For those of us who got introduced to Sweetwater thirty some years ago… it was such a pleasure to come back to Mill Valley to find such a warm and wonderful venue carrying on in that fine old Sweetwater tradition! Wonderful indeed…

This has been a very long tour for the Tuna Family… I’ve been away from home for six weeks. Fortunately for me, I’ve had my son Zach with me most of the tour… but at home, our six year old Izze, has been growing and changing exponentially without me… and that is just the way it is for those of us who tour in this business. My dear old friend Jack Casady brought his wife Diana on this tour, and so in some small way there was the feeling of more than family. Diana, in addition to being one of the most loving human beings on the face of the earth, is also one of the strongest. She has been fighting and extremely rare form of cancer with Jack at her side for more than a decade. Over the last week or so, it began to be apparent that her battle may be coming to an end and with this thought in mind, we the Tuna Family decided to cancel the rest of the tour and let them go home tomorrow. I cannot remember the last time Tuna cancelled a show… it is not our way… but as you all know, family always comes first. This is Jack and Diana’s story to tell and I shall not write more about it without their permission. Suffice it to say they are in my heart and prayers as I hope they will be in yours.

This time here in Mill Valley opens a window in time that is filled with memories. My parents lived and died here, my brother Peter and his family live here and indeed so much of the twenty five plus years I lived in California are wrapped up in these beautiful mountains. Nuff said for now…

Here is our set list from last night:

Hot Tuna 49, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Sweetwater
Mill Valley, California
Sunday, July 30, 2012

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Second Chances
5. The Terrible Operation
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. River Of Time
8. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
9. Barbeque King
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Nine Pound Hammer
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Nobody Knows you When You’re Down And Out
3. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
4. Come Back Baby
5. Bread Line Blues
6. Things That Might Have Been
7. Vicksburg Stomp
8. Sea Child
9. How Long Blues
10. Good Bye To The Blues
11. Keep On Trucking Mama
12. I Am The Light Of This World
13. Parchman Farm
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
15. Encore: Water Song

We have another show tonight… and more shall be written…

Night before last we played Anthology in San Diego… caught a couple hours of sleep and hit the road at 0600. Eight some hours later, we arrived in Santa Cruz and began setting up at the Rio Theater. The Rio Theater is one of those great old theaters with lots of tradition as well as artifacts.

We were scheduled for two sets… and here they are as played:

Hot Tuna 48, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Rio Theater
Santa Cruz, California
Saturday, July 28, 2012

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Heart Temporary
3. Children Of Zion
4. Hesitation Blues
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. The Terrible Operation
8. 99 Year Blues
9. River Of Time
10. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Barbecue King
4. Red River Blues
5. Sea Child
6. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
7. Things That Might Have Been
8. Good Bye To The Blues
9. How Long Blues
10. Vicksburg Stomp
11. Parchman Farm
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
13. Encore: Water Song

This turned out to be a simply wonderful gig for folks who came to listen. What a blessing for everyone.

Now check out this radio… my grandparents had one just like it. Wish I had it… of course I wish my grandparents were still around too… hmmm…

What a cool gig. After the show, we drove to the San Francisco Airport… I got up at 0600 again so I could collect my son Zach who was returning to the tour. With Zach on board we headed straight for the Mifune Noodle House where I have been eating since 1978. It never disappoints me… never.

The end of the day is here and we are all tired. Tomorrow we will be at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. This is a first for us and of course we hope we get to hang with Bob Weir over the next couple of days.

Boy that bed looks good….. Zzzzzzzzzz

Ok… busy, busy, busy…

OK… Here’s the Orpheum set list from Flagstaff:

Hot Tuna 46, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Orpheum Theater
Flagstaff, Arizona
Thursday, July 26, 2012

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Come Back Baby
5. Things that Might Have Been
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. Bread Line Blues
9. 99 Year Blues
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. Nine Pound Hammer
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
3. Candy Man
4. Vicksburg Stomp
5. Death Don’t Have No mercy
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Barbeque King
9. Goodbye To The Blues
10. Keep On Truckin’ Mama
11. Parchman Farm
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
13. Encore: Genesis

Then… up at 0600 and off to San Diego and Anthology.

