Saturday night I played the Mill Event Center in Lancaster, Ohio… just up the road from us. What a beautiful venue! Everything went really well… especially considering as it was their first show. I love this venue and these folks! I’ll play there anytime.

Jorma Kaukonen 19, 2016
Jorma Solo
The Mill Event Center
Lancaster, Ohio
Saturday, April 28, 2018

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Been So Long
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
7. Sleep Song
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. How Long Blues
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. In My Dreams
12. Candy Man
13. Heart Temporary
14. That’ll Never Happen No More
Second Set:
1. Whining Boy Blues
2. I See The Light
3. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
5. Things That Might Have Been
6. Keep On Trucking Mama
7. Come Back Baby
8. I’ll Be All Right Someday
9. Sea Child
10. Flying Clouds
11. Good Shepherd
12. Bar Room Crystal Ball
13. Water Song
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
15. Encore: Genesis

Is this Spring yet?

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The seasons have been struggling… but everything is starting to work out as it should.

Getting ready to 'que

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Maverick gets ready to join Izze and me for a barbecue on Sunday. The worm was turning and we started to feel life in the trees.

Redbud... finally!

Yep… the worm has turned indeed. Izze’s in school, Nessa’s driving down from Columbus and I’m going for a motorcycle ride!

Onward indeed!

Well, thank goodness the weekend was graced by good weather. Some nasty rain came in yesterday afternoon and continues today but redbud is now in sight and I now we’ll finally be wrapped in Spring in a day or so.

Monochromatic bleakness hangs on, but not for long!

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

This weekend we hosted Spencer Bohren again and David Wilcox for the first time. David is a great artist who invites you into the welcome room that is his world. He taught a great song writing class and enthralled us all with his performance at the Fur Peace Station!

I spent a lot of time this weekend getting to know my D’Angelico as well.

The D'Angelico through the Allesandro Half-Bred Mutt

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The weekend blessed us with a window of fine weather. The music and fellowship was grand!

Sunday before the open mike...

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Time flies when you’re having fun, and before you know it… Monday morning arrived.

Lots of good electric picking from these folks!

Foto by John Hurlbut

Today Nessa and I drove up to Lancaster, Ohio to take a look at the Mill Event Center, where I’ll be playing this Saturday night the the 28th. This is a brand new spot, and it’s going to be a winner. Check it out. Only 250 tickets will be sold!

Me... waiting for the other 245 people.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Sunshine is coming, another gig this weekend and the family is well. What’s not to like?

Onward

Larry Campbell tries out my new D'Angelico while the folks gather for orientation

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This paste weekend Larry Campbell, Spencer Bohren and hosted the students here in Darwin, Ohio for another truly great weekend. Friday the weather was beautiful. Saturday the temperature started to slide but itdidn’t dampen the spirits that warmed the room for our concert Saturday night.

Jorma Kaukonen 19, 2016
Jorma and Larry Campbell
With Spencer Bohren
Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio 45769

1. Dime For Beer, Larry & Jorma
2. Hesitation Blues, Larry & Jorma
3. Trouble In Mind, Larry & Jorma
4. Ain’t Nobody For Me, Larry & Jorma
5. Barbeque King, Larry & Jorma
6. San Francisco Bay Blues, Larry & Jorma
7. Market Town/Scatter The Mud… Larry solo Thanks for that Michael…
8. Blind Mary, Larry solo
9. Cypress Grove, Larry, Spencer & Jorma
10. No Cane On The Brazos, Larry, Spencer & Jorma
11. Lost Highway, Larry, Spencer & Jorma
12. Good Shepherd, Larry & Jorma
13. Nine Pound Hammer, Larry & Jorma
14. Come Back Baby, Larry & Jorma
15. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here, Larry & Jorma
16. Big River, Larry, Spencer & Jorma
17. Encore: I’ll Fly Away, Larry Spencer & Jorma

Larry, Spencer,our pal Wally and myself backstage

Foto by Rusty Smith

Spencer played for an hour and Larry and I played for ninety minutes. The folks sure got plenty of music on this night. Sunday it rained so we did our ‘Class Picture’ indoors at the Station.

Some fun...

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Monday morning we had a final wrap up as snow… yes snow, began to fall.

The Watersong Weekend Class Picture

Foto by John Hurlbut

After the folks scattered to there respective homes and climes, I went to pick up our daughter from school and on the way home it started to snow. It’s still snowing…

Spring has sprung...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Snow and all… a great couple of days. Looking to the future!

