Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Yesterday was a 'day off,' which meant that we spent the day in a car driving. That said, it is nice to be back with old friends here in Italy. When we got into Forli, we washed up and headed down to Cesena for a grand dinner with Sergio and the wonderful folks from Blue Sky. I don't need to tell you that a grand dinner in Italy, is well, grand indeed. It was almost midnight when the dining was over and we drove back to Forli where I waddled up to my room... tried to stay awake for a while until the jet lag took over and I just went to sleep.

There are always strange dreams here in Italy. Not bad, just strange... I wish I could remember them. There might be some great literature there... or not.

Anyway, it is cold and foggy here on the Adriatic side. Not much in the way of scenic pictures today. Who cares about pictures? The fellowship is great and tonight were will do two sets at the Club Naima.

Needless to say, I will write of this later, like it or not.

Yesterday was a 'day off,' which meant that we spent the day in a car driving. That said, it is nice to be back with old friends here in Italy. When we got into Forli, we washed up and headed down to Cesena for a grand dinner with Sergio and the wonderful folks from Blue Sky. I don't need to tell you that a grand dinner in Italy, is well, grand indeed. It was almost midnight when the dining was over and we drove back to Forli where I waddled up to my room... tried to stay awake for a while until the jet lag took over and I just went to sleep.

There are always strange dreams here in Italy. Not bad, just strange... I wish I could remember them. There might be some great literature there... or not.

Anyway, it is cold and foggy here on the Adriatic side. Not much in the way of scenic pictures today. Who cares about pictures? The fellowship is great and tonight were will do two sets at the Club Naima.

Needless to say, I will write of this later, like it or not.

This is our third time playing the Club Naima in Forli. Not only was the sound perfect, but we had a simply delicious dinner. To say that it is all good would be an understatement. Since I'm cutting to the chase, here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 2, 2007
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Naima Club
Forli, Italy
Friday, February 02, 2007

First Set:

1. Big River Blues
2. Fur Peace Rag
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Operator
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
8. Living In The Moment
9. Babe I Want You To Know
10. Serpent Of Dreams
11. How Long Blues
12. Red River Blues

Second Set:

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Heart Temporary
3. Been So Long
4. Barbeque King
5. Blue Railroad Train
6. Come Back Baby
7. Late Breaking News
8. Good Shepherd
9. Genesis
10. Nine Pound Hammer
11. Encore: Embryonic Journey

There is considerable fog on this coast so we will have to leave early in order to get to Chiari. What does this mean?

It means I'm going to bed.

I don't mean to measure the hospitality of a country by its cuisine, but sometimes that just says it all. After the soundcheck we all went to this unbelievable eatery where words simply do not do justice to the food. OK, we know all the breads were great, but then there was the frutti mare grill antipasto. I figured that the first plate would sure suffice, and I was not wrong. I chose a regional spaghetti vongole that also had shrimp and crawfish in it. I was hsrd pressed to finish it, but my honor was at stake so I dug in until it was all gone. A double espresso topped it off and I was glad I passed on the second plate.

Back at the gig, were were met by some old friends from Germany, Fritz and Monika as well as Beppe Gambetta and Federica who drove over from their homeplace. After enough socializing to let the food settle, we hit the stage. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 3, 2007
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Auditorium S. Bernardino,
Chiari, Italy
Saturday, February 03, 2007
1. Search My Heart
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Fur Peace Rag
5. I Know You Rider
6. Candy Man
7. Operator
8. Will There Be any Stars In My Crown?
9. I See The Light
10. Bread Line Blues
11. 99 Year Blues
12. Come Back Baby
13. Late Breaking News
14. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
15. Barbeque King
16. Parchman Farm
17. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
18. San Francisco Bay Blues
19. Encore: Water Song

After the show Carlo and his family showed up, so we were surrounded by friends. All in all, it was a great evening. Tomorrow we're off to Torino so once again... off to bed.

