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

Yes folks… Thanksgiving is around the corner and around the corner from that is Hot Tuna’s return to Town Hall in New York City! Jack and Justin and I are really looking forward to this two day run November 29 and 30. We’re dusting off a couple of old chestnuts that we haven’t played in, well… a while. We’ve also got our good friend Steve Kimock on board for these dates. We’re planning on filling the room with notes and more notes!

These are our only electric dates until later next year so we’re really counting on kicking out the jams… as they say!

Have a great Thanksgiving y’all and we sure hope to see you this weekend in festive New York City!

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

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.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We stopped in Billings for some needed rest in a bed that wasn’t moving… and then headed on to Bozeman.

Foto by jorma Kaukonen

Up in the AM and a moderately short drive to Bozeman.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 39, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Rialto Theater
Bozeman, Montana

First Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Barbeque King
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Letter To The North Star
6. Living Just For You
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Trial By Fire
9. Sleep Song
10. Hit Single #1

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Roads and Roads &
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. Walkin’ Blues
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Sea Child
7. Good Shepherd
8. Talkin’ Bout You
9. Funky #7
10. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then a mad dash to Missoula…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Whereas the Rialto was modern in every respect, the Wilma is old school.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Lovely place… and we are back with David Bromberg and hs buddies!

Hot Tuna 40, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg @ The
Wilma
Missoula, Montana
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Can’t Get Satisfied
6. Ode To Billy Dean
7. Letter To The North Star
8. Roads and Roads &
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Trial By Fire
11. Sea Child
12. Good Shepherd
13. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
14. Funky #7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Meanwhile… back home it was almost a full moon.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Just lovely…

Now after an all night drive… we’re in Seattle. We have now driven from sea to shining sea!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yep back to Red Rocks opening for our pals, Dark Star Orchestra! We were here a couple of years ago with Tedeschi/Trucks and it was more than awesome to be here again!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The weather turned with some much needed rain.

But then ended in time for our set.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 38, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Opening For Dark Star Orchestra
@ Red Rocks
Morrison, Colorado
Sunday, September 8, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Walkin’ Blues
4. Bowlegged Woman
5. Trial By Fire
6. Good Shepherd
7. Hit Single # 1
8. Baby What You Want Me To Do?

In spite of the weather delay our Dark Star Brothers and Sisters gave us our full hour… We had a blast! After the gig I was joined on the bus by a gaggle of Fur Peace Ranchers and we got to chew the fat for a while… Awesome. Then we saddled up and headed north for Billings, Montana.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Onward!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Fueling up this morning on I-70 I got out of the bus to watch the sun rise and it occurred to me that although I have complained about many things in my life, being on the road is not one of them. Maybe it’s growing up in a nomadic family from WWII to when I left home… who knows? I love my time at home with my family and I more than appreciate their everlasting tolerance of my wanderlust, but there is always something waiting down the road. Like Gretchen Peters says in one of her songs… ‘Heading where ‘the blacktop turns to blue.’

Yeah…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

OK… this little entry starts with the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, MO.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

This was to be our last gig with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.

Hot Tuna 35, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Sheldon Concert Hall
St. Louis, Missouri
Wednesday, September 4, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Letter to The North Star
7. Sea Child
8. In The Kingdom
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Trial By Fire
11. Hit Single # 1
12. Watch The North Wind Rise
13. Good Shepherd
14. Funky # 7
15. Encore: Come Back Baby with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then on up to Springfield…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 36, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
Thursday, September 5, 2019

First Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Living Just For You
7. Wolves & Lambs
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single #1

Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Candy Man
3. Letter To The North Star
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Sea Child
8. Good Shepherd
9. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. Funky #7
12. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then a quick run to Kansas City, MO and a dalliance at Knuckleheads.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Knuckleheads was right next to the track and the trains kept a rollin’ all night long. We just made them part of our act!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

There was something energizing about being this close to an active freight depot.

Foto by Steve Smith

Hot Tuna 37, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Knuckleheads
Kansas City, MO
Friday, September 6, 2019

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. True Religion
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?

Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Come Back Baby
4. In The Kingdom
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Good Shepherd
7. Hit Single # 1
8. Funky # 7
9. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Steve Smith

An overnight run to Denver for Red Rocks tomorrow with Dark Star.

I am truly grateful for these days…

Foto by Steve Smith