The dance card has been full since leaving the Full Moon Resort. Vanessa and Izze and I drove down and out to Westbury for the first Tuna gig on the electric tour with Steve Earle. I’ve been a huge fan of Steve’s since the 80’s so I have really been looking forward to this tour. Needless to say, at our first show at the Theater At Westbury I was so thrilled to hear Steve live that I really wanted for me and the boys to do a tune with him at the Stone Pony… which we did, but we’ll get to that. Anyway, a great way to launch the tour from Westbury. Here is that set list:

Hot Tuna 10, 2010
The Electric Quintet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff, Skoota Warner
& G.E. Smith
Theater At Westbury
Westbury, Long Island
Saturday, July 17, 2010

1. I See The Light
2. True Religion
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Long Gone Blues with G.E.
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Been So Long
7. I Know You Rider
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. If This Is Love, I Want My Money Back
10. Eyesight To The Blind with G.E.
11. 99 Year Blues
12. Funky # 7
13. Hit Single # 1
14. Encore: Come Back Baby

The next day Vanessa and Izze headed for home and me and the boys mushed on south to Asbury Park. Hot and humid… East Coast the way I remembered it from being a kid… and I’m from the Chesapeake Bay area. Hot, very hot. Setting up in the sun by the beach… guitars dealing with the heat and humidity the best they could… and the people too. Later in the evening Steve did a stellar set and came up to join us for the encore. He did a Townes Van Zandt blues in the spirit of Lightnin’ Hopkins. I didn’t get the name, but I will tomorrow. Anyway, here is our set list from the Stone Pony:

Hot Tuna 11, 2010
The Electric Quintet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff, Skoota Warner
& G.E. Smith
Stone Pony
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Sunday, July 18, 2010

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Long Gone Blues with G.E.
5. I Wish You Would
6. Living Just For You
7. I Know You Rider
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Can’t Get Satisfied
10. Empire State Blues with G.E.
11. Water Song
12. Funky #7
13. Encore with Steve Earle… title to be revealed.

I just walked the boardwalk here with G.E. Smith and caught a cup of coffee. We just got back to the hotel in the nick of time… a major summer rainstorm is whipping down the street outside. Anyway, here is our set list from last night:

Hot Tuna 11, 2010
The Electric Quintet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff, Skoota Warner
& G.E. Smith
Stone Pony
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Sunday, July 18, 2010

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Long Gone Blues with G.E.
5. I Wish You Would
6. Living Just For You
7. I Know You Rider
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Can’t Get Satisfied
10. Empire State Blues with G.E.
11. Water Song
12. Funky #7
13. Encore with Steve Earle… title to be revealed.

OK… time to load the bus and head for Baltimore.

The workshops have been going great guns here. ll the students have really been showing their mettle and digging in. Last night Tommy Emmanuel and I did a little show together for the folks. I played a short set and here are the songs I played… sort of:

1. True Religion
2. Things That Might have Been
3. I See The Light
4. I Am The LIght Of This World
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. Full Go Round with Tommy Emmanuel
7. A Merle Travis song with Tommy… I forgot the name.

Tommy followed with his usual stellar set and then it was bed time as this morning is the last class and then we’re off to Westbury for the beginning of the Tuna electric tour.

Time for coffee, breakfast, class and onwards to Long Island.

When last I wrote, I had just finished my last show at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I had an early flight so I was up at 0245 so i could leave for the airport by 0430. Of course American Customs didn’t open until 0500 so I guess i could have waited a little longer. Anyway, Monday was a long day but my friend Marjorie Thompson met me and Tommy Emmanuel at the Albany Airport and off to exit 19 on the New York State Thruway we went.

The Full Moon Resort up in Big Indian, New York was just as delightful this year as it was last. Large classes for both Tommy and myself, but with Marjorie’s able assistance we’re getting it done. Today is the last full day at Fur Peace Ranch On The Road and tomorrow I start getting ready for the electric Hot Tuna Tour which kicks ofl in Westbury, New York this weekend. So far I’m the only one up and I’m just sitting out here on my porch enjoying the Summer morning. Nice… very nice.

Onward…

Up at 0245 this morning so I could leave the hotel at 0430 and go to the Winnipeg Airport. So far so good… It looks like all the flights are on time. I’ll be In Albany in about three hours or so where I will meet up with Marjorie Thompson and Tommy Emmanuel. We’re all heading up to the Full Moon Resort in the Catskills for a week of Fur Peace Ranch On The Road. I have a feeling it’s going to be a notefest. I’m ready for it. The Winnipeg Folk Festival sure got me fired up.

