Steve, Jack, Justin and I having a really good time!

Yes folks… Thanksgiving is around the corner and around the corner from that is Hot Tuna’s return to Town Hall in New York City! Jack and Justin and I are really looking forward to this two day run November 29 and 30. We’re dusting off a couple of old chestnuts that we haven’t played in, well… a while. We’ve also got our good friend Steve Kimock on board for these dates. We’re planning on filling the room with notes and more notes!

These are our only electric dates until later next year so we’re really counting on kicking out the jams… as they say!

Have a great Thanksgiving y’all and we sure hope to see you this weekend in festive New York City!

Adam Remnant and I hold forth...

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Adam Remnant, a local musician and teacher and I got together to present a little symposium for Creative Teaching Through Song at the 2019 Literacy Conference for the Patton College of Education at Ohio University. Our audience was comprised of OU education students and the onstage class was eighth graders and high school kids. In the space of ninety minutes we forged the kids into a songwriting teams… and they wrote a very cool song.

This was a real treat for me and I have to say, I learned a lot from Adam… who is used to working with kids. A good time indeed.

The A-Team at the end of the session.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

This was an honor and a pleasure indeed!

Full moon over the Ranch!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Things are always hot at the Fur Peace Ranch but this fine November availed us all of a beautiful weekend. There is snow and an Arctic Blast coming in tonight, but the weekend was golden! Our good friend Tom Feldmann was on hand to help with our closing Level IV class. The room was filled with great players and on Sunday our guitar tech and sound man, Myron Hart came in and gave the class a multi dimensional taste of what it is like for a professional performer to adapt to different environments every night and still come up with a great sound. Thanks Myron!

Saturay night, good old fun loving Hot Tuna closed the Fur Peace Station Concert Series with two rocking electric sets. Our worth compatriot Justin Guip drove down from Upstate New York to play drums and a grand old time was had by all!

Hot Tuna 46, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Fur Peace Station
Final Concert 2019
Darwin, Ohio

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
3. I See The Light
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Talkin’ Bout You
6. Sea Child
7. Roads and Roads &
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby

Second Set:
1. Living Just For You
2. Letter To The North Star
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Hit Single #1
6. Rock Me Baby
7. Sleep Song
8. Trial By Fire
9. Good Shepherd
10. Funky # 7
11. Encore: Water Song

Big thanks to Justin and his son Angus for making the trip. See you both soon at the Town Hall in NYC on the 29th and 30th of this month.

Jack, Tom, the gang at the Ranch and I on Sunday

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

I brought out my 1968 Gibson J-50 for the guys to see and play. This guitar was with me every step of the way from 1960 really into the early 80’s. Other guitars may have reared their peg heads, but the old Gibby was never far away!

Tom Feldmann did another stellar Coffee Break Concert in the Beatrice Love Kitchen for the breakfast show!

Another year begins to slip away. Their has been laughter and tears in the course of this year… but we are still alive to wrap ourselves in both.

I expect snow tonight…

Time moves on… as do we…

And last… but not least… I honor all our veterans, past and present. In my family, my dad and his two brothers… all WWII vets. Jorma Sr., USN, Pentti Kaukonen, US Army, Tarmo Leonard Kaukonen, US Army.

Thanks to you all!

Twilight at the Ranch

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The night sky is moving subtly from Fall into Winter even though Winter per se is over a month away. Today is rainy and chilly here in Southeast Ohio. At least it’s no freezing. In any case, last weekend our dear friend Dave Revels brought his Shadows Of The Sixties troupe to our very own Fur Peace Station.

With the ladies...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

To make it easier for me… I’m just going to list personnel before proceeding.

Dave and Sonia Revels vocals
Elmore Martin, vocals
Wiley Lopez, vocals
Susan Spain, vocals
Samuel White, vocals
Lawrence Anthony Grant, bass vocals
Anthony Davis, Vocals
Rick Humphreys Horns
Joseph Badaczewski Horns
(apologies to Rick and Joseph for me not being more specific about their personal instruments. This is a parallel universe for me.)
John Michael Cullens, Drums and percussion
Kevin Hill, bass
Charles Turner, keyboards
Melvin Miller Jr., guitar and band director

I just can’t say enough about this amazing cast of artists… their dedication to their art and their mission to tell an important story!

Melvin MIller jr. and me...

We have had the distinct honor to count count Dave Revels as one of our dearest friends for some time now and we are so grateful that he brought this amazing revue to our little venue!

Second set show...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

As the owners and operators of a small business, Vanessa and I face all he realities of business owners in our position. When everything goes as planned, it’s gravy. When our business needs a little transfusion, it’s up to us to give it. On weekends like this, surrounded by the joy of the music and what it brings to us and those who choose to spend time with us here at the Ranch… it is more than worth whatever we have to do to make it happen. Our amazing staff, our students, our audiences and the artists who come to teach and/or play concerts… I love you all!

Kevin Hill, Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, John Michael Cullens and Melvin Miller Jr.

I could go on and on about this show… but I’ll just post some more pictures.

Rick, Joseph and Melvin

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

A night to remember for sure!

Back in the real world of the Fur Peace Ranch on Sunday before the Student Performance we shot our group foto.

Group wih Pumpkins

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

And on Monday, my class foto:

Handsome group

Foto by Wendy

Another great weekend that just reaffirms why we do what we do… and now…

The other night Jack and I played a very cool show at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington. We love this venue!

Hot Tuna 45, 2019
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Original Duo
Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza
Worthington, Ohio
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

1. Whining Boy Blues
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Second Chances
5. Letter To The North Star
6. I See The Light
7. Barbeque King
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. River Of Time
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Sea Child
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
13. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
14. Come. Back Baby
15. Second Chances
16. San Francisco Bay Blues
17. Sleep Song
18. Good Shepherd
19. Trouble In Mind
20. I Know You Rider
21. Encore: Water Song

Good times!