John Prine Subtle Wisdom

I’m doing the music of John Prine for my Wednesday show this week. I also did his music two years ago after he passed in April of that year from COVID. I’m partially doing his music because it was requested, but I’m also doing it because I have so much respect for his writing and want to honor his memory and spread his tunes. John had what I am calling “subtle wisdom”. His songs would seem to be light and even silly sometimes, but he’d slip in a little gem of wisdom at the right moment. He even wrote a song once as a complete lark, and listeners still perceived a subtle message that couldn’t be denied. It’s kind of amazing, and it’s something I’ve never been able to even approach with my writing. It eluded me so much that I even discounted some of his music without understanding his true genius. I came around though - luckily before he died, and I sing his praises and his music. So Wednesday I’ll play and sing his deceptively simple songs, and I encourage you to tune in and pick up on his subtle wisdom. 

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What have I been up to?

My senior facilities were very enjoyable last week, and fortunately none of them had to be canceled for COVID. 

My Wednesday online show last week was requests and favorites so that we could do a Halloween theme on Sunday - closer to Halloween. It was a good group with some great requests!

My Sunday show doing Halloween songs was so much fun. I did several green screen tricks that included flames in guitars and a cape that left only my head floating on the screen. The songs were great too including a new one called “John’s Garden” by Peter Mayer about pumpkins finding out that they were to become jack o’lanterns. 

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and it’ll be time to shift gears away from Halloween after my shows today. It’s always interesting to go with the flow with the folks at these places!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing John Prine songs as I mentioned above. I’m really looking forward to it, and I hope you’ll tune in!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be back to favorites and requests. These are always such a whirlwind of good feelings and good tunes. Come on out if you can!

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That’s it for this week. The holidays will be here before you know it.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of John Prine songs

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

When:  Wednesday, November 2, 7-8:30 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, November 6, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Music Changing

I’ve been thinking a lot about what music is and what it was and what it will be. As you can guess, I still think of music as one person with an instrument or a group of people with instruments playing and/or singing. I think this goes into the “what it was” category. That is the purest form to me, and it was obvious during the pandemic when a lot of musicians took to performing on the internet that this is not as natural as it once was. Today’s music is often very much created from sampled instruments on a computer - particularly drums and keyboard sounds. Vocals are often so altered with computer effects that they aren’t very close to one person singing in a room. I don’t think that’s bad, it’s just not what I prefer. Of course there are some people like me who do it more in the old way in some genres, but in popular music it’s mostly not done this was anymore. With the advent of artificial intelligence it’s possible that what music will be may be an AI coming up with all the sounds and vocalization with just a little human input. And it may be pretty good at it too. It’s all about what reaches you and entertains you, I suppose. I tend to think of music as something that has an unknowable and almost spiritual aspect to it, and I think that is still true, but ultimately I guess it is just a way for us connect to each other and to our environment. At the very least it’s fun to see where it is and to speculate on what it will become. I’m out of the loop enough that I just marvel at what can be done today, and then I pick up my guitar and just play.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, but one had to cancel due to COVID outbreak. I have heard now that everyone at that facility is almost back to normal, and that it wasn’t too bad an infection. That’s good.

My Wednesday online show doing birth-year songs for a second show was even more fun than the first show last week. I’m amazed at how many memories and good vibes come up when we explore these songs from even before our childhood. We have enough to do it again at some point, and I’m sure we will.

My Sunday online show doing favorites and requests was great fun as well. We had a big group and some wonderful requests. I love these evenings we share!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to them as always. I’ve been doing Halloween songs which is a blast, and I’m even playing a Halloween party Friday evening.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time this week will be favorites and requests so that we can do a Halloween theme show on Sunday since it’s closer to Halloween. I’m curious if this will throw me or the audience off any. Come on out and see!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing Halloween songs as I mentioned above. I have gathered so many great songs for Halloween over the years, and I’m really looking forward to playing them for the group. Come on out if you’d like a little fun and spookiness.

