Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

In spite of the fact that Ive been having a great time playing, I just can't seem to shake this cold I got back in New York. The non stop rain hasn't helped anything, but such is life. Last night we were up in Crystal Bay, Nevada where we played at the Biltmore. Barry and I played great although the altitude gave me yet one more thing to complain about. Well, yuou just can't have too many things to complain about. Anyway, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 8, 2006
Club Breeze @ Tahoe Biltmore
Crystal Bay, Nevada
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Set One
1. Candy Man
2. New Song
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Preaching In The Old Camp Ground
10. Come Back Baby
11. Tom Cat Blues

Set Two
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Blues Stay Away From Me
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. I See the Light
7. Heart Temporary
8. Prohibition Blues
9. Embryonic Journey
10. Good Shepherd
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Just Because
13. Encore: 9 Pound Hammer

We'll be heading up to Petaluma in about an hour so I think I'll do my set lists and see if I can stockpile a little more rest. Hmmm... Onward.

The gig at the Mystic went well last night. We love that place... and the food is good too! Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
The Mystic Theater
Petaluma, California
Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Set One
1. Trouble In Mind
2. How Long Blues
3. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Heart Temporary
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
10. Uncle Sam Blues
11. Tom Cat Blues

Set Two:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. Big River Blues
3. New Song
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. Prohibition Blues
9. Living In the Moment
10. Good Shepherd
11. Come Back Baby
12. I Know You Rider
13. San Francisco Bay Blues
14. Encore: Blue Railroad Train

It looks as if the rain has pulled back for a moment or too... hmmm... the sun at last? I have to run up to Novato to do an interview with Bill Walton so this entry will be cut short. This should be interesting.

Onwards...

The day in the bay area brought back thoughts of Mom and Dad, gone now eight and nine years respectively. Their story is now unchanging and yet I often feel their presence. Barry and I played the Great American Music Hall last night. Dad used to love that venue. Over the sold out crowd I could see angels circle from the stage. 'Hello Dad, how are you doing?' 'Not bad son, considering I'm dead. I see what you're getting at with your music. Keep at it, you're getting better...' '...working at it Dad, working at it1' Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 10, 2005
The Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, California
Thursday, February 02, 2006

Set One
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Heart Temporary
8. Prohibition Blues
9. Preaching On the Old Camp Grounds
10. Hesitation Blues
11. That’ll Never Happen No More

Set Two
1. BiG River Blues
2. I Know You Rider
3. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Embryonic Journey
10. Good Shepherd
11. Genesis
12. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
13. A Life Well Lived
14. Just Because
15. Encore: 9 Pound Hammer

It was an inspiring show for us and when it was all over we left the rain that had been dogging for so long and when we woke in L.A. the sun was radiant. Hallejujah1

Here at the hotel in L.A. we're not far from the Inglewood Cemetary where Mom, Dad, Gramdma, Granddad and Uncle Pentti will rest until it no longer matters. Here in the City Of Angels I have angels too.

I miss you guys...

Two sold out shows at McCabe's last night. After our grdat mexican dinner, here are the sets that followed:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 11, 2006
McCabe’s
Santa Monica, California
Friday, February 03, 2006

First Show
1. Blue Railroad Train
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. I See The Light
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
9. That’ll Never Happen No More
10. Come Back Baby
11. 3rd Week In the Chelsea
12. 99 year Blues
13. Red River Blues
14. Encore: Hesitation Blues

Second Show:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Parchman Farm
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Heart Temporary
6. I Know You Rider
7. Search My Heart
8. Prohibition Blues
9. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Embryonic Journey
12. Good Shepherd
13. Just Because
14. Encore: I Am the Light Of This World

I'm doing a little running around with Jack right now. I just wanted to take a break to gete this posted. More at the end of the evening.

Well, today Barry leaves for Italy, Jack gets on board for the Colorady run and Superbowl action is getting ready to unfold this afternoon. Last night, we got through two more sold out shows as McCabe's the sel lists of which are as follows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 12, 2006
McCabe’s
Santa Monica, California
Saturday, February 04, 2006

First Show:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Waiting For A Train
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Been So Long
10. Living In the Moment
11. Good Shepherd
12. Just Because
13. Encore: 9 Pound Hammer

Second Show:
1. Big River Blues
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Prohibition Blues
4. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. I See The Light
7. Heart Temporary
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Uncle Sam Blues
10. Hesitation Blues
11. How Long Blues
12. A Life well Lived
13. Tom Cat Blues
14. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

We're leaving in a couple of hours so i have to re pack all stuff I spread out in my room. Why did I do that?

