The boys and I have been looking forward to this summer run for some time and so far it has exceeded our expectations. Life on the road is filled with quirks and pitfalls and this trip has proved to be no exception. It started out with the bus as we left the Fur Peace Ranch. The clutch on the engine fan was malfunctioning so the engine was overheating to a point where we couldn’t drive over mountains. When the temperature gets over 200 degrees Fahrenheit the engine gives you ten minutes before it shuts down. Good times. We took a circuitous route to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania where the bus lives. A ten hour drive, drop the bus at the shed and go a a local hotel.
Wellsboro Inn... the land time forgot
We got there just in time for dinner, thank goodness. Good food. the rooms were smaller than a French motel but comfortable… no flat screen, CRT TV’s, but the American Spirit was alive and well in the lobby.
USofA in lights
Up at 0400 and another ten hour drive to Skoota’s house to pick up his drums and straight to New Brunswick, New Jersey for our gig with Leon Russell at the State Theater. No rest for the wicked, but we had a great show. Here is our set list:
Hot Tuna 33, 2013
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Skoota Warner
The State Theater
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Saturday, July 20, 2013
1. True Religion
2. I See The Light
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Mama let Me Lay It On You
6. Second Chances
7. A Little Faster
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Hesitation Blues
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Hit Single #1
The interior of the State...
And of course, it was an honor to play with Leon.
We always know there was more to Jack than met the eye...
Next day bright and early, off to the Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue, LI.
We got to hang with the Infamous Stringduster as well as Jerry Douglas and his pals. How good does it have to get?
That's Jerry's hand... I don't know what Jack is doing...
Here is our set List:
Hot Tuna 34, 2013
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Skoota Warner
Great South Bay Music Festival
Patchogue, LI
New York
Sunday, July 21, 2013
1. Been So Long
2. Hesitation Blues
3. A Little Faster
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. True Religion
6. Second Chances
7. Bowlegged Woman
8. Hit single #1
9. 99 Year Blues
10. Mourning Interrupted
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Funky # 7
13. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do?
The Flatt And Scruggs show with Jerry Douglas and his pals
Then it was off to Ocean City, New Jersey and the Ocean City Music Pier.
Just like when I was a kid
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Our first two set night of this run. Good to get back in the saddle, so to speak. Here is our set list:
Hot Tuna 35, 2013
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Skoota Warner
Ocean Music Pier Boardwalk
Ocean City, New Jersey
Monday, July 22, 2013
First Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Second Chances
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Hesitation Blues
6. True Religion
7. I Wish You Would
8. A Little Faster
9. I Know You Rider
Second Set:
1. Corners Without Exits
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Children Of Zion
4. Mourning Interrupted
5. Bowlegged Woman
6. Goodbye To The Blues
7. Mama Let me Lay it On You
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Funky #7
10. Encore: Hit Single # 1
What a backstage!
Now we’re heading to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvanial where we have a day off. We’ll be playing at the Sherman Theater on July 25th.
OK… now I’m up to date… sort of!
My first Hot Tuna show ever; been a fan of you guys since the Airplane, but never got to a show. And I was able to introduce my son as a fan as well. OCNJ Music Pier is “sonically challenged”, but the show was great, although we cut out at “Funky # 7” due to a three hour drive home. Sorry I didn’t get to hear the new guitar. I was really taken with Barry’s array of instruments, particularly the Danelectro mandocello; a real horse. I can finally say, “I’m in like the in crowd” ; ^ ) Hope the tour continues well and wishing you all continued health and life
Gasolin is in fact a Danish band fronted by Kim Larsen and still around!
Yes Gasoline! Wow I had absolutely forgotten about that warmup band. Oh man the memories. Yes I was there . We brought a friend to his first Tuna show there at the Centrum. Some guy to our left stripped down to his birthday suit and our buddy gave us a look like “what the hell is this !” I think I still have the stub for that centrum show. Enjoy tonites show everyone. @Bob B
That Centrum show started w/ the European group GASOLINE and then the Jan Hammer group. Got back to my dorm @ LaSalle University about 5 am because TUNA cranked till like 3:30 am. It was awsome! 4-5 hours of Yellow Fever…Americas Choice…Quah…Burgers…Acustic Hot Tuna…on and on. Very common back then to have Acustic followed by Electric Hot Tuna. Did see state and O.City shows. Both awsome, but something about O.C. I liked better. Could have been that unbelievably great version of Morning Interupted. Jorma stay on that lead for what seemed like forever. Rock Me Baby was a nice treat @ both venues. Thanks guy! Your Pal, Bob B
just picked up my bff Hogan from amtrac ny heading to pa for the next two shows. Celabrating 40 years of friendship togeather with you guys cant wait to hear the new guitar see you soon
I was at that Centrum show Ed. @Ed B
Max; Jorma played the new guitar for the encore Hit Single #1 . It sounded terrific. @Max Wheeler
You missed a good one Cyndy. @Cyndy Consentino
Hey Jorma,
On my way down to the big city and for me Amtrack is the way to travel, let someone else do the driving..so looking forward to the next two shows and hopefully hearing that new guitar. Meeting some old friends to celebrate our 40 years of friendship and what better way than a road trip for two electric tuna shows since you guys have been part of it…
See you then
Take Care
Hogan
🙂
I see all these comments about y’all playing in Ocean City and I’m like “How did I miss that?” Then I realized it’s New Jersey not Maryland. We’re playing Ocean City MD tomorrow (again). Speaking of seeing old friends – went to see Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell in NY and I spied Byron House playing Jack’s bass in the band. That was a great show. Hope to catch you boyz sometime.