On Sunday night... well, Monday morning, we finished playing at the Maison de Musique after midnight. I was up at 0300 getting ready for the drive to Malpensa in Milano and at 1030 or something Myron, and I took off for the States. Twenty seven hours later we were home. At home it was minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit. I little chilly I must say. Hey, there's no place like home right? Well first, let me post the set list from the gig in Torino.

Hot Tuna 4, 2007
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Maison de Musique
Torino, Italy
Sunday, February 04, 2007

First Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. New Song For The Morning
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Blues Stay Away From Me
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Living In The Moment
7. Sea Child
8. Babe I Want You To Know
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. Barbeque King
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Mann’s Fate

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Heart Temporary
3. Bread Line Blues
4. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
5. Come Back Baby
6. Late Breaking News
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Good Shepherd
9. Just Because
10. Encore: Embryonic Journey

The trip to Italy was short, but satisfying. I have now been touring there by myself and with Hot Tuna for almost thirty years. We have friends there who have become like family. The grace and style with which the Italians live always welcomes us with open arms.

That said, truly, there is no place like home. Even with sub zero weather and the water pipes frozen. Water pipes frozen....? I guess there's nothing wrong with a little dose of reality here in my little corner of paradise.

Vanessa just told me the water came on again so I think I'll dive in and out of the shower while everything is still working.

It's nice to be home.

The bus pulled in herre in Springfield early yesterday morning. I had some time to work on three guitars and get a little rest before we headed into Teaneck for our first gig of this run... Mexicali Blues. The run out from Ohio was cold, but reasonably uneventful... the way I like it.

Last nights gig was rewarding for us, from the shrimp quesadilla appetizer to the encore at the end of the evening. It's just a funh place to play and later this year Hot Tuna will be doing a show for Eli at a nearby theater. Anyway, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 4
Mexicali Blues
Teaneck, New Jersey
Thursday, February 08, 2007

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Operator
6. Living In The Moment
7. Sea Child
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
10. Barbeque King
11. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. I Know You Rider
4. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
5. Blues Stay Away From Me
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Late Breaking News
9. Heart Temporary
10. Good Shepherd
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Encore: Water Song

We're motoring down to the Appel Farm in Elmer, New Jersey in a couple of hours for tonight's gig. The last time I was down in Elmer it was in the early 90's. I remember that Rory Block and John Hammond were on the bill. A heck of a festival that was.

Well, it's sunny and cold. It's a good time to get my set list done and get ready to get on the bus. Onward...

Just back from Elmer, N.J. The Appel Farm down there in Southern New Jersey was a great place for a show. The sound was great as were the folks. I'm going to make this rally short as sleep is calling me. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 5, 2007
The Appel Farm
Elmer, New Jersey
Friday, February 09, 2007

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. Operator
5. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Living In The Moment
8. Sea Child
9. Prohibition Blues
10. Come Back Baby
11. Late Breaking News
12. Babe I Want You To Know
13. Parchman Farm
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
15. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
16. Heart Temporary
17. Just Because
18. Encore: Barbeque King

I've enjoyed my stay here near Barry's place, but it's time to move on... and go to bed.

It was our first show at the Landmark On Main in Port Washington but not our last, I hope. What a great venue to play a show and I'm sure it was great for the audience as well. It was just one of those nights where everything seemed to come together for us. They sure took good care of us. Another good one for sure!

Here is our set list:Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 6, 2007
Landmark On Main Street
Port Washington, New York
Saturday, February 10, 2007

First Set:
1. Big River Blues
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Living In The Moment
6. Flying Clouds
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. I See The Light
10. Heart Temporary
11. I Know You Rider

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. True Religion
3. How Long Blues
4. Blues Stay Away From Me
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Come Back Baby
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Late Breaking News
10. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
11. Barbeque King
12. Parchman Farm
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
14. San Francisco Bay Blues
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey


We're off to the Free Synagogue in Mt. Vernon, New York today. My Mom and Dad got married in Mt. Vernon in 1936. Amazing... Well that was a little before my time, but someone told me about it.