I did Anthology solo last year and loved it… now it was time for Hot Tuna to take the stage and here is our set list from last night:

Hot Tuna 47, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Anthology
San Diego, California
Friday, July 27, 2012

1. True Religion
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Second Chances
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Bread Line Blues
7. I See The Light
8. Heart Temporary
9. Mama let Me Lay It On You
10. Barbeque King
11. The Terrible Operation
12. Sea Child
13. Good Bye To The Blues
14. Nine Pound Hammer
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Now we’re in the parking lot behind the Rio… sound check soon… show soon and then off to Mill Valley.

Last night we played the Mesa Arts Center in the Phoenix area… and well, let’s just say that air conditioning was appreciated! This is a simply beautiful venue.

Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 45, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Mesa Arts Center
Mesa, Arizona
Wednesday, July 25, 2012

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Been So Long
3. Hear Temporary
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Children Of Zion
6. Second Chances
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Come Back Baby
9. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
10. How Long Blues
11. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
12. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Sea Child
3. Vicksburg Stomp
4. River Of Time
5. 99 Year Blues
6. Barbeque King
7. Goodbye To The Blues
8. The Terrible Operation
9. Good Shepherd
10. Parchman Farm
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
12. Encore: Water Song

We’re about to embark on a hectic couple of days… first we drive to Flagstaff to play the Orpheum Theater then after show we drive to San Diego where we will play Anthology. I played Anthology solo earlier this year and loved the gig. It’s a real listening room… and the food is great. What a combination for a great evening.

Gotta run…

PS Almost forgot… if you’re ever in Mesa and get hungry for quality Mexican food… you must go to Rosa’s Mexican Grill on University… The enchiladas with mole sauce are… well… you must try them.

jk

Two nights ago we pulled into Carbondale, Colorado and here is our set list from that night:

Hot Tuna 43, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
PAC3
Carbondale, Colorado
Saturday, July 21, 2012

First Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Second Chances
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Full Go Round
6. Goodbye To The Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Living In the Moment
9. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
10. How Long Blues
11. Nine Pound Hammer
Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Bread Line Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Children Of Zion
5. Good Shepherd
6. Whining Boy Blues
7. Vicksburg Stomp
8. The Terrible Operation
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Parchman Farm
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

After Carbondale we drove on up the mountain to Telluride and the Sheridan Opera House. I’ve been to the Opera House in Telluride on a number of occasions in different configurations but this one with the Hot Tuna Trio, was certainly one of the best. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 44, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Sheridan Opera House
Telluride, Colorado
Sunday, July 22, 2012

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Things That Might Have Been
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. I See The Light
8. The Terrible Operation
9. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
10. Barbeque King
11. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
3. Genesis
4. Bread Line Blues
5. River Of Time
6. Sea Child
7. Goodbye To The Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Vicksburg Stomp
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: How Long Blues

A bright and early start out of Telluride (0545) and we were off to Mesa, Arizona… with a stop in Gallup, New Mexico.

The streets of Gallup, called to us… and we answered.

Yep… the El Charrito was just the place for breakfast. Delicious!

It occurred to me as I looked down the road the my bud Jerry Bayha and I rode this road on our epic Rt. 66 trip in September of 2003. How the time flies!

Eleven and a half hours later, we pulled into Mesa, Arizona in time for me to take this picture and catch some dinner. What a day… the Painted Desert and more. On Thursday we play the Mesa Arts Center. Good times!

