Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Happy May Day all you workers. When I was in high school in D.C. we celebrated May Day with a bunch of prancing around on the football field. I wonder what they do at Woodrow Wilson now? Doesn't anyone have a healthy respect for tradition anymore?

Into Jacksonville yesterday morning. Ate twice at Ted's Montana Grill. Got up this morning in time for a four mile constitutional and now I'm working on tonight's set list... after I finish this of course. I'm in North Florida... it's early and it's not too hot yet.

Onward...

We just finished our first show with Little Feat and a dandy it was. The venue was beautiful and all the production folks took great care of us. The food was great too. Hey, does it get much better than this? Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 6, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Florida Theater
Jacksonville, Florida
Thursday, May 01, 2008

1. True Religion
2. Living Just For You
3. I Wish You Would
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Sea Child
6. Trial By Fire
7. Can’t Get Satisfied
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hit Single #1
10. Corners Without Exits
11. Serpent Of Dreams
12. Funky #7

We'll be heading off to West Palm Beach shortly for the big fester tomorrow. Needless to say, more will be written.

They told us Sunfest would be a great venue and they weren't kidding. First of all, it's Florida early in the year so the weather was fantastic. Secondly there were a plethora of really great people. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 7, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Sunfest
West Palm Beach, Florida
Friday, May 02, 2008

1. I Wish You Would
2. Can’t Get Satisfied
3. Hesitation Blues
4. I Know You Rider
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Talkin’ Bout You
7. Living Just For You
8. Barbeque King
9. 99 Year Blues
10. Hit Single #1

I was getting a cramp in my left hand halfway through the last song. I need to drink more water or something. Other than that, it was a great evening. Now... we're of to St. Petersburg.

Back to the Jannus Landing after more than a decade. Between us and Little Feat, the joint was packed... a real rock 'n' roll show, I must say. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 8, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Jannus Landing
St. Petersburg, Florida
Saturday, May 03, 2008

1. Search My Heart
2. I See The Light
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Living Just For You
6. Sea Child
7. I Wish You Would
8. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Corners Without Exits
11. Come Back Baby
12. Funky #7

This is yet another short entry. We're leaving poste haste for Atlanta. I can hardly wait for my Indian dinner in Little Five Points.

Onward!

I have to be up at 0400 to leave ofr Tulsa but we had such a good time tonight, I just had to write something. The Variety Theater in Little Five Points is almost like a home venue for us. We've loved that place for years. We love the neighborhood... the eateries... the whole magillah. This little run we've been doing with Little Feat is also working better than anyone could have imagined. It's a great double bill... the music is great from all concerned and everybody gets along. What's not to like? Here is the Tuna set list:

Hot Tuna 9, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Variety Theater
Atlanta, Georgia

1. True Religion
2. Late Breaking News
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Sea Child
6. Genesis
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Living Just For You
10. I Know You Rider
11. I Wish You Would
12. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
13. Come Back Baby

Paul asked me if I would sit for a bit on Dixie Chicken. I went to Myron, my pundit in these matters and lo, he had it on his Ipod. I studied it so I wouldn't be totally unfamiliar with the song. It's a great tune, and a tricky one, I must say. When the time came to jam, Bill the keyboard player (and a great one he is) said, 'We'll go to A minor... I'll cover you.' Cover me he did and when the band came back on they were so tight they really made it easy for me to fit in. I love this job!

Off to Tulsa!

Well, let's see. We left Atlanta yesterday morning at 0600 and in the course of the day we passed through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and finally Arkansas. The face of America is still magnificent. Yeah, I know, there are wounds and blemishes but that's just life on life's terms. This is a grand country.

Since were working here and traveling in a bus that runs on diesel fuel, we are able to feel some of the pain of the trucking industry. G_d knows where this is all going, but we can and must survive!

We are in Little Rock right now getting ready to leave for Tulsa where we will play Cain's Ballroom. Yeah, that's right. Cain's Ballroom where Bob Wills used to play. Hot Tuna played there in the seventies and we haven't been back since to my recollection.

Well, my net time is up and it's time to hit the road. Oklahoma, here we come!