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That’s it for this week. I mentioned my upcoming Christmas shows last week - December 10 at 7:00 at the Mercantile in La Veta and December 17 at 7:00 at the Bell Tower in Florence. There was some confusion over the date at the Mercantile in La Veta, but that’s been straightened out now, and I will be there on the 10th.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

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:  Wednesday, October 26, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Halloween songs

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

When:  Sunday, October 30, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

First Freeze

In the land of four seasons we gauge the fall by the coming of the first freeze. We haven’t had ours yet although they said we would be close last night. This is preceded by a flurry of draining outside sprinklers and drip and putting away filters and hoses. I had to fix the same section of sprinkler system for the third time yesterday, and I know it will be a matter of days before it’s abandoned for the winter. This also means that long underwear is in rotation now. I have a love affair with merino wool that coats me from head to toe all winter long. I usually only need it for morning walks and full days in the house where we keep the temperature pretty low. Silk long underwear is a luxury that I sometimes enjoy too. It can take the chill off when wearing the lighter shirts and pants that I favor. Heck, I even wear a wool cap and light puffy coat in the evenings in the house when I want to be cozy on the couch. It’s time to stock up on hot chocolate and postum and put out the warm throws. This change is welcomed although I love warmer weather too. I think it’s good to let ourselves enjoy changes in life. It keeps things interesting, and it marks the time with new stimulation and defined chapters. How about you?

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week although I did have to cancel one so we could take our cat Tuzi to the vet that morning. She’s okay although we were a little worried that morning when she seemed ill.

My Wednesday online show of birth-year songs went so well that we’re doing the theme again this Wednesday. More on that below.

My Saturday online show doing Philmont songs for friends who worked at that wonderful place went really well too with lots of familiar names with songs and memories to match. I’m glad my family got hooked up with Philmont over 50 years ago. It’s a meaningful place.

My Sunday online show of favorites and requests went very well too. I sometimes stress myself out before this show when I’m worried that I won’t be able to pull off a request for someone that I’ve been working on, but it always turns out to be a fine time. I should learn from that!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to every one as always. I’m doing fun and spooky Halloween songs as much as I can which is a hoot!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time is doing birth-year songs again by popular demand. These songs are so much fun, and it’s so cool to put ourselves back in time to what was happening in the world when each of us were born. Come join in if you can, and send me a favorite song from the year you were born.

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I remarked last Sunday at how we had been doing these shows at least weekly since the start of the pandemic, and it was amazing all the changes in our lives that all of us had been through. We all agreed that this little community centered around music and friendship has been a blessing in our lives. Come join in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. If you’re making plans for the future, I’m doing Christmas shows in December at a couple places - December 10 at 7:00 at the Mercantile in La Veta and December 17 at 7:00 at the Bell Tower in Florence. I’ll be posting details and making Facebook events shortly.

Take care and be good,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of birth-year songs

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

When:  Wednesday, October 19, 7-8:30 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, October 23, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Birth-Year Songs

This Wednesday I’m doing requests for people from the year they were born. It’s a fun idea from one of the Munch Bunch folks - Rosemarie Vest. It’s neat because it sparks memories that weren’t necessarily from each person’s memory, but from the culture at large when they were born. For me the song “Runaway” by Del Shannon came out the day before I was born, and the song “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson came out 6 days after my birth. That speaks volumes to me of the time after the birth of rock and roll but before the British Invasion when I was born. Songs were a little softer and still a bit more innocent than they would soon become. The requests I’ve gotten so far range from 1943 to 1966, and that shows you a little of what my audience demographic is. It is kind of interesting how the songs of each year hint at what was going on in the world. Popular songs influence the culture and are in turn influenced by that same culture. Obviously there were other niches in the culture in the year each of us were born that were represented by other genres than pop music. Loretta Lynn’s passing reminds us of how her music reflected the times with her bold women’s issues in country music. I really find it fascinating, and it’s even more fascinating looking at the songs each person picks as favorites from the year they were born. So Wednesday will be an exploration of all of this, and it has put me in a great frame of mind to start the week! Do you have a favorite song or songs from the year you were born?

