Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Yeah, I know... I'm really behind in the diary business. OK, I'll start with a hearty Happy New Year to all! The weather continues to be absurdly warm here and I was actually able to go for a motorcycle ride with my friend Jerry on Wednesday. What a great way to start January. I'm in the deep throes of starting the New Year with a thorough office cleaning. I'd say that this is about as enjoyable to me as a root canal, but I've never had one. Anyway, you get the picture. Still and all, as I rummage (which is not exactly the same thing as cleaning) I keep on finding things I thought were long lost.

More shall be written later. I must plunge back into the detritus of my life for now. All of us here in the Eastern parts of the States should enjoy this warm weather as long as we can.

Onward!

I have spent the last two days cleaning up my office. This may not sound like much... but it is for me. I can actually find stuff and I filled up several large trash cans with stuff I haven't needed, used, or seen for years. Yow, I should have done this years ago! It's been another grey El Nino day... perfect for such endeavors. Well, it's the little things in life.

Tonight is the second night in our Godfather I, II and III marathon. What a great movie and I get to stay home. Tomorrow my practice regimen starts again as I get ready to hit the road. I feel a twangfest coming on.

I wonder if dinner is ready yet...

I went to the gym at 0600 this morning. I just wanted to get some physical activity back in my life after my little back operation. It was dark, of course when I got there. It had gotten a little colder... more like it should be in January and when I left Athens to come home the sky was a cold powder blue with stripes of red and black across it.

Today is the tenth anniversary of my Dad's death and with this in mind, I go to the Thoughts Page to do some writing.

Onward

Life has been proceeding at an orderly pace here on the farm. Lots of stuff to do, bugt that is status quo. This morning I spent four hours with my friend John M. who was injured in the motorcycle accident some months ago and was amazed by his progress. He still has a ways to go, but he has come light years. This is great news.

Other than that, I've just got some more work to do to get ready for next week's gigs.

Onward...

For a few moments there, life was moving in slow motion than, pow... right back into the fray. The upcoming little tour has thrown me into a frenzy of tour related activity. The weather here has been unseasonably warm as everyone knows. I was just getting ready to drive up to Vermont for a gig and then all this weather that has been teasing the rest of the country came hammering in. We're expecting lots of snow, but hey, it's weather and anything can happen. The good news is that thanks to the snow at Killington we have a gig. The bad news is that now we have to drive through snow to get there.

I'm just packing up the last of my stuff and I'm going to hit the sack and get an early start. The road report will have to wait until New Jersey, tomorrow night.

Onward

We got up here yesterday in time for dinner. I was going to go out, but it was so cold I figured what the heck, and ate at the lodge. This morning, Myron and Mandy went skiing. Ah, the boundless energy of youth. I think, i remember that... I think.

Anyway, today was our first gig of the New Year and truly, the Pickle Barrel was a blast. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 1, 2007
The Pickle Barrel
Killington, Vermont
Thursday, January 18, 2007

First Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Candy Man
3. Blue Railroad Train
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
6. Operator
7. Late Breaking News
8. I Know You Rider
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. Come Back Baby
11. Bread Line Blues
12. Babe I Want You To Know
13. Mann’s Fate
14. Hesitation Blues
15. Barbeque King
16. Just Because
17. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We're leaving tomorrow early for Piermont and the Turning Point. Back on the road again. Tomorrow I will break out my new Martin. Tonight, the Gibson AJ lent its commanding presence to the evening.

Now... to bed.

Last night we played two mighty fine sets (if I do say so myself) at the Turning Point. It had been a long day driving down from Vermont but we know the Turning Point well and our old pal Rick Ilowite was doing sound so all went smoothly. Here is our set list from last night:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 2, 2007
The Turning Point
Piermont, New York
Friday, January 19, 2007

First Set:
1. Big River Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Heart Temporary
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Operator
8. Late Breaking News
9. Come Back Baby
10. Babe I Want You To Know
11. Mann’s Fate
12. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
3. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
4. Barbeque King
5. I Know You Rider
6. Prohibition Blues
7. Living In the Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. 3rd Week In the Chelsea
10. Hesitation Blues
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Genesis

I rushed back to the hotel to get some much needed sleep and hit the sack immediately... hence no diary entry last night.

Today we were up moderately early and headed back to the Point for our two o'clock matinee. I used my new M-42 Martin last night and today and loved it. I love the Gibsons too... in fact, I love guitars in general. Martins and Gibson, two beautifully different beasts. Anyway, here is our set list from today:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 3, 2003
The Turning Point
Piermont, New York
January 20, 2007

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Candy Man
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. Operator
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. Babe I Want You To Know
8. Sea Child
9. Come Back Baby
10. Late Breaking News
11. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
12. New Song For The Morning
13. Barbeque King
14. Will There Be Any Stars In my Crown?
15. Bread Line Blues
16. Tom Cat Blues
17. Encore: I Am The Light Of This World
18. Encore II: San Francisco Bay Blues

Here we are at a hotel down near Ground Zero. I think I'll take a walk over there in the morning. I need to think about that a little. In the meantime... to bed.