Time to head for the gate… signing off from the airport in Chicago…

Today we had another ‘workshop’ at the Bur Oak Stage. Today’s theme was Three’s Company. Hard to say exactly where this came from, but what a great afternoon. I failed to keep accurate track of what we played because we were winging it but I think I remember some of the songs:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. True Religion
3. Uncle Sam Blues
4. Genesis
5. San Francisco Bay Blues

…not necessarily in that order. The host of this little apre matin was Gregory Alan Isakov. This was my introduction to Gregory, and I loved his music. I’m off to Itunes after I finish this entry. Also on the stage with us were The Pines featuring David Huckfelt, Benson Ramsey. I loved them too. Itunes, here I come. Is this a great time or what?

What a great bunch of musicians. We all took turns picking and sharing songs. The ninety minutes went by in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, we were done chewing the fat and shaking hands. I also got to hang with my friends Eric and Luke from Red House Records. A great time had by all!

Back at the hotel I’m starting to get ready for my 0430 pickup to the airport. I loved my trip to Winnipeg and our time at the Festival. I hope we get back soon. Where’s my dinner?

A full day of music for the Tuna Gang today. We took the Beaver Bus to the Festival at 1030 and when we go there we had a bunch of press stuff to do before lunch. Lots of nice people to talk to and then lunch… a great way to start the day. Our ‘workshop’ was at the Bur Oak Stage and the ‘theme’ was Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning. Sonny Landreth was far stage right, Alvin Hart was to Sonny’s left. Jack Casady was stage center, then me followed by Barry Mitterhoff on my left. For ninety minutes we all took turns picking songs and figuring out ways to play them together. To say it was good stuff would be an understatement. Good fun indeed.

At 2020 we hit the main stage and played an hour set… the list of which follows:

Hot Tuna 9, 2010
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Winnipeg Folk Festival
Main Stage
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
Saturday, July 10, 2010

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Come Back Baby
5. 99 Year Blues
6. I Am The Light Of This World
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. I Know You Rider
9. Encore: Embryonic Journey

After our set (which I thoroughly enjoyed) we stuck around to hear Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey. I have to say, I loved their tweener. By the time they were done, I was ready to get back to the hotel… upload this blog and hit the sack for tomorrow is… another day! Oh yes… one last thought for the day. Someone wondered about my vacant Facebook doodad. All I can say is… ‘Free at last!’

It’s all good for sure.

Yesterday Myron and I went up to the airport at Columbus so we’d be in time for our early flight to Chicago and on to Winnipeg. Indeed, it was a long day to be sure, but we got here safe and sound and I really dug the majesty of the great plain surrounding this fine city. Coming from Pomeroy, Ohio this is the big city but by big city standards it is a relatively small town. Hardly any traffic on the streets but some great restaurants. We just ate some Japanese food at the BluFish and it was excellent. Tomorrow the boys and I will begin our musical duties at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and I’m really looking forward to getting back in the saddle so to speak. I’m sure there will be lots more to talk about tomorrow, for now… to bed.

It’s great to be back in Canada!

Rushing around to get ready to go to Canada tonight for the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Yes, it’s a day or so early, I know but better safe than sorry. Everyone hates to go to the airport with me. I could be a whole day early and still be happy, but that’s another story. Anyway, looking forward to having a little time to do some writing when I get up north… looking forward to the weather being a little cooler too. We’ll see. Anyway, I’ll be meeting with Barry Mitterhoff and Jack Casady as the eagles of acoustic Hot Tuna gather.

In the meantime, I’ll finish my delicious egg salad sandwich here at the Village Bakery in Athens.

More shall be revealed…

Stunning day in Memphis today. We were up early and at Graceland right about the time it opened. With my senior discount as well as AAA all things considered it was pretty reasonable. Well, of course the Young Elvis changed my life. Elvis the movie star was another story but that early music… well, if I have to explain, you just won’t understand. Elvis bought Graceland when he was only twenty two years old. A young guy with a lot of money… we should all have such problems. Anyway, surely Graceland isn’t Monticello or Mt. Vernon, but it is a true American artifact nonetheless… and you know… I loved it. When I get home in a couple of days I’m going to upload a bunch of photos. That will have to wait for my home computer. Graceland… what a trip… and then the Sun Studios. The soundtrack of my life continues. Sam Phillips… what a genius… well with his fair share of luck too. If you’re ever in the Memphis area, you gotta see this. By the time we got through at Sun we had enough time to cruise down to the Mississippi and look at a couple of river boats. I wanted to go to the Stax Soul Museum, but by this time I had enough.

Back at our hotel in Mississippi I washed clothes and caught a bite to eat. Now I’m hunkering down for the evening and tomorrow we start our trek home. I’ll be able to spend the Fourth Of July with the girls.

Now that’s America!