Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Baby on board! We're on the way to the Northeast on the bus with Izze on board. I mean really, what's not fun about touring on the bus. After all it is a giant RV. What between Baby Einstein and the bass fishing channel coupled with the beautiful day... it doesn't get much better.

We're on our way to Trenton for the War Memorial show with Woody Mann. Barry and Phil will join us tomorrow and this little leg of my touring world will be under way.

We're rolling... rolling... rolling...

Our first show of this little run... Onstage At The War Memorial was a long evening for everyone, but we love this gig. The venue is beautiful, and the ambience Onstage just can't be beat... plus we get to play with Woody! Does it get much better than this? Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 27, 2007
The Trenton War Memorial
With Woody Mann
Trenton, New Jersey
Thursday, May 03, 2007

First Show First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Big River Blues
4. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
5. Parchman Farm
6. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
7. Heart Temporary
8. Serpent Of Dreams

First Show Second Set:
9. Come Back Baby
10. Hesitation Blues
11. Sea Child
12. Will There Be any Stars In My Crown?
13. I Know You Rider with Woody Mann
14. Encore: Living In the Moment with Woody Mann

Second Show First Set:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. I See The Light
4. Operator
5. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
6. Barbeque King
7. Late Breaking News

Second Show Second Set:
8. Bread Line Blues
9. How Long Blues
10. More Than My Old Guitar
11. Search My Heart
12. Fur Peace Rag
13. Genesis
14. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
15. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
16. That’ll Never Happen No More
17. Walkin’ Blues with Wood Mann
18. Encore: Mighty Hard Pleasure with Woody Mann

This is the first time we have done Mighty Hard Pleasure live and I loved doing it with Woody and Barry.

Now we're packing up and heading out to Connecticut where I'm sure, more will be revealed.

This is one of those gigs that is always special... from the audience on stage to the day care center where the 'green' room is. Needless to say, Izze loved the downstairs. Toys and miniature furniture... books and puzzles.

As for the show, Cotter did us proud on the sound and we had a blast. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 28, 2007
The Seabury Center-
Westport Arts Center
Westport, Connecticut
Friday, May 04, 2007

First Set:
1. Candy Man
2. Don’t You Leave Me Here
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Red River Blues
6. Living In The Moment
7. Sea Child
8. Heart Temporary
9. I See The Light
10. Barbeque King
11. Operator
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Been So Long
3. Prohibition Blues
4. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
5. I Know You Rider
6. Come Back Baby
7. Roads & Roads &
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Now it's to bed and up early to go to Fall River. I'll cab it up to Boston for a radio show and then back in time for the gig.

Izze and Vanessa are asleep... here I come!

My computer has been giving me so much trouble I felt like throwing it under the bus wheels today. That said, since it seems to be working right now, I guess I'll lt it live for another day. You sure can waste some time swith these labor saving devices.

Well, last night at the Narrow Performing Arts Center Marjorie Thompson and her band of Merry Men did a swell job of opening the show. We had a pretty good time too and with that in mind, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 29, 2007
Narrows Center For The Arts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Saturday, May 05, 2007

1. Search My Heart
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Heart Temporary
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. How Long Blues
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
9. Sea Child
10. Living In The Moment
11. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
12. Come Back Baby
13. Parchman Farm
14. Keep your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
15. I Am The Light Of This World
16. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
17. Late Breaking News
18. Encore: Operator

Cousin Audrey and Jon and Amy and more were on hand to catch the show and meet Izze. A dandy time was had by all.

As I said, since my computer is working right now, I think I'll take this moment to write my set list for tonight.

Yikes... Onward...

What a beautiful little town this is. I know we've got a bid river where we live, but the ocean is the ocean. Anyway, the gig at the Opera House was a blast... just like I remembered it. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 30, 2007
The Opera House
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Sunday, May 06, 2007
First Set:
1. Don’t You Leave Me Here
2. New Song For The Morning
3. Bread Line Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
8. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
9. Barbeque King
10. Blue Railroad Train
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Been So Long
2. How Long Blues
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Living In The Moment
5. Sea Child
6. Operator
7. I Know You Rider
8. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
9. Good Shepherd
10. Come Back Baby
11. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
12. Just Because
13. Encore: Genesis

My computer is working again, at least for now so thank goodness for that. These time saving gadgets sure take up a lot of time.

I'm smiling and I'm going to bed.

