Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

The smell of honeysuckle permeated the motorcycle ride this morning. We drove over 150 miles through all sorts of beautiful countryside. Four some counties and much different terrain... and the smell of honeysuckle was everywhere.

To spend time on the road with like minded spirits on motorcylels is definitely in the 'If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand it,' category.

Back at the Ranch after an afternoon of teaching we got ready for Larry Coryell's show. Larry, Mark and Paul we're stellar and we were honored to host such an outstanding jazz show. New York City couldn't top this one... and I love New York! Larry's wife Tracy sang a tune and they invited me to do some picking with them. An honor and a pleasure, I must say.

We just keep having these great weekends at the Ranch. I can hardly believe it myself sometimes.

With this in mine, I go to bed with a smile on my face. Tomorrow should be a good one too!

I could hear cattle lowing in Donnie's field as I walked down the Murray Mitterhoff Windsong Bird Trail to the Studio for my shower at about 0630. I stayed over at the Ranch all weekend... it being Pick and Putt and all and so I performed my morning ablutions in the old Studio building where I recorded the Christmas Album.

Yes, the smell of honeysuckle was here too... Springtime anywhere, you just can't beat it. Here in the County it is just so beautiful.

Last night Steve James did a little show for the students and what a show it was. I got to thinking... I was able to hear Larry Coryell and friends as well as Steve James right here in Southeast Ohio. Amazing... all that and I'm home too.

With that little bit of bliss lurking in my mind, I realize that this is the last camp for a while and I will be on the road in a week. I know that I can always find things to complain about, but my life is blessedly full.

I think I'll eat breakfast...

It's been a swell week with Vanessa and Izze. Being a Dad at home just can't be beat! The girls have furloughed me for four days and I'm off to Akron for a retreat with like minded spirits. I don't think the hotel has a business center and I'm not taking mhy computer so I'll be offline until Monday if that is indeed the case.

Have a great weekend y'all!

I was out of town on a retreat for four days up in Akron. I thought I might use the business center in the hotel to keep up with my email and my web pages but once I got up there I decided to just let it slide. How often do you get to ignore your computer? I saw the chance and I took it.

Anyway, back here at Hillside Farm, I’m getting ready to leave on my Summer tour in a couple of days. There’s lots to do and I know I’m going to miss my two girls, Vanessa and Izze. Sometimes I miss just having a nine to five job where I would be around my family all the time. So be it. Hopefully they will be able to come out and join me now and then as the Summer progresses.

On that note, I’m going to head on over to the Thoughts Page. Onward…

I was talking to Barry yesterday and he pointed out that today, the 13th of June, is the fifth anniversary of our first Blue Country gig with Sally Van Meter at the Bottom Line in New York. We had fun then but we've come a long way since that Manhattan beginning. Many notes have passed under the bridge and there are more to come.

I'm getting ready to go to Columbus to pick up Phil and tomorrow we load the bus and then it's off to Bonaroo. From the Bottom Line to Bonaroo... Thanks for reminding me Barry. See ya in a couple of days. And now...

...onward!

Today was spent loading the bus although i did take time out to fly my Electristar over at Myron's. I had a rough landing, but nothing a little super glue couldn't fix. Tomorrow morning bright an dearly we're heading for Bonaroo. rockin' to say the least.

A week or so ago I got a mystery package from a return address that said

'Some1 you don't know,' or something like that. Anyway, inside was an ancient Gibson ukelele. I love it and I don't even know who to thank. While I'm talking about such... someone sent me a correction of a Derek Walcott poem I quote from time to time. Here is the corrected version:

ODDJOB, A BULL TERRIER
Derek Walcott

You prepare for one sorrow,
but another comes.
It is not like the weather,
you cannot brace yourself,
the unreadiness is all.
Your companion, the woman,
the friend next to you,
the child at your side,
and the dog,
we tremble for them,
we look seaward and muse
it will rain.
We shall get ready for rain;
you do not connect
the sunlight altering
the darkening oleanders
in the sea-garden,
the gold going out of the palms.
You do not connect this,
the fleck of the drizzle
on your flesh,
with the dog's whimper,
the thunder doesn't frighten,
the readiness is all;
what follows at your feet
is trying to tell you
the silence is all:

it is deeper than the readiness,
it is sea-deep,
earth-deep,
love-deep.

