Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

So here I am sitting in the Village Bakery in good old land-that-time-forgot Athens finishing an egg salad sandwich and doing some email. I figure since I have to go pick up our lovely daughter from school in a bit that I might as will get some work done here.

It was raining earlier today, but right now, it just couldn't be more beautiful. Go figure. Well, there's always something going on so I shan't take this opportunity to bore you with the daily dross... the good news is, that I'm still smiling after a great weekend at the Ranch with Tim Reynolds and Bill Kirchen. OK... time for some errands.

Back at the Ranch again, this time with Steve James, Chris Turner and myself. It's a little chilly today, but tomorrow promises to be warm and beautiful for the Tony Rice Unit concert at the Station. Today was illuminating with the students, as always and tomorrow with Tony and the guys, they will get to see true masters at work.

Next week we'll be heading back East but more about that later. I'm going to zip home and get to bed early so I can come to the Ranch a little early. Guitar pickin'... always fun!

Last night, the Tony Rice Unit played the Station to a sold out crowd and did two sets of unbelievable music. The musicianship (of course) was unparalleled and the songs outstanding. it's been a couple of years since they were here, and I hope it doesn't take this long to get them back. Thanks Tony... for a very special evening.

I'm just having a coffee at Moku, where they have free hi speed internet while a kill a little time before I go to pick up the little Izze at the Child Development Center.

I got to spend the last week with my son and daughter which was a blessing indeed. IN New York, Zach and I had a personally guided tour to the CV-11 Intrepid. What a great day. The next day, Saturday, was our show at the City Winery. Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams joined Barry and myself and we played all the songs from the new CD except Simpler Than I Thought. We just didn't get to that one. I don't have the updated set list with me right now so I'll just have to post that tomorrow. Anyway, the gig Saturday night was yet one more affirmation of why we do what we do. Those catch our shows will know what I'm talking about. Anyway, more will be revealed. I'm off to get Izze.

OK, here's the set list for the City Winery:

Jorma Kaukonen, Barry Mitterhoff,
Larry Campbell & Theresa Williams
‘CD Release Party’
City Winery
New York City
Saturday, April 11, 2009

First Show
Set One:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven
2. Been So Long
3. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
4. Trouble In Mind
5. Red River Blues
6. Living In The Moment
7. River Of Time
8. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
9. I See The Light
Set Two:
1. Nashville Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. Operator
4. Come Back Baby
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Full Go Round
7. Encore: 99 Year Blues



Jorma Kaukonen, Barry Mitterhoff,
Larry Campbell & Theresa Williams
‘CD Release Party’
City Winery
New York City
Saturday, April 11, 2009

Second Show
Set One:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today
2. Death Don’t Have No Mrcy
3. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Preaching On The Old Camp Grounds
6. River Of Time
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Izze’s Lullaby
9. More Than My Old Guitar
Set Two:
1. Trouble In Mind
2. A Walk With Friends
3. Been So Long
4. That’ll Never Happen No More
5. Operator
6. Cracks In The Finish
7. Good Shepherd
8. Let Us Get Together
9. Nashville Blues
10. Encore: Full Go Round

Now for tonight... Jack and I played our first Tuna gig of the year at the good old Fur Peace Station. Happy Traum opened the show (marvelously) and then played two great songs with us on the encore. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 1, 2009
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, April 18, 2009

1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Living In The Moment
4. I See The Light
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Come Back Baby
7. 99 Year Blues
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Serpent Of Dreams
10. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
11. I Know You Rider
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
13. Let Us Get Together
14. Izze’s Lullaby
15. Good Shepherd
16. Full Go Round
17. Encore: With Happy Traum: Monday Morning Blues
18. Encore 2: With Happy Traum: Sportin’ Life Blues

This was a great night. It's great to be back... if only for a minute. Onward...

Yesterday was such a madhouse, I don't even want to think about it right now as I 'relax' in my room in Solana Beach. I got up at 0300 to be at the Airport at 0500. We flew to Cincinnati and then San Diego and here we are. Winter is just not letting go at home, but it was in the seventies here when we got in. A nice change for sure. I might even get up and take a walk on the beach tomorrow morning. Now there's a concept.

Well, tomorrow night is our show at the Belly Up. It's been many years since I played this joint. The area around it has been completely gentrified and there are expensive shops up the old wazoo. Well, that's what it said in the brochure, anyway. I'm going to string my instruments and get a little more sleep. We had a great weekend at the Ranch with Happy and the other guests and it was a nice cushion to start this little trip on.