Onward...

Just a very short post as we are starting to drive right now. Suffice it to say that we couldn't have had a better time, and that tonight's show marks four sell outs in a row! Her is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 7, 2007
Sinai Free Synagogue
Mt. Vernon, New York
Sunday, February 11, 2007

First Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Genesis
5. Operator
6. Living In the Moment
7. That’ll Never Happen No More
8. Heart Temporary
9. Parchman Farm
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
11. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Fur Peace Rag
2. I Know You Rider
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Prohibition Blues
5. Come Back Baby
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Good Shepherd
8. Sea Child
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. A Life Well Lived
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Water Song

Things are starting to bounce. More tomorrow which is actually a day off. Imagine... What a day!

Yep, cold rain and snow tonight in Annapolis. Still and all we had a great time at the Ram's Head. Our pal David Jacob-Strain opened the show and did his customary killer show. Man, can this guy play and sing!

Barry and I were a little under the weather, but it all came together when we hit the stage. Funny how that works sometime. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 8, 2007
The Ram’s Head
Annapolis, Maryland
Tuesday, February 13, 2007

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. True Religion
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Sea Child
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. I See The Light
10. Heart Temporary
11. Bread Line Blues
12. Living In The Moment
13. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
14. Late Breaking News
15. I Know You Rider
16. Come Back Baby
17. Just Because
18. Encore: Barbeque King

Tomorrow we drive to Raleigh-Durham so hopefully the storm will have passed. For now, I'm hitting the hay. Maybe my cold will take a hike too!

Onward!

Hey everyone, I wanted to let you all know that my first new recording since 2002’s Grammy-nominated Blue Country Heart has arrived. You can preorder a copy now by going to www.furpeaceranch.com. Go to the company store and preorder your copy now.

Songs seek me out when the time comes to record a project. It seems as if they know way before I do that I am going to have to do a project. For example, Fur Peace Rag, A Life Well Lived and Living In The Moment started to call my name in the very beginning of this century. Fur Peace Rag started in the back lounge of a bus. A Life Well Lived came to me as I was working in Canada with my friend Michael Falzarano and Living In The Moment started as I picked my guitar in our living room at home and finished itself as I sat on the back porch waiting for Vanessa to come home from the Fur Peace Ranch one warm Spring night.

2003 was a busy touring year for me but songs were starting to make themselves known to me. In the Fall of that year Vanessa and I were having a heart to heart talk about relationships. I think I would have rather been walking in the woods alone that morning but for some reason I chose to shut my mouth and listen. She opened my eyes to some poignant realities, stopped in mid sentence and suddenly said with a smile, ‘This is a good idea for a song! I ran to the upstairs of my new barn and wrote Heart Temporary. I simply wrote about what I heard and saw that morning and now it too is recorded

One Spring morning in 2003 as I was having my coffee I found myself in a deep discussion somewhere inside my head. I put my coffee down, went and got my guitar and wrote Late Breaking News. At the time it was just fun to play but later the words came in bits and pieces and made me smile at myself. It has been waiting to be recorded until now.

Johnny Cash was so important to me when I was a teenager. His sound and his words bonded with my DNA in a way that is difficult to describe. His music and his spirit have never been far from my heart. Vanessa brought The Man Comes Around to my attention and even though it was totally different from anything I have ever done, it called my name and I was able to answer. This comes from Revelations as I recall. Check it out.

Songs come from many places. Byron House had turned me on to Joe Croker’s Mighty Hard Pleasure two years ago. I loved the song the first time I heard it. In some ways, I felt like it told my story. I do it a lot differently than Joe did. For me it has become a little like a lullaby. My friend Ed Gerhart plays guitar on this song. I remember telling him, ‘If I could play the guitar like that, that is exactly how I would have done the song.

When Byron brought me No Demon I felt like I had known the song for years. One of my friends asked, ‘Is that a Rev. Gary Davis song?’ ‘No,’ I said. ‘It’s a Byron House song.’ Good songs always make you feel as if you have known them for a very long time.

