Last night the boys and I played the Kent Stage in, you guessed it, Kent, Ohio. Barry and I had been there twice before, but this was the first timed with Jack Casady and Hot Tuna. Some fun! Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 55, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Kent Stages
Kent, Ohio
December 5, 2013

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. Children Of Zion
6. Second Chances
7. Let us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Uncle Sam Blues
9. The Terrible Operation
10. Living In The Moment
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
Second Set:
1. I See the Light
2. Heart Temporary
3. Vicksburg Stomp
4. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
5. Come Back Baby
6. River Of Time
7. Prohibition Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. 99 Year Blues
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

It’s snowing here at 0730 and we’ll be off for a day at home shortly. Well sort of… Saturday is A Dinner With Jorma at the Fur Peace Ranch, followed by a show at the Fur Peace Station with Della Mae.

As soon as that concert is over, Jack, Myron, Phil and I drive to Chicago for a Sunday gig at the City Winery. Barry will be heading home to New Jersey today so this is the last trio gig until next year. Thanks for a great year Barry.

Onward!

Last night the boys and I were at the Ark in Ann Arbor. Barry and I have been playing the Ark since it was in a house many, many years ago. Good then… good now. I love this place. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 54, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Ark
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday, December 4, 2013

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Heart Temporary
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Barbeque King
7. Vicksburg Stomp
8. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
9. 99 Year Blues
10. Nobody knows You When You’re Down And Ou
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. Prohibition Blues
6. Come Back Baby
7. Goodbye To he Blues
8. Izze’s Lullaby
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. I Know You Rider
12. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

This is just a short entry… we’re on our way to the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio for our gig tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll actually be home for most of Friday. I have a gig Saturday with Della Mae at the Fur Peace Station down at the Fur Peace Ranch in Darwin, Ohio.

Then the bus leaves after the show and we go to Chicago to the City Winery for two shows and then home on Monday. Yeah buddy.

That’s it for now….

Well, after the show last night at the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem we hopped on the bus, went to sleep and woke up in Ann Arbor, Michigan where we will play at the Ark tonight.

OK… a quick rewind from last night.

Nice use of old space for a new club

This is a really lovely gig… and in the shadow of the old steel mills it welcomes old ghosts with new life.

We played two grand sets for our friends… and here they are:

Hot Tuna 53, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Musikfest Café
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, December 3, 2013

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Children Of Zion
3. Second Chances
4. Sea Child
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Barbeque King
8. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
9. How Long Blues
10. Vicksburg Stomp
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Genesis
3. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
4. Prohibition Blues
5. Come Back Baby
6. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
7. Living In The Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. Candy Man
10. 99 Year Blues
11. 9 Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

Meanwhile, back at home, our lovely daughter Izze was at the post office mailing some Girl Scout goodies to some of our service friends stationed in Afghanistan.

Good job sweetie...

That’s about it for now. Off to soundcheck at the Ark and as always…

Onward!

Bethlehem steel today

Yesterday we left Stafford, Connecticut early so we could drive down to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where we were to be a part of a pilot PBS special that focuses on American guitar music. Strangely enough, Martin Guitars out of Nazareth, PA is one of the major sponsors. Anyway, Dick Boak everybody’s dear friend from Martin asked us to be a part of this first show that would be hosted by his friend and colleague, Craig Thatcher. Now, Dick and Craig have brought their stringed magic to the Fur Peace Ranch a number of times, so it was our pleasure to make the drive for them.

The glory that was Rome...

The steel that built the Golden Gate Bridge was forged in Bethlehem. So many landmarks, so many building… so many lives and families evolved surrounded by the great steel mills of Bethlehem, PA.

The gantries and catwalks live in their own memories

The steel industry in America will probably not be born again. It is a victim of time.

Blast furnaces from the 1800's

…and this is no longer that time here in the good old U S of A.

The latest additions... 1967

One can decry those moments now vanished from the American landscape but that will not bring back those halcyon days. But indeed, the closing of those doors may have shrouded the community in rust for some decades, but life is coming back even though the mills are silent. The communities of Bethlehem and Allentown are filled with the American spirit. Good news for us too since we will be playing tonight at the Musikfest Cafe located in the Steel Stacks right around the corner from the PBS station where we filmed the show. The arts are blossoming in the shadows of the old Bessemer converters.

Makeup. Makeup.

I started the shoot out in makeup. Allison Kocher from the Clementine Salon had the herculean task of making me presentable for the TV cameras.

Her work is cut out for her. Thanks Allison!

After my ‘touch up’ it was out to the studio.

Craig Thatcher... the host with the most

The shoot went well and after we were done, Tim Fallon the President of the local PBS station took us all out to dinner at Mama Nina’s in Bethlehem. Now, I’ve enjoyed Italian food all over the world for decades, but this was absolutely some of the best, bar none! I kid you not!!!!

To eat good is to live good!

Tonight it’s back to the Steel Stacks for our gig at the Musikfest Cafe about which, more shall be revealed.

Onward.

