Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

This is already turning out to be a frustrating moment. At least we're ticketed, through security and at the gate. 'Nuff said on that.

I wasn't feeling well most of last weekend. This is the first time I've been on the site since I got home from the last Tuna Run. My shoulder is getting better... my cold is getting better, but for some reason I'm no less grumpy.

On the bright side, last weekend at the Ranch with Chris Smither and Fiona Boyes wes stellar. Fiona, as Chris, is one of the best. I look forward to seeing them again any time.

Myron and I are on our way to Live Oak, Florida for the Whanee Festival. It's just 0500 here at the airport. It's too early. At least we're working.

More from the sunny South.

What a whirlwind couple of days. What planet am I on? We drove up to Live Oak today. I guess we optimistically hoped that the monsoon would let up, but it was not to be. It was non-stop rain all the way up... all through our set an well into the Drive By Truckers' set... which, by the way, I enjoyed thoroughly. Anyway, we got to eat twice and play good set... the list of which follows:

Jorma & Barry 9, 2009
Wanee Festival
Live Oak, Florida
Saturday, June 6, 2009

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
3. Hesitation Blues
4. How Long Blues
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
7. Genesis
8. Been So Long
9. Operator
10. Bread Line Blues
11. I Know You Rider

I had toyed with the idea of staying for the Allman Brother's set, but we're leaving for the airport again at 0400. What is up with this. I seem to remember when I got into the music business, I thought I wouldn't have to get up early.

Oh well...

Up at 0230 this morning in Jacksonville, Florida... to the airport.. a flight to Newark, Barry took me to the hotel and there the family was. A beautiful day in the New York area today. A trip to Manhattan, dinner in the Park and a ferry ride back to the hotel. Now... to bed.

First of all, thanks to Tunajon a little correction from the Wanee set list. Thank friend:

Jorma & Barry 9, 2009
Wanee Festival
Live Oak, Florida
Saturday, June 6, 2009

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Come Back Baby
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. San Francisco Bay Blues
7. Genesis
8. Good Shepherd
9. Been So Long
10. Operator
11. Bread Line Blues
12. I Know You Rider

There we go... Tomorrow is my Goddaughter's graduation. How the time flies. We are here in NY for that but today we're going down to Ground Zero. There is a park there where my little daughter can play while I pay my respects.

We're off...

The River Of Time was apparent in its splendor today. My goddaughter Mia graduated high school today and is getting ready for college. All those who were present at her baptism eighteen years ago were in attendance in addition to other friends and family. Vanessa and Izze and I were there, of course and I had to think of the blessing of having children in our lives. They are messengers, marking the passage of time while gentling the impact.

This was a day to remember.

Bless you Mia!

I'm up in Akron for the Founders' Day weekend. I needed this little respite, It's been abusy year and it's not over yet. I'm doing this on my Iphone so this going to be short. Life is good today. I'll write more when I get home on Sunday.

Trying to update my site on my Iphone was too demanding. I'm home from Founders' Day. What a great weekend. I needed that. The motorcycle ride up and back... rain notwithstanding... the fellowship of the program... spending three days with folks who know exactly where I'm coming from... the ride home and a day or two with the girls. Going to Virginia to pick up my son tomorrow. He'll be in middle school next year. Geez... Time, you know.

At least I got to mow.

My son and I are at the Athens Library enjoying free hi speed internet together. Father' Day last weekend at Hillside Farm was well, just the best this old father ever had. My son, my daughter, my wife, friends, good food and great weather. How much better than that can it get?

In a little bit we're going over to Myron's to work on some guitars and then it's well, back to the pool at the farm. This weekend Zach and Myron and I are going to meet Phil and Barry in NY for a couple of gigs and then it's off to the Full Moon Resort for some FPR on the road.

So far, summer is a blast.

Myron, Zach and I drove in from Ohio day before yesterday. There were storms all the way and crossing the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn was quite dramatic. Yesterday we went out to long Island for our Talkhouse gig. It's been a year and a half since I played there and it was nice to be back. Zach, Phil, Myron and I took Zach out to Montauk to see the lighthouse which was completely shrouded in fog... of course. Barry got stuck in traffic coming from New Jersey and took five hours to go 130 some miles. Ah... modern times. Anyway, when we finally hit the stage, we were ready to play and the audience was ready to listen. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 10, 2009
Stephen Talkhouse
Amagansett, Long Island
Saturday, June 27, 2009

1. Search My Heart
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Been So Long
6. I See The Light
7. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
8. Come Back Baby
9. Sea Child
10. Nashville Blues
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Operator
13. Bread Line Blues
14. I Know You Rider
15. Serpent Of Dreams
16. Good Shepherd
17. The Terrible Operation
18. I Am The Light Of This World
19. 99 Year Blues
20. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Today we're off to the Sinai Free Synagogue and right now it's... well, breakfast time.

The gig at the Sinai Free Synagogue is always a treat and a pleasure. Last night was that and more. For me it truly was a perfect evening. My son Zach (G_d bless him) even said unbidden, 'Dad, I think it was the best show i have ever heard you play!' Well... I don't know about that, but it sure was near perfect for me and Barry.

We set up on the Bimah... we didn't bring any amps so we really relied on the great sound company and the perfect sound of the room. It was so comfortable that we did A Walk With Friends as a duo which we have never done before as well as a new ballad I wrote in February of this year called 'My Brother And I.' We closed the first set with Mann's Fate which we haven't played for a while and well... here's our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 11, 2009
The Sinai Free Synagogue
Mt. Vernon, New York
Sunday, June 28, 2009

First Set:
1. Parchman Farm
2. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
3. How Long Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. A Walk With Friends
6. I See The Light
7. My Brother And I
8. Hesitation Blues
9. Preaching On The Old Camp Grounds
10. River Of Time
11. Mann’s Fate

Second Set:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. Been So Long
3. Sea Child
4. Nashville Blues
5. San Francisco Bay Blues
6. Izze’s Lullaby
7. Come Back Baby
8. Good Shepherd
9. There’s A Bright Side Somewhere
10. Just Because
11. Encore: Water Song

The sound and the attentive audience allowed us to play with concert definition. Let's put it this way. I'm still smiling. I'm going to wake Zach up in a few and we're going over to the airport at Kennedy and meet Vanessa, Izze and Hurlbut and then we're off to the Full Moon Resort.