Jerry Garcia gave me my first Reggae album. It was the soundtrack for the movie The Harder They Come. Every song on it lives in my memory and brings me back to that time. This is Crucial Reggae for sure. I always wanted to do By The Rivers Of Babylon and now I have. Plus, if this matters to you, it’s in the Bible. Look it up. It’s there.

Many years ago I had a Lightnin’ Hopkins LP with Come Back Baby on it. I was a huge Lightnin’ fan but most of his work was too idiosyncratic for me to learn. This song, however, was right up my alley. I have been playing it for more than forty years and I am thrilled to have recorded it in this form now.

Ernie Hawkins deserves special thanks and a mention for turning me onto Table Sitting In Heaven and Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown? Now it is true that Stars was written at the end of the 1800’s but the version I do is channeled from Rev. Davis through Ernie. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven was on a record I have owned since the Sixties, but I don’t remember having heard it before Ernie passed it on to me. There are no coincidences. I am not a Rev. Gary Davis specialist, but his music and his spirit have been walking with me for a very long time. He is a fine companion!

I never knew the Rev. Like Ernie or Roy Book Binder did. I just always felt him near me and I still do. Nobody writes in the idiom better than Roy Book Binder. He is a master player, singer, writer and teller of tales… true tales. He wrote The Preacher Picked The Guitar and passed it on to me. It is an honor to include it here.

Barry Mitterhoff and I have been playing together for almost five years now. He has brought a whole new musical panorama into view for me. He started with the elegance of his old Gibson F-5 and before I knew it there was a tenor banjo, and an octave mandolin and a tenor guitar. In our electric world there are other mandolin like instruments that he shepherds around the stage. He lives in a musical world that has no boundaries and he guides me to exotic places on a regular basis.

I met Sally Van Meter at Merlefest one year. She was one of Merle’s Girls that year. Needless to say, she knocked my socks off. Later I was working in Boulder, Colorado and as I walked into a local music store. There she was. We started talking about having her come to the Fur Peace Ranch to teach and perform, which she did. After I cut Blue Country Heart, when I was looking to put a little band together to promote that Album, she was my first call. It was Sally who turned my onto Barry, by the Way.

Muriel Anderson co-opted me into one of her guitar soirees at the Station Inn in Nashville in the early 90’s. Ed Gerhard was there and we have been friends ever since. I just had a feeling that Sally and Ed would be grand additions to any musical project, and I wasn’t wrong. They both have so much depth that you just can’t really confine them with categories.

Byron House, too be sure one of the gentle giants of music. Michael Falzarano introduced me to him in the early 90’s. He was playing with Victoria Williams at the time. Now he plays with Sam Bush, and countless others from the Dixie Chicks to well… you get the picture. In addition to being a great bass player, he is a great arranger and producer. There are many other folks on this CD who were brought to the table by Byron such as Reese Wynans, Tim Stafford and Rob Ickes Shawn Lane and Jason Burleson from Blue Highway, as well as Greg Leisz among others. Byron’s sensibilities were perfect for my project. He never lost sight of who I was.

Gary Paczosa was another one of Byron’s great contributions. Go to his website and check out his bona fides. He is quite simply one of the best engineers and producers around. He is also a great photographer and knows a lot about roasting coffee… another matter close to my heart.

Stars in My Crown is the album that I have always wanted to do, and you can preorder your copy now at www.furpeaceranch.com. Go to the company store and preorder your copy today. If you have any problems....talk to Thunder Mike at the company store. His email is sales@furpeaceranch.com.

Hey everyone, just posting this paragraph again because I wanted to let you all know that my first new recording since 2002’s Grammy-nominated Blue Country Heart has arrived. You can preorder a copy now by going to www.furpeaceranch.com. Go to the company store and preorder your copy now.

