Foto by Myron Hart

Nice picture Myron…

We flew into Tampa for our acoustic Clearwater gig…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 60, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Bilheimer Capitol Theater
Clearwater, Florida
Saturday, December 28, 2019

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Dime For Beer
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Been So Long
5. Barbeque King
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
7. Too Many Years
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. River Of Time
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. How Long Blues
12. Keep Your Lamps rimmed & Burning
13. Sleep Song
14. Trial By Fire
15. Good Shepherd
16. Candy Man
17. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
18. I Know You Rider
19. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We did get to hang a little with John McEuen who was on the show with us.

Then we had a day off in Clearwater and actually got to go to the beach. Again… nice.

Then over to Pompano beach where we were going to stay for the New Year Gig at the Parker Playhouse.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yeah… pretty nice these last couple of days of 2019.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 61, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
New Years 2019/2020
Entering The Third Millennium Decade
Parker Playhouse
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Barbeque King
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Sea Child
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?

Second Set:
1. Candy Man
2. Roads and Roads &
3. Walkin’ Blues
4. Hit Single #1
5. Living Just For You
6. Death Don’t have No Mercy
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Sleep Song
9. Talkin’ Bout You
10. Good Shepherd
11. Embryonic Journey
12. First song of 2020: Funky #7

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I’d been fighting a cold, but the music pushes all that into the background!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It was a sold out crowd and Justin and Jack and I put on a great show… if I do say so myself.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

The hit just kept on coming. We played Embryonic journey to ease into the 2355 slot and then began the countdown.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Good times… and a nice way to ring in the new year. Lots of old friends… and made some new.

Love you all!

Happy 2020!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It was a chilly night pulling into Kent, Ohio for our performance at the Kent Stages but the weather didn’t chill our spirits on stage.

Hot Tuna 56, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Kent Stage
Kent, Ohio
Wednesday, December 11, 2019

1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Letter To The North Star
5. Third Week In The Chelsea
6. Barbeque King
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. San Francisco Bay Blues
10. How Long Blues
11. Sea Child
12. Trial By Fire
13. Good Shepherd
14. That’ll Never Happen No More
15. I Know You Rider
16. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
17. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

After the show we had a ‘day off’ to drive to Chicago for our show the next day at Park West.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 57, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Park West
Chicago, Illinois
Friday, December 13, 2019

1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. Sleep Song
7. Trial By Fire
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. River Of Time
10. Trouble In Mind
11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
12. Been So Long
13. Sea Child
14. Good Shepherd
15. San Francisco Bay Blues
16. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
17. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

It was a great gig and I got to see my friend Dave Specter. I got to play on Dave’s new record ‘Blues From The Inside Out which was an honor indeed. I also got to see Julia Miller from Delmark Records. It was a grand hang! Then we breezed up to St. Paul and the Fitzgerald Theater, former home of Prairie Home Companion and more.

Foto by Phil Jacobs.

I had been looking forward to this gig in more ways than one. I had been communicating with David Flammang for the better part of the year… waiting breathlessly for the J-35ish guitar he has been building for me. With a torrified top and a dark burst finish I can hardly wait for this beauty to sit in my lap onstage!

Larry Campbell dropped into the dressing room and wound up taking on of Dave’s guitars home as well!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Oh yeah… there was the gig too!

Hot Tuna 58, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Fitzgerald Theater
St. Paul, Minnesota
Saturday, December 14, 2019

1. New Song For The Morning
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Letter To The North Star
6. River Of Time
7. Sea Child
8. Trial By Fire
9. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Come Back Baby
12. Sleep Song
13. Good Shepherd
14. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
15. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Thanks for making the trek Dave. You are the man!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then it was an early drive to Milwaukee and the Turner.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Jack and I have been sitting in with Teresa, Larry and Myron Hart for their final number… Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I’ve been playing Lamps for decades but Teresa owns that song and that’s a fact. Rev. Davis would have love this!

Hot Tuna 59, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Turner Hall Ballroom
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sunday, December 15, 2019

1. True Religion
2. Been So Long
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Too Many Years
5. Ain’t In No Hurry
6. Barbeque King
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. Sleep Song
10. Flying Clouds
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. River Of Time
13. Come Back Baby
14. San Francisco Bay Blues
15. Trial By Fire
16. Good Shepherd
17. I Know You Rider
18. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
19. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

L and T joined Jack and myself for the last two songs each night. Soaring on heavenly wings indeed!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

After show we beat feet for home and pulled in about 1100. Rainy, cold and gloomy.