Today was the ninth anniversary of my Mother's death and we were able to play a happy show in her memory. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 31, 2007
Revolution Hall
Troy, New York
Tuesday, May 08, 2007

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Babe I Want You to Know
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Heart Temporary
7. Bread Line Blues
8. Living In The Moment
9. Sea Child
10. Will There Be any Stars In My Crown?
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. New Song for the Morning
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
5. Genesis
6. Fur Piece Rag
7. Parchman Farm
8. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
9. Trial By Fire
10. 99 Year Blues
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Uncle Sam Blues
13. A Life Well Lived
14. Late Breaking News
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey

This is a great little venue and Troy is potentially a happening place. I hope more peopl discover it.

Early bus call for Woodstock... gotta sleep!

Here were are at Upton Pyne Farms in New Jersey and it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't enter the set list from last night. Northampton... you know I love it. A trip to the Blue Note music store down the block to chew the fat with Howard the owner for a while. The neighberhood guitr shop with some nice vintge pieces. Good stuff. Anyway, Marjorie and Greg upened the show for us and did a heck of a job.

I realized that I have been playing the Iron Horse for almost 25 years. Where do those quarter centuries go? With that in mind, here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 32, 2007
The Iron Horse
Northampton, Massachusetts
Thursday, May 10, 2007

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. New Song For the Morning
3. Bread Line Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Fur Peace Rag
8. How Long Blues
9. More Than My Old Guitar
10. Living In The Moment
11. Sea Child
12. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
13. Come Back Baby
14. Good Shepherd
15. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
16. I Know You Rider or Preacher Picked The Guitar
17. A Life Well Lived
18. Just Because
19. Encore: Genesis

My cousins on my Dad's side, the Wilanders came to see the show and to meet Izze last night. It was great to see them and to hang out a little bit. This is the first time I've been up to Northampton since Uncle Art passed away. What a guy! He'll be missed, but he's in good company.

Anyway, it's almost time for sound check here. Izze has been marveling at the miniature horses.

What a time!

Yesterday was our second annual appearance at the fundraiser for Mylestone, the equine rescue folks. It was a beautiful day down in Bernardville. Pouring up in Northampton when we left and beautiful down here in the Tri-State. It was almost too much to ask for. We played in the old barn again in an evening puctuated by the silent auction and other fundraising events. Lori Rocker and per pals threw a great party for everyone. We can hardly wait until next year.

Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 33, 2007
Livestock
Mylestone
Equine Rescue Benefit
Upton Pyne
Bernardsville, New Jersey


First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Candy Man
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
8. Living In The Moment
9. Sea Child
10. Barbeque King
11. Red River Blues

Second Set:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. Fur Peace Rag
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. I Know You Rider
6. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
7. Come Back Baby
8. Hesitation Blues
9. Let Us Get Together
10. 99 Year Blues
11. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
12. Do Not Go Gentle
13. Late Breaking News
14. Encore: Just Because

After the show, we packed up and headed up here to New York City where we will be until tomorrow, with our show tonight at Zankel Hall... the small room at Carnegie Hall.

New York has always been such a special place for me since I first moved here for an Antioch Co-op job in 1960. The Life force of the city is a force to be reckoned with and with this thought in mind, I'm going to move over to the Thoughts Page in a little bit.

Onward...

A sold out show at Carnegie Hall for Barry and myself. A big article about us in Playbill. I'm going to put a copy next to mhy granmother Vera's ashes in my red barn. Now it is true that Zankel Hall is not the big room, but it does hold six hundred people and every seat was filled. As I told Barry tonight, it was an honor for me to play The Hall, and it was an honor to play it with him. We had a great night! Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 34, 2007
Zankel Hall
At
Carnegie Hall
New York City
Saturday, May 12, 2007

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. New Song For The Morning
3. There’s A Table Sitting Heaven
4. I See The Light
5. Heart Temporary
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. Operator
9. Fur Peace Rag
10. Sea Child
11. Living In The Moment
12. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
13. Come Back Baby
14. Late Breaking News
15. Hesitation Blues
16. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
17. 9 Pound Hammer
18. Encore 1: Genesis
19. Encore 2: Just Because

When we left the building to come back downtown to the hotel, the streets were packed with Saturday night revelers and it was raining. The pavement glistened with the reflections of the lights and the sounds of laughter were everywhere in spite of the weather. As we headed down what used to be the West Side Highway, a fireworks display erupted from lower Manhattan and the sound of the mortar launchers filled the night air. What a night!

I love this city!

Our last show on this little run. The JCC here in Rochester was another beautiful sounding hall. We have been so lucky on this trip. Here is our set list from tonight:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 35, 2007
Jewish Community Center
Hart Theater
Rochester, New York
Sunday, May 13, 2007

1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. Bread Line Blues
6. Fur Peace Rag
7. More Than My Old Guitar
8. How Long Blues
9. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
10. Living In The Moment
11. Sea Child
12. Roads & Roads &
13. I Know Your Rider
14. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
15. Come Back Baby
16. A Life Well Lived
17. Late Breaking News
18. Encore: Water Song

We're dropping Phil and Barry at the hotel and heading straight back to Ohio.