More anon...

Well, allrighty then... I didn't pick up the modified set lists from Myron before Jack and I left the club so I'll post them tomorrow. Suffice it to say, that between the two sets at the Belly Up tonight, we played for two hours and forty three minutes. I used my G.E. Smith model Telecaster for the whole evening and loved every moment of it. More on that when I get on line tomorrow. This was our first electric show since last year, and frankly, we rocked.

To bed immediately... we're leaving at 0700 for Arizona. Onward...

Last night we joined our friends the New Riders at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival for a grand time in the twilight. Jack was his effervescent self and danced his socks off. Go figure. With his able assistance, the rest of us played this set list:

Hot Tuna 3, 2009
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
McDowell Mt. Music Festival
Scottsdale, Arizona
Friday, April 24, 2009

1. True Religion
2. Living Just For You
3. Talkin’ Bout You
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. I Wish You Would
6. Ode To Billy Dean
7. Been So Long
8. Cracks In The Finish
9. Sea Child
10. Full Go Round
11. I Know You Rider
12. Operator
13. Funky #7
14. Hit Single #1

It is warm here as it is now at home. I look forward to that season of redbud next week. In the meantime, we're off to Tucson and then Barry and I fly to Canada with Phil and Myron. We shall say a fond farewell to Erik and Carmello but indeed, we shall meet them down the road. Time to load up the car... yes we're driving ourselves on this one.


Ok... The other night at the good old Belly Up was sold out... words we love to hear and here is the set list I didn't post the other night:

Hot Tuna 2, 2009
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Belly Up
Solana Beach, California
Thursday, April 23, 2009

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Candy Man
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. Been So Long
5. Ode To Billy Dean
6. Can’t Get Satisfied
7. Living Just For You
8. Rock me Baby
9. Talkin’ Bout You
Second Set:
1. Corners Without Exits
2. Sea Child
3. Cracks In The Finish
4. I Know You Rider
5. I Wish You Would
6. Operator
7. How Long Blues
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Funky #7
12. Hit Single #1
13. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do

What a good little run this has been. It's given me the opportunity to work with my Telecaster as a sole instrument for the electric show. I'll be happier with my own amps, of course, but all things considered, all went really well. Tonight was our return to the Fox Theater... and a beautiful venue it. The folks here are lucky to have such a place to see shows. Anyway, here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 4, 2009
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Fox Theater
Tucson, Arizona
Saturday, April 25, 2009

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. I See The Light
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Can’t Get Satisfied
6. Corners Without Exits
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Operator
10. Talkin’ Bout You

Second Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. I Know You Rider
3. I Wish You Would
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. Cracks In The Finish
7. Living Just For You
8. Funky #7
9. Hit Single #1
10. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do?

It's off to the airport at a fairly early hour and off to Canada. More will be certainly revealed.

Well, our first gig in Canada was certainly special. The church was beautiful and the audience was, well, they just couldn't have been better. I'm just going to post this set list and head on downstairs to make the van call as we are leaving for Edmonton shortly. Here is our list... More anon:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 6, 2009
Knox United Church
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
Monday, April 27, 2009

First Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Been So Long
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. That’ll Never Happen No More
6. Living In the Moment
7. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
8. I See The Light
9. Come Back Baby
10. Operator
11. Red River Blues
Second Set:
1. Hesitaiton Blues
2. Nashville Blues
3. Izze’s Lullaby
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Trouble In Mind
6. Preaching On The Old Camp Grounds
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Sea Child
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Full Go Round
12. Just Because
13. Encore: Water Song

Our little trip to Canada was totally enjoyable. The show tonight here in Edmonton was another perfect evening of atmosphere, sound and audience. We'll be back with Jack for the Edmonton Folk Festival in August and I truly look forward to that! Here is Barry's and my set list fro tonight:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 7, 2009
McDougal United Church
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Trouble In Mind
3. San Francisco Baby Blues
4. How Long Blues
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. Uncle Sam Blues
8. River Of Time
9. There’s a Bright Side Somewhere
10. Follow The Drinking Gourd
11. Hesitation Blues
Second Set:
1. Nashville Blues
2. Parchman Farm
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
4. Late Breaking News
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. 99 Year Blues
7. I See The Light
8. Good Shepherd
9. Full Go Round
10. Come Back Baby
11. Nine Pound Hammer
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

This has been a great little run toped off with this mini trip to Canada... I love it.