Great run… great to be home!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Looks like I’m home for the holidays… well, except for New Years. More on that later…

In the meantime, all of us… all good friends, heading for home!

PS Lest I forget.. because I did forget… the Buffalo Set List.

Hot Tuna 54, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Asbury Hall
Buffalo, New York
Monday, December 9, 2019

1. New Song For The Morning
2. Candy Man
3. Second Chances
4. Letter To The North Star
5. Death Don’t have No Mercy
6. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Serpent Of Dreams
9. River Of Time
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Barbeque King
12. Been So Long
13. Flying Clouds
14. Trial By Fire
15. Good Shepherd
16. I Knows You Rider
17. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
18. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

And last but not least…

Hot Tuna 55, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Palace Theater
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, December 10, 2019

1. Letter To The North Star
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Trouble In Mind
4. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
5. Barbeque King
6. Too Many Years
7. Second Chances
8. San Francisco Bay Blues
9. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
10. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
11. Heart Temporary
12. Sleep Song
13. Good Shepherd
14. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
15. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Moving right along here on this great tour with Jack, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Myron Hart… really good times!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Yeah… it’s been a minute or two, but great to be back to this Mid-Hudson historic town!

Hot Tuna 51, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Bardovan Opera House
Poughkeepsie, New York
Thursday, December 5, 2019

1. New Song For The Morning
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Been So Long
4. Ain’t In No Hurry
5. Barbeque King
6. Search My Heart
7. San Francisco Bay Blues
8. Trial By Fire
9. Flying Clouds
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. River Of Time
12. I Am The Light Of This World
13. Come Back Baby
14. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
15. Serpent Of Dreams
16. Sleep Song
17. Good Shepherd
18. I Know You Rider
19. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
20. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Then a run up to the Colonial in New Hampshire.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 52, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Colonial Performing Arts Center
Keene, New Hampshire
December 6, 2019

1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Second Chances
4. Wolves & Lambs
5. That’ll Never Happen No More
6. Barbeque King
7. I See The Light
8. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
9. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
10. Sea Child
11. Trial By Fire
12. Good Shepherd
13. Whining Boy Blues
14. San Francisco Bay Blues
15. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
16. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Then for the third one in this trifecta… the Garde In New London, Conn.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 53, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Garde Center
New London, Connecticut
Saturday, December 7, 2019

1. New Song For The Morning
2. Too Many Years
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Search My Heart
6. 3rd Week In The Chelsea
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Sleep Song
9. Flying Clouds
10. Trial By Fire
11. The Terrible Operation
12. How Long Blues
13. Serpent Of Dreams
14. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
15. Good Shepherd
16. Things That Might Have Been
17. I Know You Rider
18. Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
19. Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

A cursory rundown here of the last three dates, but so be it.

Tonight… Buffalo.

Yow

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

So there we were, Vanessa, Izze and I… viewing the start of the Macy’s Day parade from a warm place in Lincoln Center. An auspicious start to a New York City visit and Town Hall.

A delicious Thanksgiving dinner with the Tuna Gang at Riverpark and then it was time for the Friday gig at Town Hall where we were joined by our good friend Steve Kimock.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 47, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Justin Guip
With Steve Kimock
Town Hall
New York City
November 29, 2019

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Whining Boy Blues
3. Walkin’ Blues
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Sea Child with Steve
6. Hesitation Blues with Steve
7. Bowlegged Woman with Steve
8. Baby What You Want Me To Do? With Steve

Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Roads and Roads &
3. Trial By Fire
4. Living Just For You
5. Easy Now with Steve
6. Rock Me Baby with Steve
7. Sleep Song With Steve
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy with Steve
9. Good Shepherd with Steve
10. Funky #7 with Steve
11. Encore: Water Song

And as if that weren’t good enough… there was Saturday…

Hot Tuna 48, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Justin Guip
With Steve Kimock
Town Hall
New York City
Saturday, November 30, 2019

First Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Candy Man
3. Talkin’ Bout You
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Trial by Fire
6. Flying Clouds with Steve
7. Bowlegged Woman with Steve
8. Hit Single #1 with Steve

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Easy Now with Steve
5. Sleep Song with Steve
6. Watch The North Wind Rise with Steve
7. Barbeque King with Steve
8. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
9. Sea Child with Steve
10. Good Shepherd with Steve
11. Come Back Baby with Steve
12. Funky #7 with Steve
13. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do? With Steve

Then on Sunday, as weather was moving in… we bussed up to Bethlehem.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yeah, it was a real winter drive, but at least the gig played on the next day.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Well, it could have been worse, that’s for sure. Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
came on board (literally) and we’ll be together for the remainder of the tour.

