Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Yesterday Zack and I were in the woods together, made another trip to Lowe's to get some more paint for the Pinewood Derby and then came home to gather Vanessa up. We met a bunch of our pals at Kevin Morgan's for a New Year's dinner filled with laughter and fellowship. We Watched Shrek yet one more time and then were home in time for the ball to drop at Times Square.

Zack and I will be heading for his home tomorrow morning so we have to finish the Pinewood today. Let me just say, a very Happy New Year to all! Last night I was saying, 'Where did it all go?' and today I look forward to the new one. Good stuff!

We took Zack home on Monday and since then this week has been filled with getting ready for the upcoming tour. It's been unseasonably warm which is OK, but I feel another wintry blast is just around the corner. Anyway, I'm probably going to be offline for at least a week while I make some hardware changes. If all goes well, you'll be hearing from me again in about seven days. In the meantime I'll be bustling around suffering from internet withdrawals.

Hmmm...

Just a quick note to affirm that I am still alive and kicking. I'm expecting my new computer to arrive this afternoon and more blather will follow after I learn how to use it.

It's always a good time to upgrade your electronic gadgets. Onward.......

After 65 degrees yesterday it's snowing this morning and so that goes. My new computer is up and running and I'm back on line again for real. More will be revealed after I get to New York, which is where I'm going now.

As always at moments like this, no matter how you prepare, It's rush, rush rush... Still and all, I'm sure everything will be all right, at least for today.

More anon...

The drive up from Meigs started out unevenfully but degenerated into some serious weather up on I-80 in the Poconos. Yep, the heat wave is over. It's freezing and icy up here in the Tri State as we get ready to finish up the push and check into our hotel in Manhattan.

Today is a 'day off' but we're back in tour mode again. Hmmm... I think I'll practice the guitar a bit before we hit the bus.

This evening Vanessa took us all out to dinner and then down to the Irridium to see Les Paul and his friends play. What an experience... the musicianship, the showmanship... it was completely happening! The spirit of the man filled the room and he brought out the best in everyone. I hope I get to see this again... but if not, I'll never forget this evening!

It just couldn't be any more real than this!

Tonight Barry and I were part of the NY Guitar Festival John Hurt segment at Merkin Hall. There was so much great music there tonight... they wure know how to throw a party. I sat in with Bill Morrisey on Payday and then thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the the show as part of the audience and then took the stage with Barry about 2200. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
Merkin Hall
New York Guitar Festival
Mississippi John Hurt Night
Wednesday, January 18, 2006

1. Stackolee
2. Casey Jones
3. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
4. Walking The Floor Over You
5. Ain’t No Tellin’
6. Nobody’s Dirty Business
7. Big Leg Blues/Embryonic Journey

What a great night. This hs been a productive trip to NYC! Tomorrow we're off to Trenton, new Jersey. Off to bed...

Last night Barry and I did our third annual show at the Trenton War Memorial with Woody Mann. This is such a great gig we were thrilled to be included again and asked back for next year as well! The intimacy of the on stage setting as well as the intensity of the audience just can't be beat. Here are our set lists from both shows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 2, 2005
Patriot Theater
@ The War Memorial
Trenton, New Jersey
Thursday, January 19, 2006

First Show

Set One:
1. Candy Man
2. True Religion
3. Big River Blues
4. I See The Light
5. Do Not Go Gentle
6. How Long Blues
7. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
8. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
9. Bread Line Blues
10. Red River Blues
Set Two:
11. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
12. Genesis
13. Uncle Sam Blues
14. I Am The Light Of This World
15. Re-Enlistment Blues with Woody Mann

Second Show
Set One:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. Parchman Farm
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. I Know You Rider
7. Heart Temporary
Set Two:
8. Prohibition Blues
9. That’ll Never Happen No More
10. What Are They Dong In Heaven Today?
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Embryonic Journey
13. Good Shepherd
14. Trouble In Mind with Woody Mann

Getting to play a couple of songs with Woody was the frosting on the cake! Hooo boy!

On our way up from Trenton to Nyack we did get lost a couple of times. 9W is not for sissies. Anyway, we're here and ready to head on over to the good old Turning Point!

More anon...

A springlike day yesterday and perhaps today. After the show tonight we're driving to Seattle so I hope we can continue to be so lucky with the weather. We were back to the Turning Point last night. It's been a while, but I love that place. John had been putting us at the Helen Hayes Theater but that join is undergoing reorganization, whatever that means. Once again Barry and I had a blast as we slipped back into the traces. I love it all, but this duo thing is really fun. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 2, 2005
The Turning Point
Piermont, New York
Friday, January 20, 2006

Set One
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. Blue Railroad Train
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Preaching On the Old Camp Grounds
8. Prohibition Blues
9. Tom Cat Blues
10. I Know You Rider

Set Two
1. Big River Blues
2. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Living In The Moment
10. Good Shepherd
11. Just Because
12. Encore: S.F. Bay Blues

Well, there's just enough time for a shower, breakfast, tonight's set list and a fresh set of strings for the old J-35. Onward!