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What have I been up to?

I had 6 senior facilities last week, and they were all wonderful. I say it often, but it is so fulfilling to sing for these beautiful people.

My Wednesday online show was singing fun songs, and it was a blast. I needed a night of frivolity, and that’s exactly what we had!

Saturday I played the Harvest Festival at the Littleton Museum in the pumpkin patch, and it was just a sweet day all around. There were so many families there to pick out a pumpkin in the patch, and I even had my sister Carol’s family come out to enjoy the day and the music.

My Sunday online show of favorites and requests was wild too. We had so many friends and good requests that made the night fly by. I love theses Sundays!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities to play for this week, and we’re starting to get into Halloween songs which are always fun and spooky. I love these shows!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the birth-year songs that I talked about above. I expect it will be a night to remember. I’m listening to music from my year right now. Come on out!

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show of Philmont songs for my friends from Philmont Scout Ranch where I worked for three summers in my teens. I have maintained a great relationship with so many friends from that era of my life, and we have such a good time reminiscing and sharing the songs we learned and sang together there. I have a special group on Facebook for these concerts, but I also put them on my website for those who aren’t on Facebook or aren’t part of the group. I’m really looking forward to it!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. It’s such a good time every week, and you’re always welcome to join in.

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That’s it for this week. The fall is speeding by, and I am enjoying it even with the illness and struggles the world is in currently. 

I wish you all the best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of birth-year songs

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

When:  Wednesday, October 12, 7-8:30 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, October 15, 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, October 16, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Future of Music

 I recently listened to a series of podcasts about the future of music from The Verge website. The final podcast centered around where live music will be heard in the future. I’ve fully embraced performing music online as you know from my online concerts that I do and love playing for every week. The podcast I heard talked about performing live concerts in the metaverse. This was musicians performing concerts as avatars and characters in virtual reality spaces. Of course this is big production for many of them with full band and the performers flying and bouncing and being underwater as they mix pre-recorded and live elements of music with animated and virtual surroundings and not someone like me standing with a guitar and singing. It is only limited by the imagination of the performer and the people putting together the presentation. It’s almost more of an experience than a musical performance. I’m okay with this although it’s probably not something I will ever remotely entertain doing myself. I think I’m more about affecting the audience in their minds with images from words and harmonies and melodies, but you can see how music has been performed and conceived before in this way with movie and TV that mixed these elements. It just hasn’t been done in virtual reality live like this on a regular basis before. It is an interesting world we live in where this is the future of music for many. I think I’ll always be about one performer and an instrument and a song, but I’d like to try watching a concert like this sometime to see what it’s like. How about you? You can listen to this podcast and find the three-part series here - https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/3/23384883/concerts-metaverse-travis-scott-charlie-puth-iheartland.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and enjoyed every one as always. It is an honor to get to entertain these folks, and I consider many of them as good friends!

My Wednesday online show was doing the music of Kenny Loggins, Loggins and Messina, and Poco, and it was a great time. Every one of these theme nights where I get to explore someone else’s music turns into an adventure.

Saturday playing at the Deerprint in La Veta was very sweet too. I got to see several people I hadn’t seen in quite some time, and it was a perfect evening with just a little chill in the air and a couple quick rain sprinkles.

Sunday’s online show of favorites and requests was also notable with some really good song requests and a great group of folks in attendance.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7, make that 6, senior facilities this week (just had one cancel) that I am looking forward to playing for this week. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be doing fun songs this week. I decided I wanted a show of just plain frivolous and carefree songs this week, so I’m putting that together for Wednesday evening. Come on out if you can! I am trying to put together a show of songs from the year that each of our Munch Bunch folks were born, but we don’t quite have enough. Hopefully that will be the theme for next week. If you’d like to contribute then please go to the Tom Munch Munch Bunch Concert Group on Facebook and add your birth year and favorite song or songs from that year to that thread. Here’s a link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/398664345396960/permalink/544881160775277/

