Mountains

I’m thinking of mountains today and how much they have meant to me over the years. There are many things in life that are so much bigger than we are as individuals - mountains, oceans, canyons, stars, and many more. They remind us of just how majestic and mysterious life can be. When I’m on a mountain or even driving through mountains I am struck by their beauty and sheer power of presence. There is danger there, and there is delicate gracefulness as well. The jagged rocks and precious flowers are side-by-side in perfect harmony. And they offer “Because it’s there!” challenges and relaxation as well. Then of course there are the cool breezes and exciting wildlife. As I have written before, we have had family summer cabins in the mountains northern New Mexico that my grandpa and grandma built or acquired since 1930 that we would spend a week or so at in the summertime. Then I worked in the summers of high school and college either teaching backpacking or playing music in the mountains.  My family still has the cabins, and we spend a weekend at the beginning and end of the season opening and closing them every year. It’s that weekend coming up this week, so I have it fully in my mind and am looking forward to the sights and smells of the mountains even though there’s lots of hard work to be done fixing and maintaining them. So here’s to the mountains and every other facet of nature that delights and encourages us to live life to the fullest.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I had a blast at all of them. I really enjoy connecting with the folks when I get a chance to talk to them before and after my shows. There are so many great stories!

My Wednesday online show was doing summer songs as we were celebrating the start of the season with Memorial Day. It was great fun! I love playing for such good and caring people.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good new ones as well as old favorites. I’m still playing with lower tunings on my guitar, and it makes every song sound new and different. This community is fantastic!

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What am I up to this week?

I have just 5 seniors facilities this week - mainly because it’s the end of a 31-day month, and there aren’t as many monthly repeating days that fall in the last few days of a longer month. I’m sure I will love every one of them!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about mountains and mountain doings. This is a joyful theme that has me deep-diving into some of my favorite songs. Come on out and share it with me if you can!

I have a funeral on Friday for an elderly man whom I had the privilege of playing for him and his wife at their 50th wedding anniversary 20 years ago. What a joy to live such a long life with so much love.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I expect I’ll be pretty sore but happy after being in the mountains for a couple of days working hard. As a result, I’m sure the energy at Sunday’s show will be really something. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. My season for the Yellow Pine Barbecue starts in just 2 weeks on June 15th, and I’ll be writing more about it. Of course, there are many more summer gigs (mostly in the mountains!) that I’ll be writing about as the summer progresses. I’d love to see you at any of these wonderful gigs. Here’s my calendar if you want to read ahead - http://tommunch.com/calendar.

Happy Memorial Day!

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of mountain songs

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

When:  Wednesday, May 29, 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, June 2, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Here Comes Summer

It’s that time of year again - just before Memorial Day when you can just feel the summer ramping up. I write about it every year, and I feel no different this year as I scramble to keep up with yard work and so many projects on my list - not to mention more gigs. I always feel it like a wave that I need to swim at full bore to match speed with as it approaches. I love the excitement, and I love the long days and beautiful seasonal flora and fauna all around me. I often wonder how long I can keep up the pace in the summer, but then I feel the intoxication of the season, and I just fly. When I walk in the mornings with Beau we can hear the birds chirping and smell the earth and plants. It’s pretty magical. And when I’m off to my gigs I get to see the summer mountain folks and catch up with everyone’s life. What’s not to love? How about you? Do you love this time of year?

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What have I been up to?

Last week I had 11 senior facilities, and it was so much fun doing different themes at some of the facilities for National Nursing home Week. I love playing for these folks.

My Wednesday online show was songs I’ve never done at my online shows, and there were some good gems and old favorites that I hadn’t played in many years. I think everyone enjoyed it. I surely did.

Saturday I did an online show for Philmont alumni that was full of memories and favorite mountain songs plus some new tunes I thought fit very well. It was so good to hear from old friends from more than 40 years ago.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones there as well. I have such a vibrant community of friends who support me and each other through music and friendship.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to them so much. I’m trying to learn requests more for these folks as they ask for them. It’s always a challenge, but it’s so good to connect with someone over a favorite song.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be fun summer songs as I wrote above. The energy of this season is just magical and fun to wrap up and present in a show. I’m sure there’ll be some great requests too!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will be a blast once again. With summer chores I don’t have as much time to work on songs for everyone, but we have a great time all the same. It is so fulfilling to be part of such a vibrant group of folks.

