So… last weekend, me and the guys headed out to San Francisco for a Saturday show on the Rooster Stage at Hardly, Strictly, Bluegrass. It had been a minute or two since we were there, so it was great to be back. I got in Friday morning, met Jack at the hotel and went to pick up Madame Cecilia Chiang for a lunch celebrating her 100th birthday. I first

Cecilia, Jack and jorma

Cecilia, Jack and jorma

met Madame Chiang in 1964 or ’65. My ex wife, Margareta, and I wandered into her place on Polk Street… the Mandarin. Today, everything is just a fashion statement. How you wear your hair and how you choose your wardrobe in today’s climate really seems like a statement of, well, nothing. Now I know I’m an old guy and I don’t spend a lot of time looking back, but back in the mid 60’s for a man to let his hair grow long could be life threatening at worst… and at best, you could get refused service at restaurants. Madame Chiang welcomed us into her establishment and treated us with respect. I will never forget that and I will always honor her for warmth and acceptance. I any case, Jack and I had the opportunity to break bread with her at the Zuni on Market Street.
What an honor and a treat.

Saturday we had to load in at 1300 so it promised to be a long day for all. The weather was beautiful in Golden Gate Park, so all was good. There was quite a cast of characters to hang with.

My buddy... Buddy

My buddy... Buddy

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Jorma, Jack, Maria Muldaur and Buddy Miller

Jorma, Jack, Maria Muldaur and Buddy Miller

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Great to see my pal Trey Hensley

Great to see my pal Trey Hensley

... and then Rob Ickes showed up.

... and then Rob Ickes showed up.

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

Back in 1994 or ’95, I was on a songwriter’s panel at the Bottom Line in New York. The great Bobby Braddock was on that gig, so it was more then nice to reconnect with him a quarter of a century later.

Bobby and me

Bobby and me

Jack Casady, Steve Earle and me... note Robert Plant in between Jack and Steve's head

Jack Casady, Steve Earle and me... note Robert Plant in between Jack and Steve's head

Foto by Anthony Pidgeon

The hits just kept on coming…

I take a picure of Anthony Pidgeon... returning the favor

I take a picure of Anthony Pidgeon... returning the favor

Almost time for Tuna's set...

Almost time for Tuna's set...

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 44, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Hardly, Strictly Bluegrass
The Rooster Stage
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Saturday, October 5, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
5. Roads and Roads &
6. Sea Child
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single # 1
10. Come Back Baby

The boys... getting it!

The boys... getting it!

Nothing like a Les Paul

Nothing like a Les Paul

Then on Sunday, I had a real treat. Unbeknownst to me an old friend of mine, Catharine, bought 2400 Fulton St. thirty years ago. She and her husband Paul, restored and modernized it without losing any of the cool stuff. They graciously invited Myron and myself in and allowed me to take some pictures.

The Tiffany stained glass window on the landing

The Tiffany stained glass window on the landing

Photo by Jorma Kaukonen

Collage by Marty Balin

Collage by Marty Balin

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

There was one of Marty’s collages… pretty much as it was four decades ago.

Freya... goddess of love

Freya... goddess of love

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

This was the ceiling of the room where Margareta and I lived for a while when our apartment in Pacific Heights burned. There was Freya…; just like I remembered her. Many thanks to Cathy and Paul for opening that door into another time.

Then for me… red eye flight in time to pick up our daughter after high school let.

All that other stuff is good… but there’s no place like home!

I think it's time for a ride!

I think it's time for a ride!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen


Comments

  1. Comment made on October 23, 2019 by Pete

    Can we expect an FPR on the Road at 2400 Fulton?

  2. Comment made on October 17, 2019 by Sandy

    Wow. Re the Marty Balin collage: dates back to late 60’s? magazine cut outs? paper? theme?