Thirty four years since Jack and I played Cain's Ballroom. Bob Wills and countless country cats and kittnes played western swing here over the years. What a vibe. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 10, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Cain’s Ballroom
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tuesday, May 06, 2008

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. How Long Blues
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. I Wish You Would
5. Sea Child
6. Living Just For You
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Trial By Fire
2. The Terrible Operation
3. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
4. Rock Me Baby
5. I Am The Light Of This World
6. I Know You Rider
7. Funky #7
8. Corners Without Exits
9. Hit Single #1
10. Encore: Water Song

We are just getting ready to leave the Ballroom and head for the hotel where we will have about three hours to sleep before we head on up to Colorado.

I'm down for now.

Yow... This altitude kicks my aging butt and we're not even that high here. We'll see what happens at Aspen tomorrow. I makes me want to fill an oxygen prescription. That said, the Fox is always fun and tonight was no exception. Our good friend Sally Van Meter came out and sat in for a couple of songs at the end of the first set and rocked the house. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 10, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Fox Theater
Boulder, Colorado
Thursday, May 08, 2008

Set One:
1. True Religion
2. Trial By Fire
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Sea Child
6. Living Just For You
7. 99 Year Blues
8. I Wish You Would with Sally Van Meter
9. Come Back Baby with Sally Van Meter

Second Set:
1. Corners Without Exits
2. I Am The Light Of This World
3. Bowlegged Woman
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Genesis
6. Late Breaking News
7. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
8. Funky #7
9. Hit Single #1
10. Encore: Water Song

We're leaving early for Aspen so it's to bed for this old cowboy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. A friend suggested that I go to Snopes.com to check on my Jay Leno entry, and as I should have suspected, Jay did not say that. I liked it anyway, but Jay did not say it. I'll be more careful in the future before ascribing things to people. Mea culpa.

Onward...

...and when wrong, promptly admitted it. While it is true that I appreciated much of the content of the bogus Leno post, I did not support the political agenda. Act in haste, repent at leisure. snopes.com will be my friend from now on.

It's a little chilly up here in Aspen and there is still snow here and there. Time to go set up... more will be revealed.

The altitude sickness that was bothering me finally gave me a break as we pulled up to the Belly Up in Aspen. It was a late show, we didn't go on until 2200 but the folks (bless them) started dancing at the first note andkept it up until the last... which was, by the way, two hours and twenty five minutes later. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 12, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Belly Up
Aspen, Colorado
Friday, May 09, 2008

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. How Long Blues
3. I Wish You Would
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Sea Child
6. Living Just For You
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Barbeque King
9. Can’t Get Satisfied
10. Trial By Fire
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Bowlegged Woman
13. Rock Me Baby
14. I Know You Rider
15. I Am The Light Of This World
16. Funky #7
17. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
18. Encore: Hit Single #1

What a great room. I'll go back there any time. Now we're starting down the mountain to Denver for our last show with Little Feat at the Paramount. I'm losing connectivity so I'm going to upload this now. More later...

Yow! What a gas the show with Little Feat was tonight. Everybody just played their butt off. Our set was as well done as we could have done it. This is not a lack of modesty but just the way it was. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 13, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Paramount
Denver, Colorado
Saturday, May 10, 2008

1. Trial By Fire
2. Living Just For You
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. I See The Light
6. How Long Blues
7. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
8. I Wish You Would
9. I Know You Rider
10. Corners Without Exits
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Funky #7

Paul and the Feat gang called me up to play with Bill on the freak out section of Dixie Chicken and I thought it was totally happening. I hope we get this bill together again. We all loved it.

I was blessed by being able to hang with my cousin Peter for a while tonight also. We don't get to see each other very much, but there is nothing like family. Well next stop Mesa Arizona. We'll be on the road by 0600 so it's a rush to the hotel. We got stuck up on Vail Pass due to snow earlier today so we just came right to the gig. Onward.

Just a quick note as we are getting ready to roll to San Juan Capistrano. The performing Arts Center here in Mesa is a beautiful venue and in keeping with that motif, we had a dandy time. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 14, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Mesa Performing Arts Center
Mesa Arizona
Monday, May 12, 2008

First Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Living Just For You
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Trial By Fire
6. I See The Light
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Hit Single #1

Second Set:
1. Sea Child
2. Genesis
3. Rock Me Baby
4. I Wish You Would
5. How Long Blues
6. I Know You Rider
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Funky #7
9. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
10. Encore: Water Song

Considering that we were in snow up in Aspen just a couple of days ago, it seems amazing to be here in ninety plus degrees. I love this job.

