Foto by Phil Jacobs

We were getting short by this time, but the Moore was a great place to begin the endgame.

Hot Tuna 41, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
@ The Moore Theater
Seattle, Washington
Friday, September 13, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Rock me Baby
6. Roads and Roads &
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
10. Trial By Fire
11. Sleep Song
12. Good Shepherd
13. Walkin’ Blues
14. Funky #7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then down to Revolution in Portland

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 42, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
Revolution
Portland, Oregon
Saturday, September 14, 2019

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Living Just For You
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Letter To The North Star
9. Roads and Roads &
10. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
11. Come Back Baby
12. Sea Child
13. Good Shepherd
14. Funky # 7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then to Eugene…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 43, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg
McDonald Theater
Eugene, Oregon
Sunday, September 15, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Roads and Roads &
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Sleep Song
10. Trial By Fire
11. Good Shepherd
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

And then he tour was done.

Now it’s morning… and time to go to the airport.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We stopped in Billings for some needed rest in a bed that wasn’t moving… and then headed on to Bozeman.

Foto by jorma Kaukonen

Up in the AM and a moderately short drive to Bozeman.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 39, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Rialto Theater
Bozeman, Montana

First Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Barbeque King
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Letter To The North Star
6. Living Just For You
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Trial By Fire
9. Sleep Song
10. Hit Single #1

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Roads and Roads &
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. Walkin’ Blues
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Sea Child
7. Good Shepherd
8. Talkin’ Bout You
9. Funky #7
10. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then a mad dash to Missoula…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Whereas the Rialto was modern in every respect, the Wilma is old school.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Lovely place… and we are back with David Bromberg and hs buddies!

Hot Tuna 40, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
With David Bromberg @ The
Wilma
Missoula, Montana
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Barbeque King
5. Can’t Get Satisfied
6. Ode To Billy Dean
7. Letter To The North Star
8. Roads and Roads &
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Trial By Fire
11. Sea Child
12. Good Shepherd
13. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
14. Funky #7
15. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Meanwhile… back home it was almost a full moon.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Just lovely…

Now after an all night drive… we’re in Seattle. We have now driven from sea to shining sea!

My Uncle Pentti remembered landing at Leyte Gulf to the day he died. The WWII battles in North Africa and Sicily were a part of Uncle Tarmo’s short life. For my father, Jorma Sr. passing through the Philippines and landing in Japan after VJ Day was his story. For me, these are all episodes of Victory At Sea… a show I watched every week on TV as a kid. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s theme music is still burned in my aging brain.

My son was four when that plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington not far from where he and his mom lived. I remember calling to see if they were all right when the lines went dark. Our daughter was not even born yet. She has no memories of 9/11.

I got a call that morning from my friend Michael. I was going into a doctor’s appointment in Columbus. ‘I’ll call you back,’ I said and hung up. ‘Wait a minute. What did he say?’ I called back immediately but the cell service went dark. Nessa and I saw the first tower fall on a wall of TV’s in a Sam’s Club in Canal Winchester and the rest is more than history. Like so many we lost dear friends in the Twin Towers. Nessa went into the pit with Bob… a friend of ours who was a first responder at the time. We had driven to Manhattan that day for a funeral service.

Those days will forever be etched into my memory.

Today in my small way I honor those who fell on that beautiful Fall morning… and those who continue fall as a result of what happened that same Fall morning… September 11, 2001.

I do not forget today… and I will continue to remember.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yep back to Red Rocks opening for our pals, Dark Star Orchestra! We were here a couple of years ago with Tedeschi/Trucks and it was more than awesome to be here again!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The weather turned with some much needed rain.

But then ended in time for our set.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 38, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Opening For Dark Star Orchestra
@ Red Rocks
Morrison, Colorado
Sunday, September 8, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Walkin’ Blues
4. Bowlegged Woman
5. Trial By Fire
6. Good Shepherd
7. Hit Single # 1
8. Baby What You Want Me To Do?

In spite of the weather delay our Dark Star Brothers and Sisters gave us our full hour… We had a blast! After the gig I was joined on the bus by a gaggle of Fur Peace Ranchers and we got to chew the fat for a while… Awesome. Then we saddled up and headed north for Billings, Montana.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Onward!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Fueling up this morning on I-70 I got out of the bus to watch the sun rise and it occurred to me that although I have complained about many things in my life, being on the road is not one of them. Maybe it’s growing up in a nomadic family from WWII to when I left home… who knows? I love my time at home with my family and I more than appreciate their everlasting tolerance of my wanderlust, but there is always something waiting down the road. Like Gretchen Peters says in one of her songs… ‘Heading where ‘the blacktop turns to blue.’

Yeah…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

OK… this little entry starts with the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, MO.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

This was to be our last gig with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.