Today started with me loading 1500 fly sheets to be autographed by me for the initial release of ‘Been So Long…’

The mule... loaded with sheets to be autographed

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

A bunch of chores to do getting ready for this camp weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch. Then, since it was the first day that was warm while I was home, I was furloughed to go for a motorcycle ride.

Black Beauty has been waiting for a while for this day

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Towards the end of my father’s life I asked him what he missed the most as his infirmity progressed. ‘Tennis,’ he said. ‘I miss playing tennis.’ I thought for a moment. ‘The would be as if I could no longer ride motorcycles,’ I told him. ‘Oh it’s nothing at all like that,’ he said without missing a beat. I looked him in the eyes. ‘Yes it is Dad. It’s exactly like that.’ Short rides or long… I love them all and my life would certainly be the poorer without them.

115 foot pounds of torque... barely adequate?

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

In another conversation with my father not long before he passed. ‘Dad, was there anything in life you felt you left undone?’ I had visions of, ‘I could have been a better father… we could have gone to more ball games together…’ Something along those lines. What he said was, ‘I always wanted a motorcycle.’ I hear you dad… I hear you!

Ride free to the edge of the world dad… ride free.

I did it today with you in mind!

240 mm of aggressive rubber!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Nothing like a Spring day...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Started driving in the snow but it let up by the time we got to Hatrford.

The lore of the ancients

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then it was Infinity time.

... and beyond

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 16, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Infinity
Hartford, Connecticut
Friday, April 6, 2018

First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Been So Long
4. Heart Temporary
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Come Back Baby
7. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
8. San Francisco Bay Blues
9. How Long Blues
10. Candy Man
11. Trial By Fire
12. Sea Child
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. True Religion
2. Ain’t In No Hurry
3. Wolves And Lambs
4. Genesis
5. Whining Boy Blues
6. Trouble In Mind
7. Barbeque King
8. River Of Time
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Sleep Song
11. Watch The North Wind Rise
12. Good Shepherd
13. Water Song
14. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Phil and Jack backstage...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then up to Ogunquit, Maine for the last show of this run at Johnathan’s.

Seafood, here we come!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Great dinner… and then the gig!

Hot Tuna 17, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Jonathan’s
Ogunquit, Maine
Saturday, April 7, 2018

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Waiting For A Train
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Things That Might Have Been
5. Search My Heart
6. Barbeque King
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Candy Man
9. Trial By Fire
10. Sleep Song
11. Living In The Moment
12. Trouble In Mind
Second Set:
1. Too Many Years
2. Second Chances
3. I See The Light
4. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
5. Come Back Baby
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Whining Boy Blues
8. Been So Long
9. Sea Child
10. Good Shepherd
11. Bar Room Crystal Ball
12. Water Song
13. I Know You Rider
14. Encore: Genesis

After the shrimp coctail... a gig!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

After the show we drove Jack and Phil to Boston for the next leg of their trip and Myron and I headed for home… which is whee I am now. Back with my girls… and tonight snoozing in my own bed.

Good times!

The Flying Monkey

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Winter’s chilly fingers are still wrapped around us up here, but there was blue skies as we pulled into Plymouth, and the Flying Monkey.

Monkeyville

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This is a great joint. It’s been too long since we played here!

Hot Tuna 15, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Flying Monkey
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Thursday, April 5, 2018

First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. The Terrible Operation
3. Too Many Years
4. Wolves And Lambs
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Barbeque King
7. River Of Time
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Death Don’t’ Have No Mercy
10. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
11. Living In The Moment
12. Sea Child
13. Trial By Fire
14. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. The Terrible Operation
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
5. Waiting For A Train
6. How Long Blues
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Search My Heart
9. Come Back Baby
10. Sleep Song
11. Good Shepherd
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. I Know You Rider
14. Encore: Water Song

Where's Dorothy?

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Rising a little bit early this morning to head for Hartford, Connecticut and Infinity.

Back at the yard behind the Monkey… it was still train time.

A thousand miles from nowhere...

Foto by Phil Jacobs

The Paramount Theater In Rutland

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I think the last time we were here was 2010. It’s been way too long. This is a magnificent theater with great sound!