Ok... We were at the Lincoln Theater last night. Before I get to the set list, if you are ever in downtown Raleigh, you have to go over to 13 East Main Street and catch a bite at the Mecca Restaurant. This place has been there since the 30's and not only is just being there a trip back in time, the food is great too! My recommendation for the day.

Anyway, a good bunch of folks at the Lincoln theater last night and with them in mind, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 9, 2007
The Lincoln Theater
Raleigh, North Carolina
Thursday, February 15, 2007

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Been So Long
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Come Back Baby
6. Sea Child
7. Living In the Moment
8. 99 Year Blues
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Parchman Farm
11. Keep You Lamps Trimmed And Burning

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. How Long Blues
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
7. I Know You Rider
8. Late Breaking News
9. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
10. Good Shepherd
11. Barbeque King
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. Encore: Hesitation Blues

We're leaving almost immediately for Ashevill and the Grey Eagle with a stop on the way to do a radio show and then on to Nashville. I've got to run but I'll be back later.

The show last night at the Grey Eagle just couldn't have been better. We found the Eagle to be a really great acoustic playing and listening room! (Not to mention the great food!) Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 10, 2007
Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
Asheville, North Carolina
Friday, February 16, 2007

First Set:
1. Big River Blues
2. Babe I Want You To Know
3. Bread Line Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Fur Peace Rag
8. I Know You Rider
9. Late Breaking News
10. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Come Back Baby
5. Sea Child
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Candy Man
8. Serpent Of Dreams
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. 3rd Week In The Chelsea
11. Barbeque King
12. Operator
13. Prohibition Blues
14. Hesitation Blues
15. Encore: Water Song

We got back to the hotel, slept a couple of hours and then beat feet to Nashville, where we are now. Out friend from up home Rob McNurlin is opening the show, so we're sure to have a good time. Barry just told me that the Belcourt (where we are playing tonight) used to be called the Hillsborough and was the home of the Grand Old Opry from 1934 to 1936.

I'm looking forward to this. More later after the show as we drive to Charleston, West Virginia.

It's been about fifteen years since I did a concert in Nashville... way too long. Tonight we were at the Belcourt Theater... good stuff. From 1934 to 1936 the Belcourt was the home of the Grand Old Opry. Indeed, tradition ran rampant. Anyway, we did indeed have a great time and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 11, 2007
The Belcourt Theater
Nashville, Tennessee
Saturday, February 17, 2007

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Sea Child
5. Living In The Moment
6. Operator
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Hesitation Blues
9. Late Breaking News
10. Come Back Baby
11. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
12. I See The Light
13. Heart Temporary
14. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
15. Good Shepherd
16. Just Because
17. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We're off to Charleston, West Virginia now... and the Mountain Stage.

Here I am in Charleston, less than an hour from home. Last night we were on Mountain Stage with Uncle Earl, John Hammond and The Guthrie Family. What a grand night. It was a short set for us, but worth every moment. Here is our mini list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 13, 2007
Mountain Stage
Clay Center For The Arts & Sciences
Charleston, West Virginia
Sunday, February 18, 2007

1. I Am The Light Of This World
2. Heart Temporary
3. A Life Well Lived
4. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave

At the end of the evening there was a twang bang with everyone on City Of New Orleans. Good stuff!

Now we're off to State College, Pennsylvania.

We're starting to drive to Madison... a mere fourteen hours. I just wanted to say how great tonight's gig was. This venue is the cat's meow! Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 14, 2007
The State Theater
State College, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Set One:
1. Search My Heart
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. Operator
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. Serpent Of Dream
7. Heart Temporary
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Come Back Baby
10. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
11. Red River Blues

Set Two:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. Genesis
3. Late Breaking News
4. Living In the Moment
5. Sea Child
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Been So Long
8. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
9. Good Shepherd
10. Barbeque King
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

More when we get in to Madison.