Saturday 11:30-1:30 I’ll be back at the Littleton Museum for their Harvest Festival. I played this last year, and it was so much fun! I set up next to the pumpkin patch where families come out to pick out pumpkins, and it is such a good time. They also have wagon rides, carnival games, yummy treats, an oddities tent, and much more. Attendance is free, and it’s a great day. Come on out if you’re in the Denver area! https://www.littletongov.org/city-services/city-departments/museum/programs-events/harvestfestival/-fbclid-IwAR0Xaf0xXvwPiWvwbjuGnkAcR7HT6eIoyPGHIuukVi0So8Qv2AG1QALFzn8

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always anticipate it with excitement. We do a Zoom a half hour before the show too. Here's a link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/398664345396960/permalink/546939720569421/ Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. I really like contemplating where music and performing will go. As long as it’s about the music and the way we understand each other and our world it will always be good.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of fun songs

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

When:  Wednesday, October 5, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing for the Littleton Museum Harvest Festival

Where:  Littleton Museum, 6028 S Gallup St, Littleton, CO, 303-795-3950

When:  Saturday, October 8, 11:30-1:30 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, October 9, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Full Sails

I was trading texts with my friend Don, and we both agreed that we don’t feel like the wind is in our sails of late. Some of it is the lingering of pandemic worries and not fully feeling engaged like we used to be. Some of it is just the season and a bit of malaise with the state of the world and general unrest. I think sometimes we need to inhale, and sometimes we need to exhale, and this time is kind of an “in between” with maybe a bit of holding a breath to see what comes next. I don’t mind these states of mind, but I always listen to them carefully to see if I’m wanting a bigger change or just a pause. I’m always a peaceful person who feels the oneness with others and with our earth. So here’s to licking a finger and putting it into the wind to feel where that wind is coming from, and then trimming the sails to catch it - no matter how light.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed every one. I need to catch up on some of the requests that my folks have made over the last couple months, but it’s all good.

My Wednesday online show doing fall songs was very enjoyable. There are so many great fall songs! We even did a couple of the more melancholy songs that people know about fall. I love this season!

My Sunday online show of requests was another fun night of sharing and great songs. This group never ceases to amaze me with their fine song requests and engagement with each other. It’s a family!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m rushing to finish this missive to get to the first one today!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the music of Kenny Loggins, Loggins and Messina, and Poco. I wanted to do Kenny Loggins and Loggins and Messina since the one flows to of the other, but I knew I didn’t have enough songs there for a full show, so I added Poco since they are a good fit. I also could have added Buffalo Springfield since Jim Messina was involved with them at the end of that band, but I thought Poco represented more of that early ‘70s into the ‘80s vibe. It will be night of music we’ve only hinted at before. Come on out!

Saturday 6-8 I’m playing for what will be an after-Oktoberfest party at Deerprint Wine in La Veta on the patio. It should be a really fun night of music, and I’m putting a lot of energy into it. I’d love to have you there if you’re in the area.

Sunday my online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. We have such a good time at these shows, and you’re always welcome wherever you are to tune in and join in.

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That’s it for this week. I’m enjoying this fall although it’s honestly going too fast. Be well, and send some good thoughts and prayers to the folks in Florida as Hurricane Ian bears down on them.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of fall songs

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

When:  Wednesday, September 28, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:   Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing

Where:  Deerprint Wine & Bistro, 106 E. Francisco, La Veta, 719-650-2079

When:  Saturday, October 1, 6-8ish 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, October 2, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Ahh...Fall

There are two things happening this week that really signal that fall is here for me. 1) The first day of fall is on the 22nd, and 2) my family is closing cabins for the winter. Of course it’s getting cooler in the mornings which feels great, and the weeds I’ve been battling on our morning walks are drying and dying out so I don’t have to whack them daily. I love this time of year. The leaves are turning in the high country, and everything is slowing down. It just fills me with peace and completeness. We’ve planted mini/micro clover so we can phase out our grass to use less water in the future, and we're starting to turn our thoughts to plans for the winter. It is a time of reflection and introspection. So Wednesday evening I’ll celebrate this beautiful change of seasons with songs of fall. To me it is one big Ahh…

What have I been up to?

