This is Spring?

The second weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch featured Tom Feldmann, David Wolff and myself in our tag team (so to speak) Entrance Ramp. As you can see from the picture above, it wasn’t exactly the Spring weather we had counted on, but it was hot inside the workshops.

Jorma and Michael Falzarano

Dan Hicks was supposed to come in for our concert Saturday night, but brother Dan is fighting liver cancer right now. Our thoughts and prayers fly to the West Coast to Dan and we wish him a speedy and successful triumph in this battle. Dan, of course had a sold out show at the Fur Peace Station but thanks to our good friend, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage subbing for Dan, the room sold out again!

Nice drum head!

The guys invited me up to sit in on both sets… good times indeed. These guys rock, and it was a real pleasure to play with them!

Nessa with the guys of NRPS!

Thanks fellas… you did us and the enthusiastic audience a solid. We won’t forget this!

Sunday was the open mike for the students at the Station, and Zach and I opened the show.

Pickin' with the son! It's been too long...

The Entrance Ramp Class Picture:

What a lovely buncha pickers!

Well… this sure was a good one, for sure. By the end of the morning class on Monday, it looked like this.

Indeed... Spring is back!

Yeah… at least it’s not sub freezing this morning. Good times on the way. Today, I’m on my way to Dover, Delaware to play the Schwartz Center For The Arts.

Without doubt… more shall be revealed!

Thursday I got back from SXSW in Austin and Friday was the opening day of the eighteenth year at the good old Fur Peace Ranch. Jack Casady just got back from the Isle Of Jersey and indeed, we were ‘putting the band back together.’ There was a great bunch of campers and the stage was set for a sold out show Saturday night.

We built it... and they came...

The vibe was right and Jack and I were in fine fettle. Vanessa joined us for the second song of the first set… Ain’t In No Hurry. How good does it have to get?

Hot Tuna 3, 2015
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, March 21, 2015

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Ain’t In No Hurry with Vanessa Kaukonen
3. Other Side Of The Mountain
4. I See The Light
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Things That Might Have Been
7. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
8. Barbeque King
9. Let us Get Together Right Down Here
10. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. River Of Time
3. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Come Back Baby
6. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
7. Living In The Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. Bar Room Crystal Ball
10. Water Song
11. In My Dreams
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: How Long Blues

It’s a chilly Spring… but at least it isn’t snowing today.

Here’s the group pic from Sunday:

What a great bunch of guys and gals!

A wrap up later this morning and life goes on. I had a great two month road trip… but it’s greater still to be home!

March 19, 2007… Vanessa found herself in China where our daughter Izze had been waiting for us since she was born on June 26, 2006. Mother and daughter were united and strange to say… not a tear was shed. They whirled around the room in a first dance and only paused when Lady Robin (Vanessa’s sister) cut in and said, ‘May I hold her now?’ ‘Oh… alright…’ Vanessa grudgingly allowed. When I picked the girls up in Cincinnati, Izze burst into tears. She wasn’t used to male figures… much less those with facial hair. The tears stopped… and smiles continued.

Mom & daughter...

That was then… and…

This is now...

The world turns in its own way and more often than not, we have little to do with its progress. Sometimes things come up roses… and we just have to stop for a moment and enjoy the fragrance.

Izze… love you darlin’!

That's our girl!

Red River Blues

So first we headed out to Opa’s for a cool live radio show with Big Kev and Rick Star.

Yep, this is the place...

My set list:

Jorma Kaukonen 22 , 2015
Solo
Radio Show at OPA
OPA’s 6th Annual Radiothon
With Big Kev & Rick Star
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, March 18, 2015

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Come Back Baby
3. Ain’t In No Hurry
4. The Terrible Operation
5. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
6. Candy Man
7. That’ll Never Happen No More

Settling in...

Then it was on to the Convention Center for the Jim Marshall panel with Joel Selvin, Jay Blakesberg, Amelia Davis and myself.

Jim was quite a guy… irascible… mercurial… unpredictable… but at the end of the day, one of America’s great photographic artists… and, my friend. I wish I had kept in touch more, but you know how that goes.

Jay, Joel, Jorma... what an unholy trio!

Joel, Jorma, Amelia and Jay

Yeah, it was an honor to be a part of this one… Rest in peace brother Jim. You’re gone, but not forgotten buddy!

Yep, it's Austin

Then Cash and Myron and I headed over to El Mercado for a yummy dinner.

Where's Anthony Perkins?

Yesterday was Myron’s 40th birthday… Christine got him a cake… we at it today. Happy B’day Myron!

He'll huff and he'll puff and...

Well… early, early flight tomorrow… gotta check in and get some sleep.

Good times in Austin! Thanks to Cash and Roger for their hospitality!

SXSW is wacked out… and awesome! Leaving the Convention Center after getting my credentials, there were a gaggle of kids playing instruments made out of recycled materials. Playing really well… Nice, very nice.

These youngster were getting it done!

Around 1800 we braved downtown traffic again and made it to Lucky’s in time for soundcheck…

Welcome

The view from the Mezzanine

Eight O’clock show time… I head for the stage…

A sight to behold

… and of course I had to take a picture of the good folks here in Lucky’s!

G_d bless you guys!