Well, the American Beauty Show tonight was unbelievable. You couldn't afford to actually promote a show like this in the real world. Oh yeah, it was free to the public too! Here's the lineup:

1. Box Of Rain Toshi Reagon
2. Friend of the Devil Mark Eitzel
Instrumental # 1 Tony Trischka, Andy Statman, Larry Campbell and Byron House
3. Sugar Magnolia Jim Lauderdale and Ollabelle
4. Operator Jorma Kaukonen (me), Barry Mitterhoff, Byron House and Larry Campbell
5. Candyman Jay Farrar
6. Ripple Dar Williams & Dan Zane
7. Brokedown Palace Ollabelle
8. Till The Morning Comes Sex Mob
9. Attic Of My Life Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Rob Barraco
10. Truckin' Jen Chapin
Encore: Goin' Down The Road Reelin' Bad Jen Chapin and the whole gang

The vibe was unbeatable. Everyone came to play. the audience was great and kudos go to David Spellman and the whole terrific production staff for making it happen.

I'd be a part of something like this any time! Did I mention it was free?

We woke up this morning to a gentle snow fall, jumped in the truck... hit the four wheel drive and headed into town to the gym. I love mornings like this. When I got home I shoveled some snow, fed and walked the dogs... fed Mimi the cat and got some work done. Now I'm going to head back into town to pick up some things I'm going to need for the Italy trip.

I know it's cold, dark and slushy... but I can take it for a bit. In fact, I kind of like it. Onward....

Wisps of snow dancing across the road... sub freezing weather... all this tells me that winter is here in Southeast Ohio for real. I didn't fix my chimney in time for the cold weather, so we are without the wood stove for the first time since we moved here sixteen years ago. Oh well, there is always next year. It will probably get cold then too.

I did enjoy running my snow plow today. There was just enough to do so it was still fun and not enough to make it the drag that it can be. All this is starting to remind me that every day is a day closer to Spring.

Well, thanks to modern heating technology, everything and everyone is toasty... even the ancient Chihuahua.

I think I'll look out the window for a while and play the guitar. What a grand collection of options.

In 1978, a group of passionate art lovers led by Harriet and Ora Anderson as well as Eusebia Hunkins blocked the razing of an old dairy barn. Since then more than a quarter of a million people have visited the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio.

Their programs include exhilarating, memorable exhibitions -- some of which tour nationally and internationally -- festivals, and celebrations of the visual and performing arts. All of the exhibitions and events illustrate the rich arts history of Southeastern Ohio.

In addition, the Dairy Barn provides and outstanding year-round arts education program, both on site and in area schools.

This is heady stuff. The Dairy Barn also hosts the Quilt National, one of my personal favorites... but on with my story.

Vanessa called me on my cell two days ago to tell me that we needed to be at the Diary Barn at 1730 January, 26... that we were to receive an award. I was amazed. I cleaned up, put on a sport coat and Vanessa and I headed into town. There were a number of awards presented that day, among them the Eusebia Hunkins Award, presented to Jorma & Vanessa Kaukonen, January 26, 2007, for their active and outstanding support of the arts in southeastern Ohio.

Now I know that this award is really for Vanessa whose commitment to supporting artists is without parallel. I stand here a poster child to her success. Thanks, Ness!

Here is the Dairy Barn's website. Check it out:

http://www.dairybarn.org

You know, life is indeed a funny old dog and you just never know how things are going to turn out. We have lived in southeastern Ohio for 16 years now and I could not imagine living anywhere else. Our roots are deep, and to be thus honored touches me deeply.

If you are ever in southeast Ohio, perhaps visiting Ohio University or maybe even the Fur Peace Ranch, take a moment to go to Dairy Lane which is not far from the SR 682 exit off of US route 33. You will not be disappointed.

We've been pottering around the house all day doing a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing. It's been snowing off and on but at least the dogs have been loving it. their walks up the hill into the foreswt have be something.

My packing is almost done and I'll be heading off to Italy for a couple of days tomorrow. Needless to say, I'll be keeping in touch from the road.

It's been a relatively uneventful weekend, which is just the way I like it. I'll just let it go at that for now.

Onward...

Just a quick note to say that here I am at the airport about to head out to italy for a week. It was eleven degrees outside this morning and of course it's too hot in the port.

Oh well... Time to hurry up and wait. More when I get in.

I was up at 0500 yesterday morning at Hillside Farm. It was eleven degrees. Myron and I drove up to Columbus, ran some errands and got to the airport in time to catch an afternoon plane to Atlanta and then on to Rome. Almost nine hours to the minute after we took off in Atlanta, we landed in Rome.

I had visions of the Spanish Steps and the Coliseum, but it was not to be. We are in Rome, to be sure... but we are in the outskirts and it looks a little bit like New Jersey, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Barry and Phil got in a little bit earlier than we did but we all got together for a little breakfast. Yep, food... we're in Italy all right. Jack will be in later today. I think I'll take this moment of relative quiet to work on my guitar a bit and write some set lists.

By the way... it's in the forties here. It's definitely a heat wave. I'll take it.

Onward!

Well, tonight was our first gig on this little Italian run. When I saw we were playing the Stazione Della Birra, it gave me pause for thought. In reality, it was a great gig for wonderful people with wonderful people in the audience. The sound was perfect. In fact, everything was perfect and it was a blast playing with Barry and Jack again. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 1, 2007
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Stazione Della Birra
Roma, Italy
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Sea Child
6. Genesis
7. Operator
8. Blue Railroad Train
9. I Know You Rider
10. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
11. Come Back Baby
12. Late Breaking News
13. Re-Enlistment Blues
14. Parchman Farm
15. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
16. Bread Line Blues
17. Uncle Sam Blues
18. Just Because
19. Encore: Water Song

We are leaving for Forli tomorrow morning, so I want to pack now and hit the sack. More later for sure.

It sure is nice to be back in Italy.