I love this country! Onward…

Last night good old Hot Tuna was at the Oriental in Denver… hot times and here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 42, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Oriental Theater
Denver, Colorado
Friday, July 20, 2012

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. Been So Long
3. Heart Temporary
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Children Of Zion
6. Sea Child
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Second Chances
9. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
10. Barbeque King
11. Genesis
12. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Bread Line Blues
3. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
4. Come Back Baby
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Keep On Trucking Mama
7. Goodbye To The Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. How Long Blues
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Death Don’t Have No Mercy

Now we’re off to Carbondale and the PAC3

Gotta run…

Yesterday’s ‘day off’ was a thirteen and a half hour drive form Dallas to Denver. We drove north to I-70 and then west and the good news was that we had to pass by Oakley, Kansas home of the world’s largest prairie dog, and the Colonial Steakhouse where a Kansas City strip steak that would have cost a hundred and fifty bucks in New York cost twenty two dollars. That’s what I’m talking about… and it’s right off I-70. Yeah…

This was sort of the halfway point on the way to Denver… before we knew it… the 105 degree temperature had given way to a mere 92 and the hotel rooms were air conditioned. Tonight we are at the Oriental Theater in Denver… and hopefully it will be air conditioned too.

Onward…

Last night, me and the boys (and the girl, but we’ll get to that) played the One World Theater in Austin. We haven’t been back to Texas for a while and it was not only great to be here again, but we got to have the wondrous Cindy Cashdollar sit in with us. We haven’t hung with Cindy for a while, so this was beyond great. In the words of the great Steve James, ‘When you play with Cindy, you know she is the heaviest cat in the band!’ Some fun and right on Steve!

Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 40, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
One World Theater
Austin, Texas
Tuesday, July 17, 2012

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Heart Temporary
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Children of Zion
6. Second Chances
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. 99 Year Blues
9. River Of Time
10. Red River Blues
11. Nine Pound Hammer with Cindy Cashdollar
Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Barbeque King
5. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
6. Things That Might Have Been
7. Bread Line Blues with Cindy
8. Living In The Moment with Cindy
9. Vicksburg Stomps With Cindy
10. I Am The Light Of This World with Cindy
11. Parchman Farm with Cindy
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning with Cindy
13. Encore: Uncle Sam Blues with Cindy Cashdollar

Thanks Cindy… what a blast! Now we’re off to the Kessler Theater in Dallas.

Onward!

What a treat we had in Tampa the other day… in addition to being able to play in an absolutely beautiful performing arts theater… Marty Balin graced us with his presence with a surprise visit. Nothing like old friends and family. (New friends are good too,) Without the many doors that my being a part of Jefferson Airplane opened for me… it would have been quite a different life… good, but different. Thanks brothers and sister, for that one. It worked out pretty good for me!

Anyway… here is our set from Tampa the other night:

Hot Tuna 39, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
David A. Straz Center For The Performing Arts
Tampa, Florida
Saturday, July 14, 2012

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Been So Long
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Children Of Zion
5. Red River Blues
6. Barbeque King
7. Bread Line Blues
8. 99 Year Blues
9. River Of Time
10. Goodbye To The Blues
11. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
5. Things That Might Have Been
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Come Back Baby
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light of This World
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Genesis

We just spent the night in Baton Rouge and in an hour or so, we’ll push on to Austin and the One World for tomorrow’s show. Onward…

As always at this time of year… it was hot in good old Atlanta. The Tuna Gang moseyed over to Little Five Points and the Variety and parked behind the theater.

Our pals from Dangermuffin opened the show with a great set. I loved it and so did the crowd! After the boys finished their show… we went on and here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 38, 2012
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Variety Playhouse
Atlanta, Georgia
Friday, July 13, 2012

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. Search My Heart
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Children Of Zion
5. Second Chances77
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Red River Blues
8. Sea Child
9. Bread Line Blues
10. Goodbye To The Blues
11. Barbeque King
12. Vicksburg Stomp
13. 99 Year Blues
14. I Am The Light Of This World
whoops… Genesis (thanks Todd)
15. How Long Blues
16. Nine Pound Hammer
17. Encore: Embryonic Journey

No hotel last night… after the show we saddled up and drove down to Tampa where we are now. Tonight we play the David A. Straz Jr. Center For The Performing Arts.

Perhaps a little nap before load in…