Where Does It Come From?

I was walking early one morning last week and was amazed at the energy I had for a fast walk. I hadn't had enough sleep the night before, and I didn't feel energetic when I woke up. But as I walked I began to drink in the sunrise and the beauty of the morning, and before I knew it I was bounding along behind the dog - marveling at how much pep I had. So where did this verve come from? I could say it was the healthy food I had eaten the night before. I could say it was the adrenaline flowing through me as I anticipated the walking path. But it seems that there is an innate energy of the universe that we all tap into when we are aware of it (and even when we're not aware of it!) This seems to be a spirit that flows in nature and all through us. Many religions have names for this - chi, prana, ki, even God, depending on how you look at it. The universe is full of energy that makes the planets move and even the plants on earth grow. It is unstoppable and magical in the way it affects us. It feels amazing to be a part of it and sense its flow in us. Drink it in!

What have I been up to?

The first Thursday of the season at the Yellow Pine barbecue was too much fun! It was so good to see old friends and be in the barn letting the music flow. This is going to be a fun summer!

What's up this week?

Thursday is the Yellow Pine barbecue 6:30-8:30 again. Please join me for a beautiful night under the mountain stars in the old barn. Call 719-742-3528 for reservations by Tuesday. 

Friday night is good beer and good food at PDubs in Pueblo West 6-10. They are celebrating their first year of brewing and business, and I'm happy to be a part of the celebration. Please come on out for a really fantastic night!

What's on the horizon?

June 24th I'm playing for Cowboy Day at the Francisco Fort Museum in La Veta 11-1:30 before I run up to Cuchara for a wedding. It's so much fun to play the old cowboy tunes, and the plaza in the old museum feels just right - like the walls of the place are playing along with all the history they hold. 

July 1st I'm playing Art in the Park in La Veta 11-1. I always enjoy playing for the folks in the park for this event. 

That's it for this week. A very Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there this Sunday. Be good to each other, and I hope to see you soon.

Best,

Tom

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the Barbeque

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

When:  Thursday, June 15, 6:30-8:30 pm

Who: Tom Munch

What: singing and playing for the first anniversary

Where: PDub Brewing Company Taproom, 181 S Purcell Blvd, Pueblo West, 719-647-8864

When: Friday, June 16, 6-10 pm

Beauty of the Outdoors

I spent the weekend in the mountains getting our old cabins open for the summer - opening shutters, draining antifreeze, opening chimneys, cleaning up rodent calling cards, etc. - and I’m always refreshed and made new by being in nature and the great outdoors.  It’s honestly a little amazing how just a little time outdoors can reconnect us to who we are and what our place is in the universe.  We are part of the world and the universe - made up of all the same reactions and atoms and part of the same forces physically and spiritually that shape everything we see around us.  Being in nature seems to enhance this understanding intuitively.  This is calming and exciting at the same time, and the wonder you feel can remind you that our daily worries are very small in the grand scheme of everything.

What have I been up to?

My online concert last Sunday went really well!  I played off the cuff from my favorites list and hit some really special songs that brought me joy in the sharing and playing of them.  Thanks to everyone who tuned in!  My apologies that I set the concert up wrong on the website so that it had a ticket price of “pay what you want.”  This meant that you didn’t have to pay anything, but it was confusing to folks since it’s usually set as free.  I already have next month’s set as free.

What am I up to this week?

This is the first week of the season for the Yellow Pine Thursday-night Barbeque.  This is one of the highlights of my summer!  If you’ve never been, it’s a Texas-style barbeque in the old barn at the Yellow Pine Guest Ranch in Cuchara, Colorado, where I play for dinner and then dancing and listening afterwards.  The feeling in the barn is so cool, and the food and camaraderie is so special that I have a great time playing for this!  I think this is the 16th season I have played the barbeque at the Yellow Pine and the friends I have made up there are really special.  Come join in if you can.  You need to make reservations by Tuesday so that they can plan the right amount of food, and you may want to call a week or more in advance because the evening sells out often - especially in July.  Call 719-742-3528 for reservations.

