So the day after Thanksgiving the boys and I played the Hamilton where only the day before we ate.

Hot Tuna 34, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Hamilton
Washington, D.C.
Friday, November 25, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. I Wish You Would
5. Sea Child
6. Trial By Fire
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Feel So Good
9. Come Back Baby
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Things That Might Have Been
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Sleep Song
6. In The Kingdom
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Bar Room Crystal Ball
9. Water Song
10. Funky #7

A damn fine show in the old hometown… then it was of to Glenside, Pennsylvania and the Keswick, which would be our last Tuna show for this run.

The Mighty Keswick

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 35, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Keswick Theater
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Saturday, November 26, 2016

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. I Wish You Would
5. Sea Child
6. 99 Year Blues
7. I See The Light
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Bowlegged Woman
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Things That Might Have Been
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Feel So Good
6. Sleep Song
7. Good Shepherd
8. Bar Room Crystal Ball
9. Water Song
10. Funky #7
11. Encore: Hit Single #1s

A night at the Keswick was a fine way for us to end this little run, and the last Tuna show of the 2016. Then it was time for Jack and Justin to head to their respective homes and I wandered down to Richmond, Virginia and the Tin Pan.

A new venue for me... liked it!

Real nice folks...

Jorma Kaukonen 30, 2016
Jorma Solo
The Tin Pan
Richmond, Virginia
Sunday, November 27, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. Sleep Song
8. Sea Child
9. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
10. I See The Light
11. Come Back Baby
12. River Of Time
13. The Terrible Operation
14. Living In The Moment
15. Watch The North Wind Rise
16. Good Shepherd
17. Bar Room Crystal Ball
18. Water Song
19. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
20. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Then it was time for a trip to New York.

Nice view of the Big Town!

The City Winery is always fun, and the burgers don’t suck either!

It was a dark and stormy night...

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Jorma Kaukonen 31, 2016
Jorma Solo
The City Winery
New York City
Tuesday, November 29, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Barbeque King
5. Sleep Song
6. Whining Boy Blues
7. Let Us get Together Right Down Here
8. River Of Time
9. Hesitation Blues
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Heart Temporary
3. Nobody Knows You when You’re Down & Out
4. Come Back Baby
5. In My Dreams
6. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
7. Candy Man
8. Sea Child
9. Watch The North Wind Rise
10. Good Shepherd
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Bar Room Crystal Ball
13. Water Song
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
15. Encore: Genesis

The man... and the barrels

Foto by Phil Jacobs

A good time at the Winery as always. Rain an traffic today on the way to Boston. Tomorrow I’ll be with Tedeschi/Trucks at the Orpheum and I’m really looking forward to it!

Yep... it's winter up in Stowe, Vermont

Hot Tuna 32, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center
Stowe, Vermont
Tuesday, November 22, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. I Wish You Would
5. Sea Child
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Candy Man
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. That’ll Never Happen No More
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Feel So Good
6. Sleep Song
7. In The Kingdom
8. Good Shepherd
9. Rock Me Baby
10. Water Song
11. Funky #7
12. Encore: Hit Single #1a

A lovely winter interlude with portent of things to come down where we live!

Right next to Stage One

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 33, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Warehouse
Fairfield, Connecticut
November 23, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I See The Light
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Sleep Song
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby
Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Candy Man
3. I Wish You Would
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Flying Clouds
6. Sea Child
7. Good Shepherd
8. Bar Room Crystal Ball
9. Water Song
10. Funky # 7
11. Encore: Hit Single #!

Then it was down to the Warehouse in Fairfield, Connecticut. We had a rockin’ good time! Then right after show we drove to D.C. where we will be at the Hamilton tomorrow. Today, however, is Thanksgiving and I am thankful for so much. My son Zach was able to join us for the bountiful repast which we also had at the Hamilton.

This better not be our last supper!

Awesome dinner in peerless company!

Traditional

Jorma and Zach at the Hamilton.

My home town... not the way I remembered it... better!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there. Today, I have only First World problems…

Be well all…

Our name in lights on Broadway!

Well of course the Beacon came first. I just couldn’t resist this one.

Hey, any time we get to play and people come to listen is a good day. That said, we sure look forward to the Beacon every year!

Pickin' the SST

Foto by Lee Cantor

Yeah, all our ducks were in a row for this one. A special thanks to Roger MacNamee for the beautiful tie dye Gibson SST.

