Gems

I’m writing today about songs that are gems to me - favorites that I don’t get to play often anymore. Why don’t I get to? Well, I just don’t play the kind of venues where I can randomly choose my own list of songs. Ever since the pandemic I’ve given up on playing at bars and restaurants for the most part where I would choose like this. At these venues I might play for 3 or 4 hours, and I would wander all over my song library - playing all kinds of diverse tunes. Part of not playing at these venues is because I established a nice online community for whom I enjoy playing where I do mainly requests, and part of this is just age and preferring not to go out at night as much. I also play senior facilities where I do different songs than I would do in a bar or restaurant, and I often choose to play a theme for them that doesn’t include some of my old gem favorites. I do miss playing these favorites. This is part of the reason I’m playing a show of Beatles tunes this week. I just haven’t had the chance to play many Beatles songs for several years. I guess it’s kind of a luxury to have learned so many songs over the years and to have had places to play them. The funny thing is that I’ve almost forgotten how to play some of these tunes that I haven’t played in such a long time. That’s definitely the age talking. I just don’t have the brain sharpness that I once had. There’s something so satisfying about getting lost in an old favorite song that hits all the right notes musically and philosophically. It’s always been kind of a meditative state that has helped me thrive. I’m going to try to get there more often!

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What have I been up to?

I had 12 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed playing for all the folks I got to see. There were many special moments. This is a gift.

My Wednesday online show was doing songs about the beach, and it was a fun night with several new tunes. I got to reminisce about beaches I’ve spent time on and fun in the sun and the waves. I think the audience really enjoyed it!

Thursday at the Yellow Pine Barbecue was a great time too with a good crowd of familiar and new faces. These evenings go by way too fast.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and it was a good time with good folks. These nights are so full of joy and camaraderie.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’ll probably do a few patriotic songs in anticipation of Independence Day. I can’t believe we’ll be celebrating 250 years of our nation in just 2 years. I hope we can see through our divisions to our oneness on this great occasion.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Beatles tunes as I wrote above. I’ll try to get to some of the songs I haven’t played in a long time although I’m sure I’ll hit some of the ones I’ve played more recently too. I know 70 of the 213 tunes that the Beatles recorded over the years they were together. My audience really likes the Beatles too, so this will be a cool night. Come on out if you can.

Thursday 6:30 - 8 I’ll be playing at the Yellow Pine Barbecue in Cuchara again. We’re getting into the heart of the season now so these nights are just full of energy and good vibes. I’d love to have you come out too if a barbecue meal in a historic barn with my music sounds good to you. Call 719-742-3528 to make a reservation today.

Saturday I’m playing a private house concert that I’m looking forward to at the home of some musician acquaintances of late. I love playing house concerts.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests once again, and I’m sure it will be a fulfilling evening amongst friends as always. These Sunday nights are always a highlight of the week. Tune in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. Next week will be Independence Day with some family get-togethers as well as music and art in the park in La Veta which is always a blast. I’ll write more about that then. I hope you’re well and happy this summer.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Beatles songs

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

When:  Tuesday, June 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, June 27, 6:30-8:00 pm

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 30, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Beach

I’m thinking this morning about the beach and how it draws so many people this time of year. Most of the time I’ve spent on beaches has been in the cooler parts of the country, so it hasn’t been the swimsuit-and-sandcastle time that many folks remember. We did have some lakes with big sandy beaches where I loved doing some of the warm-weather activities when I was a kid. Either way the beach has the same mystique of the millions of tiny grains and beautiful blue water running up the sand with little birds and driftwood and bits of washed-up curiosities. I’ve walked for miles on beaches - exploring coves and marveling at the power of the waves. I’ve rinsed out many pairs of shoes and felt the sand in my hair and vacuumed it out of cars. I’ve loved the sounds of the sea birds and ringing bells and cresting waves. The smells I haven’t enjoyed as much. There’s definitely an odor that I forget about until I smell it of fish and dirty foamy water. But then I walk into a fresh-seafood restaurant and love almost anything they offer. I can remember a marvelous day when my niece and nephew were young where we picked up small driftwood pieces that we strung into tuned wind chimes that we played around the campfire that night. There is just such a magic around the beach! I hope you’ve gotten to spend time on beaches too.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed every one. I think I wrote last week that I had 8, but I neglected to mention the one that I got to play on Father’s Day outdoors. It was hot but wonderful. I love these folks.

My Wednesday online show was doing songs from 1970 again, and it was just as fun as the first show we did the week before. I did a few lesser-known songs too just to spice things up a bit. We still had another 60 or so songs we didn’t get to from that year on my list.

Thursday was the first barbecue of the season at Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, and it was so good to see so many familiar faces at this beloved old ranch. It was a hot day, but it cooled off nicely so that folks could roast marshmallow around the fire, and the smiles, music, and barbecue were the best!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was a sweet night as always with such good folks from the Munch Bunch. I love these evenings of music.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 12 senior facilities this week, and it should be a fine time at all of them. The excitement of the summer is so fun to share and celebrate.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be about the beach as I wrote above. There are so many songs that are centered around the magic of the beach, and I’m really looking forward to diving into them. Come on out and share this fun evening with me.