The silence
is stronger than thunder,
we are stricken dumb and deep
as the animals who never utter love
as we do, except
it becomes unutterable
and must be said,
in a whimper,
in tears,
in the drizzle that comes to our eyes
not uttering the loved thing's name,
the silence of the dead,
the silence of the deepest buried love is
the one silence,
and whether we bear it for beast,
for child, for woman, or friend,
it is the one love, it is the same,
and it is blest
deepest by loss
it is blest, it is blest.

I love this poem just like I loved my dog. Well, so it goes and I'm going to bed!

We hit the stage after Railroad Earth who played a rocking set. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 7, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee

1. Trial By Fire
2. Sea Child
3. I Wish You Would
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Living Just For You
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Corners Without Exits
10. Late Breaking News
11. Can’t Get Satisfied
12. Funky # 7

Then Barry and I headed on over to the Sonic Stage and did a short set the list of which follows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 36, 2007
Sonic Stage
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee
Saturday, June 16, 2007

1. Search My Heart
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. How Long Blues
5. There’s a Table Sitting In Heaven
6. Just Because

Sometime after Midnight we're going to jam with Warren and The Mule so I'm going to catch a little catnap. This festival is a blast. Mahybe I'll stop by the Thoughts Page first...

We hit the stage after Railroad Earth who played a rocking set. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 7, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee

1. Trial By Fire
2. Sea Child
3. I Wish You Would
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Living Just For You
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Corners Without Exits
10. Late Breaking News
11. Can’t Get Satisfied
12. Funky # 7

Then Barry and I headed on over to the Sonic Stage and did a short set the list of which follows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 36, 2007
Sonic Stage
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee
Saturday, June 16, 2007

1. Search My Heart
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. How Long Blues
5. There’s a Table Sitting In Heaven
6. Just Because

Sometime after Midnight we're going to jam with Warren and The Mule so I'm going to catch a little catnap. This festival is a blast. Mahybe I'll stop by the Thoughts Page first...

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Last night we sat in with Government Mule at Bonnaroo somewhere around 0200. We did two songs with the Mule... Come Back Baby and Death Don't Have No Mercy. It was me, Barry, Jack... graciously invited by Warren and his friends. Some fun! I think the Mule could well be the best modern rock band anywhere! These guys can play.

Now we're getting ready to blast off for Austin. This is going to be a non-stop run so it's hammer down and we're outta here.

Onward...

Well we beat feet straight to Austin out of Tennessee getting in about 0400. After hanging around the hotel most of the day Barry and I wandered over to a local mall and found a terrific Thai eatery. I'm sure I didn't need that extra order of mini egg rolls but they were just so darn good.

Anyway, tomorrow we have a radio show to do in the morning and then it's off to the Cactus Cafe for two shows. Indeed a slow news day today, but tomorrow will more than make up for it.

Good night!

Ah, the day is winding down. Two complete shows at the Cactus Cafe. We love this joint. One of my favorite players, Steve James lives in Austin and he came by tonight. When he was at the Ranch a couple of weeks ago he let me sit in on a tune in his set so I was dying to have him sit in with us which he did. There's a funny story about a diminished chord which is too lengthy to tell here but suffice it to say, we got it right this time. Anyway, here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 8, 2007
The Cactus Café
Austin, Texas
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

First Show:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Candy Man
3. How Long Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. I Know You Rider
6. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
7. Living In The Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. I See The Light
10. Come Back Baby
11. The Terrible Operation
12. That’ll Never Happen No More
13. Just Because
14. Encore: Genesis

Second Show:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. Saturday Night In Jail (with Steve James)
6. Bread Line Blues
7. A Life Well Lived
8. Serpent Of Dreams
9. Heart Temporary
10. Hesitation Blues
11. Sea Child
12. Trial By Fire
13. Uncle Sam Blues
14. Red River Blues
15. Late Breaking News
16. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We're packing up and heading back to the hotel and tomorrow we drive to Dallas. A grand day!