More tomorrow!

Truly, there is no place like home. The hardwood on the hills is lush and green. Life has returned to the earth in full force. Returning home to Southeast Ohio is always such a blessing.

I have never lived in one place for so long, and I hope I never move.

This is good.

Yesterday I crashed my 63" wingspan RC plane on it's maiden voyage. The fuselage was destroyed and I was pretty bummed. With Myron's help, I got a new airframe and had three successful flights today. In addition to this I got to drive Patrick Sweany's go cart. As if this were not enough, it looks like our daughter is on the cusp of walking and my son scored his first soccer goal.

As if this were not enough, I'm teaching at the Fur peace Ranch this weekend which means I get to talk about myself and play the guitar ad nauseum.

Does it get any better than this?

'Don't the moon look pretty, shinin' on down through the trees...'

That song was running through my mind as I drove home from the Ranch at 0030 after the Bob Margolin and Pinetop Perkins show at the Fur Peace Station. I segued into Allison Krause singing 'Help me make it through December... a promise I remember...' and I thought Pinetop is making it through December just fine. What a show. I'm feeling sick as a dog from some cold or something I got and at 66 I'm ready for bed. Pine was unbelievable and Bob and his pals were, well, just the best. Pat Sweany and I got to sit in a bit with the boys and playing with a real blues band sure is a treat.

My spirit was soaring as my body craved respite. I had to laugh. Here's Pine at 93 heading off to the next gig and here I am moping around at home getting ready to go over to the Ranch and teach.

...OK, point well taken. I'm out of here. I feel like crud, but it's blessing counting time again. Last night was unbelievable.

Maybe today will be too.

After the grand weekend at the Ranch I plunged into a little workshop of my own with my friend Barry and tried to help Vanessa, Izze and myself rise above our colds.

No matter how I feel today, it's time to mow again so I better get some gas.

Yikes..

An interesting week with my lovely wife and my angel with a dirty face. We've made it to the weekend in spite of colds, teething, allergies and such.

Today, we went to the Cemetery as they placed a stone for a friend who passed away not too long ago. It was a beautiful day. Since it usually seems as if it always rains here on Memorial Day Weekend, it seems as if she reached back to earth and ordered this day up for us.

After the Mourner's Kaddish I looked around and the gardens of stone were blanketed by gently moving American Flags. Crosses, Stars of David... The melting pot was well represented and the blood is all red. At this cemetery there were stones back to the Spanish American War. What a highway to the past... the names, the dates... In that moment, I felt they were all family.

As I sit here safely on my little farm, I think I'll cook my family some dinner.

A blessedly uneventful weekend for us here. As the girs got better we were able to take a walk for an hour and a half today.

To spend the afternoon walking outside on a beautiful Spring Memorial Day with my wife and daughter... well it just can't be beat.

I think I'll dash on over to the Thoughts Page in a bit.

Sad news to report. Yesterday out West in Royal Oaks, California Laura Ellen Hopper died. Laura Ellen was one of the founders of KPIG that much loved radio station in Watsonville. Laura Ellen and her friends were largely responsible for helping to define the relatively undefinable genre of Americana Music. Truly, she created a home for all of us who operate outside the mainstream.

My wife, Vanessa, was just talking to her last week. They met at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada some years ago and became friends. Vanessa just called me a little while ago to tell me the news. This is sad indeed.

Sometimes as we meander through life we think about things just, well, going on forever. Obviously this is not the case. I will miss those rare occasions when I would be in California and have a little time to drop in, chew the fat, and pick a little.

These are all selfish thoughts. Looking at the bigger picture, my heart and prayers go out to her family and friends. One of the truly good ones is gone. Fair wind and following seas, sister! Catch you on the other side.

As I get ready to upload this I look over my shoulder and there is one of my old guitar cases. It has both KFAT and KPIG bumper stickers on it.

How about that...

This coming weekend at the Ranch is our Pick and Put weekend and to kick things off, some of the early gatherers and I went for a 200 mile ride today.

Jerry B. led us up 13 to 204 and into the American Motorcycle Association Museum in Pickerington. I've been a member for years, but I've never been to the nerve center before. It was great!

The day was hot and a little overcast, but the ride was spectacular as we headed home to the County through the Hocking Hills.

There's nothing quite like a bunch of friends out for a ride together. It was thus when I was kid and it's still that way.

What a grand day!