Hot Tuna 35, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Sheldon Concert Hall
St. Louis, Missouri
Wednesday, September 4, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Letter to The North Star
7. Sea Child
8. In The Kingdom
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Trial By Fire
11. Hit Single # 1
12. Watch The North Wind Rise
13. Good Shepherd
14. Funky # 7
15. Encore: Come Back Baby with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then on up to Springfield…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 36, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
Thursday, September 5, 2019

First Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Living Just For You
7. Wolves & Lambs
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single #1

Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Candy Man
3. Letter To The North Star
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Sea Child
8. Good Shepherd
9. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. Funky #7
12. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then a quick run to Kansas City, MO and a dalliance at Knuckleheads.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Knuckleheads was right next to the track and the trains kept a rollin’ all night long. We just made them part of our act!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

There was something energizing about being this close to an active freight depot.

Foto by Steve Smith

Hot Tuna 37, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Knuckleheads
Kansas City, MO
Friday, September 6, 2019

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. True Religion
3. Barbeque King
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?

Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Come Back Baby
4. In The Kingdom
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Good Shepherd
7. Hit Single # 1
8. Funky # 7
9. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Steve Smith

An overnight run to Denver for Red Rocks tomorrow with Dark Star.

I am truly grateful for these days…

Foto by Steve Smith

It’s been more than eventful and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Let’s get to it.

We left off after the Warner Theater in D.C. and our next stop was the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, N.C. In the past we played the Cat’s Cradle a number of times in earlier incarnations. I remember playing the gig with Oteil And The Peacemakers. Good times.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 30, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Cat’s Cradle
Carrboro, North Carolina
Tuesday, August 27, 2019

1. Candy Man
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Talkin’ Bout You
6. Wolves & Lambs
7. Living Just For You
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby
10. Sea Child
11. Watch The North Wind Rise
12. Good Shepherd
13. Funky # 7
14. Encore: Water Song

Then it was off to Asheville and the Orange Peel.

It’s been a minute or two for us at the Orange Peel as well and it was great to be back. We also got to jam a little with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 31, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Orange Peel
Asheville, North Carolina
Wednesday, August 28, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Can ‘t Get Satisfied
5. Hit Single # 1
6. Sleep Song
7. Trial By Fire
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Sea Child
10. Good Shepherd
11. Walkin’ Blues
12. Funky #7
13. Baby What You Want Me To Do with Rob and Trey

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then it was time for a trip to Pelham, Tennessee and a gig in the Caverns.

Drone shot by Jorma Kaukonen

Now this is a little bit different.

Foto by Jack Casady

This is really one of a kind…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 32, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Caverns
Pelham, Tennessee
Friday, August 30, 2019

1. I See The Light
2. Candy Man
3. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Talkin’ Bout You
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Sea Child
8. Living Just For You
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Can’t Get Satisfied
11. Sleep Song
12. Trial By Fire
13. Good Shepherd
14. Funky # 7
15. Encore: Baby hat You Want Me To Do? With Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then it was a solo Tuna show at our old stomping grounds, the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I’ve always loved the Variety, but with the refit… it’s off the charts!

Hot Tuna 33, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Variety Playhouse
Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, August 31, 2019

First Set:

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Talkin’ Bout You
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Wolves & Lambs
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Bow Legged Woman
9. Hit Single # 1

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Living Just For You
3. Barbeque King
4. Walkin’ Blues
5. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
6. Whining Boy Blues
7. In The Kingdom
8. Trial By Fire
9. Good Shepherd
10. Come Back Baby
11. Funky #7
12. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Another long drive after show… this time to Memphis and Graceland.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I was here at Graceland with my friend Jerry on a motorcycle run nine years ago… and so much has changed. Graceland is alive and well and it was an honor to play here!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 34, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Graceland Soundstage
Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee
Sunday, September 1, 2019

1. I See The Light
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Letter To The North Star
7. Wolves And Lambs
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Come Back Baby
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Trial By Fire
12. Good Shepherd
13. Hit Single # 1
14. Funky # 7
15. Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It’s been a hectic but rewarding run so far. I know there were people I was planning to see that somehow I missed and I apologize for this. Next time friends… next time!

A moderately short run up to St. Louis and after checking into the hotel our next stop was at Gokul Indian Restaurant on Delmar. 100% vegetarian… their food is off the charts!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Good food is good food.

OK… pretty much caught up. Sleeping in a non moving bed… awesome!

More will be revealed!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Foto by Phil Jacobs

It’s been a while since we played in New Haven, so this was long overdue… and so was the dinner at Pacificos next door.

Hot Tuna 25, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
College St. Music Hall
New Haven, Connecticut

1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. I See The Light
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Living Just For You
7. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single #1
10. Sea Child
11. Watch The North Wind Rise
12. Trial By Fire
13. Funky # 7

We joined with Dave Mason and his guys and it was the beginning of a really fun run!