A twelve hour drive from Dallas, and here we are in Albuquerque. I actually got up this morning and went out for a little walk. When I got back it was still only 1030 and I'm guessing the temperature was in the low 90's. I'm not even going to mention the 'dry heat' rap.

It was fun being in the neighborhood of old Rt. 66, the 'Mother Road,' as we made the trek. I had to call my pal Jerry several times to reminisce about our 2003 Great Transcontinental Bike Trip. I sure get to do some great stuff.

Speaking of great stuff, I get to play another show tonight with Jack and Barry. Aside from spending time with the family, it doesn't get any better than this.

Onward.

Good Gravy! I almost forgot about the show at the Granado Theater the other night. Aside from the terrific oyster bar across the street, it was a great time and here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 9, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady &
Barry Mitterhoff
The Granada Theater
Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

First Set:
1. Big River Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. How Long Blues
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Living In The Moment
9. Sea Child
10. Barbeque King
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Bread Line Blues
3. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
4. Trial By Fire
5. I Know You Rider
6. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
7. Good Shepherd
8. Babe I Want You To Know
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Come Back Baby
11. A Life Well Lived
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. Encore: Embryonic Journey

...and now, onward!

This just a quick entry. We're leaving for Tucson, Arizona in a few minutes. Last night's show at the El Rey was filled with dancing people in the audience and dancing fingers on stage. As usual... a good time had by all! Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 10, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The El Rey theater
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Friday, June 22, 2007

First Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. Living In The Moment
4. Sea Child
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Barbeque King
9. Bread Line Blues
10. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
11. 99 Year Blues
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Babe I Want You To Know
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. Good Shepherd
6. Trial By Fire
7. Come Back Baby
8. Will There Be Any Stars In my Crown?
9. Hesitation Blues
10. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Just Because
13. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

...and now, it's off to Tucson.

Our show tonight at the Fox here in Tucson was quite simply stellar. A packed house and superb sound. it just doesn't get any better. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 11, 2007
The Acoustic Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Fox Theater
Tucson, Arizona
Saturday, June 23, 2007

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Operator
7. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
8. I Know You Rider
9. Living In The Moment
10. Come Back Baby
11. That’ll Never Happen No More

Second Set:
1. Big River Blues
2. I See The Light
3. Heart Temporary
4. Sea Child
5. Hesitation Blues
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Prohibition Blues
8. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
9. 99 Year Blues
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Genesis
12. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
13. Late Breaking News
14. Encore: Water Song

Tomorrow we get to sleep in untill 0700. What a concept! I;m going to try to log as many z's as possible. Au revoir...

We just finished our show at the Orpheum Theater. Flagstaff is a beautiful town, and this is a fine place to play music. here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 12, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Orpheum Theater
Flagstaff, Arizona
Sunday, June 24, 2007

First Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Candy Man
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. Blues Stay Away From Me
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Barbeque King
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. Operator
11. Red River Blues

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

Early in the morning we're taking off for San Diego to play the House Of Blues and then after the show we're driving up to San Francisco. This has been a hectic couple of days, but we've played some darn good music.

Time for bed... it's going to be an early bus call!

We drove from Flagstaff to the House Of Blues here in San Diego. We haven't played in S.D. for a really long time, and the folks were besides themselves. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 13, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
House Of Blues
San Diego, California
Monday, June 25, 2007

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Re-Enlistment Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. The Terrible Operation
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Fur Peace Rag
10. Barbeque King
11. Prohibition Blues
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. I Know You Rider
3. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Sea Child
6. Trial By Fire
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
12. Nine Pound Hammer
13. Operator
14. Just Because
15. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

The Hurlbut Clan stopped by to say hello and Bill Walton and his lovely wife stopped by the dressing room to talk for a while after the show. Really good stuff. Oh yes, a big Happy Birthday to Izze today. She is one year old and I'll be seeing her in San Francisco.

