This year I’m going to do work songs for my Wednesday show before Labor Day, so I thought it would be appropriate to say something about work and music. When I Googled work songs there were some interesting results. I was immediately thinking of rhythmic songs that people used to sing when they worked at jobs that required working together to a beat like sailors’ songs or millworkers’ songs, but what came up was more interesting. There were results of playlists that people could listen to at work, or there were songs about being at work, or there were songs about getting away from work. We have such an interesting relationship to working in our culture. Personally I’m driven to work almost all the time - feeling the pressure of things that need to get done yesterday to pay the bills or fulfill an obligation. (I actually need a little work-life balance again in my life.) I really respect people who like to work hard, but I also respect those who know how to take time off and enjoy themselves. Some cultures even encourage people to take vacations - that sounds good to me. And as far as the songs go, there are so many tunes about working in such a large variety. I still really like my first impetus for rhythmic work songs that were sung in different trades, and I’d like to do a bunch of those some time, but for this show we’ll do a potpourri of all different fun work songs.
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What have I been up to?
I had 10 senior facilities last week, and they were all really enjoyable. I know I say that every week, but I mean it.
My Wednesday online show was doing the music of Simon and Garfunkel, and I don’t know why we didn’t do a show of them earlier. I so love their music, and I have ever since I was a kid and listened to them with my sisters. There were memories all night long.
My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests, and it was a great time as always. I had a couple new tunes that were really special.
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What am I up to this week?
I have 8 senior facilities this week, and it should be a great bunch of shows. These folks are the best.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be work songs as I wrote of above. I’ve put together a really nice list of songs with several requests, and I’m looking forward to a sweet night with friends. Come on out!
Saturday 11-1:30 I’m playing in Westcliffe, Colorado, for the KLZR Labor Day Block Party. This is a fun event in Westcliffe where they’ll have studio tours of the radio station and sidewalk food in addition to my music out front of the station. It’s put on by the same folks who hosted the concerts I used to do in the Feedstore Park in Westcliffe. Come on out if you’re in the area!
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I expect that there’ll be a big turnout since most folks don’t have to work on Monday. It will be a good time with friends, so come on out!
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That’s it for this week. I hope you have a great Labor Day weekend, and get out and enjoy some live music if you can.
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of work songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, August 30, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing for the KLZR Labor Day Block Party
Where: 103 South 2nd Street, Suite A, Westcliffe, CO
When: Saturday, September 2, 11 am - 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, September 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time