Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

I arrived in Miami this afternoon, but a day or so ago, this was the sight as I took Vanessa out to dinner. I actually love winter weather… when it is really winter weather. If it’s going to be Winter, let it snow. After dinner getting back to the Ranch, it looked like this:

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This morning Izze’s Middle School was on a two hour delay so I let her sleep as Myron and I drove up to the airport in Columbus.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Tomorrow we board ship and set sail for what will be our first Jam Cruise. I shall report more on this as connectivity allows.

On to Belize!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

After the final weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch and the cool show Hot Tuna did at the Station, we all saddled up and got on board the bus and headed up to New York for our Beacon show.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It was our honor and pleasure to have our old pal Steve Kimock on board for this, our only electric outing on this run. I know the gig being the day before Thanksgiving made it difficult for some folks to get to the show, but that’s the date they had for us and indeed, it was better than nothing!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Soundcheck was smooth as silk and the show was butter!

Hot Tuna 43, 2018
The Electric Trio
Plus Steve Kimock
The Beacon Theater
Wednesday, November 21, 2018

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Living Just For You
6. Wolves And Lambs with Steve
7. Sea Child with Steve
8. Hesitation Blues with Steve
9. Bowlegged Woman

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Roads and Roads &
3. Trial By Fire
4. Watch The North Wind Rise
5. Sleep Song with Steve
6. Good Shepherd with Steve
7. Walkin’ Blues with Steve
8. Hit Single # 1 with Steve
9. Keep On Truckin’ Mama with Steve
10. Funky # 7 Steve
11. Encore: Water Song with Steve

This was certainly a fulfilling night for us and it was great to get to connect with so many old friends! After the show, we boarded the bus and drove up to Portland, Maine where we woke up on Thanksgiving Day and got together with Family and Friends for a fine dinner!

Timed foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

A more than satisfying week. Tonight the Acoustic Duo will be up at the Waterville Opera House in Waterville.

It’s cold up here, but we’re smiling!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Foto by jorma Kaukonen

Last weekend Magic Dick from the old Jay Geils band came to Darwin and played a more than awesome show with Shun Ng, a young guitarist from Singapore. They were indeed really something… we sure get some good guys to come to the Ranch! Jack and I opened the show with a little acoustic set:

Hot Tuna 41, 2018

Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, November 10, 2018

1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Been So Long
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Sleep Song
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Good Shepherd
9. The Terrible Operation
10. Come Back Baby
11. Water Song

Here Are the folks from the Classes that weekend.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

…and our final Masters Class Foto

Foto by Stephanie Layton

The week unfolded in an evolving way and before I knew it, it was the final workshop of 2018.

Drone foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The classes were great and Justin Guip flew in to play the show and then ride up to NYC for our Beacon show.

HEADS UP ALL! This year because of Thanksgiving Beacon doors are at seven… show starts at seven thirty. There is also new entry protocol and you may be wanded. A word to the wise is sufficient as my mother would say.

Anyway, Elecrric Tuna at the Fur Peace Station.

Rockin' with the bird!

Foto by Lee Cantor

Hot Tuna 42, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, November 17, 2018

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Wolves & Lambs
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Talkin’ Bout You
6. Sea Child
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Hit Single #1
9. Bowlegged Woman
Second Set:
1. Roads and Roads &
2. Keep On Truckin’ Mama
3. Rock Me Baby
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Sleep Song
6. Trial By Fire
7. Bar Room Crystal Ball
8. Come Back Baby
9. Funky # 7
10. Encore: Water Song

The Chet gets the call...

Foto by Lee Cantor

We were glad that our friend Carey Georgas was able to make the trip from Texas and see the show. Catch ya down the road brother….

As the weekend wound down, I put my drone to work for the class shot in front of the Station.

Ther boys from the air.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

This morning, John Hurlbut and played for the campers at our famous Monday Morning Coffee Break Show.

...This land is your land!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Ready for NYC and the Beacon. Remember… Seven o’clock doors… seven thirty showtime!

On this Veteran’s Day so many come to mind… Family and friends, strangers who have touched my life… those who have served with honor.

My father, Jorma Sr. WWII U.S. Navy, Pacific
My uncle Pentti, WWII U.S. Army Pacific
My Uncle Tarmo WWII U.S. Army North Africa and Italy
Vanessa’s Uncle Bobby, WWII U.S. Army Battle Of The Bulge
Vanessa’s Uncle Milt, WWII U.S. Army Pacific
My Dear friend Chuck F. Vietnam U.S. Marines
My bestest pal Jerry S. Vietnam U.S. Army
John Hurlbut’s dad Ray, WWII U.S.Navy Pacific

Jerry, Chuck and Ray are still with us… the others have fought their last battle and moved on.