Thursday 6:30-8 is the Yellow Pine Barbecue in Cuchara, and it just gets better by the week. I’d love to have you join me for some great food, rustic atmosphere in the 1890s barn, and my acoustic music. It’s such a fun family time. Call 719-742-3528 to make a reservation today. There are seats available, but don’t wait. We only do these until the second week of August.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and this is often the highlight of the week for me and so many folks. It’s so sweet to have good and supportive friends who love everyone and also good music. I’d love to have you join me.

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That’s it for this week. I have a lot of fun events coming up this summer that you can always see on my website at tommunch.com/calendar. Have a great week, and take care of yourself.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of beach songs

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

When:  Tuesday, June 19, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, June 20, 6:30-8:00 pm

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 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Rain

I wrote about fire last week, and it only seems appropriate this week to write about rain, especially since there was record rainfall near here in Pueblo last night. I’ve always loved the rain. When I was a kid it would be the soothing rain on the tin roof of a cabin in the afternoon when we would play cards or other games until the rain stopped. When I was in college I lived in an old southern-style house with a large porch that we could sit on and watch the storm all around us. I had an old pickup then that I loved to drive through the puddles too fast until it eventually stalled with so much water splashed under the hood. Of course it also brought lightning that chased us off a mountain and into a flimsy tent or tornadoes that destroyed a friend’s house where we were huddled in the basement. (We were okay, but the house was totaled along with my car and the rest of the neighborhood.) And after the rain there was always that fresh air and scent of the rain that we could often smell as the rain approached. Everything seems so rejuvenated after the rain. The dust settles, and the rough paths smooth out if they don’t wash out. There’s always that threat of destruction with rain too. I’m sure you’ve driven through a canyon that had a flash flood wash out parts of the road or you’ve seen erosion that changes a scene that you’ve viewed all your life. Few things are so relaxing like a gentle rain. I’ve often heard many people say how easy it is to sleep at night or take a midday nap while it is raining. Rain is just so important in our lives. I can’t think of many things in life that are so engaging as rain. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and they were all wonderful. I wish you could see the interaction and the special moments I get to experience at these shows.

My Wednesday online show was doing songs from 1970, and it was so much fun that we’ll do another week of 1970 songs. Everyone just had a great time.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones with the folks. There were even a couple new songs to the group. I love these evenings!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and they should all be really fine with the excitement of the season. I’ll be doing Father’s Day songs at many of them with Father’s Day coming up this Sunday.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1970 again since there are so many good songs I know from that year. We had a blast last week, and I expect we’ll do the same this week. Come on out and see and hear!

Thursday 6:30-8 I start the season at the Yellow Pine Barbecue once again. Each year gets better and better playing in the old barn for these special evenings. If you’ve never been you’re missing a really fun time. It’s centered around a fine barbecue meal with all the fixings staged in a barn from the 1890s with my music and a campfire outside where you can roast marshmallows and make s’mores. It’s really a great family experience that often leads to many smiles and dancing and deep memories that last a lifetime. The barbecues run Thursdays from June 13th to August 8th this year, and they fill up fast so a reservation is definitely required. Call 719-742-3528 to make yours today. I look forward to seeing you there!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and you know it will be a sweet night of tunes and friendship. I love this event with so many great folks. 

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That’s it for this week. There are a lot of fun gigs coming up this summer, so stay tuned. And Happy Father’s Day!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1970 songs

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

When:  Tuesday, June 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, June 13, 6:30-8:00 pm

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 16, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Fire

I’m sitting by the fireplace in a mountain cabin as I write this, and I’m marveling at the thing that is fire. Is there anything that warms a heart more than a glowing fire in the hearth? Surely our ancestors first felt this when they tamed fire enough to use it to warm their homes and cook their meals. The comforting crackle and the mesmerizing liquid flames dancing over the wood is just intoxicating. I could sit by a campfire all night just hearing that sound and feeling that gentle warmth. It’s just one of the wonders of this life that makes it so worth living. That’s all have to say without spoiling the simple magic. 

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What have I been up to?

I had just 5 senior facilities last week, but I enjoyed every one. There is something very special about sharing the magic of music. 

My Wednesday online show was songs about mountains, and it was one of my favorite shows ever. I just love sharing songs about one of the things in life that I feel so connected to. My audience enjoyed it so much that some of them said they would listen to it more than once or twice. 

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and it was a really fun show with so many good people in attendance. I love doing these shows. 

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities to play this week, and I’m looking forward to every one!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1970. This was a year with some true favorites that I am looking forward to playing. I’d love to have you join me if you can. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time would be favorites and requests as always, and I’m sure it will be a grand time. Sundays always bring out the finest folks to contribute and enjoy the music. 

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That’s it for this week. Next week starts the Yellow Pine Barbecue, and I’m excited to head to Cuchara to see so many good friends and experience the ambience of the old barn and fill it with my music. If that sounds like fun, then I encourage you to make a reservation and come down on a Thursday for some barbecue and music in a magical place. I’ll have details next week or you can Google Yellow Pine Guest Ranch for more info. I hope you are healthy and happy. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1970 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, June 5, 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 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time