This is the first time at the Barrymore Theater in over a decade. There's an early bus call tomorrow for us to head up to the Twin Cities so I'm just going to post the set list and hit the sack. Before I do, I must say that Barry was unbelievably hot tonight. It must have been the Laotian food... or something. Anyway, he was great and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 15, 2007
The Barrymore Theater
Madison, Wisconsin
Thursday, February 22, 2007

1. New Song For the Morning
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. How Long Blues
4. Operator
5. Roads & Roads &
6. I See The Light
7. Heart Temporary
8. Late Breaking News
9. Living In The Moment
10. Prohibition Blues
11. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
12. I Know You Rider
13. Come Back Baby
14. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
15. Just Because
16. Encore: Drinking Gourd

Through the Dells tomorrow and off to the Cedar Cultural Center.

Another shorty. We're driving to Chicago right now. We just finished playing the Cedar Cultural Center here in Minneapolis and we love this place. It really seems like home. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 16, 2007
The Cedar Cultural Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Friday, February 23, 2007

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Soliloquy For 2
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Heart Temporary
6. How Long Blues
7. Fur Peace Rag
8. Operator
9. Come Back Baby
10. Sea Child
11. Bread Line Blues
12. A Life Well Lived
13. I Know You Rider
14. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. Late Breaking News
3. Living In the Moment
4. Barbeque King
5. Roads & Roads &
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Good Shepherd
8. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
9. Uncle Sam Blues
10. Follow The Drinking Gourd
11. 9 Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We got to see our friends from Redhouse as well as other buddies and had a great dinner. Does it get any better than that? Not tonight. On to Chicago. Oh, if you get a moment, check out my gear page. I finally got it up. Some more pictures will follow.

Last night was our first trip back to the Old Town School Of Folk Music in four years. I love this place. When I was at Antioch College in 1959 folks at school who could muster gas money would head up to Chicago to hear the masters play at Old Town. I couldn't get it together back then, but in the last decade it has been my honor to play at Old Town three times.

Last night there was snow and ice falling in Chicago. Vaguely reminiscent of this time last year at Martyr's. Ah, winter in the Windy City. In any case, we had two Sold Out shows and everyone showed up. We were thrilled to say the least. Here are the set lists from our two shows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 17, 2007
Old Town School Of Folk Music
Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, February 24, 2007

First Show:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Tom Cat Blues
3. How Long Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Operator
6. Sea Child
7. Living In The Moment
8. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
9. I Know You Rider
10. Late Breaking News
11. Come Back Baby
12. Hesitation Blues
13. Good Shepherd
14. Roads & Roads &
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Second Show:
1. Been So Long
2. Parchman Farm
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
4. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. Blue Railroad Train
8. Barbeque King
9. Heart Temporary
10. Serpent Of Dreams
11. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
12. Bread Line Blues
13. Uncle Sam Blues
14. Just Because
15. Encore: Follow The Drinking Gourd

Barry is flying home this morning and we are driving back to Ohio for a couple of days off before we finish this leg of the tour. Me for the bus.

Charlie drove us home non-stop from Chicago yesterday. We have two days off, so it is nice to be this close to the homestead. Of course, when you are home for a couple of days in the middle of a road trip, in a way you are still on the road, but at least you wake up in your own bed.

The old Chihuahua, Napoleon, is feeling his age but I can certainly understand this. He takes the loss of a leg with much more equinimity than I would. Even on three legs he is faster than I. It is very grey here but nonetheless there is something quite peaceful.

I think I'll take a nap.

My too brief moment at home has passed and I am in the parking lot of Cabela's in Dundee, Michigan. Well, we're on our way to the Ark in Ann Arbor and we just stopped at one of my favorite on-the-road spots... yes folks, Cabela's, I got a bite to eat and bought nothing else. I'm so proud of myself. Of course there are more on down the road. There's a metaphor for you.

Anyway, I'll be home again on Saturday and I will stay there through the opening couple of weeks of the Fur Peace Ranch.

Yeah, I know... this is another shorty. I pretty much stayed away from the computer while I was home so I just wanted to make my presence felt.

Onward...