A question for the ages... onward...

Well, we're finally here at Telluride... gasping away at 10,000 feet. With another good night's sleep in a stationary place, the remnants of my cold should disappear.

Barry is off to Italy and Jack and I will hold down the fort until we all meet up in Hawaii. For now, a call home and then to bed.

Last night Jack and I played our first Hot tuna gig of the year. Up in Telluride the air was thin but the croud appreciative. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 1, 2005
Jorma Kaukonen
Telluride Conference Center
Telluride, Colorado
Tuesday, February 07, 2006

First Set:
1. New Song
2. How Long Blues
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. Do Not go Gentle
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Heart Temporary
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Waiting For A Train
10. I Know You Rider
11. Uncle Sam Blues
12. San Francisco Bay Blues

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See the Light
6. Nobody Knows you when You’re Down And Out
7. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
8. Come Back Baby
9. Trial By Fire
10. Good Shepherd
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Nine Pound Hammer
13. Encore: Let Us Get Together Right Down Here

We're heading towards Fort Collins and it's already easier to breathe. Still and all, the beauty of Telluride is trully stunning. More when we get in.

We bussed it on up to Fort Collins yesterday for our show at the Aggie. As we were finishing our soundcheck a snowstorm blew in and winter returned in force. That said, the sound was great, the crowd enthusiastic and all in all we had a great time. here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 2, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Aggie Theater
Fort Collins, Colorado
Thursday, February 09, 2006

Set One:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. New Song
3. Let Us Get Together
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. I See The Light
7. 99 Year Blues
8. 3rd Week In the Chelsea
9. Come Back Baby
10. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
11. That’ll Never Happen No More

Set Two:
1. Big River Blues
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Waiting For A Train
8. I Know You Rider
9. Good Shepherd
10. Uncle Sam Blues
11. 9 Pound Hammer
12. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

There may be an error in Set Two... I'll have to check with Myron later today. Anyway, today in Boulder, much of the snow has melted and the streets are wet and dirty.

We'll be heading over to the Fox in a couple of hours.

Set corrections for Set Two:

1. Big River Blues
2. How Long Blues
3. Hesitation Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Waiting For A Train
8. I Know You Rider
9. Embryonic Journey
10. Good Shepherd
11. Uncle Sam Blues
12. I Am The Light Of this World
13. 9 Pound Hammer
14. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

The show at the Fox Theater was Sold Out last night. Two words all of us players love to hear. We have been playing the Fox for many years and it has long been one of our favorite venues. Last night was no exception. The packed crowd listened to every note we played and then made their presence felt. The production staff as always were complete pros and the Japanese eatery around the corner was the frosting on the cake... almost... more on that later. First, here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 3, 2005
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Fox Theater
Boulder, Colorado
Friday, February 10, 2006

Set One:
1. Big River Blues
2. Waiting for A Train
3. Let Us Get Together
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Heart Temporary
8. I Know You Rider
9. Come Back Baby
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. Hesitation Blues

Set Two:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. I See The Light
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Search My Heart
7. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
8. San Francisco Bay Blues
9. Good Shepherd
10. Uncle Sam Blues
11. I’ll Be All Right Someday
12. Nine Pound Hammer
13. Encore: Genesis
14. Encore 2: Mann’s Fate

The great guitar builder Scott Baxendale who built my Mossman Texas back in the early 80's (the guitar in my first Homespun Video) made a new neck for the poor Mossman which has been sidelined for almost fifteen years. (a dreadful airline accident) He also brought some of his new Baxendales which are simply stunning.

There were friends from the Ranch, relatives and guitars, guitars. What a night. Simply a pleasure all the way around... and I thought Jack and I played great! Now we're off to Denver...

Last night was our gig at the Cervantes Ballroom here in Denver, The crowd was enthusaistic but quite noisy... quite the difference after the pristine conditions at the Fox in Boulder. Well that's the way it goes sometimes and as long as everyone had a good time I guess that's the bottom line. There were quite a few laughs along the way. In any case, here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 4, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Denver, Colorado
Saturday, February 11, 2006

Set One:
1. Keep On Truckin’ Mama
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Let Us Get Together
8. Come Back Baby
9. Trial By Fire
10. I Know You Rider
11. Genesis
12. Tom Cat Blues

Set Two:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. True Religion
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Uncle Sam Blues
7. That’ll Never Happen No More
8. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
9. 99 Year Blues
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Waiting for a Train
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. Encore: Water Song

Once again there were friends and relatives there and all things considered, a good time was had by all. Jack left for L.A. today and we have a day or so to get ready for Hawaii... Yes, it's laundry time again. The little things in life certainly become important when you're starting to run out of clean clothes.