That’s it for this week.  Check my website for other dates if you’re interested in other places I’m playing and stay tuned.  http://tommunch.com

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing at the Barbeque
Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara.  719-742-3528
When:  Thursday, June 8, 6:30-8:30 pm

Keep Your Head Up

I have an interesting observation that I haven't worked out fully, but it has some interesting implications. One of my daily exercises is on an elliptical machine. We just have a few cheap exercise machines in our house, but they work for us. I only do the elliptical for a short time in my routine to get my heart rate up, and I reached a plateau of a certain pace that I could never break without completely exhausting myself and leaving me gasping for air. My exercise position was always with my head down to read the display so I could keep track of my pace and total revolutions. One day I put my head up straight and just counted my steps. As I was completing my exercise I looked down at the display and realized I was markedly faster than usual, and I also was not nearly as winded as usual. I thought it was a mistake, but day after day I've been able to duplicate it now, and I find the same result on our other machines. Could it be that just the position of keeping my head up makes that much difference to my outlook while exercising? Is it just because my airway is more open with my head up? I know that there is very interesting communication between our minds and brains. Not only can our outlook affect how our body feels, but our body position can also affect our emotion and outlook. I think that keeping your head up is good advice for many aspects of life. It lets us be more aware of the world around us and more comfortable with our body being straight and relaxed. Just like putting a smile on your face can actually make you happy, keeping your head up can make you have a brighter outlook and enjoy the moment more. Could it be that simple? Try it!

What have I been up to?

The concert at Coyote Creek last Saturday was unbelievable! I have never played for a more genuine and appreciative audience. It was a full house, and it was a great time. Thanks to all who help put it on and all who came out!

What's up this week?

Sunday at 7:00 MDT is my next first-Sunday online concert from my living room. I'll be rushing back from opening the cabins, so I'll probably be sporting some mountain spirit and tired muscles that will make it an interesting show. I don't have a plan for what music I'm playing yet, but I'll be doing something special. Please tune in if you can - concertwindow.com/tommunch.

That's it for this week. I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day and are thinking of those who gave their lives and sweat and tears for us.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  online at https://www.concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, June 4, 7-8ish pm MST.

In the Weeds

I’m looking out the back window watching for the rain and contemplating a little noodling on my guitar.  All around there are weeds popping up and gaining steam from all the rain we’ve been having, and in my guitar case there is every pick known to man as I have been experimenting with all kinds of different techniques of getting sound out of a guitar.  In both cases I find myself lost in the weeds.  Our daily walking path and property will soon be overgrown with summer growth, and my guitar playing is full of variables too myriad to mention.  I’m not panicking although I do need to make a plan to take care of both of them so I don’t get overwhelmed.  Each one also presents endless variety and possibility for beauty - with the growth there will be beautiful wildflowers and richness from the earth, and with the guitar there will be new textures of sounds and possibilities for exploration and expression of passion and excitement.  Maybe being “in the weeds” is not such a bad thing.

What have I been up to?

I forgot to thank everyone who tuned into my online concert two weeks ago.  It was so much fun playing for you and seeing all your comments.  It’s really a neat way of reaching out sharing an evening!

Last Friday at PDubs was a blast with lots of good friends - some I hadn’t seen in quite some time.  Brad Schoolland sat in for a bunch of tunes, and the beer tasted so good.  Thanks to all who came and made it possible.

What's up this week?

Saturday at 7:30 I’m playing a concert for Coyote Creek Concert series in Elizabeth, Colorado, at the city park pavilion.  Concerts are such a great way to play music!  I get to stretch out and put all myself into the performance in a way that I don’t get to very often at other venues.  If you’re anywhere in the area please come out.  It's part of Elbert County Music and Art, a non-profit group that does lots of good things in Elbert County.  Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance at their website - coyotecreekconcerts.com.

Almost forgot - this afternoon I’ll be helping to teach a class in music appreciation at Adams State College remotely.  This is a cool thing.  I get to share some of my experiences in music with young, budding musicians.