These I know, but of course there are countless others and in my own small way, I honor them all!

My friend Jim Bacon played this Paul Hyde song at our open mike today at the Fur Peace Ranch… here it is by Séan MCann. Give it a listen:

Forever Light Will Shine

Nuff Said!

Selfie by Jeff Anderson

So Sunday it was in the low thirties, but at least it wasn’t raining so Jeff and I saddled up and headed out in the direction of Lake Hope.

Foto by Jeff Anderson

It was chilly and overcast, but I got a hundred miles in before I got home. Gotta love these roads! Last night was open house night on Main St. down in Pomeroy so Nessa and I drove down to the river to check out the action. Our first stop Was at Bobby Carr’s Hartwell House.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yeah I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet but just like everywhere here in the States, Christmas is making it’s presence felt in Meigs County.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

I love all this down home stuff…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Leaving the Hartwell House walked up to our friend Paige’s outfitting shop and bot some unwashed Levis.If you’re ever in Pomeroy, be sure to check out Front Paige Outfitters

After Paige’s we stopped off at Maureen’s Herbal Sage shop… and Bed And Breakfast.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Maureen has been making Jorma’s Rhythm Tonic for years. Check out the little clip. Good stuff!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Walking back to the Jeep I had to get a shot of our County Courthouse.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yep, it’s in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Good times!

The leaves were falling as it poured rain last night and the culverts by our long driveway were filled to overflowing. This morning Nessa and I saddled up the Mule and with tools in hand, attacked the plugged mess.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It feels good to get things done!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Finally we called it quits and went into town for a bite.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We we drove into town, I just had to take a shot of the blue sky and the flags.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Now it’s time to check on some election results.

Onward!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

As Jews Nessa and I were encouraged to go to services this Shabbat and, among other things, show solidarity for the victims and the families of the Tree Of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh. For a number of reasons this was not in the cards for out family but it is always in the cards to perform acts of service and ours was the two mile stretch of SR 681 that we have adopted as a site to clean.

Selfie by Vanessa

Rick, got us involved in the highway cleanup over a decade ago and he is getting ready to leave the area but we shall carry on the tradition. Brenda and our own John Hurlbut from the Fur Peace Ranch joined us as well as Andy from Athens… who brought doughnuts. To show up on a chilly Saturday morning to help pick up the incredible detritus that people empty from their cars is amazing indeed.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It’s the little things we can do that really make a difference. Talk is cheap… I know, because I do plenty of it. It was more than a pleasure hanging with friends over bags of trash containing stuff you don’t even want to know about.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We were done by eleven… it was a Saturday morning well spent!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

ps Carhartts… Rugged as the men and women who wear them!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Firstly… Yeah, I went out and voted early. Whatever your position, you must vote, or you have no right to complain. Just saying…

Back at the Ranch, last weekend we had Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Al Petteway. Jack and I have been friends for quite a few years now and after last weekend I count Al as one of my new best friends, and what a show he put on.

Unknown Fur Peace Photographer

Al was brilliant and Ramblin’ Jack put on a great show. At 87 years of age, he’s still the poop!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This has been a more than bizarre fall. Hot, cold… and over the last weekend, an intense hailstorm!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

There is heavy rain today but over the last couple of days I got to fly the bird and finally get some foliage shots.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

In the spirit of making every day count in some way, I’ve been cleaning up stuff down at the old A-Frame. My parents couldn’t get rid of a lot of this stuff before the passed… so now it’s finally up to me. It’s tough, but it’s getting done.

I think I’ll take a break and go into town.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

In the meantime… onward!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Here it is almost tomorrow which means another teaching weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch which means a song writing class with me and a DADGAD class with Al Petteway. DADGAD is like another universe for me so I’m really looking forward to this hang as well. Last weekend the hang was with Larry Campbell and Roy Book Binder which is always more than a blessing! Hubby Jenkins came in Saturday night to do the show at the Fur Peace Station, and what a show it was!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Sunday rolled around and it was time for the de rigeur camp foto and the student open mike.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The folks playing at the open mike just keep getting better and better… and then it was Monday.

Foto by Stephanie

Time is slipping by like water through my fingers. It’s Halloween weekend here in Athens. Nessa and I remember walking Izze through the neighborhoods in Athens with all the kids and their families… it was a group effort. She and her friends will be walking sans adults this year. Where did the time go? One moment it’s morning, and the next the shadows ae getting longer.