Hot Tuna 49, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Musikfest Café
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Monday, December 2, 2019

1. True Religion
2. Whining Boy Blues
3. Been So Long
4. Come Back Baby
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Death Don’t have No Mercy
7. Ain’t In No Hurry
8. Trial By Fire
9. Sea Child
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Barbeque King
13. San Francisco Bay Blues
14. How Long Blues
15. Serpent Of Dreams
16. Embryonic Journey
17. Good Shepherd
18. I Know You Rider
19. Encore: Water Song

Larry and Teresa are joined on this run by our very own Myron Hart on guitar and mandolin and I’ve been sitting in on Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning. Boy, does she own this song!

Then on a lovely wintry day we zoomed up to Troy, NY and that very beautiful venue, the Troy Music Hall.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 50, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Troy, New York
Tuesday, December 3, 2019

1. New Song For The Morning
2. Too Many Years
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. I See The Light
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
7. River Of Time
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Come Back Baby
10. Candy Man
11. Death Don’t have No Mercy
12. Sleep Song
13. Trial By Fire
14. Good Shepherd
15. Trouble In Mind
16. I Know You Rider
17. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil jacobs

We meandered down to Poughkeepsie today and tomorrow we’ll all be at the Bardovan.

OK… moderately up to date.

Onward

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Things are always hot at the Fur Peace Ranch but this fine November availed us all of a beautiful weekend. There is snow and an Arctic Blast coming in tonight, but the weekend was golden! Our good friend Tom Feldmann was on hand to help with our closing Level IV class. The room was filled with great players and on Sunday our guitar tech and sound man, Myron Hart came in and gave the class a multi dimensional taste of what it is like for a professional performer to adapt to different environments every night and still come up with a great sound. Thanks Myron!

Saturay night, good old fun loving Hot Tuna closed the Fur Peace Station Concert Series with two rocking electric sets. Our worth compatriot Justin Guip drove down from Upstate New York to play drums and a grand old time was had by all!

Hot Tuna 46, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Fur Peace Station
Final Concert 2019
Darwin, Ohio

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
3. I See The Light
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Talkin’ Bout You
6. Sea Child
7. Roads and Roads &
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby

Second Set:
1. Living Just For You
2. Letter To The North Star
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Hit Single #1
6. Rock Me Baby
7. Sleep Song
8. Trial By Fire
9. Good Shepherd
10. Funky # 7
11. Encore: Water Song

Big thanks to Justin and his son Angus for making the trip. See you both soon at the Town Hall in NYC on the 29th and 30th of this month.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

I brought out my 1968 Gibson J-50 for the guys to see and play. This guitar was with me every step of the way from 1960 really into the early 80’s. Other guitars may have reared their peg heads, but the old Gibby was never far away!

Tom Feldmann did another stellar Coffee Break Concert in the Beatrice Love Kitchen for the breakfast show!

Another year begins to slip away. Their has been laughter and tears in the course of this year… but we are still alive to wrap ourselves in both.

I expect snow tonight…

Time moves on… as do we…

And last… but not least… I honor all our veterans, past and present. In my family, my dad and his two brothers… all WWII vets. Jorma Sr., USN, Pentti Kaukonen, US Army, Tarmo Leonard Kaukonen, US Army.

Thanks to you all!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The night sky is moving subtly from Fall into Winter even though Winter per se is over a month away. Today is rainy and chilly here in Southeast Ohio. At least it’s no freezing. In any case, last weekend our dear friend Dave Revels brought his Shadows Of The Sixties troupe to our very own Fur Peace Station.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

To make it easier for me… I’m just going to list personnel before proceeding.

Dave and Sonia Revels vocals
Elmore Martin, vocals
Wiley Lopez, vocals
Susan Spain, vocals
Samuel White, vocals
Lawrence Anthony Grant, bass vocals
Anthony Davis, Vocals
Rick Humphreys Horns
Joseph Badaczewski Horns
(apologies to Rick and Joseph for me not being more specific about their personal instruments. This is a parallel universe for me.)
John Michael Cullens, Drums and percussion
Kevin Hill, bass
Charles Turner, keyboards
Melvin Miller Jr., guitar and band director

I just can’t say enough about this amazing cast of artists… their dedication to their art and their mission to tell an important story!