What's on the horizon?

Summer will be here before we know it, and I have a bunch of events coming up - Yellow Pine Guest Ranch barbecues, PDubs, private parties, weddings, Boy Scout shows, Art in the Park in La Veta, Bull Moose in Guffey, Philmont, online concerts, Feed Store Concert in Westcliffe, Royal Gorge Bridge, and lots more.  Stay tuned!

That’s it for this week.  Hope to see you soon!

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing at concert for Coyote Creek Concert series
When:  Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 pm
Where:  City park pavilion in Elizabeth, Colorado, Tickets - $12 at the door or $10 in advance at the website - coyotecreekconcerts.com

Hear, Taste, Feel the Love

I'm reminded today of what makes things worthwhile in life. It strikes me that all the things that I think are excellent in this life are the result of someone putting in time and effort - great art, technology, food, music, and products. What makes them put in this effort? Well, care, I think, passion, and even love. When we love what we do and how we do it we take the time to do it creatively and to do a depth that is truly excellent! We are drawn to these things because we see that the people making it are engaged and enthusiastic, excited and resonant with life. And it really just takes the openness to explore and see the beauty in things around us to have this enthusiasm.  So in that spirit I invite you to hear, taste, and feel the love!

What have I been up to?

Friday a week ago was the final evening at Magpies until next fall, and it was a packed house of good friends and music lovers. We did all kinds of tunes with lots of favorites.

What's up this week?

Friday night 6-9 I'm back at PDub Brewing Company in Pueblo West for some of that good stuff created with passion - good food, good brews, and good music! Come on out if you can. Brad will be sitting in again for a few tunes, and I'll be in fine form with all my new pick explorations and songs.

It's also National Nursing Home Week, so I'll be doing many, many shows for different facilities around the area all week. I don't talk about the nursing, assisted living, and retirement facilities I play at very often, but it's one of the more enjoyable things I get to do with my time for some wonderful people.

What's on the horizon?

Next week on Saturday, the 27th, at 7:30 I'm playing for the Coyote Creek Concert Series in Elizabeth, Colorado. This is a really cool concert in the pavilion at the city park in Elizabeth. It's part of Elbert County Music and Art, a non-profit group that does lots of good things in Elbert County with love. I'd be honored to have anyone near Elizabeth or around Denver come on out for it. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance at their website - coyotecreekconcerts.com.

That's it for this week. I hope you are gearing up for a fine summer!

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch
What: singing and playing
Where: PDub Brewing Company Taproom, 181 S Purcell Blvd, Pueblo West, 719-647-8864
When: Friday, May 19, 6-9 pm

Snow Day

We had a snow day last Saturday that gave us a day at home and postponed a trip to Nebraska. The sudden free time was a surprise and had me drifting throughout the day. I had projects I could do, but there's something in a snow day that gives you permission to be as free as a bird. I love this feeling, disconcerting as it sometimes can be. So I did a couple projects, but I also took the opportunity to listen to new music and just play around on the guitar which I seldom do - trying techniques and experimenting - just letting myself enjoy joyful play. It was refreshing, and it reminded me that surprises can happen from out of nowhere that take me outside of our planned grid-work. Life is full of this when I let it be.

What have I been up to?

I had a wonderful gig for a friend's retirement last Friday. It's fun giving joy to good friends with the music you know they love. Congrats, Tom!

What am I up to this week?

Friday 7-10 is the last time at Magpies for the season, and if you've been meaning to come out this is the last chance until October. We have such fun down in the tap room with such good friends. I'd love to have you there if you're out and about.

Saturday I have a private party for an 80th birthday.

Sunday 7-8ish I'm playing another online concert at concertwindow.com/tommunch in my first-Friday series. I haven't made a songlist, but I'm feeling in an eclectic mood, so it may be interesting. I'm going to use my neighbor Mari Pretzer's quilt she made me for a backdrop. Please join me if you can!