It's always breathtaking driving across this great land of ours. It was mostly desert on this part of the run but lovely nonetheless. Coming in on I-10 we passed Desert Hot Springs, the site of the first annual Fur Peace Ranch On The Road camp and it brought back some fond memories. Here in San Juan Capistrano we found a fine Mexican eatery right around the corner. A dandy end to a fitting day. Breakfast at Denny's was nowhere near as delightful. Still and all, a man's gotta eat.

It's been many years since I played the Coach House and I hear the venue has moved. Obviously, more on this later. In the meantime, I'm expecting an interview for Juneau.

Onward!

I can't remember the last time we played the Coach House... sometime around the time rocks and water were discovered, I think. Barry and I though we'd walk to the gig from the hotel and it proved a little farther than we had planned but at least I got a little excercise before the set. Speaking of excercise, we had plenty of it during our set, the list of which follows:

Hot Tuna 15, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Coach House
San Juan Capistrano, California
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

1. I See The Light
2. Living Just For You
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
5. Sea Child
6. Trial By Fire
7. Can’t Get Satisfied
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Corners Without Exits
10. 99 Year Blues
11. I Wish You Would
12. Hit Single #1
13. Encore: Funky #7

We are now loading the bus and driving to San Francisco. Tomorrow is the first of two nights at the Great American Music Hall about which more will be revealed.

After the show last night in San Juan Capistrano we drove up to the Bay Area, got a little rest and headed down to the Great American Music Hall. Our buddy Patrick Sweany was waiting for us at the gig and he kicked the evening off with a great set. We were champing at the bit when our turn came and here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 16, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, California
Thursday, May 15, 2008

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Trial By Fire
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Bowlegged Woman
5. Living Just For You
6. Sea Child
7. I Wish You Would
8. Rock Me Baby
9. 99 Year Blues
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
12. Ode To Billy Dean
13. I Know You Rider
14. Funky #7
15. Hit Single #1
16. Encore: Come Back Baby

It's going to be good to sleep in a non moving bed tonight... really good!

Two steamy nights at the Great American Music Hall. Hey, last night was even sold out. Our friend Jim Lauderdale was supposed to be with us on this leg of the tour but at the last minute he got ill and wasn't able to make it. We wish him a speedy recovery. I know he'll be back before you know it. One of our homeboys, Patrick Sweany, was able to sub and as always, he did a great job. You must check Pat out. He's the poop. Anyway, here is out set list:

Hot Tuna 17, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Great American Music Hall
Friday, May 16, 2008

1. I See The Light
2. True Religion
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. I Wish You Would
5. Corners Without Exits
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Can’t Get Satisfied
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Living Just For You
10. Sea Child
11. Bowlegged Woman
12. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
13. Barbeque King
14. Funky #7
15. Hit Single #1
16. Encore with Pat Sweany: Baby What You Want Me To Do?

We didn't get in until after two this morning and we're leaving post haste for Nevada so it's an early bus call. More later from Crystal Bay.

The Show in Crystal Bay on Saturday night was rocking to say the least... rocking in spite of me having some sort of stomach flu. I got through the evening, went to bed until I got on the bus and stayed in bed all day yesterday. I figured I would probably live and my assumptions are proving corrrent. Firstly here is our set list from Crystal Bay:

Hot Tuna 18, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Crown Room
Crystal Bay Casino
Crystal Bay, Nevada
Saturday, May 17, 2008

1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Search My Heart
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Corners Without Exits
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Rock Me Baby
9. I Wish You Would
10. Living Just For You
11. Trial By Fire
12. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
13. Sea Child
14. Funky # 3
15. Hit Single #1
16. Jammin’ With Patrick on Big Joe Turner

We'll be driving after the show to Seattle tonight and I'll be meeting my son at the SeaTac airport tomorrow and we'll be going up to Alaska together. Good stuff... More will be revealed.