Hot Tuna 14, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Paramount Theater
Rutland, Vermont

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Been So Long
4. Search My Heart
5. River Of Time
6. Barbeque King
7. I Am The Light Of This World
8. San Francisco Bay Blues
9. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
10. Sleep Song
11. Watch The North Wind Rise
12. Whining Boy Blues
13. Trouble In Mind
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. Wolves & Lambs
4. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
5. Come Back Baby
6. Nobody Know You When You’re Down & Out
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Sea Child
9. Trial By Fire
10. Good Shepherd
11. Bar Room Crystal Ball
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
13. Encore: Water Song

It’s been rainy and chilly, but hey, we’re in Vermont in April.

Tools of the trade

Foto by jack Casady

Now we’re off to the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, New Hampshire. It’s been a minute or two since we’ve been there too so we’re looking forward to this one as well.

Proceeding…

The view from the stage

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yeah....

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I saw The Blob in 1958 when it came out. I went to the Avalon Theater on Connecticut Aveunue near Chevy Chase Circle… my hood. I think I took my girlfriend Kathy. I sure knew how to show a girl a good time back then.

A historic plaque

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Fast forward to today and Hot Tuna at the Colonial Theater… scene of the Blob massacre in the movie and today’s Blobfest.

Who needs The Blob when you have Hot Tuna?

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 13, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Colonial Theater
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Monday, April 2, 2018

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Been So Long
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Barbeque King
7. Living In The Moment
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. Sleep Song
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. How Long Blues
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When Your own & Out
2. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
3. Search My Heart
4. I See The Light
5. Come Back Baby
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
7. River Of Time
8. In My Dreams
9. Trial by Fire
10. Sea Child
11. Good Shepherd
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
13. I Know You Rider
14. Encore: Bar Room Crystal Ball

Looking forward to the next time

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It’s been a while since I played the Colonial. This was Jack’s first time in Blobland. He loved it. As time passes, it’s nice to play new venues, but always a welcome pleasure to come back to familiar ones!

You can't make this stuff up.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The White Rabbit art theater next door…

Yesterday we got up and drove up to Rutland, Vermont where tonight we will play the Paramount Theater. Raining here and raining at home. at least it’s not snowing… today.

More will be revealed…

Ziessen Pesach and Happy Easter… to all!

Life has been uneventful which is just the way I like it. Back to the Jefferson Theater in Roanoke. Last time I was here as I recall it was on the Cami Tour with Robben Ford and Ruthie Foster.

Putting an old school to good use.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

What a grand venue inside this old high school.

My little corner of the world.

We’ve been waiting for spring at home… a little ahead of our game here.

Nice

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 11, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Jefferson Center
Roanoke, Virginia
Friday, March 30, 2018

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Heart Temporary
4. I See The Light
5. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
6. Come Back Baby
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Sleep Song
10. Trial By Fire
11. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Whining Boy Blues
3. How Long Blues
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Too Many Years
6. Wolves & Lambs
7. San Francisco Bay Blues
8. Barbeque King
9. Things That Might Have Been
10. Sea Child
11. Good Shepherd
12. Keep your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
13. Encore: Water Song

Back on the bus in the dead of night

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then a brisk run up to the Ram’s Head in Annapolis.

Shepherd's Pie anyone?

Foto by Phil Jacobs

We’ve been coming to the Ram’s Head for a very long time… it’s always a pleasure to play here!

Hot Tuna 12, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Ram’s Head
Annapolis, Maryland
Saturday, March 31, 2018

First Set:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Nobody Knows You when You’re Down & Out
3. Been So Long
4. Candy Man
5. Let Us Get Together right Down Here
6. Barbeque King
7. River Of Time
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Sleep Song
10. Trial By Fire
11. Death Don’t have No Mercy
12. Bow Long Blues
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Too Many Years
4. Wolves And Lambs
5. Come Back Baby
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
7. Trouble In Mind
8. Waiting For Train
9. Watch The North Wind Rise
10. Sea Child
11. Good Shepherd
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: Water Song

Easter Sunday here… and a good day for a walk down to the harbor.

Buddy's... still here

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Last time I ate at Buddy’s was over ten years ago… probably closer to fifteen. My son was still really a kid. Vanessa and i took him to dinner here.

Meanwhile, back home at the Ranch Spring is finally showing its face.

Red Bud by the house

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Hope the spring flowers are still there when I get home in a week or so.