We have had the distinct honor to count count Dave Revels as one of our dearest friends for some time now and we are so grateful that he brought this amazing revue to our little venue!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

As the owners and operators of a small business, Vanessa and I face all he realities of business owners in our position. When everything goes as planned, it’s gravy. When our business needs a little transfusion, it’s up to us to give it. On weekends like this, surrounded by the joy of the music and what it brings to us and those who choose to spend time with us here at the Ranch… it is more than worth whatever we have to do to make it happen. Our amazing staff, our students, our audiences and the artists who come to teach and/or play concerts… I love you all!

I could go on and on about this show… but I’ll just post some more pictures.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

A night to remember for sure!

Back in the real world of the Fur Peace Ranch on Sunday before the Student Performance we shot our group foto.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

And on Monday, my class foto:

Foto by Wendy

Another great weekend that just reaffirms why we do what we do… and now…

The other night Jack and I played a very cool show at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington. We love this venue!

Hot Tuna 45, 2019
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Original Duo
Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza
Worthington, Ohio
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

1. Whining Boy Blues
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Second Chances
5. Letter To The North Star
6. I See The Light
7. Barbeque King
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. River Of Time
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Sea Child
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
13. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
14. Come. Back Baby
15. Second Chances
16. San Francisco Bay Blues
17. Sleep Song
18. Good Shepherd
19. Trouble In Mind
20. I Know You Rider
21. Encore: Water Song

Good times!

So… last weekend, me and the guys headed out to San Francisco for a Saturday show on the Rooster Stage at Hardly, Strictly, Bluegrass. It had been a minute or two since we were there, so it was great to be back. I got in Friday morning, met Jack at the hotel and went to pick up Madame Cecilia Chiang for a lunch celebrating her 100th birthday. I first

met Madame Chiang in 1964 or ‘65. My ex wife, Margareta, and I wandered into her place on Polk Street… the Mandarin. Today, everything is just a fashion statement. How you wear your hair and how you choose your wardrobe in today’s climate really seems like a statement of, well, nothing. Now I know I’m an old guy and I don’t spend a lot of time looking back, but back in the mid 60’s for a man to let his hair grow long could be life threatening at worst… and at best, you could get refused service at restaurants. Madame Chiang welcomed us into her establishment and treated us with respect. I will never forget that and I will always honor her for warmth and acceptance. I any case, Jack and I had the opportunity to break bread with her at the Zuni on Market Street.
What an honor and a treat.

Saturday we had to load in at 1300 so it promised to be a long day for all. The weather was beautiful in Golden Gate Park, so all was good. There was quite a cast of characters to hang with.

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Back in 1994 or ‘95, I was on a songwriter’s panel at the Bottom Line in New York. The great Bobby Braddock was on that gig, so it was more then nice to reconnect with him a quarter of a century later.

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

The hits just kept on coming…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 44, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Hardly, Strictly Bluegrass
The Rooster Stage
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Saturday, October 5, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
5. Roads and Roads &
6. Sea Child
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single # 1
10. Come Back Baby

Then on Sunday, I had a real treat. Unbeknownst to me an old friend of mine, Catharine, bought 2400 Fulton St. thirty years ago. She and her husband Paul, restored and modernized it without losing any of the cool stuff. They graciously invited Myron and myself in and allowed me to take some pictures.

Photo by Jorma Kaukonen

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

There was one of Marty’s collages… pretty much as it was four decades ago.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This was the ceiling of the room where Margareta and I lived for a while when our apartment in Pacific Heights burned. There was Freya…; just like I remembered her. Many thanks to Cathy and Paul for opening that door into another time.

Then for me… red eye flight in time to pick up our daughter after high school let.

All that other stuff is good… but there’s no place like home!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

So Jack and Justin and I played Hardly Strictly Bluegrass yesterday and it was a glorious hang. This post is not about that. I’ll get to that later. This is to note and reflect on the passing of Ginger Baker. What Ginger, Jack and Eric did with Cream changed my life in a profound way. The musicianship was off the charts, of course, but it was more than that. In my opinion, no one transliterated the work of the acoustic blues masters into an electric format better than Cream, and I’m not even talking about their originals. They invented that stuff, so thanks guys… muchly appreciated.