That's it for this week. Be good to yourself and each other. Enjoy life!

Best,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, May 5, 7-10 pm

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  online at https://www.concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, May 7, 7-8ish pm MST

Variables, Granularity

I was chatting with a friend this morning, and we got onto talking about different variables in guitars - woods used in the top, back, and sides, body shapes and sizes, number of strings, etc.  It was very cool (Thanks, Patrick!)  I have also been experimenting with different picks and materials for playing the guitar.  Both of these things make me think of how many different ways and different depths we can look at and experience life.  There are literally millions of ways we can do things in the minutest of details.  With guitars I have found that all the different body shapes, woods used, construction techniques, and combinations thereof make some guitars more expressive in different ways than others.  With my picks I have found that all the different materials - woods, stones, plastics, bones, metals, horns, shells, even hoofs, have a different sound on the string.  And holding the picks in different ways or attaching them to my thumb and fingers with different contraptions makes a huge difference too in the tone and attack - not to mention combining them with fingerpicks or bare fingers with some or no nail protruding to pick the string with.  This is a level of granularity in both guitars and picks that is fascinating to me, and helps me to feel a song and the connected emotion in exquisite relief.  It reminds me just how amazing this life is.  Everything in this life has endless variables and possibilities just waiting to be found and experienced.  And therein is part of the purpose and beauty of this life - to live it to the fullest and with abandon, exploring all these variables in the fine grains of life.

What have I been up to?

Magpies a couple Fridays ago was great fun.  I only brought out three guitars (steel string, nylon string, and electric), and the evening was full of variety and good friends.  I love it when we can take all the ingredients of different requests, backgrounds, and sounds and make a tasty musical dish out of it!

Last weekend I had two private parties (one of which was postponed) that were great fun.  Best to Ron and Pat on their birthdays!

What am I up to this week?

Friday night is back to Magpies for our next-to-last outing of the season.  I always talk of how much fun I have there with the wonderful folks and staff, and if you haven’t experienced it I’d love to have you in the audience.  The first Friday in May is the last time I’ll be there until mid-October, so come on out if you want to join in the good food and good friends.

Saturday night was supposed to be at the La Veta Inn, but they had to cancel due to kitchen difficulties.  I wish them the best as they work through their problems.  The Inn is a wonderful place that can be a handful to run.

What’s on the horizon?

I just booked the third Friday of each month at PDub Brewing Company in Pueblo West May through August.

I also booked a few extra weeks at the Yellow Pine Guest Ranch in Cuchara for the Thursday-night barbecue.  We’ll now be going June 8 to August 31.  This is a wonderful old barn and great place for music and barbecue.  More as the season approaches.

That’s it for this week.  I surely do appreciate you all and the variables and granularity our friendships and experiences bring to each other!

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, April 21, 7-10 pm

What to Do Next

I’m contemplating the future again today.  It’s something we all do from time to time.  It comes in many forms - from what to do next in your career, to what to do next for travel, to what to do next for your family.  You know that we lost our little cat Nisi a couple weeks ago.  Each time we lose a pet we go through a period of grieving that also includes when and whether to get another pet or pets.  Our lives are endlessly enriched by having little beings around us who show us a different perspective and offer love in new and different ways.  But they also bring the responsibility of caring for them and making time for them.  The one thing in life that seems to be the most precious is time.  I believe it is why we come here to this world - to experience time that is endless in the great beyond.  And how we deal with the choice of that time is what makes up our life.  So I won’t go into the details of mine and Jen’s life and what we want in the future - mostly because it’s a work in progress that we work through from day to day.  But I wanted to touch on the dilemma that time presents us with and the knowing that no matter what decisions we make with our time, the important thing is to live each moment to the fullest and with abandon, seeking love and joy always.

What have I been up to?