Hot Tuna 30, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Beacon Theater
New York, New York
Saturday, November 19, 2016

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I Wish You Would
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Candy Man
6. Sleep Song
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Bowlegged Woman
Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Rock Me Baby
5. In The Kingdom
6. Flying Clouds
7. Good Shepherd
8. Come Back Baby
9. Feel So Good
10. Bar Room Crystal Ball
11. Water Song
12. Funky #7

Awesome theater!

Ceilings... we're painting ceilings!

The bird takes flight

Foto by Lee Cantor

Da Boyz in action!

Foto by Lee Cantor

Then as if that weren’t good enough… last night we were back in Albany at the Egg…

Hot Tuna 31, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Egg
Albany, New York
Sunday, November 20, 2016

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Sea Child
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Candy Man
9. Bowlegged Woman
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. True Religion
3. Rock Me Baby
4. I Wish You Would
5. In The Kingdom
6. Sleep Song
7. Good Shepherd
8. Come Back Baby
9. Water Song
10. Funky #7
11. Encore: Hit Single #1

Winter is definitely on the horizon. A chill in the air for sure. Today we head out to Stowe, Vermont and the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center.

More will be revealed for sure!

Onward…

The bus pulls into Manhattan... nice park job

Foto by Suzy Perler

We beelined it into Manhattan from Darwin, Ohio on Thursday… getting in around 2200. I guess twelve hours is twelve hours no matter how you look at it. Nothing to complain about… I’m not driving.

Two words we love to see!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Our first show was at the Tabernacle in Mt. Tabor, New Jersey. Originally it was supposed to be an all acoustic show but we wanted to air out the electric trio stuff so we split the evening.

Diana II and the Suburst M-30

Foto by Lee Cantor

Hot Tuna 29, 2016
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Tabernacle
Mt. Tabor, New Jersey
Friday, November 17, 2016

Acoustic Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Ain’t In No Hurry
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
6. Let Us get Together Right Down Here
7. Barbeque King
8. In My Dreams
9. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. River Of Time
12. How Long Blues
13. I Know You Rider

Then it was time to turn the beast loose.

It was in tune when I bought it...

Foto by Lee Cantor

Electric Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. I Wish You Would
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Sleep Song
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Good Shepherd
10. Funky #7
11. Encore: Hit Single # 1

Jack plays Blue... I pick the SST

Foto by Lee Cantor

The Tabernacle is always a blast… and the catered food is worth the trip alone… Thanks to George for putting this gig on!

Tabernacle by night...

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Tonight is Tuna’s annual outing at the Beacon Theater… be there, or be square.

Good times… always…

The Super Moon, Nov. 13, 2016 from my back porch in Darwin, Ohio

Frosty mornings… the chill came late to us here in Southeast Ohio. Temperatures were down to the low 20’s in the morning. It was our first hard frost… and this late in the season, it’s hard to imagine there will be an Indian Summer. Still and all, it’s just weather and we know what that means… change, like it or not.This weekend my dear friend Barry Mitterhoff returned to the Fur Peace Ranch as did my old buddy, Jack Casady. It’s been a while since we have been graced by Barry’s presence, but it was as comfortable as putting on an old pair of shoes. Also on board for the weekend was my good pal Tom Feldmann. Tom has been with me now for a couple of years. He found his way to us through Roy Book Binder an Stefan Grossman. I am so pleased that he is now a member of the family. He is not only a great guitar player, a writer and generally speaking a serious artist… he’s also a great guy! We definitely had the A team here this weekend… not that all our teams are not A teams.

It’s been a bit since Jack and I did a show together and more than a bit since Barry joined us. What an artistically gratifying evening!

Hot Tuna 28, 2016
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, November 12, 2016

First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
I See The Light
5. Ain’t In No Hurry
6. I See The Light
7. Candy Man
8. Sleep Song
9. Sea Child
10. The Terrible Operation
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
3. That’ll Never Happen No More
4. Come Back Baby
5. Prohibition Blues
6. In My Dreams
7. Vicksburg Stomp
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
Good Shepherd
10. Bar Room Crystal Ball
11. Water Song
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Thanks to Pete for the set list corrections. I’ll have to talk to Myron about this…

Together... again

Foto by Lee Cantor

Sunday the open mike for ‘The Kids,’ was awesome. In the space of the last three days we lost Leonard Cohen, Robert Vaughn and Leon Russell. At my age mortality has become a companion, and in an odd way a friend. As a friend, mortality reminds me to make the most of every day, every moment, every friend, my family… most beloved they are… and the musical notes I am still privileged to be able to share with the world. Each day is indeed precious in a way that would nave escaped me as a young man.