My ex, Margareta and Ginger and I found ourselves staying at the Landmark hotel… yep, the same one where Janis checked out. 2001, A Space Odyssey was just opening on Hollywood Blvd. Margareta and I had just purchased Manley P. Hall’s massive book on the Rosicrucians at an antique book store up the street. We dropped that tome off a our room, snagged Ginger Baker and headed for the movies. No one had ever seen anything like 2001 before and we made sure we were properly chemically prepared for that visual adventure. Everything was a psychedelic melange of sensations but I have a vague and colorful memory that Randy California of Spirit was also in the audience and that he got out of his seat and walked into the screen. As Pete Seeger would say, ‘Wasn’t that a time?’

I’m not saying that Ginger and I were buds… I’m not sure he had buds in the traditional sense, but we did hang together for a couple of minutes back there in Hollywood in the late 60’s. I would see him again in 1989 at the Mondrian hotel as the Airplane was preparing for the 1989 Reunion Tour, but that too is a tale for another time.

He was one of a kind and undeniably a force of nature. I would probably never have run into him again, but the planet earth is a poorer place without him.

Rest in peace brother!

Here’s to us, and those like us. Damn few left!

(There’s always late breaking news. Sometimes good, sometimes bad… and sometimes it just is. I got a call early this morning from a friend who told me that Robert Hunter had just passed. ‘Don’t say anything,’ he said. The family hasn’t announced yet. That’s what they wanted and that’s what I did. My orbit tangented Robert’s from time to time. I played on his Amagamalin Street. double LP back in the 80’s. We never really hung out, but over the years we occasionally worked together and… in a distant way he was a respected friend. I shall miss sharing the same astral plane with him.)

This picture was taken fifteen years ago easily… there we are, frozen in time for the times to come.

Fall is beginning to wrap its leafy fingers around us all here in Southeast Ohio. The end of another year is underway and even before it arrives I know that Spring will come again and the world will continue to spin. If indeed there is another destination for us when we shuffle off this mortal coil, I hope that Robert is there surrounded by people who will challenge his intellectual curiosity.

Fair winds and following seas my friend.

Back to the Ranch Diary

Yeah, it was a great road trip and he gigs were some of the best ever… great venues, great people to play with… good times! Sometimes I hear, ‘Yeah, you’re going home. Gonna kick back for a while?’ Are you kidding? Kicking back is not part of my existence, and for me that is a good thing! The detritus of the atmosphere in the bus finally caught up with me and as the week evolved I started to show signs of something. Tour Kennel Cough we call it. That said, I had two motorcycle rides to lead. It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it!

Foto by jorma Kaukonen

The big bikes all had five plus gallon fuel tanks so the gas stops were for the two Sportsters with peanut tanks. There were some detours due to Fall construction and the ride wound up being 130 plus miles… then back to the Fur Peace Ranch, a class, dinner and the concert with Rob and Trey with me opening the show.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

As time approached for set opener I had no voice at all. I grabbed John Hurlbut and asked him if he wanted to do the gig with me, and do all the singing. He said ‘Sure,’ and started to make up a set. What are friends for?

The Kaukonen/Hurlbut Allstar Review:

Embryonic Journey…..Jorma
Ballad of Easy Rider…..JK and JH
Kansas City Southern…. JK and JH
Oklahoma Hills…….JK and JH
The Old Homestead….JK and JH
Summertime…….JK and JH
Driftin and Driftin……JK and JH
All Along The Watchtower…..JK and JH

Thanks Brother Hurl, and… we gave the folks a great set!

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley were awesome as they always are! Love these guys.

Before you knew it, Sunday came with Student Open Mike ans pictures et al.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Well… fall is coming but it’s warm today…

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

A great weekend with good friends!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Phil Jacobs

We were getting short by this time, but the Moore was a great place to begin the endgame.

Hot Tuna 41, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
@ The Moore Theater
Seattle, Washington
Friday, September 13, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Rock me Baby
6. Roads and Roads &
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
10. Trial By Fire
11. Sleep Song
12. Good Shepherd
13. Walkin’ Blues
14. Funky #7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then down to Revolution in Portland

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 42, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
Revolution
Portland, Oregon
Saturday, September 14, 2019

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Living Just For You
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Letter To The North Star
9. Roads and Roads &
10. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
11. Come Back Baby
12. Sea Child
13. Good Shepherd
14. Funky # 7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then to Eugene…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 43, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
McDonald Theater
Eugene, Oregon
Sunday, September 15, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Roads and Roads &
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Sleep Song
10. Trial By Fire
11. Good Shepherd
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

And then he tour was done.

Now it’s morning… and time to go to the airport.