union Avenue. It’s been a little over a year since I played at the Gold Dust, and doing music at the tables will be a fun and novel way to connect with the audience. I’d love to see you there if you’re in Pueblo!

Wednesday my online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Mardi Gras tunes, and it will be a fun show of great tunes and energy. I hope the group really enjoys it.

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show for Philmont Scout Ranch folks on my Facebook Philmont concert group page. If you’re a Philmont alumni person or have an interest Philmont then come on out and reminisce with great mountain and campfire songs.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These shows really shine with such good camaraderie and goodwill. Please come join in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you are faring well this winter. Have a great Valentine’s Day!

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing

Where:  Gold Dust Saloon, 217 S Union Ave, Pueblo, 719-545-0741

When:  Tuesday, February 14, 5:30-8 pm

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Mardi Gras songs

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

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

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont songs for Philmont folks

Where:  Facebook Tom Munch Philmont Songs Concert Group and tommunch.com/online-concerts

When:  Saturday, February 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, February 19, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Romantic Love

Public

Public

Gigs this week:  (Details in blog post below - "Romantic Love") 

Wed - online show featuring romantic love songs 7-8:45 mountain time

facebook.com/tom.munch

tommunch.com/online-concerts

Sun - online show featuring favorites and requests 7-8:45 mountain time

facebook.com/tom.munch

tommunch.com/online-concerts

I’m doing a theme show about romantic love this Wednesday in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, and in comparison to last week’s show about general love there are many, many more romantic love songs. I guess this shouldn’t be surprising, but I’m still kind of astounded that we are so obsessed with love in our songs. I found different studies that show that two thirds of songs are about love. I guess I must not be a romantic because I haven’t written near that many of my songs about love, and I don’t think I perform anywhere near that percentage of love songs either. That makes me feel a little out of touch, but it also helps me understand how much we seek companionship and love from a partner. I especially like the really old love song standards from the 1930s and 1940s. There was an innocence and grace to those songs that was very touching and special. I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea though, so I do songs from many decades and genres. The one genre that I don’t find as many love songs is country music. There are more cheating and “done wrong” songs amongst the country songs that I play than there are warm love songs. That’s okay, but it means I don’t do as many country songs at this time of year. Interesting, huh? Come on out if you can to celebrate love and romance this Wednesday with a lot of sweet couple songs.

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What have I been up to?

I had just 6 senior facilities last week, and I actually had to cancel one for a doctor appointment. Oh well, I sure enjoyed seeing and playing for the folks I could last week.

My Wednesday online show doing general love songs was really rewarding with lots of uplifting and positive songs about life and living life with love. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and there were some fine tunes asked for and played. I love this group so much!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to every one. I say it every week, but it’s a pleasure and a privilege to play for these folks.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time is the romantic love songs I talked about above. There are an unlimited number of really nice tunes that I know and have been requested. It will be a night full of good feelings and love - just right to put you in the mood for Valentine’s Day.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I always look to what new requests I will get during the week even when they’re songs that are real challenges. Come on out and see what happens in the moment.

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That’s it for another week. Next week I will do a Saturday night show for Philmont alumni online on my Facebook group page that I created for these concerts. It’ll be great to see some old friends and share favorite Philtunes. Until then, I hope to see you soon, and I know you’ll take care and spread some love in your daily journey.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of romantic love songs

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

When:  Wednesday, February 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, February 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time