The online concert last night was truly fine!  I had several good friends listening and joining in the evening.  I was a little frazzled with too many things on my mind (par for the course when dealing with technology and still trying to be in the moment), but it seemed to go very well.  If you missed it there is a sample on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjI3So_HEq0

We used the beautiful quilt my sister Carol made me as a gift a couple years back for a backdrop, and I switched off on different guitars for different songs.  Thanks you to everyone who tuned in!  The next first-Sunday show will be on May 7 at 7:00 pm MDT.

What’s up this week?

Friday I’ll be back at Magpies 7-10 for another night of good friends, good food, and good music.  I’m sure I’ll bring some different guitars and have some surprises for songs.  I haven’t really tried to do themes this year at Magpies like I’ve done in the past, but I may just do some a couple this time out.  I haven’t decided what yet.  You have to know that we’ll end up doing some ’60’s tunes at some point in the night like always. :-)

What’s on the horizon?

I’ve booked one date at the La Veta Inn on April 22nd.  We haven’t decided on the time yet, but this promises to be a wonderful evening of music.  We’re still looking at a date in July as well.

Also I’ve booked three more weeks at the Yellow Pine in Cuchara for the Thursday-night barbecues.  I’ll be there from the 2nd week in June through August.

That’s it for this week.  I’m so grateful for my life of music and for having such good friends.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing & singing
Where:  Magpies, 229 S. Union, Pueblo.  719-542-5522
When:  Friday, April 7, 7-10 pm

Comfort and Happiness

I was playing music Saturday night and was struck at how easy it was to get thrown off my game.  What happened was that I was experimenting with different guitars and techniques at my gig (big surprise, huh?), and because I couldn’t hear as well as I’d like to and because something was not set up right on the guitar I was playing, I found myself suddenly kind of lost and very moody and unhappy.  I’ve heard of other guitar players saying this when they just couldn’t get their “sound” and were suddenly at sea.  This made me think of how much we seek comfort in our everyday situations to maintain a sense of happiness and rightness with the world.  I don’t know if it’s a need for control or whether it’s something else inside our psyche that needs for everything to be just “so”, but it’s a weird feeling and something that can really throw you off for while.  My “go to” solution is to jump to the big picture and say that the situation just doesn’t matter in light of how big and wonderful the universe is, and that’s probably what I did that night.  But beyond that I find that having the flexibility to go with the situation and to find the hidden gems within the uncomfortability can really be rewarding.  I see the most creative and contented people do this, and it fascinates me and makes me seek to explore these situations myself.  I once heard that stress is the most powerful force for change in our world, and handling it with finesse and joy would be a hoot!

What have I been up to?

Last Saturday I had two wonderful gigs.

Playing for Tosha’s 40th birthday party at one of the nursing facilities Saturday evening was just very special.  You may have seen my post on Facebook about this.  Tosha was not expected to live for more than a few weeks when she was born because of multiple medical conditions, and to reach her 40th birthday as a happy and loving person even though she deals with quadriplegia is amazing.  Happy Birthday,  Tosha!

Saturday night I had a great crowd of folks I haven’t seen in ages at PDub’s.  Brad Schoolland, the proprietor, sat in on several tunes, I switched off on several guitars, and it was overall a really fun night (although as I wrote above I was having some technical difficulties that threw me off a bit.). Thanks to all who came out!

What’s up this week?

Sunday I’m doing another online concert from our living room from my first-Sunday series of concerts we started a couple months ago.  I haven’t decided on a theme yet, but it will be an engaging and fun night of friends and music as always.  Maybe I'll lean towards spring tunes?  Or maybe it would be fun to turn towards cowboy and historic music.  Hmmm...we'll see.  Tune in to concertwindow.com/tommunch at 7:00 mountain time if you'd like to listen and join in on the conversation.