In any case, Vanessa got together with Phil Rosen and the two of them honored Leonard Cohen with a touching rendition of Dance Me To The End Of Love!

Phil and Vanessa... Dance Me To The End Of Love

Then this morning as the weekend was officially over, Tom’s and my class got together for a picture…

The eagles have gathered

Foto by Carol Doherty

It will be another 20 some years until the next Super Moon… as for moments with friends and family, each stands alone… yet hangs together like cut glass tears on a chandelier… precious and fragile.

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

Omar Khayyám

Nor would I have it otherwise…

Hallowed ground indeed...

Yesterday was Veterans Day… My Father and his two brothers Tarmo and Pentti all served in WWII. Of course the world continues to turn and our line of warriors remains unbroken to this day. I did not serve… that was not my path. Would I do things differently today? This is a pointless question.

The Jorma of today honors our veterans… past and present, living and dead. They have done things and gone places that will forever be foreign to me. They have offered and given their lives for our country. To the men and women who have served, do serve and will serve… I thank you.

On another and yet quite current subject… the Presidential Election and our collective futures as a country and as humans:

From A Cherokee Parable

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life…

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

“One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

“The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

“This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”

The old chief simply replied,
“The one you feed.”

This... and steam trains...

Just a really short note as we here at The Fur Peace Ranch get ready for our last weekend and concert here in Southeast Ohio. We are winding up our 19th year and are so blessed to have been able to make it this far and to share the music, the art of life as we see it… and the fellowship with our friends. We give praise for this!

Now some may have noted that we had a Presidential Election this week. Some are happy… some are sad. I’m not going to entertain a discussion about how you or I voted. This is America. I don’t care how you voted and how I cast my ballot is none of your business.

This about this… There will be another election in four years… we have them every four years.

This morning I read that Leonard Cohen passed last night. I realize there will come a time when we must all answer the call… that is a constant, a given. Still we take for granted that the things we love will last forever.

Nothing lasts forever. I found out yesterday that Premier Video, the last brick and mortar video shop in this area is closing this weekend. We live in an area where the internet is not yet fast enough to realistically download movies. Plus, Premier had a huge catalog of very old movies. I would hang out with my daughter… talk movies, new and old, with the folks behind the counter and return to my home in the country with wonders to behold.

indeed… nothing lasts forever. Sometimes what masquerades for progress is merely saying goodbye to a comfortable place.

Oh well…

As for Presidential Elections… there will be another one in four years.

There will never be another Leonard Cohen… or a Premier Video!

Well… It’s been a beautiful week since my last entry. The weather has been unseasonably warm during the day and nicely chilly at night. I managed to get all my work done and had time for two very fine motorcycle rides.

The old covered bridge off Rt. 13

This lovely bridge is not far from Millfield off Rt. 13.

Nice... very nice

Then a couple of days ago our pal Smiles was working on our trials when he sensed whitetail activity. For those of you who hunt, you know the magic that happens when you have been still for fifteen or twenty minutes and the forest forgets about you and comes alive. Smiles, a seasoned woodsman, relaxed on the hillside and got this beauty with a crossbow at thirty feet.

Nothing will be wasted here.

Now we’re not headhunters looking for trophies. This young buck has a small rack, but a lot of meat. We got about fifty pounds of ground venison as well as a bag of loins. Vanessa and I are cooking venison meatballs right now which we will have for dinner with spaghetti. You won’t find this meat in a market! One of the things I love about cuisine in the Italian and German countryside is dishes with wild game. Hard to find here in the States… but we can do it at home.

I can hardly wait for dinner.

This is whitetail terrain...

We’ve got 126 acres here at the Fur Peace Ranch, and we’ve been spending a lot of time hiking in the woods. It’s like have a state park in your backyard.

Then yesterday my friend Jeff who teaches at Ohio University, got off early and asked if I wanted to go for a ride. Yep… let’s do it. Another successful trip through the Hocking Hills.

Black Beauty resting by Ash Cave

Today was election day if course… I was at the polls by 0645 and voted… my duty and my honor.

So much for that… life continues to go on. This weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch is our closing weekend… Jack, myself and Barry Mitterhoff, then it’s on the road for while.

Onward