  3. Comment made on October 15, 2019 by mikie

    I just saw the film “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” down at the Athena. What a powerful movie about a powerful lady with a powerful vocal instrument – which has now, so sadly, been quelled. Can’t wait til someone makes a movie of Jorma’s book. m

  4. Comment made on October 14, 2019 by ANTHONY PIDGEON

    Thanks so much for the shout-out and photo credits, Jorma. It was really fun to work with you gents and then come across your photo of me at work. Let me know when youre passing thru Portland, Oregon – would be great to connect again.
    http://www.AnthonyPidgeon.com

  5. Comment made on October 14, 2019 by johno

    The Tiffany window and fresco of “Freya” are beautiful. I always walk by 2400 Fulton when in San Francisco also. Gorgeous house. It’s definitely a pilgrimage site.
    @Dan Nigro

  6. Comment made on October 13, 2019 by Brian Doyle

    I allow criticism of my p’s and q’s but never my r’s…

  7. Comment made on October 12, 2019 by Dan Nigro

    I’ll have what she is having !! Hope you and Jack get to play well into your next century. Did a nice walking tour of San Fran many years ago, stopping at 710 Ashbury, 2400 Fulton and 1090 Page. Must have been a great summer 67. The weather in South Florida is finally “cool”, time for a ride

  8. Comment made on October 11, 2019 by dickie

    @Brian Doyle
    Too many r,s brian.

  9. Comment made on October 11, 2019 by Don Gehre

    Great photos of some real characters!

  10. Comment made on October 11, 2019 by HOGAN

    Hey Jorma,

    OMG!!! Robert Plant was “The Man” back in the day, before I got into Tuna of course, LOL… I was fortunate enough to see them at “The Garden” with the late John Bonham. I have a lot of good memories also of SF, and still keep in touch with the friends I made there thanks to social media.
    Looks like it was a good time had by all and the weather held out.
    Have a great ride and be safe…

    Hogan
    🙂

  11. Comment made on October 10, 2019 by Art

    RE: Long Hair in the 60s.

    Back in the mid-60s, I was a grammar school kid. My somewhat bohemian mom kept my hair long because she thought it was cool … the Beatles and everything. San Francisco psychedelia hadn’t quite kicked in. Man, I had to endure some real crap from people (kids, teachers, other kids’ parents, you name it) as a seven year old, but I am better for it.

    As the old ad slogan goes, we’ve come a long way. Or have we? Non-conformity with the values of the traditionally dominant social strata seems as risky now as it ever was in a lot of places. As my dad used to say, it takes couple hundred thousand years to change an earlobe. That is, of course, if you are among the 60 percent of Americans who don’t think the theory of evolution is “just a theory.”

  12. Comment made on October 10, 2019 by Brian Doyle

    Precious glimpse in to what is the symbolic edifice of an irretrievable era…

  13. Comment made on October 10, 2019 by Kendall Hoyt

    Love, Love, Love that Les Paul & Marshall. Couldn’t make HSB, but got the full force of the mighty Les Paul at the Freight & Salvage on NYE. Sounds so great. Wonderful way to end a “Saturday Afternoon” in Golden Gate Park.

  14. Comment made on October 10, 2019 by Sweetbac Jr.

    LOVE the Zuni cafe…try the veal…VERY good veal

  15. Comment made on October 10, 2019 by eaglesteve

    Welcome home Captain.

  16. Comment made on October 9, 2019 by Paul

    Hey Jorma, did you get a ride in? Went 100 miles today on my new Indian Scout 60. Just getting broken in, revving little devil she is! We miss you in Iowa! Love ya man, stay safe. Paul

  17. Comment made on October 9, 2019 by Philip Nola

    Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.

  18. Comment made on October 9, 2019 by John B

    Oh wow that certainly looks like an outstanding time in San Francisco. Many years ago I lived in Milpitas and we would visit the city as often as we could. Glad that you had the opportunity to re-connect with old friends as well as new. How nice of you guys to celebrate Madame Chiang’s 100th Birthday. Just as I suspected……..you two are at heart a couple of good guys. It must have been nice to walk through 2400 Fulton again after so many years ……So many memories I bet. We went to see the movie Judy last night and Dorothy said it best……”There’s No Place Like Home.” May God Bless and Keep You and yours Always……”

  19. Comment made on October 9, 2019 by carey georgas

    Well, sounds more like a reverie than looking back. How nice it must be to revisit old stomping grounds and slip right back in with old friends and sights. I know I don’t have to tell you, so I’ll just proclaim – you are blessed, indeed.

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