Back to the laundry room...

Last night I burst out of the bubble for a wondrous BBQ at with our friends Ben and Nancy who graciously invited us into their home. I so rarely have time to do anything on the road other than roade stuff, so this was double blessing... and the chow was happening too!

We're leaving tomorrow morning for Hawaii so I'm plunging into the final packing frenzy now. More anon...

It seems heard to imagine that I was in Denver yesterday and here I am hooked up with my pasl again on this beautiful island in the middle of the Pacific. I had a great night's sleep, a delicious breakfast with all kinds of fresh fruit and now having strung my guitar and written the set list, I'm going for a walk on the beach.

It's a rough job, but somebody has to do it!

Back to the room after our show at the War Memorial... just a short note because it's 0500 for me and I'm poopled. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 5, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
War Memorial
Kaua’i, Hawaii
Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Set One:
1. Big River Blues
2. Re-Enlistment Blues
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
10. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
11. Come Back Baby
12. Hesitation Blues

Set Two:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. I See The Light
5. Heart Temporary
6. Prohibition Blues
7. Living In The Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. I Am the Light Of This World
10. I Know You Rider
11. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

I will say we played two great sets tonight and the folks were great. Goodnight for now...

This will be ever so short as we have an ungodly early flight to the big island. Last night we played the Hawaiian Hut after the Polynesian Show. Hewre is our swet list:

Hot Tuna 6, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Hawaiian Hut
Honolulu, Hawaii
Friday, February 17, 2006

Set One:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Bread Line Blues
7. I See The Light
8. Come Back Baby
9. I Know You Rider
10. Red River Blues

Set Two:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Hesitation Blues
7. 99 Year Blues
8. 3rd Week In the Chelsea
9. Embryonic Journey
10. Genesis
11. Just Because
12. Encore: 9 Pound Hammer

A good time was had by all but this early rising is killing me. Later...

Lots of traveling today... but it's all been beautiful. We finished our show at this lovdely resort here on the big island and it's up early again tomorrow for a double flight to Maui. I'm just going to post the set list right now.

Hot Tuna 7, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Mauna Lani Resort: Hale Hoaloha
Kahaia Coast, Hawaii
Saturday, February 18, 2006

Set One:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. More Than my Old Guitar
8. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
9. Preaching On The Old Camp Grounds
10. Embryonic Journey
11. I Know You Rider

Set Two:
1. Big River Blues
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. I See The Light
5. How Long Blues
6. Tom Cat Blues
7. San Francisco Bay Blues
8. Encore: Come Back Baby

To bed while the night is still young. More from Maui anon...

Home, home, home... It's been a long month and a half and it's really great to get home, if only for a day. I'm heading off for the East Coast tomorrow and this morning when I woke up in my own bed and Vanessa and I looke out the window and saw the young three legged deer feeding by the apple trees it was truly amazing. She has survived most of the winter and there she was sharing her life with us for a moment.

The dogs, the cats, the whole deal... I love this place... a moment of peace in the country!

Onward!

The trip in yesterday was long but pleasant. I haven't been to Wilmington for well over 20 years, and it had changed much. The show was great... David was joined by the Angel Band and a number of other friends. Really good stuff.

Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 13, 2005
Visiting With David Bromberg
The Grand Opera House
Wilmington, Delaware
Friday, February 24, 2006

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Heart Temporary
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Parchman Farm
7. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Come Back Baby
10. Search My Heart
11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
12. Living In the Moment
13. Good Shepherd
14. I Am The Light Of This World
15. Just Because (with David Bromberg)
16. Encore: Hesitation Blues (with David Bromberg)

We're going to be on the road with David this summer and I'm really looking forward to it. Now to bed...

After the Bromberg show, Vanessa and I moseyed on down to meet my son Zack and two turtles for the weekend in Virginia. Yeseterday we went to the Washington Monument, and the Museum Of Natural History. Then we went back to the hotel and met one of Zack's Finnish pals from school for a swimming play date... after dinner there was calligraphy practice and some of the closing moments of the Olympic Games and it was bed time. It's orning here now and the sun is gleaming on the monument. In about half an hour I'm going to start getting the little guy up and ready for school and Vanessa and I will head back to Ohio.

What a weekend!