Jorma, Thanks for scheduling Floyd Fest into your summer tour. Can’t wait to roll down to the music fest this weekend, sleep under the stars, sample the backstage coffee and beer tent, but most of all witness and enjoy your sets on Sunday. Three stages? That’s mighty fine!
Thanks for always telling it as you know it, keeping it real, and showing up here there and everywhere. Look forward to hearing the new geetar … thanks for sharing.
Jorma, did you guys enjoy any of the awesome Manco and Manco pizza on the boards at Ocean City? I was just there the week prior. Hoping to catch you in Pennsylvania this weekend! All the best to you and the band.
You bet we ate that pizza… darn good!
What happened to the new guitar? Thought we were going to see it Saturday…
Festivals are Throw And Go… no time for new stuff… it made it the other two nights.
JORMA
WHEN WILL WE SEE ELECTRIC TUNA IN LOS ANGELES AREA
ANY BEACON SHOWS SCHRDULED YET
DUKE
Hey Jorma, Patchogue was an incredible, smokin’ set. It was great to see the stripped down Electric Quartet. I gotta say that while I love the guys on the crowded Beacon stage, I crave the pure, undiluted Tuna.
I brought a newcomer with me, and at one point he turned to me and said “wow”. I didn’t see the new guitar, but that Les Paul sure sounds good. The tone is rich, with just enough distortion. The crowd was completely enthralled. . “Mourning Interrupted” was tasty. I got my fix for now. Thank you Jorma, Jack, Barry, and Scoota. Till next time.
Dear Jorma,
So sorry to have missed you guys at State theater!
My central air kicked out after a long week of working overtime, and had to get
emergency repair on Saturday night:(
Oh well all the shows sound great!
Will catch you soon
Be well,
Cyndy
Jorma, I wish you could have met my better half last night but she bowed out after the first set having worked 12 hrs at the hospital. My 10 year old, Margaret, who you did get to meet will, have some story to tell in 6th grade this fall. Oh, and she really is a Sea Child. She was born underwater at home (with midwives) in a pool set up in my living room. Thanks again for a great night!
And here I thought a fan clutch was when young ladies were tearing off musicians clothes…
Great show in Ocean City last night under the Buck moon – a perigree full moon aka 2013’s third “supermoon” – the tide was certainly rolling strong. I was with a friend who saw you at the Cherry Hill Centrum back in ’76! We were wondering if the new guitar was there to simply learn some by observing or is it letting the groove soak in – kinda getting some seasoning? Nevertheless, the gold top w bigsby sounded great! Hope you enjoy the night off!
Thanks now I have a smile on my face and feel quite special.
Just a note Jorma about that fan clutch. Most of the older ones that are prior to computerized motors were made so that if they acted up they would fail into the on position. This meant the fan ran all the time so you could keep on truckin’ no matter what. Killed the fuel mileage though. The new ones in computerized set-ups can be switched to either way I believe. But I do know that sometimes when an older one gets replaced they might not get the one that fails to the always on mode. Could be what happened to you if that fan clutch had been changed a few times before over the years.
Hey Jorma, you guys sounded incredible last night at the music pier. That was my first hot tuna show and surely not the last. I bought the t-shirt with the same graphic as the tour poster, but I unfortunately misplaced it. I was wondering if they will become available online at some point. Also I would like to know how often you have your guitar camp at fur peace ranch, and who I would send my 3 recordings to if I wish to apply for the master class. Also I would like to know what techniques you want to hear. Please get back to me when you get a chance. Thanks
Hey Jake… go to http://www.furpeaceranch.com and check out the options. The online Company Store has all our goodies to… of course.
Dittos to George and Ken for an enjoyable evening at the Harvest Moon and a great great night of music from Hot Tuna. Until next time….@George Henn
State Theater show in New Brunswick was one for the ages! Great sound, loud vocals, superb set list…you’d never know it was the first show on the tour. Nice to meet you, John B, at Harvest Moon.
Jorma what’s on Jacks right hand? I would ask him but you have the comment box. It just might make my day if you took the time to answer. Thanks a bunch
Some kind of therapy tape Susan…
I would like to give a shout out to all the Jersey Tuna fans I met Before the State Theatre show at the Harvest moon. I thought it was a great show. Jorma come back to New Brunswick soon.
Hey There Jorma. Dont you just love road trips…
I will be on one at the crack of dawn Thursday from VA up to the Sherman to hook up with some high school tuna friends for the show..then will head on over to the whittaker Friday for another Tuna show.
I see you started w/ a single set show this run then moved to a 2 set format. Well, for the PA shows we would just love to see this evolution continue into a 3 set version…just saying..hah…however we will take whatever you decide to give…
Thank you for the great two set show last night in Ocean City. I was in the front row, Jack side and took my younger son so he could see what an electric Hot Tuna show was like. He had seen an acoustic show a few years ago and needed an electric show to appreciate it more. His ears were still ringing when we came home. Mine too. We both loved Jack’s solos and partial strip-tease (Gypsy Rose Casady). I’ve got him hooked now on Hot Tuna and the blues, thanks to you. Have a great rest of summer!
Dear Jorma, What could be better than seeing you, Jack, Barry and Skoota – bayside with a breeze in Patchogue? Nuthin’!! That new guitar sounds mighty fine, Jack was in rare form,
Barry and Skoota always mesmerizing. (by the way can I say again how great the acoustic show at Stephen Talkhouse was?!) I will be smiling for the rest of the summer. Thank you all, until we meet again.
Good grief Jorma what a start to the tour that was . The bus couldn’t go over any mountains ? After all of that the show Hot Tuna performed at the Stae Theatre in New Brunswick was ; at least to my ears ; flawless . The house was packed and once again i left a Hot Tuna show shaking my head at the beauty of it all.
Thanks ;
John B