The little theater we played in Long Island last night was a great venue. Terrific sound and great eateries in the neighborhood. What a combo. It was an evening well spent. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 4, 2006
Boulton Center For The Arts
Bayshore, New York
Saturday, January 21, 2006

Set One:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. How Long Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. Do Not Go Gentle
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Heart Temporary
8. I Know You Rider
9. Bread Line Blues
10. Preaching On the Old Camp Grounds
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Red River Blues

Set Two:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. I See The Light
6. Prohibition Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. 3rd Week In The Chelsea
9. True Religion
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Encore: Water Song

After we packed up we drove out for Columbus to drop Vanessa and Johnny off and early tomorrow morning our journey to the west coast continues. I'm looking forward to gettting a real night's sleep tonight so I'm off to it.

Onward...

I sure have appreciated these 'days off' as we've been dashing across the country. South Dakota night before last, Montana last night and with a little luck, Seattle tonight. I started to get a cold the night of the last gig in New York so I've just been slugging around the bus trying to get well. It seems to be working.

I made much of this trip two and a half years ago on my motorcycle with my bud ole Jer. It's not quite as much fun on the bus in the winter, but what a spectacular country this is. Yesterday we stopped at a rest area and there was the Devil's Tower 90 miles away across the Badlands. Miles and miles of expansive plains and then towns and cities rising up before us and falling away behind us. Truly great stuff.

Well, it's time for breakfast and then back on the bus.

Yesterday we stopped in Bozeman to see a great American monument... I mean Gibson Montana. Jason Jones took me and the boys on the most complete tour of the factory I've ever had and I've been there a couple of times. This was right up there with the Badlands and Devil's Tower! We had a chance to see some really beautiful guitars and say hey to old friends.

We love the guys and gals up there. Thanks all!

Last night at the Triple Door was not only our first time there but it was sold out! Yes... words we like to hear. The sound was unbelievable and Barry and I found ourselves musing, 'We're not used to playing classy joints like this.' After a good laugh we can add, we hope that we'll be back. With that thought in mind, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
The Triple Door
Seattle, Washington
Friday, January 27, 2006

Set One:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. Waiting For A Train
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. I See The Light
7. Heart Temporary
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
10. I Know You Rider
11. Hesitation Blues

Set Two:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Prohibition Blues
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. Come Back Baby
9. San Francisco Bay Blues
10. Living In the Moment
11. Good Shepherd
12. Just Because
13. Encore: Water Song

It's an early bus call today as we head for Eugene... so off I go.

Still raining...what a surprise. Another sold out whow last night as we played Taboo here in Eugene. Things were a little more boisterous than they were night before last in Seattle but such is life. Here is out set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 6, 2006
Taboo
Eugene, Oregon
Saturday, January 28, 2006

1. Big River Blues
2. Trouble In Mind
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. Do Not Go Gentle
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Preaching On The Old Camp Grounds
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. How Long Blues
12. Genesis
13. Embryonic Journey
14. Uncle Sam Blues
15. Hesitation Blues
16. Parchman Farm
17. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
18. 99 Year Blues
19. I Am The Light Of This World
20. Blue Railroad Train
21. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

We are now off to Portland and the Aladdin Theater and then after the show we drive to Lake Tahoe.

Onward...

Yesterday about noon we left Eugene and headed up to Portland to the Aladdin Theater. It rained all the way as we got there almost three hours before the place opened so we hung in the bus. When the ball finally got rolling the sound check was peerless and when show time rolled around, it just got better and better. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 7, 2006
The Aladdin Theater
Portland, Oregon
Sunday, January 29, 2006

Set One
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
8. Prohibition Blues
9. Preaching On the Old Camp Grounds
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. Red River Blues

Set Two
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. How Long Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Bread Line Blues
7. New Song
8. Living In The Moment
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

There was another beautiful hand pulled silk screen poster for us to take home and after hanging with some friends we started driving towards Tahoe City. Myron kept saying that we were going to drive out of the rain, but we kept driving into it. As we approached the Donner Pass almost twelve hours later we found the Pass closed to all but chained or 4x4 vehicles. We slid back down the mountain and put into Auburn for the night.

Right around the cornier from the hotel was Lou La Bonte's steak house. My Dad always used to say,'They've got pretty good steaks son, you should try it some time.' Well Dad, you were right, I tried it and ate too much. What else is new?

Well having spent over twenty four hours on the bus it's going to be nice to sleep in a non moving bed... which I'm going to do right now.

I hope the pass is open tomorrow.