Fun show last night at the Palace in Stafford… just a short note with the set list:

Hot Tuna 52, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Palace Theater
Stafford Springs, Connecticut
Sunday, December 1, 2013

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Children Of Zion
3. Second Chances
4. Sea Child
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Goodbye To The Blues
7. Barbeque King
8. 99 year Blues
9. The Terrible Operation
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
2. Izze’s Lullaby
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Come Back Baby
9. Good Shepherd
10. How Long Blues
11. I Know You Rider
12. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

Long day today… will run that down for everyone tomorrow.

…and now… goodnight!

Busy, busy… here are the last two Hot Tuna set lists:

From Syracuse:

Hot Tuna 50, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Palace Theater
Syracuse, New York
Friday, November 29, 2013

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Search My Heart
3. Been So Long
4. Heart Temporary
5. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Goodbye To The Blues
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
5. Second Chances
6. Keep On Trucking Mama
7. Barbeque King
8. Good Shepherd
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. I Know You Rider
11. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

Great show… and, as if it weren’t cold and snowy enough… here we are in Jay, Vermont.

Hot Tuna 51, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Foeger Ballroom
Jay Peak
Jay, Vermont
Saturday, November 30, 2013

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Children Of Zion
3. New Song For The Morning
4. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
5. Barbeque King
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Things That Might Have Been
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. Candy Man
12. I know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. Keep On Trucking Mama
4. Vicksburg Stomp
5. Goodbye To The Blues
6. Come Back Baby
7. Prohibition Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. How Long Blues
10. Nine Pound Hammer
11. Encore: I Am the Light Of This World

This was last night’s show, of course. It’s 0655 here in Jay and we’ll be rolling towards Stafford, Connecticut shortly for a show at the Stafford Palace Theater.

Short but sweet… I’m outta here. More anon and, of course… onward!

Breakfast at Persy's

Night before last we were at the Narrows Performing Arts Center in Fall River, Mass.

This is always a great gig for us… and I thought the Trio performed well. here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 48, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Narrows Performing Arts Center
Fall River, Massachusetts
November 26, 2013

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. True Religion
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Children Of Zion
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Barbeque King
8. Second Chances
9. Been So Long
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Prohibition Blues
3. Things That Might Have Been
4. I’ll Be All Right Someday
5. Vicksburg Stomp
6. Come Back Baby
7. Good Shepherd
8. River Of Time
9. 99 Year Blues
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

Yesterday morning we breakfasted at Persy’s and drove out to Norfolk, Connecticut. It was almost 60 degrees in the morning, but things were changing… rain was falling and the temperature was soon to plummet.

Load in... dark already

The Infinity Hall is always a treat. A great venue run by great folks with great food!

Come on in...

Here is our set list from last night:

Hot Tuna 49, 2013
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Infinity
Norfolk, Connecticut
Wednesday, November 27, 2013

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Candy Man
3. Children Of Zion
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. How Long Blues
6. Goodbye To The Blues
7. Barbeque King
8. Serpent Of Dreams
9. Izze’s Lullaby
10. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. I See The Light
3. The Terrible Operation
4. Vicksburg Stomp
5. Things That Might Have Been
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Good Shepherd
9. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
10. I Know You Rider
11. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

After the show… we drove to Syracuse… winter is indeed upon us on this night but here we are on Thanksgiving morning.

Good morning sunshine...

Dinner planned for 1330… Have a good one everybody! Lots to be thankful for!

Tis the season...

A short note about this amazing weekend… this is one wonderful time for us. I have lived in New York off and over the years and although I am a country boy at heart… this marvelous other world on the Hudson always feels like home.

Friday night we played an acoustic show with the core team… Larry and Teresa are certainly member of our core team… anyway, here is our st list:

Hot Tuna 46, 2013
Acoustic Night For
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
With Special Guests
Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell
New York Society For Ethical Culture
Concert Hall
NY, NY
November 22, 2013

First Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
3. Deep Ellum with Larry & Teresa
4. Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa
5. Hesitation Blues with Larry
6. Barbeque King with Larry
7. Prohibition Blues with Larry
8. Vicksburg Stomp with Larry
9. Smokerise Journey with Larry & Teresa
10. Full Go Round with Larry
11. I Know You Rider with Larry
Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave with Larry
3. How Long Blues with Larry
4. Candy Man with Larry
5. Things That Might have Been with Larry
6. Bar Room Chrystal Ball with Larry & Teresa
7. Good Shepherd with Larry & Teresa
8. Chauffer Blues with Larry & Teresa
9. I Am The Light of This World with Larry & Teresa
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning with Larry & Teresa
11. Encore: Embryonic Journey with Larry

What a grand evening of acoustic music for us.
Then…

Power trio... Jorma, John Scher and Jack Casady

It was time for the electric night at the Beacon:

Hot Tuna 47, 2013
Electric Extravaganza
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff, Skoota Warner
With Special Guests
Larry Campbell And Teresa Williams
The Beacon Theater
New York City, New York
Saturday, November 23, 2013

First Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Ode To Billy Dean with Larry
3. Second Chances with Larry
4. Can’t Get Satisfied with Larry
5. Hesitation Blues with Larry
6. Chauffer Blues with Larry and Teresa
7. Children of Zion with Larry and Teresa
8. Bowlegged Woman with Larry
9. Sugaree with Larry and Teresa
Second Set:
1. Angel Of Darkness with Larry and Teresa
2. Mama Let Me Lay It On You wit Larry
3. Rock Me Baby with Larry
4. A Little Faster with Larry and Teresa
5. Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry and Teresa
6. Somebody To Love with Larry and Teresa
7. If This Is Love I want My Money Back with Larry and Teresa
8. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby with Larry
9. 99 Year Blues with Larry
10. Hit Single # 1 with Larry
11. Funky #7 with Larry
12. Encore: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning withLarry and Teresa

Suffice it to say that a great time was had by all. My wife and daughter were there, my son was there and countless friends. How good does it have to get. Now it’s off to the Narrows Performing Arts Center in Fall River, Mass. A hearty thanks to all our friends who showed up in NYC for this great weekend. We love you all! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as we will!

Post show Beacon... The party's over... 'till next year!

Yesterday AM at the Fur Peace Ranch

We were going to get rolling early from the Fur Peace Ranch yesterday morning but the bus wouldn’t start. Ever taking the more optimistic view, we loaded up and by the time everything was on board… it started. Hmmm….

No trailor... everything got stuffed into the bays

Vanessa and Izze were on board for this leg of the trip. This doesn’t happen often, so I as really looking forward to it.

A stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch

There’s nothing like a Cracker Barrel stop at least once in every road trip… and here’s ours!

Moving right along… we got to the George Washington Bridge about 2230 and if I’d been paying attention to 1010 WINS, I would have known about the construction. Anyway, two hour later we got to our hotel in Manhattan. Good times in traffic!

Jack Casady, Matt Friedlander and myself

This morning we had an interview to tape at ABC radio with Matt Friedlander. After this I went back to the hotel for a bit and the Phil and I took the train downtown to Rockefeller Plaza where Vanessa and Izze were ice skating.

The tree will be seen soon

The girls on the ice

After the gals got done with the ice, we walked around Manhattan for a while.

Shopping anyone?

Yeah, it’s starting to get pretty whacked out on the streets here, but for an out of towner it’s a lot of fun.

With the Empire Bulding in the distance, we head towards dinner

With hunger overtaking us, we decided on Joe’s Shanghai for some soup dumplings and dinner. Delicious indeed. Now back at the hotel, it’s time to contemplate the set lists for the gig tomorrow at the Institute For Ethical Culture. Saturday night, of course, is the Beacon Theater.

Hope to see lots of you at both places.

Onward!

In Honor... Veteran's Day 2013

This year the Veteran’s Day Weekend coincided with the last teaching weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch for the year 2013… and what a weekend it was. Before I get to the goings on at the Ranch, Veteran’s Day is always and important day. I take the day to call the brothers and sister I know who either have served or are serving and thank them. In my heart I also thank everyone who has rendered or is rendering service to this amazing country of ours. Many thanks and blessings. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed!

Fall in Athens

A week or so ago when I started collecting pictures for this it was still, for all practical purposes… fall.

Friday at the Fur Peace Ranch

It was a perfect weekend at the Ranch… Temperate… blue skies… and my son Zach joined us for the Veteran’s Day Weekend.

The sun begins to set

We had Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Bob Margolin and the usual cast of Hot Tuna characters.

Saturday afternoon at the Ranch

It was to be a wonderful concert night and we had our friend Jim Wall filling the percussion throne for us… and he was the greatest. Thanks Jim… we have to do this again!

Here is our set list:
Hot Tuna 45, 2013
Electric Extravaganza With
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Jim Wall
With Special Guests
Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell
And Bob Margolin

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues (Larry is on board for the rest of the set.)
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Blues in E Bob Margolin ????
5. Bob E funky
6. Second Chances
7. I See The Light
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Chauffer Blues with Larry and Teresa
10. Sugaree with larry and teresa

Second Set:
1. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
2. Vicksburg Stomp
3. Deep Ellum Blues with Larry and Teresa
4. A Little Faster ditto
5. Bowlegged Woman
6. Goodbye To The Blues with Teresa
7. Children of Zion with Teresa
8. Bob Margolin ???
9. Ditto, Bo Diddly’s Who Do You Love
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning with Larry and Teresa
11. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do? With the whole gang

(Thanks Todd)

Looking out from the Ranch

What a beautiful weekend!

Leaves gone

Most of my class... last of 2013

It was a great weekend of music and fellowship at the FPR… you can’t make this magic up. Tuesday morning I woke up to this:

Yep... there's my gas well!

…and walking Maverick, Dog Of Destiny, this is the old Schoolhouse Road that runs through our property here at Hillside Farm. Think the late 1800’s.

Old schoolhouse road

As I was walking the dog, I could hear my Amish neighbors buggies heading up the road and I though about where I am in my life today, and you know… I’m right on schedule. I’m right where I need to be!