I forgot to say how many senior facilities I was playing for last week in my last blog. I actually had 9 in addition to playing for many of them at once at the Senior Safari at the Pueblo Zoo. I enjoyed every one of them although I confess I haven’t had time to keep up with learning requests for many of them.

Wednesday was the afore-mentioned Senior Safari which was a blast with so many familiar faces and such a wonderful energy in everyone involved. I hope this event can go many, many years into the future.

Wednesday was also my online concert of “middle-aged” country songs. It was really well-received, and many more people love country music in our group than I realized. We’ll have to do country more often.

Sunday my online show of favorites and requests was so much fun even though several of our regulars couldn’t make it. We have such a giving and caring group who love music so much that it’s always a rewarding evening.

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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. We have a vet appointment for Tuzi for a dental on Wednesday, so I’ll take that day to be with her until the evening online concert, so I won’t have quite as many as usual.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be fall songs as I mentioned above. I have several new songs from the last couple years about fall that I really love in addition to many of the classic fall songs we all know. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests with our wonderful group as always. It will be special, and I’ll have all the energy of the mountains coming in from closing the cabins with my siblings.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you’re enjoying the fall season wherever you are. It’s still hot here for a couple days until it starts feeling more like fall. I do have two gigs out and about coming up that you may be interested in 1) Deer Print Wine in La Veta during Oktoberfest October 1st - probably 6-8, and 2) Littleton Museum Harvest Festival October 8th from 11:30-1:30. So if you’re near La Veta or Denver please come out and say “Hi!” I’ll write more about these as they come into view.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of fall songs

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

When:  Wednesday, September 21, 7-8:30 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, September 25, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

It's a Zoo

I’m playing for the Senior Safari at the Pueblo Zoo this week, and I thought I’d reflect on what this event is and has become. I’ve been playing for senior facilities since I was in high school, and I started playing for them in southern Colorado as soon as I moved here in 1985. The zoo here first asked me to play for the Senior Safari in 2009, and I was honored to play for it. If you’ve never heard, it’s a free day for seniors at the zoo with fun activities, animal encounters, and food that draws seniors from facilities and the communities for miles around. Over the years it has become the place where I see folks from almost every facility I play at - 30 places or more sometimes. Attendance is in the many hundreds, and it is so gratifying to get to see and play for so many folks. The event now goes for the entire week although I just play one day for them. It’s not often that you get to see how many people you’ve been able to work with and play for all in one place, and I really look forward to it so much - especially since we couldn’t do it in 2020 because of COVID. I’ll put more details below.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week to play for, and I enjoyed every one of them - especially the one I got to play for on 9/11. We commemorated the anniversary with a somber but meaningful show.

My Wednesday online show was doing the second part of the songs from 1972 (50 years ago), and it was just as fun as the first show. There really are so many good songs from that year.

Thursday was the Appetizers and Alcohol BYOB event at the Yellow Pine, and it was so much fun seeing everyone for one last hurrah before the season ends. We had a great group of folks, and the food they brought to share was amazing!

My Sunday online show doing requests and favorites was very nice also with all our good friends. I enjoy this evening so much!

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What am I up to this week?

Wednesday will be the Senior Safari that I mentioned above, and I’m playing from 11 to 1. It will be a crazy fun day with zoo bingo and lots of animals and music. More details can be found on the zoo’s website here - https://www.pueblozoo.org/senior-week. I notice on this page that they have me starting at 10:30, so maybe I’ll start before 11. Come on out and see!

Wednesday evening my online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be what I’m calling “middle-aged” country. That’s country music that’s from the ‘60s and ‘70s, so it’s not the early old country or the more pop-oriented country of the ‘80s up to today, but the more classic country of Merle Haggard and Jim Reeves and others. It was especially requested by my friends, Dan and Debbie Brantley. It should be a really fun evening!