We saddled up after the show and were Boston bound.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

We’ve done the Wilbur a number of times, and it’s always fun!

Hot Tuna 26, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Wilbur Theater
Boston, Mass.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
1. Candy Man
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Wolves & Lambs
6. Walkin’ Blues
7. Good Shepherd
8. Sleep Song
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
10. Sleep Song
11. In The Kingdom
12. Hit Single #1
13. Funky # 7
14. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Then, driving after show as is our wont… a run to he suburbs of Philly and the Keswick Theater.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 27, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Keswick Theater
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Friday, August 23, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. Talkin’ Bout You
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Sleep Song
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Hit Single # 1
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Trial By Fire
11. Good Shepherd
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Water Song

Thence a short run to Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theater.

Hot Tuna 28, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Sherman Theater
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Saturday, August 24, 2019

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. I See The Light
3. Barbeque King
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Come Back Baby
6. Trial By Fire
7. Sea Child
8. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Living Just For You
12. Funky # 7`
13. Encore: Hit Single # 1

Then a manly drive to the D.C. area and the Warner Theater.

Foto by jorma Kaukonen

The Memorial was right outside my window when I got to my room. My son and his mom used to live not far from here when the plane hit. I will never forget that day.

On a brighter note, D.C. is hometown to Jack and myself. To play a hometown room of this caliber with friends and family in the audience… is more than off the charts!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Yeah… this was great night all around!

Hot Tuna 29, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Warner Theater
Washington, D.C.
Sunday, August 25, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Barbeque King
4. Walkin’ Blues
5. Wolves & Lambs
6. Trial By Fire
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Sleep Song
10. Good Shepherd
11. Hit Single # 1
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Water Song

This was our last night with Dave Mason and the guys so bid them a fond farewell with love and respect for a good time. Hope to see them down the road.

Now we’re down here in Carrboro, North Carolina for our first show with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. I guarantee good times will be had!

Onward through the fog!

So it’s been really busy, and believe you me at my age that’s a really good thing. So we got everything replaced after that electrical storm. I hope some time elapses before the next ‘big thing’ happens. We had a killer camp and Richie Furay came to town with his band and played the show Saturday night. By the bye… I got to play For What It’s Worth with Richie and the gang.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We finished that Fur Peace Ranch weekend up and loaded up the bus and headed north to the Capitol Theater in Portchester, New York.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 22, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Capitol Theater
Portchester, New York

1. Been So Long
2. Candy Man
3. I See The Light
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Living Just For You
7. Sleep Song
8. Day To Day Ourt The Window Blues
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Come Back Baby
11. Trial By Fire
12. Good Shepherd
13. Hit Single # 1
14. Encore: Water Song

We were sharing this bill with the David Bromberg Band and it was a great musical night for all of us. The next night we were at the Paramount in Asbury Park and I got to sit in with David for the last tune of his set. Thanks David!

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 23, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Paramount Theater
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Friday, August 16, 2019

1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
5. Talkin Bout You
6. Ode To Billy Dean
7. Wolves & Lambs
8. Sea Child
9. Bowlegged Woman
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Come Back Baby
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Water Song

I didn’t plan on it, but I started the set off with Death Don’t Have No Mercy in remembrance for Peter Fonda who passed on this day. The walls of time are closing in.

Then it was up to Westbury for a gig with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Always more than great to see Larry and T… and I got to play Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and burning with them.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 24, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Theater At Westbury
Westbury, Long Island
Saturday, August 17, 2019

1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Been So Long
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do?
5. Living Just For You
6. Wolves & Lambs
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Walkin’ Blues
9. In The Kingdom
10. Trial By Fire
11. Good Shepherd
12. Ode To Billy Dean
13. Funky #7
14. Encore: Water Song

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Tomorrow is our first show with Dave Mason up here in New Haven at the College Music Hall. So far Big Fun every night.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

(Get your Jorma Votive Candle… Today!!!!)

So it’s been a busy week filled with things that were occasionally frustrating, often rewarding and never dull. Last Thursday my pal Smiles and I were working in my barn/shop replacing the ballast in some fluorescent lighting. My phone made that noise that tells me that the Weather Channel was trying to warn us about something. I looked down and there was a warning that a lightning storm was approaching. A lighting event was only four miles away. I looked at the radar. It looked like it was going to just miss us so we kept on working. Looking up, the sky looked like the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things was suddenly hovering over us. I had to rethink my position. A little rain. How bad could it be? The Mind Flayer cloud wrapped itself over the Fur Peace Ranch and in the blink of an eye we were deluged with rain. Hurl was running to his truck to close the sun roof and as we looked out into the rain, the parking lot lit up with the closest lightning strike I’ve ever witnessed.

