Today, our lovely daughter Israel Love made the big move from Daisy Scouts to being a Brownie. Whoah! In three weeks, Schools in the Ohio school system will be out for Summer Vacation and there will be camps galore for the kids. Music camp, theater camp, wildlife camp, swimming camp you name it camp. It seems like the kids get out early here, but they’re back in August so it all works out. Yeah, yeah… I know it’s been said before, but they grow so fast and as my dear old Dad used to say with a wag of his head, ‘We are too soon old, and too late smart!’ Words of wisdom from the old boy… may he rest in peace. he also used to say, ‘Why are there so many more horse’s asses than there are horses?’ Point well taken.
This weekend teaching at the Fur Peace Ranch is myself, (doing a song writing class), Bill Kirchen, bless his pea pickin’ heart, and Bill Nershi. Kirchen and I are old buds from back in the day and I got to know Bill Nershi a year or so ago when he was at the Ranch. Helluva picker and a great guy. We’re going to have strum fun this weekend! Click the Strum Fun link and check the video of Eddie Peabody… speaking of pickers!
Saturday night we have a concert at the Fur Peace Station with Glass Harp. We are so excited about this gig. It’s going to be a rocker for sure. Next week I’ll be heading to Boulder to hook up with Jack Casady, Barry Mitterhoff, and Steve Kimock for a gig at the Boulder Theater in Boulder on May 18, 2013. The Boulder Theater is such a beautiful gig and when you throw Steve Kimock into the mix… anything can and probably will happen.
Big smiles! More will be revealed as the weekend progresses.
Me, Mickey Thomas and the birthday boy... Jack
The boys and I have been playing Wanee for many years now. We love this gig and the folks there have always treated us like gold! The weather was perfect… and there were 10,000 folks there at the Mushroom Stage. Now, I knew that there was a secret plan to celebrate Jack’s 69th birthday on stage. Jack, I think, was clueless. Here is our set list with the birthday events inserted:
Hot Tuna 16, 2013
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Skoota Warner
Wanee Festival
Live Oak, Florida
Thursday, April 18, 2013
1. I See The Light
2. Children of Zion
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. True Religion
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Jack’s Birthday Celebration
The cake...
Myron Hart and a lovely assistant present the cake on stage:
Is that for me?
Wait, there’s more:
Many more brother... many more!
More from the set list:
8. A Little Faster
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Vicksburg Stomp
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Funky # 7
Yep… good times. After the show we drove Barry Mitterhoff, Jack Casady, Skoota Warner and Phil Jacobs back to the hotel at the Jacksonville Airport and Myron, Daniel The Driver and I headed back north to Ohio. Right now we’re somewhere in South Carolina.
As always, more will be revealed!
Precious Cargo!
I had some blog thoughts in mind this week, but after the mindless tragedy in Boston, somehow they just seemed too trivial to post at this time. I think about my family… my lovely daughter, my handsome son and I wonder what I would do if some evil being harmed them. Truth be told, I do not know what I would and I hope I never have to find out. That said, I think I would require and eye for an eye. Vengeance is not pretty, but justice is necessary.
Life is ephemeral at best and you cannot mandate or legislate, goodness or common sense. Evil exists in this world whether you believe in it or not. If your are lucky enough not to have been touched by it, count your blessings… but be prepared. Deserving has nothing to do with how the universe treats us. We are fortunate to live in a society governed for the most part by the rule of law. That said, the veneer of civilization is very thin and the the last analysis, personal vigilance is all that will protect us and our loved ones.
I hope that the guilty responsible for the horrific tragedy in Boston are quickly found, tried, convicted and disposed of like the garbage they are. Have a nice day!
Here in my little world, things are considerably brighter today. I am in Florida and the boys and I are getting ready to play the Wanee Festival in Live Oak, Florida. If nothing else, Hot Tuna is always ready to play. Always have been… always will be! I will write more bout this tonight after the show.
Living in the moment requires a smile and I’ve got mine on.
Onward!
Soaring with eagles... me and Mountain Heart
Last night Mountain Heart graced the boards of the stage here at the Fur Peace Station. In addition to Barry Abernathy (of course) there was Seth Taylor, Josh Shilling, Molly Cherryholmes, Aaron Ramsey, and Jason Moore.
I met the gang a couple of years when Hot Tuna did Woodsongs down in Lexington, Kentucky. I was thrilled when we got them to come to the Fur Peace Station here in Darwin, and more than thrilled when they asked me to join them for their second set.
Truly, how good does it have to get. If I was any happier, I’d have to take something for it!
Thanks, Lady and Gents! Lets do it again sometime!
Onward
Well… this week went by in the blink of an eye. It seems like yesterday we were getting off the plane in Montego Bay. Many thanks to Little Feat for cutting us in on this week in paradise. This afternoon, the boys and I joined by Larry and Teresa had another grand set and here it is:
Hot Tuna 16, 2013
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
With Larry Campbell
And
Teresa Williams
Breezes Resort
Negril, Jamaica
Saturday, March 9, 2013
1. Been So Long
2. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere with Larry C.
3. Big River Blues with Larry C.
4. Red River Blues with Larry C.
5. Candy Man with Larry C.
6. Uncle Sam Blues with Larry C.
7. Waiting For A Train with Larry C.
8. Deep Ellum Blues with Larry C.
9. Smokerise Journey with with Larry C. & Teresa Williams
10. Keep On Truckin’ Mama with Larry C. & Teresa Williams
11. Blues Stay Away From Me with Larry C. & Teresa Williams
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning with Larry C. & Teresa Williams
It doesn’t get much better than to be able to play music with your friends… and with this in mind… it’s early to bed and off to the airport before dawn…
Good times indeed….
