I wanted to write about the wonderful group of folks who have become a part of my concert world every week online. When this virus started and my musical playing world sort of vanished I had no idea what to expect going forward. I knew there would be at least a couple months off of my concerts and night gigs, and I figured that my senior facilities might have to stop everything for up to a year. So I reached out to those facilities to set up online and outdoor shows for my seniors, and I scheduled a weekly online show on Sundays on Facebook in addition to my monthly online shows for the rest of my audience. This weekly online show spawned a second weekly themed online show on Thursdays a couple months later. The interesting thing about the weekly shows is the diverse and widespread group of friends it has brought together from different times and aspects of my life and how they’ve befriended each other. From childhood to high school to college to Philmont Scout Ranch to musicians to audience members at bars, concerts, and guest ranches to friends-of-friends to family members of seniors to God-knows-who. The way all of these folks interact and share joy in the music is a testament to friendship and love itself. I'm mightily gratified and humbled. It has gotten to the point where every week is a lesson in kindness and unexpected elation. And I see these friends befriend each other and interact independent of my shows, and I am even more thrilled. I hope it only gets better, and I have a feeling that we have created something with a life far beyond the virus. It has become important enough to many folks that they want to do a Thanksgiving show because they consider our little online group to be family. I couldn’t ask for more. So we will do a Thanksgiving evening show, and everyone is welcome!
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What have I been up to?
I was able to do a couple senior facilities outside with the warm weather we had. They were very enjoyable.
My Thursday show was a tribute to Jerry Jeff Walker who just recently passed, and it was a good 'un. He wrote so many fun and meaningful songs. A lot of folks wanted to honor his memory and hear his songs played.
My Sunday show had a lot of new faces, and it was a huge variety of songs. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse my audience and their favorites are. I work really hard to learn these tunes, and it’s wonderful when folks come out and listen and enjoy each other and the music.
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What am I up to this week?
I have a couple of outdoor senior facilities scheduled that will either have to be moved online or else cancelled. It will only be in the 50s all week here - which is appropriate considering my Thursday show is fun 1950s music.
Thursday 7-8:30 my online show will feature fun 1950s music for a little break from the tension we’ve all felt recently. I was in a ‘50s band for a few years and have always loved this era of music. I may even break out a ‘50s guitar. Come on out!
Sunday 7-8:30 is my online favorites and requests show. As I wrote above, I really enjoy how much people share their joy of life and music at my shows, and I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful audience. I’d love to have you along for the ride if you’ve never been.
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That’s it for this week. Our virus numbers are getting worse. I wish we could get this under control. I honestly haven’t left the house except for walks, groceries, a couple doctor appointments, and my outdoor senior facility shows since March, and I’m hoping people will do what’s necessary to get over this spread and conquer this virus. We need to be able to meet in person again with a hug or a handshake - well they say maybe not the handshake.
Anyway,
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of fun 1950s songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Thursday, November 12, 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 15, 7-8:30 pm mountain