That's it for this week. I really appreciate all the kind condolences that so many of you sent about our sweet little cat, Nisi. We miss her terribly, but we are so glad she was part of our lives - if even for a short time. Looking at the summer I'm talking to the Royal Gorge Bridge about possibly doing some weekly solo shows on their big stage at Elk Park.  I'll keep you posted.  Maybe it'll make me comfortable and happy! 😉

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  online at https://www.concertwindow.com/tommunch
When:  Sunday, April 2, 7-8ish pm MST

The Unexpected

Life is always a give and take, and much of it is dealing with things we don't expect. This is both a challenge and a blessing. Some of the biggest delights happen unexpectedly, and also some of the biggest disappointments happen the same way. To try to mitigate them completely is impossible, and just like the roses along the path, if we could mitigate them we would miss out on some pretty wonderful things. We also would miss out on some pretty painful things that can teach us and make us grow. We experienced this in the last week with the passing of our cat, Nisi (short for Anisette). My wife, Jen, found her little lifeless but still beautiful furry black body Saturday morning after she was absent most of the day Friday and then overnight into Saturday. It appeared she had been attacked by a bigger animal. She loved being outside to frolic and hunt, and we knew this fact since we had gotten her from friends who had lived in Gardner with her for her first 4 or so years. Pueblo West can be a dangerous place for outside cats with our rural setting and frequent wildlife sightings, but we accepted that this was how she wanted to live, and we got used to her sometime forays lasting all night. It was still unexpected to find she had been caught while doing what she loved to do - like a daredevil in a way. But she taught us a lot about living in the moment and enjoying life, and so we are sad but pleased that she came into our life unexpectedly and exited unexpectedly as well. Cherish the unexpected, my friends. It can be the best parts of life. And in her spirit I'll include the blog post I wrote about her three years ago entitled, "My Cat Understands".

My Cat Understands

I've been writing about pretty heady subjects of late. I guess I’m trying to be wise and learn from all the reading and living I’ve been doing. Funny thing is, my cat seems to have more wisdom than I do sometimes - especially in the morning. She waits until she knows I’m rushing to get something done, and then she comes to me for affection. I usually try to pick her up and cuddle her for a while, and of course this has a wonderful calming and loving effect on both of us. It also reminds me that there are more important things in life - giving and receiving love and caring. The most interesting thing she shows me is when I’m not totally present there for her. She gets annoyed and will bite me. At first I thought she was wanting to play or was being mean, but I more realize that she is actually teaching me to be in the moment and to let other things go. When I do that and talk to her, then she doesn’t bite or get annoyed by me.  Now I suppose I could see this as a cat being selfish, but I don’t think so. I think that she is more in touch with the meaning of living here on earth - wanting to enjoy each moment and putting the passion in everything that life is really about. So I say, “Thank you.” to her, and I hope you get these moments, however brief, in your life to enjoy.

What have I been up to?

Last week was full of wonderful Irish spirit with St. Patrick's Day even with our loss.

Friday was an all-Irish evening at Magpies with several guitars and lots of good friends celebrating the Irish with all the Irish tunes I could muster.

Saturday was another all-Irish evening at the Bell Tower Cultural Center in Florence opening with young Celtic women dancers from Castle Rock and then me singing Irish songs and leading the wonderful audience in old favorites. It was quite a night!

What's up this week?

Saturday night 7-10 I'm back at PDub Brewery in Pueblo West for a night of great beer and music. I'm really enjoying the beer and camaraderie at PDubs, and they've made some adjustments so that the service should be outstanding this time out. I'm even expecting Brad Schoolland to sit in on a tune or two. He's the founder of the brewery and the fellow who had the accident last fall you may have read about in October. He's recovering well and ready to join me on stage. I'm looking forward to it all. Please come out if you can for a porter or cream ale and some live music.

What's on the horizon?

I just booked the Feed Store in Westcliffe for another concert this summer on August 20. This is always a highlight of the summer for me, and you just can't beat the setting in the park in the shade of the beautiful Sangres.

There's lots more coming, so stay tuned.

I guess that's it for this week. Many of you have offered condolences on Facebook about our little Nisi, and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart.

Best always,

Tom

Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch
What: singing and playing
Where: PDub Brewing Company Taproom, 181 S Purcell Blvd, Pueblo West, 719-647-8864
When: Saturday, March 25, 7-10 pm