I’ve been out on this road trip for a week now. A week is not so long but for some reason this one seems like a lifetime. Back home, the vicissitudes of winter have been vicious this year. Normally we’re just about mud and wintry mix. The worst that usually happens is mud in the yard and a dirty vehicle. This year, however, there’s been sub zero temperatures, lots of snow and ice and even more snow days at the Middle School than our daughter would like… and then it started to rain… and rain, and rain and rain. Anywhere one lives in the good old U. S. of A. you are burdened by some sort of local natural disaster. With the ongoing climate change we have had more tornadoes than ever before. One hit the Ranch a year ago February and did what tornadoes do… destroy lots of stuff. Over the year the natural disaster that dwells with us has always been floods. Pomeroy, this little town where our Zip Code resides is right on the Ohio River and is no stranger to floods. Pomeroy has had a love/hate relationship with the Ohio River since 1804. The river has been a commercial thoroughfare since the French and Indian Wars. I’ve heard people who live in safe havens where nothing worse happens than a missed day of trash collection look down on folks who live in disaster areas and won’t move. These are our homes, and anything worth having is work fighting for.
WSAZ Pomeroy News.
The Ranch is on the top of a hill and tornadoes hit us, but the flood does not. The fields below our property are now a sea of muddy waters. It has happened before, and it will happen again. I heard the the Ohio River will crest later today 50 above flood stage. We know when these things will happen as the Army Corps Of Engineers has to open the flood gates in the dams periodically to release some of the pressure. I am thinking of my friends and neighbors at home and pray for their safety and well being.
I was reminded by a friend who lives in Houston that after the hurricane and flooding they experienced there were email posts from mutual acquaintances in California who claimed that Houston residents deserved this because Trump got elected. As my father would say, ‘Why are there so many more horses asses than there are horses?’
Nuff said on that for now.
And so it begins with a nap
Foto by Myron Hart
On this trip there are only three of us on the bus. Myself, Myron my tech and Phil my tour manager. The bus company was out of band busses so I got what the call a Star Coach which has a stateroom in the back. Never had one before… kind of cool. All that being said, and mind you I’m not complaining about my gig… I’m beyond being blessed… still and all… it’s still work. At my age I am well aware that the day of the superstar is over. I used to take my physical abilities for granted… not any more. Every show requires a level of preparation that would have been unheard of in my youth. That’s just how it is, and because I can still do what I need to do to maintain the level of performance I require… it’s all good. I’m reminded of my Uncle Art, may he rest in peace. After my father passed in 1997, his cousin Art would call me once a year around Christmas because he liked calling someone named Jorma. He would speak to me in Finnish and laugh when I couldn’t understand him. He would switch to English and we would talk and talk. When I would play the Iron Horse in Northampton he would sometimes come with his kids and grand kids and we would share family. I remember one of our last phone calls. ‘Hello Jorma,’ he would say. We would exchange pleasantries and then at the end of the conversation he said, ‘One of these days these call will stop, so I will say hello and goodbye now.’ Indeed, one of those days the calls stopped and he was gone… the last goodbyes said.
So I’m working here and I love my job, of course. I missed my daughter’s first dance in middle school. I did get to see quite a few of her volley ball games, but I will miss most of her track and field. Like they say in the movies, ‘This is the life I have chosen.’ That’s the deal. It ain’t all beer and skittle, but then what is?
Space, the final frontier
Foto by Phil Jacobs
So the first gig was at Space in Evanston, Illinois. I love this place… a sold out show and good food!
Jorma Kaukonen 1, 2018
Jorma Solo
Space
Evanston, Illinois
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. I See The Light
5. Barbeque King
6. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
7. Hear Temporary
8. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
9. Sea Child
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Death Don’t have No Mercy
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
Second Set:
1. The Terrible Operation
2. How Long Blues
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Candy Man
5. Things That Might Have Been
6. Come Back Baby
7. Trouble In Mind
8. Living In The Moment
9. Sleep Song
10. Good Shepherd
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Dime For Beer
13. Keep On Trucking Mama
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
15. Encore: Water Song
Hanging in Space
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Space is really a delightful venue. Great folks, great food… and great sound.
Green room sights...
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Then after show an overnight drive to Minneapolis and the Cedar Cultural Center
Where the Patriots ate bitter rice...
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Our hotel was right by the stadium which was kind of cool since I just watched the game.
Cedar Marquee
Foto by Phil Jacobs
I’ve been coming to the Cedar Cultural Center for a long time… and I’m very fond of it and the folks who run it… Before the show we had some of the tastiest and different Indian food I’d ever had.
Malabari... don't miss it.
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen 2, 2018
Jorma Solo
The Cedar Cultural Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 14, 2018
First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. I See The Light
4. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
5. Waiting For A Train
6. Barbeque King
7. How Long Blues
8. Sleep Song
9. Watch The North Wind Rise
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Too Many Years
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Been So Long
6. Re-Enlistment Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Sea Child
9. Trial by Fire
10. Good Shepherd
11. Bar Room Crystal Ball
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: Water Song
The next day we drove on down to Stoughton, Wisconsin and the Opera House. This is another of those truly great venues and the folks in Stoughton are so lucky to have it!
Nice Marquee Poster
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Another great vintage ceiling
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen 3, 2018
Jorma Solo
The Stoughton Opera House
Stoughton, Wisconsin
February 15, 2018
First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Been So Long
5. Barbeque King
6. River Of Time
7. I Am The Light Of This World
8. Sea Child
9. Trial By Fire
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
12. Trouble In Mind
Second Set:
1. Candy Man
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Things That Might Have Been
4. Nobody Knows You when You’re Down & Out
5. How Long Blues
6. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
7. Whining Boy Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Sleep Song
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Good Shepherd
12. The Terrible Operation
13. Bar Room Crystal Ball
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
15. Encore: Water Song
Go towards the light
Foto by Phil Jacobs
It’s nights like this that make it all worthwhile.
One great room!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Then is was an early call and off to Kansas City, Missouri to the Folk Alliance International. I had a short showcase on Saturday night, but there was lots of press, hanging and lip flapping.
Taking the shine off the forehead
I ran into some of my favorite people.
Me and Mary Gauthier
Foto by Phil Jacobs
I got to hang with Dar Williams, Gretchen Peters, Barry Walsh, Hans Theessnik and lots more. It was great!
Late night short program
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Jorma Kaukonen 4, 2018
Folk Alliance International
Kansas City, Mo.
February 17, 2018
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Barbeque King
4. Sleep Song
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
After my little gig, I got to hear Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Good stuff… very good!
Me, Trey and Rob
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Then the magic of the International was over and we began our drive to Denver.
The Colonial on I-70 in Oakley, Kansas
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
We stopped in Oakley for lunch. Oakley used to be the home of the World’s Largest Prairie Dog and the Rattlesnake Farm with the giant rabbits and the six legged cow. These tidbits of Roadside Americana were gone, sad to say.
The only snakes here are now living free.
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
I love Roadside Americana… progress is a two edged sword.
This evening here in Denver I’ll be playing a sold out show at the L-2 church and then on to Santa Fe.
I’ve gone on long enough here… Onward.