Saturday I’m attending a Philmont reunion in Colorado Springs that’s called the Philtoberfest that I’m not playing at as a gig, but that I mention in case there are some Philmont people reading my blog and mailer that are debating whether to come. It’s always a fun time, and I encourage Philfolks to come on out!

Sunday my online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the favorites and requests that I love to play for my wonderful group of friends and fans. I can’t say enough about how special these evenings are.

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That’s it for this week. It’s really starting to feel like Fall here in southern Colorado, and I hope you’re enjoying it wherever you are.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch

What: playing and singing

Where:  at the Pueblo Zoo for Senior Safari, pueblozoo.org/senior-week

When:  Wednesday, September 14, 11-1

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of middle-aged country songs

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

When:  Wednesday, September 14, 7-8:30 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, September 18, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

Summer's End

Well, summer is over in my mind once we hit Labor Day, and that always makes me take stock and look at where I’m headed. I know for some people the summer was pretty much back to normal with few worries about the pandemic. For me that wasn’t the case. I still shied away from indoor gigs for the most part and was hyper-careful for my senior facilities. Especially with the chapel in Cuchara there was a lot of COVID still going around. It was still slightly more relaxed knowing that the vaccines were making the threat a lot less ominous. Musically I did pretty well. I had some really interesting gigs like playing in Estes Park, and my voice and fingers held out for the most part with just a few struggles here and there. I’m definitely feeling my age and the wear from playing so much in my younger years. I have come across some wonderful songs this year - mostly from requests from my group of friends who frequent my online concerts. Those concerts continue to be well-attended and very good for the soul of all involved. It’s so nice to not have to go out to a venue and still be able to connect with so many folks that I used to almost never interact with. It also gives me the chance to play a lot more instruments than I usually get to play since they’re all so close at hand in my office. I’ve even played the piano more this year which I’ve wanted to do for many years. I got to play the banjo once before I started to work on it and found out it will be out of commission until I put some real effort into repairs. And going into the fall I have some interesting gigs in addition to my online shows. I’ll be writing about those as they near. So as I write this on Labor Day I find that I’m in an interesting place with some great things behind me and a winding path in front of me. There’s a small touch of melancholy as I say goodbye to summer, but what more could I ask for?

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What have I been up to?

I had just 6 senior facilities last week, and none of them had to be cancelled for outbreaks. I enjoy playing for these folks so much.

My Wednesday online show went really well with the 1972 songs - so well that we’re going to do a part two this week. These songs are so much a part of my generation that many people in the audience said they knew every word even though they haven’t heard them in almost 50 years.

My Sunday online show of favorites was also very nice with some great new songs for me as well as the audience. We have such a great group - I have to say it again!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities to play this week including Labor Day and even a special show for 9/11. I’m looking forward to all of them. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be part 2 of the 50-years-ago songs from 1972 as I said above. I found 104 songs in my repertoire from 1972, and I can’t resist playing some more of them. Come on out if you remember some of the great songs and memories from that year.

Thursday 6:30-8 will be the wrap-up for the year at the Yellow Pine with their annual BYOB event called AA (Appetizers and Alcohol) or Shalom and Charcuterie. It’s always a fun goodbye ‘til next summer for the summer folks of Cuchara. Anyone is welcome to attend. Just bring an appetizer to share and whatever libation you prefer. I’ll be playing my music, and it’ll be a hoot!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always look forward to what the night will bring with such good folks and great opportunity for musical interaction. We always do a Zoom a half hour beforehand (6:30 MT) which you’re welcome to attend. The link is https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7759127796?pwd=MZ55WfXnEkOSi3bztfvmMlbe2oCpoN.1

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That’s it for this week. We’re coming into my foveate season of the year when things cool down and slow down. Savor it with good friends!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of songs from 50 years ago, part 2