Things have been so busy I just haven't hat time to do any writing. Zach and I are sitting at the airport getting ready to fly to Alaska and I'm going to post the set lists from the last two dates:

Hot Tuna 19, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Aladdin Theater
Portland, Oregon
Monday, May 19, 2008

1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Living Just For You
6. Trial By Fire
7. I Wish You Would
8. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
9. Corners Without Exits
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Fiona Boyes joins us…
13. I Know You Rider
14. Sea Child
15. Funky #7
16. Hit Single #1
17. Encore with Pat Sweany


Hot Tuna 20, 2008
The Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Triple Door
Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

1. Search My Heart
2. I See The Light
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Corners Without Exits
6. 99 Year Blues
7. I Wish You Would
8. Ode To Billy Dean
9. Living Just For You
10. Sea Child
11. Bowlegged Woman
12. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
13. I Know You Rider
14. Funky #7
15. Hit Single #1
16. Encore with Patrick Sweany

I'm going to leave it at that for now... we're geting ready to board.

Well, since we arrived yesterday, so much has happened. Zach, Phil, Myron and I went to a great Japanese eatery for dinner and then our friend Michael took us for a sightseeing drive. As we headed up Turnagain Arm we saw a young bear feeding by the side of the road and stopped carefully to take some pictures. On down the road at Beluga Point Zach saw some whales tails and shortly thereafter we saw Dall sheep with young ones up on the mountain side. We stopped and did some hiking and then back in the car we drove up to a state park looking at Flat Top. On our way down we saw our first moose. Not bad for the first couple of hours. Today, we rented a car, drove up the arm again and went to Portage Glacier. Then we came back to Girdwood and drove up to the Crow Creek Mine where we panned for gold most of the afternoon and believe it or not... some ( a very little) was found. In any case, the day could not have been more beautiful. Mountains, sky, clouds, snow... what a place this is! At days end we found ourselves in Girdwood at Jack Sprat's restaurant where I had one of the finest steaks I have ever had and Zach's Paella was beyond description.

All in all... a perfect day in a perfect place. Tommorow could be no better, but it could be just as good! For now... to bed.

In spite of our first gig being today, Zach and I had a little time to do some shopping. Souvenir shops are souvenir shops, but there is a great book store with with things of Alaska. The Tidal Wave is totally happening.

In the late afternoon we headed over to the Performing Arts Center and had a great time with the folks who showed up. here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 21, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Alaska Center For The Performing Arts
Anchorage, Alaska
Friday, May 23, 2008

First Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. I See The Light
5. Heart Temporary
6. Bread Line Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Fur Peace Rag
9. The Terrible Operation
10. Sea Child
11. I Know You Rider
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
3. Living In The Moment
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Parchman Farm
6. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
7. Babe I Want You To Know
8. Good Shepherd
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Nine Pound Hammer
11. Encore: Embryonic Journey

It's now pushing midnight and the sun still hasn't gone down, but we are as we have to fly tomorrow.

Last night we played the good old Blue Loon here in Fairbanks, Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 22, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Blue Loon
Fairbanks, Alaska
Saturday, May 24, 2008

First Set:
1. Don’t You Leave Me Here
2. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. Trial By Fire
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Fur Peace Rag
9. I Know You Rider
10. Barbeque King
11. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. Come Back Baby
3. That’ll Never Happen No More
4. Sea Child
5. Mann’s Fate
6. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
7. Operator
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Working Man’s Blues

What a short boring entry this is. We're already up just about to head to the airport to fly to Anchorage, to fly to Juneau, to play the show to get ready to fly home, blah blah blah.

We're having fun, but I gotta go. More later.

I got home Tuesday night after dropping Zach off with his Mom in Virginia. What a tour it was and what a grand experience for all Alaska was. I'll be working on some more photos for the site and should have them up before the end of the weekend.

I had never been to Juneau before and what a beautiful place it is. On the way in from the airport we stopped off to see the glacier. Lots of tourists there, and with good reason. What a view. Our show at the highschool auditorium was a two set blast. Here are the songs

Hot Tune 23, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Juneau Douglas High School
Juneau Jazz & Classics

Set One:
1. Don’t You Leave Me Here
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. I See The Light
5. Heart Temporary
6. The Terrible Operation
7. I Know You Rider
8. 99 year Blues
9. Living In the Moment
10. Sea Child
11. Late Breaking News

Set Two:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. Come Back Baby
4. Fur Peace Rag
5. Been So Long
6. Bread Line Blues
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Good Shepherd
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Encore: Water Song

Zach requested Water Song, so I added it as an encore and dedicated it to him. Heck of a trip son. You're a great traveler and fun to hang out with.

Gotta feed the dogs. More will be revealed.