Last night, Jack, Barry, Larry, Teresa and I held for about seventy five glorious minutes and here is our set list:
Hot Tuna 15, 2013
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
With Larry Campbell
And
Teresa Williams
Breezes Resort
Negril, Jamaica
Friday, March 8, 2013
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. I’ll let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Deep Ellum
6. Things That Might Have Been
7. Barbeque King
8. I Know You Rider
9. Preachin’ On The Old Campground
10. Sugaree
11. Bar Room Crystal Ball
Another absolutely great evening for this old picker… and… later in the evening in the middle of Dixie Chicken… Jack and I sat in with our friends in Little Feat. What a night. Today we have an early show at four… and then the banquet.
Nuff for now… gotta hit the beach for the last time before we go home tomorrow!
OK folks… hang onto your hats… a short entry with our set list for tonight. Check it out!
Hot Tuna 14, 2013
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
With Larry Campbell
And
Teresa Williams
Breezes Resort
Negril, Jamaica
Thursday, March 7, 2013
1. I See The Light
2. Genesis with Larry Campbell
3. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here with Larry Campbell
4. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? with Larry Campbell
5. Angel Of Darkness with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
6. Come Back Baby with Larry Campbell
7. Children Of Zion with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
8. San Francisco Bay Blues with Larry Campbell
9. Vicksburg Stomp with Larry Campbell
10. Smokerise Journey with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
11. White Rabbit with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
Whaddaya thing about that?
The view from the stage at Breeze's
OK, so look… I’ve become infused with the ’soon come-ness’ of Jamaica. I came to the lobby of the resort here where the internet is the strongest. I had every intention of posting last night’s set list. When I opened my computer, I realized that I didn’t do the set list here… I did it old school long hand in my lyric book. Well… the book is back in our room… I am here… so I guess the set list will have to wait… maybe until tomorrow. Here’s the important stuff though. There was Jack Casady, Barry Mitterhoff, myself of course… but also Larry Campbell and the ever lovely Teresa Williams. Larry played every song with us except for the first one… True Religion. To play with my usual suspects is always a blessing… to add Larry to the mix is always a treat… when we get Teresa too… well, what more can one say?
We closed our show with Teresa preaching to the tune of Rev. Davis’ Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning. Of course… as always, she brought the house down with this one. As an encore… the boys and I pulled back with a (if you can imagine) reflective version of the great Jelly Roll Morton’s, Whining Boy Blues.
Paul Barrere just stopped by to say hey… big thanks to him and Little Feat for inviting us to the party… Gabe Ford, Little Feat’s drummer just stopped by with his small son and said Hey too… wow… all the stars are here… anyway…
Good times indeed!
Somebody's got to do it!
Well… life here at the Breezes Resort is pretty much perfect… I think I’ll hit the beach for a while…
Tough job, but…
Hey… here it is… the set list from last night:
Hot Tuna 13, 2013
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
With Larry Campbell
And
Teresa Williams
Breezes Resort
Negril, Jamaica
Wednesday, March 5, 13
1. True Religion
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out with Larry Campbell
3. Children Of Zion with Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams
4. More Than My Old Guitar with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
5. Hesitation Blues with Larry Campbell
6. Barbeque King with Larry Campbell
7. Sea Child with Larry Campbell
8. Second Chances with Larry Campbell
9. Good Shepherd with Larry Campbell
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Mama Let Me Lay It On You with Larry Campbell
12. Goodbye To The Blues with Larry Campbell
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning with Larry Campbell and featuring Teresa Williams
14. Encore: Whining Boy Blues with Larry Campbell
Au revoir
Getting ready to pack the car for the airport yesterday
Yep, snowy Sunday as we were getting ready to head to Columbus to fly out to Jamaica for a week. Monday, the usual snafus happened… flights cancelled, flights changed… blah blah blah but it all worked out and here we are and guess what? It’s sunny!
My girls and the beach...
What a difference a day makes. Tonight Hot Tuna has a gig at the Breezes Resort here in Negril. Tough job, but someone’s got to do it.
More later… mon…
Morning mist...
Driving back to Hillside Farm from town the other morning, the mist over the cemetery on the hill looked picture friendly… so I stopped for a moment and snapped a couple. I love this this spot. There is a gravestone there of an American WWII veteran who was killed in the waning days of that war… still in his late teens on that bit of granite, it simply says after his name, ‘Man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends…’
Sometimes I’ll stop up here when I’m on a motorcycle ride… kill the engine and just invite the silence. When my Dad was stationed in the Philippines in the late 50’s I used to ride my Lambretta Scooter out to the enormous cemetery outside of Manila… I would park the scooter and sit on the hillside and do my homework. My Uncle Pentti had friends buried there and I would sometimes convey his respects to them. I am also fond of visiting the Arlington National Cemetery when I have a moment in the D.C. area. These hallowed grounds help remind me as an American, who I am and where I came from.
Moving right along. From the mists of February and the past… I am getting ready for a musical week with Acoustic Hot Tuna in Jamaica. Needless to say, if things are internet friendly down there, I will be posting words and pictures.
Onward…
PS It’s snowing here at the Farm this morning…. Hmmm…