Here is my little set list…

Jorma Kaukonen 21 , 2015
Solo
SXSW
Showcase @ Lucky’s Lounge
Austin, Texas
Tuesday, March 17, 2015

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Come Back Baby
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Ain’t In No Hurry
5. I See The Light
6. Barbeque King
7. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. How Long Blues
10. I Know You Rider

Back to the hotel… and a good night’s sleep. Today at 1400 is the Jim Marshall seminar. I’ll ramble on about this later this evening…

Breakfast…

The sene o the crime

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Last night, Barry and I played our last official date of this long tour… we love Long Island, and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen 20 , 2015
Acoustic Duet
Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
The Boulton Center For The Performing Arts
Bayshore, Long Island
New York
Sunday, March 15, 2015

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. True Religion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. The Other Side Of The Mountain
5. Prohibition Blues
6. Come Back Baby
7. I See The Light
8. Where There’s Two, There’s Trouble
9. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
10. River Of Time
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Things That Might Have Been
3. Suffer Little Children To Come Unto Me
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
5. Barbeque King
6. Keep On Trucking Mama
7. How Long Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. Bar Room Crystal Ball
10. Water Song
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Genesis

The night before we played, my pal Michael Falzarano and his buds in the New Riders Of The Purple Sage played the Boulton… and in the dressing room was a gift for me from Captain Toast:

Foatie Oatie O's

Thanks fellas… now Myron and I are on our way to Austin for SXSW.

Off to La Guardia… and beyond!

The Gig

Foto By Phil Jacobs

Haven’t been to Stage One for a bit and I’ve missed it. Barry and I had a great time tonight, and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen 19 , 2015
Acoustic Duet
Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
Stage One
Fairfield, Connecticut
Saturday, March 14, 2015

First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. I See The Light
3. Heart Temporary
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Ain’t In No Hurry
6. How Long Blues
7. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
8. River Of Time
9. Barbeque King
10. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
11. The Other Side Of The Mountain
Second Set:
1. Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
3. The Terrible Operation
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
5. Candy Man
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Come Back Baby
9. Good Shepherd
10. Bar Room Crystal Ball
11. Water Song
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Retro at Stage One

Weird Foto by Phil Jacobs

And of course.. it was Pi day:

Hey kids, what day is it?

Thanks to Jerry Homish for this one…

Now on to the Boulton Center For The Performing Arts.

Hartford... part of the family tree

My Mom was born in East Windsor… not far from here. She was born in 1910… and grew up on a tobacco farm. My wife Vanessa, is from Southington… not far from here… my grandfather Ben (may he rest in peace) is buried in Ellington in the little Orthodox cemetery near the old Shul… my cousin Janice lives near here. The roots of my family tree lie deep in the soil of Connecticut. It was nice to be here for a day. I should come more often and pay my respects.

The new Infinity Hall... from Norfolk to Hartford

Foto by Phil Jacobs

The view from the stage...

What a great new venue for us… we hope it thrives!

Our set List:

Jorma Kaukonen 18 , 2015
Acoustic Duet
Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
The Infinity Hall
Hartford, Connecticut
Friday, March 13, 2015

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Ain’t In No Hurry
3. How Long Blues
4. The Other Side Of The Mountain
5. The Terrible Operation
6. I See The Light
7. Come Back Baby
8. Hesitation Blues
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. River Of Time
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Keep On Trucking Mama
3. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
5. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
6. Barbeque King
7. That’ll Never Happen No More
8. Bar Room Crystal Ball
9. Water Song
10. Good Shepherd
11. I Know You Rider
12. Encore: In My Dreams

Starry, starry night...

Foto by Phil Jacobs

The boys… enshrined in mystical lights.

Jorma and Marty Brennan

I was hanging with Marty Brennan and Ian Buchanan in New York City in 1960. If it weren’t for them… would wouldn’t be having this conversation… they taught me so much!

Now it’s off to Fairfield, Connecticut and Stage One.

Upcoming tomorrow I’m going to be on:

Jerry Treacy, WFDU-FM
Host of “Crash on the Levee”, a free-form roots music program heard in the NYC area
on Saturdays on 89.1 FM, 9A-12 EST, and on-line at: www.wfdu.fm

Check the link out… lots of cool stuff and don’t miss the show.

American Motorcycle Association

My pal G.E.Smith asked me: ‘Why do you like to ride motorcycles so much?’ I wanted to say, ‘If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.’ But I didn’t. What I said was, watch ‘Why We Ride,‘ it says it all… better than I ever could.

Time with family… playing the guitar, riding motorcycles…

Priceless!

Fall River and the battleship Massachusetts

Last might Barry and I pulled into Fall River for another show at the Narrows Center For The Arts.

As always greeted by the great battleship Massachusetts… and the folks at the Narrows Center.

The plight of the millworker... people complain about unions?

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Time to work...

Well it was time for us to go to work… and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen 17 , 2015
Acoustic Duet
Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
The Narrows Center For The Arts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Thursday, March 12, 2015

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. How Long Blues
3. The Other Side Of The Mountain
4. Hesitation Blues
5. I See The Light
6. Suffer Little Children To Come Unto Me
7. Barbeque King
8. Whining Boy Blues
9. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
10. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? In memory of Marjorie Thompson… gone, but not forgotten!
11. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
3. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
4. Come Back Baby
5. Candy man
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Full Go Round
8. Good Shepherd
9. Bar Room Crystal Ball
10. Water Song
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
12. Encore: In My Dreams

The family of my colleague and dear friend, Marjorie Thomson was in the audience, and we were able to honor Marjorie with our version of the Washington Phillips song, ‘What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?’

‘Peace it flows, like a river they say. What are they doing there now?’

I miss my friend.

A bittersweet moment but a lovely evening at the Narrows.

Memories are made of this...

Now we’re off to the new Infinity Hall in Hartford, Connecticut.

Life doesn’t cut you much slack… but it’s the best we have!