Hopeful

It’s a new year, and I always like starting out with a good attitude and disposition, so I’m starting the year with hopeful songs again. I do this every year, and I have to admit that some years I’m not as hopeful. That’s when it’s time to take stock and meditate on my purpose and path. That’s part of the reason I do hopeful songs. They reconnect me. But as I look through my list of hopeful songs they sometimes feel corny or hokey. That’s when I have to let myself “go there” to that place where I find hope and comfort from even the corniest of songs. Many of us get the after-holiday blues a little bit - especially on cold and dark winter days. (We’re having one of those as I write this with a cup of hot Genmai-cha green tea with roasted rice.) But music and meaningful lyrics pull me right up when I’m feeling a little blue - especially if they’re songs that I have delighted in at other times of my life. They remind me that “there is a crack in everything - that’s how the light gets in” as Leonard Cohen wrote in his song “Anthem”. So no matter what the new year brings, I approach it with hope and a purpose to spread hopeful songs and ideas that will maybe help others.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week even with New Year’s Day in the middle of it. I played fun party songs before New Year’s Eve and then hopeful songs starting with New Year’s Day. Actually, my facility on Friday was celebrating Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday, so I did a bunch of Elvis songs that day. That was fun! I love these folks.

My Wednesday online show was actually Tuesday so we could celebrate New Year’s Eve. It was a blast, and it became a mini-theme show about time with the requests that came in. We celebrated the new year at 8:00 mountain time with a countdown, and then the rest of the night was more party songs and some meaningful ones including “Auld Lang Syne”. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Friday night I played instrumental guitar tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant. I played the Fender Acoustasonic guitar that I had played at the senior facility for Elvis songs that can get both acoustic and electric tones, so that allowed me to play some electric jazz and rock ’n’ roll tunes at the restaurant too. It was fun, and the folks were very complimentary.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and there were a few new songs as well. It was a very good time with good friends.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I think I’ll continue with the hopeful songs I’m playing for Wednesday for these folks as well. I often ponder if I should do more uplifting songs for my senior facilities. I usually go with the flow and take requests too.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be hopeful songs as I wrote above. I have a pretty good list although I’m always finding songs I hadn’t heard or considered before. It’s a fun thing to find these and relay them. Come on out and get a little hope and inspiration!

Friday night 5:30-8:30 I’lll be back at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant playing instrumental guitar tunes again. You’ll note that it’s a half hour earlier than before. I’ll do the rest of my dates for the winter at this time. I’d love to have you come out and enjoy a good meal and my noodling on the guitar. Reservations are usually required unless you’d like to sit at the bar or in the one two-top table in the bar (right next to me). 888-994-3156

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests once again. I’ve now been doing online shows for 14 years, and I love doing them. The last 5 years have been on Facebook and on my website. I have such a wonderful group of folks who frequent my shows, and I love them all. Come join in with us!

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That’s it for this week. I can’t believe it’s a new year. I haven’t messed up writing “2025” on anything yet!

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Hopeful songs

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

When:  Wednesday, January 8, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, January 10, 5:30-8:30 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, January 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time