And so it goes…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Well, it’s been a week since I left home. Our bus for this run, ‘Fast Times,’ pulled in shortly after sunrise and we loaded up for the journey to Colorado.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

I put the bird up for a quick flight, and took the moment to admire my new tin roof. Then we finished loading up and headed out.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The new FCC driving regs are too lengthy to list here, but the bottom line was that it took three days to get to Colorado. I could have made it in one in the old days… but I was younger then. Anyway…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

I gotta say, I love little towns like this. Driving across the Great Plains is majestic in an odd way, but seeing an A & W Drive In brings me way, way back!

We picked up Mr. Casady in Aurora at DIA and drove up to Nederland where we checked into the Sundance Lodge.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

The Lodge was up the road from Nederland not far from Eldora… and Nedfest was in the offing.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

There were more panorama shots than Carter has Little Liver pills so I just picked a couple for the blog.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

I sometimes get asked if I ever bring my bike on the road and the answer is ‘No.’ When I ride, I ride… when I play music, I play music. Focus on the good stuff at hand. Although, on this day I must admit I missed my 110 cubic inch Screaming Eagle Breakout. Oh well… onward.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Steve and I got together in the back of the bus before our set Saturday night at Ned Fest. Steve had more than done his homework, and it was more than good!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 21, 2018
The Electric Trio Plus One
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With Steve Kimock
Ned Fest
Nederland, Colorado
Saturday, August 25, 2018

1. Been So Long
2. San Francisco Bay Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Living Just For You
6. Sea Child with Steve
7. Hesitation Blues with Steve
8. Can’t Get Satisfied with Steve
9. Bowlegged Woman with Steve
10. Serpent Of Dreams
11. Watch The North Wind Rise
12. Trial By Fire
13. Sleep Song with Steve
14. Walkin’ Blues with Steve
15. Hit Single # 1 with Steve
16. Funky #7 with Steve

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Up on Sunday morning, I snagged one more picture from the Sundance Lodge.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then it was back to Nedfest where I was scheduled for a solo set.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

It was still light when I hit the stage.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Jorma Kaukonen 27, 2018
Jorma Solo @ Nedfest
Nederland, Colorado
Sunday, August 26, 2018

1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. True Religion
3. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
4. Barbecue King
5. I Am The Light Of This World
6. River Of Time
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Things That Might Have Been
9. Keep On Truckin’ Mama
10. How Long Blues
11. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. Second Chances
14. That’ll Never Happen No More
15. Come Back Baby
16. In My Dreams
17. Candy Man
18. Good Shepherd
19. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
20. Bar Room Crystal Ball
21. Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It was dark when I finished and we started our drive to Jackson Hole.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

And there you have it. Half the ‘day off’ was riding in the bus, but dinner is starting to sound pretty good about now. There was a sunshower with lightning a moment ago but now the shower is gone and the sun remains.

Done, and onward!

I meant to have this up last week, but Aretha’s passing changed that. Anyway, better late than never.

Last weekend we were so fortunate to not only have the wondrous Dave Revels teaching for us here at the Fur Peace Ranch but on Saturday night last he brought his amazing Shadows Of The 60’s show to the Fur Peace Station. The musical director was Melvin Miller Jr. on guitar. I send you all to this site for all the amazing talent that made this show possible. Dave did not bring the horns on this gig, but he brought everyone else. The stage was really full… and it was truly awesome! Thanks to all of you… so very much!

Shadows Of The Sixties!

This was indeed a night of joy… and funk!

We sure look forward to haing them back again!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

In 1984 as I was weaning my life away from California (It’s in the book) I played a gig at the old Tralfamadore Club up in Buffalo. They were renovating.’Do you want this old hand truck.?’ ‘You bet I do do,’ I said. I took it, threw it in my van and it’s been with me ever since. The other day I was loading copies of ‘Been So Long’ into the Company Store here at the Fur Peace Ranch and I just thought I wished that everything was this useful and lasted this long.

This weekend at the Ranch, I was not teaching but I wasn’t working either so I got to enjoy all the good stuff going on around here. Bryan Sutton was teaching and last night was his concert at the Fur Peace Station. This was yet one more awesome show for us.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

You just can’t say enough about Bryan, his music and his band. They showed us all how it should be done! I also got to play a couple of songs with Bryan and the guys!

That’s pretty much up to date… and as always…

Onward!