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That’s it for another week. I can’t believe this year is flying so fast. I hope you’re doing well and enjoying your life. Come on out and listen to some music, or reply to this email and tell me how you are doing.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of summer songs

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 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 

Color

I’m standing at my desk and looking around my room when suddenly I’m taken by so many beautiful colors I see on items around me. I’m amazed at how enchanted I am by color and its depth. I know many of us are - just look at how excited we all got at the appearance of the northern lights over the last weekend reaching all over the northern hemisphere. I tend to go for purples and turquoise greens - the influence of my high school colors of purple and gold and also all the turquoise jewelry I saw as a kid in New Mexico. I have pens, pocket knives, jackets, scissors, shirts, and even guitars with my favorite colors. But I really love all colors from subtle to bold. It’s part of the reason I take sunrise photos every day. There’s just something magical about how light plays on different objects and picks up the dust, water, and chemistry in the atmosphere. The fact that the sunrise lasts only a short time makes it even more special. But then as I think about color I’m reminded how much I love black and white photography too, especially the work of Ansel Adams. I guess I’m just a visual junky for contrast and depth and anything that evokes strong feelings. I say it all the time, but I am really amazed by the beauty of this life and our universe. I hope you are too. It’s such a simple thing that can bring so much joy.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and they were all really wonderful. I was doing mostly songs for Mother’s Day, and my folks seemed to appreciate them all.

My Wednesday online show was doing instrumental songs, and it was a blast. There are just so many fun and meaningful songs from the past 80 years as well as my own songs. I especially enjoyed the surf songs. I wish I had more time to listen to instrumental music.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones. We did a lot of songs for mom as well to celebrate Mother’s Day. This is such a great group of folks.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and this is also National Nursing Home Week, so there’ll be all kinds of fun themes and great energy. This will be fun!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be another round of songs I’ve never done for my online shows. I love doing these never-done shows because I get a chance to surprise my audience with new songs they don’t know and old songs they didn’t know I do. I get to play a lot of songs I haven’t played in years as well. Come on out if you’d like to hear them!

Saturday night 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show on Facebook and my website of Philmont songs for the friends and acquaintances I’ve made from Philmont Scout Ranch where I worked 3 summers in high school and college. These are always nice nights of memories and favorite mountain songs. If you’re a Philmont friend then join me on my Philmont Songs Concert Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These are always the best night of the week for spontaneous friendship and songs. I relish them. Come join in!

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That’s it for this week. The summer season starts soon, and I’ll have lots of gigs to tell you about and places to travel to. Hope you are having a good week, and I hope to see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of never-done songs

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

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

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont tunes

Where:  facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370

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

Instrumentals

My Wednesday show is going to be instrumental tunes, and my feelings toward instrumental songs might be different than you would think. I’ve only made one solo instrumental album although I’ve written many more instrumental tunes. The interesting thing about instrumental songs is that without lyrics the listener can imagine the song is about anything they want, independent of what the song title or description is. When I play an instrumental song I usually talk about what inspired it, but the listeners often say that they envision many images and feelings that I never saw or felt. Instrumental songs can bring out deep emotions and trigger all kinds of senses more than just sound. It’s amazing. And they really trigger profound feelings in me that I try to convey when I perform them. I once wrote a song about sitting on a cabin porch watching a mountain sunset, and when I recorded it I was suddenly transported back decades to when I first saw the sunset there. I improvised a whole new section of the song that was inspired by memories of my long-gone grandparents who were at another cabin across the meadow at the time. I was flooded with so many memories as I felt their presence and went with the melody that was flowing through me. It was quite an experience! That song is “Moreno Valley Sunset”. It was so profound for me. And of course there are lots of fun instrumental songs that are kick to play. I’m sure you have favorite instrumental albums of all kinds of music, from guitar to piano to full orchestra. It’s a very worthwhile experience listening to melodies and rhythms without words sometimes. Do you have any favorite instrumental albums?

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all with quite a variety of songs. I so enjoy getting to play for these folks!

My Wednesday online show was rain songs, which was more fun than anyone had an idea it could be. There is so much joy in seeing the life-giving effects of rain. My audience was in fine form.

My Saturday night concert at the Center for Inner Peace in Pueblo went really well. I had a nice audience of great people, and it was so much fun to be able to shine for a group of folks with some meaningful favorite tunes. Thank you to everyone who helped put it on - Neema, Kelli, and Tom, and one name I’ve forgotten with his sweet pup, Smoky - and to all who came and shared an evening with me.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and I had spent so much time on the weekend preparing for my Saturday concert and working on the yard on Sunday for Spring that I didn’t have much time to get ready for the show. Everyone really gave me some great requests and made the whole night a blast. I love this group!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. The opportunity to serve others is always worthwhile, and it’s fun to boot!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be instrumental songs as I wrote above. I have to admit that I get more nervous playing instrumental tunes than I do singing even though I love to play the guitar. There are so many wonderful tunes to play from slow to fast though that I know it will be a really fun night. Come on out if you can.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will also be a sweet evening of tunes and camaraderie. I always look forward to Sunday nights! I’d love to have you in the audience.

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That’s it for this week. Spring is rushing headlong into Summer around here as everything is growing and I’m already struggling to keep up. This is an exciting time of year. I hope you are enjoying it, and as the Munch Bunch group says, “Howls and hugs” to you!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of instrumental songs

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

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