I gotta get some sleep.

Well, let's see. We drove from Flagstaff to San Diego and played the House of Blues. Then we drove to L.A. after the show and on to San Francisco. We got in around noon or one and looked around for a place to do laundry. Well, the laundry is under way and of course we finally got to eat. Vanessa and Izze came in three hours late after being stuck on the ground in Dallas in a huge storm.

Everyone went to bed for some much needed rest and this morning we strapped Izze into her stroller and walked through Chinatown to North Beach and got some coffee and goodies at the Cafe Trieste. Now back at the hotel, I'm watching my little gal sleep while Vanessa takes a break downstairs.

We'll be heading over to the Great American Music Hall to set up for the evening's show in three or four hours. It looks sunny hear, but it's fashionably chilly... San Francisco style.

...and so it goes.

Well, let's see. We drove from Flagstaff to San Diego and played the House of Blues. Then we drove to L.A. after the show and on to San Francisco. We got in around noon or one and looked around for a place to do laundry. Well, the laundry is under way and of course we finally got to eat. Vanessa and Izze came in three hours late after being stuck on the ground in Dallas in a huge storm.

Everyone went to bed for some much needed rest and this morning we strapped Izze into her stroller and walked through Chinatown to North Beach and got some coffee and goodies at the Cafe Trieste. Now back at the hotel, I'm watching my little gal sleep while Vanessa takes a break downstairs.

We'll be heading over to the Great American Music Hall to set up for the evening's show in three or four hours. It looks sunny here, but it's fashionably chilly... San Francisco style.

...and so it goes.

Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed Cold Flavor Repair and Moonalice at the benefit tonight at the Great American Music Hall. It's late and we're up early to got to Santa Cruz tomorrow, so here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 14, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Benefit @
The Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, California
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Heart Temporary
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. Come Back Baby
8. Hesitation Blues
9. The Terrible Operaton
10. Late Breaking News
11. Bread Line Blues
12. Operator
13. Just Because
14. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Izze and Vanessa made the gig tonight. I even danced a little bit with my daughter. What a concept.

Some fun... Good night!

What a day in Santa Cruz. We got here in time for me to hit one of my favorite Mexican eateries and wander around a little bit. When it was time for sound check the folks at the Catalyst did us and themselves proud. A great night... here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 15, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Jack Casady
The Catalyst
Santa Cruz, California
Thursday, June 28, 2007

First Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. I See The Light
4. Heart Temporary
5. Red River Blues
6. Living In The Moment
7. Sea Child
8. Bread Line Blues
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
11. Blues Stay Away From Me
12. How Long Blues
13. Hesitation Blues

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. The Terrible Operation
5. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
6. Come Back Baby
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Good Shepherd
9. A Life Well Lived
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
12. Just Because
13. Encore: Roads & Roads &

It occurred to me that I wrote New Song For The Morning over thirty years ago right here in Santa Cruz. I could go on. Lots of good memories for me here lo those many years ago.

Well, it's time to head back to San Francisco so I'm going to upload this while I have a connection.

Onward...

In a way the Fillmore is the Mother Church of the music scene here and it is always an honor to play there. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 16, 2007
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, California
Friday, June 29, 2007

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Been So Long
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. How Long Blues
7. Serpent Of Dreams
8. Heart Temporary
9. The Terrible Operation
10. Sea Child
11. Living In the Moment
12. Barbeque King
13. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
14. Hesitation Blues

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Late Breaking News
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. Bread Line Blues
5. Fur Peace Rag
6. Roads & Roads &
7. Operator
8. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
9. Come Back Baby Come Back Baby
10. 99 Year Blues
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. The Preacher Picked The Guitar
13. Nine Pound Hammer
14. Encore: Water Song

There were lots of old friends there and, well, we just had a really good time. This is a short note. We're getting ready to load up and head north to Laytonville and from there to Portland, Seattle, and Alaska. I'll try to get a little more writing donw from the bus. Vanessa and Izze are on their way home to Ohio and it sure was nice to see the girls for a couple of days in the middle of this tour.

Onward...