When we had our first lightning strike in the early 90’s over at Hillside Farm one of my buddies philosophically said, ‘Jorma, lightning goes where it wants to… when it wants to.’ True that. In a millisecond, TV’s were fried… phones were fried… the Ranch internet was fried… and more. The mother board for the Generac fried and the breaker to the pool pump gave up its life to save the pump and the salt generator. Friday we were planning to have a pool party for Izze and twenty of her friends so this was really a potential disaster in the making. Vanessa jumped into Repair Mode as she does and Friday morning Smiles replaced the pool breaker. The party went off as planned and while the kids enjoyed moderate mayhem poolside, Nessa and I sat by the fire.

Selfie by us

The fire pit sits on the location where Grandpa Wallace Black Elk built a sweat lodge in 1998 and where I heard the Thunder Beings circle the lodge. Wallace Black Elk passed on ‘04 but sharing his spiritual space in ‘98 will never be forgotten.

Timed Selfie

There were no thunder beings today, but the laughter of kids is a good substitute.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

We found ourselves in an internet free zone, both a blessing and a curse. I had phone service, but I’m not fond of doing internet work on the phone. In any case, Sunday was a beautiful day and I allocated it’s beauty to a motorcycle ride to Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Back in the 90’s I had a dear friend named Butch, aka Taylor. When he found he had cancer he had me record a six hour oral history to leave to his family. He lost a lung but kept on talking and playing his harmonica into my microphone. The cancer came back. I guess he figured ‘What the heck,’ so he started smoking again. I remember recording him while he smoked and breathed oxygen. ‘Don’t blow me up,’ I said. In any case, Butch was also an artist and spent the last year or so of his life creating the stainless steel sculpture I had come to see again in Ritter Park. He called it his ‘Earth Portal,’ and indeed it was, as I shall explain.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

As I was walking towards the sculpture from my bike, a father and son stopped to look at the work. They were walking away as I was approaching it and I called to them, ‘My friend built this twenty years ago before he passed. He would be thrilled to know that families are still enjoying it. They regarded me with suspicion, but that’s OK. These are suspicious times, and I said what I had to say. Less than a week after Butch saw the work placed, he walked through his own Earth Portal… and was gone. My friend Jerry was there that day when the statue was placed and he got to spend some time Butch. ‘There are no ripples on my pond,’ he said.

What more could one want.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

The new week came and each day we worked to fix the burned out items. We have a camp this weekend so it was imperative to get everything back to normal, which we did… an hour ago.

And so it goes, people coming, people going. As my friend Gretchen Peters would say, ‘Good times come, good times go. If it lifts you up, it will lay you low. People leave and they don’t come back. Life is a disappearing act.’

Trials and tribulations notwithstanding, so far so good.

So… it seems like only a couple of weeks ago Nessa and Izze and I were driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Blowing Rock and the Westglow Resort… and indeed it was. Myron and I drove out of Southeast Ohio to meet up with Jack and Justin and Phil in Roanoke for the nest leg of our journey which would find us in Floyd, Virginia and Floyd Fest.

Fopto by Jorma Kaukonen

Early Friday morning we all drove down that beautiful parkway for a podcast… and the assembly of our gear for the electric gig.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 19, 2019
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
Dreaming Creek Main Stage
Floyd Fest
Floyd Virginia
Friday, July 26, 2019

1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Come Back Baby
5. Living Just For You
6. Sea Child
7. Talkin’ Bout You
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Trial By Fire
10. Good Shepherd
11. Come Back Baby
12. Hit Single # 1
13. Funky # 7

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then Saturday morning Jack and I broke out the acoustic gear for a morning set.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 20, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Dreaming Creek Main Stage
Floyd Fest
Floyd Virginia
Saturday, July 27, 2019

1. True Religion
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Barbeque King
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. San Francisco Bay Blues
6. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
7. Sleep Song
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
10. Come Back Baby
11. I Know You Rider
12. Water Song

A delightful day in the mountains… and then the workshop stage.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Hot Tuna 21, 2019
The Original Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Workshop Stage
Floyd Fest
Floyd Virginia
Saturday, July 27, 2019

1. Dime For Beer
2. Whining Boy Blues
3. Heart Temporary
4. That’ll Never Happen No More
5. How Long Blues
6. Death Don’t have No Mercy
7. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
8. I See The Light

Foto by Phil Jacobs

After the set and the Q and A we headed back up the Parkway to Roanoke. The evening could not have been more beautiful as the day waned. I’m used to seeing deer. We’re surrounded by them here in Darwin, but to see a bear cross the road… now we’re talking. Sorry I missed a picture, but I was driving. In any case…

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

I grew up in the D.C. area and one of the things Mom and Dad liked to do was take the family for a drive down the parkway. Many things have changed since then, but the Parkway has resisted this change.

Good times… and onward!