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

When:  Wednesday, September 7, 7-8:30 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the Appetizers and Alcohol event

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

When:  Thursday, September 8, 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, September 11, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

50 Years Ago

I’m doing songs from 50 years ago for my theme show on Wednesday, so I thought I’d reminisce a little on that year. In the bigger world we had the Olympics with Mark Spitz and terrorist attacks, President Nixon visiting China, Spiro Agnew resigning, the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, “American Pie” and “Candy Man” on the radio, and “The Godfather” and “Diamonds Are Forever” in the theater. In my smaller world I was moving from 5th to 6th grade, my niece Pam was born, I was helping my sister Jane crew for my dad on our sailboat in races, I started playing the clarinet, and I got to slow-dance with a girl for the first time. I was a pretty typical kid - probably a little more cocky than a lot of kids because things came relatively easy for me. We had a lot of kids my same age in my neighborhood, so we were always playing football or whiffle ball or with frisbees or riding bikes. It was pretty idyllic. Weekends we’d go to a trailer on a lake an hour away so our dad could sail his small sailboat and we could either help sail or explore the lake ourselves in a rowboat. We’d go to the mountains for a couple weeks each summer as well to see our grandfolks and have outdoor adventures. Music was always playing on the radio in the house and the car, so we knew all the latest songs. I still have memories of certain songs playing while driving certain stretches of highways or skating at the skating rink. These songs were a huge backdrop for the culture at the time, and that’s why they still mean so much to us and why I think it will be fun to concentrate on that one year and the songs we remember. 1972 - it doesn’t seem that long ago, and yet it seems a million years ago too.

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities scheduled last week, and unfortunately one had to cancel for another COVID outbreak. The others were so enjoyable. I can’t say enough how worthwhile it is to give and interact with folks in the community.

My Wednesday online show of “spinning the wheel” and doing songs at random from my huge song library was a blast. My rule that it had to be a song that I hadn’t done before at a show was a little surprising to the audience, but that made it a night of discovery and a lot of new tunes for many. All in all, it was a memorable night of songs and interaction.

My Thursday show that I mentioned last week playing for a community event in Walsenburg for the Puentes group was very nice too. They are seeking to unite the different southern Colorado communities in a way that fosters support and common goals, and it was a wonderful night of planning and new friendships.

My Sunday online show of favorites and requests was a blast as always with a lot of great songs being suggested and played and many more leftover for the future. We always have such a great group of folks who support each other and my music. I even dug out the banjo and played a couple tunes on it as well as the piano, which I didn’t end up playing until the last song for a bit. I may dig out some of the other odd old instruments I have just for the fun of it.

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What am I up to this week?

I have only 6 senior facilities this week because it’s the fifth week of the month, and so my monthly repeating facilities don’t happen to fall on a fifth week. That’s okay. We had to have our air conditioner and heater replaced last week, and I have some work to do to finish up with that. I’m also working on a possible fiction book with a good friend, and I want to spend some time brainstorming about that.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the above-mentioned songs of 50 years ago in 1972. This was a great year for songs, and I’m looking forward to playing them! Come on out and reminisce!

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time of favorites and requests should be a blast this week. Being that it’s Labor Day weekend I’m in hopes that a lot of folks will be relaxing on Sunday evening with no work Monday and will be up for a fun night of songs. If that’s you then come on out!

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That’s it for this week. I’m still really enjoying doing online shows, but I’ve had several folks ask where I’ll be playing this fall and winter where they can come see me in person so I’m thinking about scheduling some. I do have a few interesting public gigs like the Senior Safari at the Pueblo Zoo from 11-1 on September 14th, the Deer Print in La Veta from 6-8 during Oktoberfest on October 1st, and the Littleton Museum Harvest Festival from 11:30 to 1:30 on October 8th. I’d love to see you if any of those places line up with your life. Until then, thank you for your friendship and for your time.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing a an online concert of songs from 50 years ago

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

When:  Wednesday, August 31, 7-8:30 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, September 4, 7-8:30 pm mountain time