Last night my buds and I showed up at the Barrymore Theater in Madison, Wisconsin… We have played this lovely venue off and on for… well, over two decades. I liked it then… i love it now! It’s chilly up here in the North Country… of course, it is still winter. That said, it was hot on stage as Jack and Barry and I had a simply wonderful night. I could go on with the superlatives, but I think I’ll just lay the set list on you:
Hot Tuna 11, 2013
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Barry Mitterhoff
The Barrymore Theater
Madison, Wisconsin
Friday, February 22, 2013
First Set:
1. Too Many Years
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
3. Children Of Zion
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Waiting For A Train
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Let Us Get Together right Down Here
8. Sea Child
9. Come Back Baby
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Nine Pound Hammer
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Re-Enlistment Blues
3. Second Chances
4. Goodbye To The Blues
5. Hesitation Blues
6. How Long Blues
7. Prohibition Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Barbeque King
11. I Know You Rider
12. Encore: Death Don’t Have No Mercy
Tonight we are at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. I notice in their blurb that they flatteringly refer to Jack and myself as ‘teenagers,’ when we were in the Jefferson Airplane. Yeah… it seems that way when you look back, but I was actually in my mid 20’s. Man, that was a long time ago.
And speaking of a long time ago… I have really been digging all the crosstalk spawned by my ‘I’m ready to go home’ blog. Good stuff all. We have all come so far together and our little time on this earth is so precious… and if I do say so myself… so special! As Pete Seeger would say, ‘Wasn’t that a time!’
Well… two shows in Chicago tonight at the Old Town… drop the guys off at the airport and then Myron and I drive home to Southeast Ohio. Like everyone else on this planet, my life has not been pain free… nor would I have it so. For today at least, I am able to accept blessings and hurdles with equanimity. We’ll see how long that lasts… anyway, I’ll take it.
Off to Chicago…
A few of us killed time at the Daily bar a couple of doors down from the Old Town School on Lincoln Ave. in Chicago that night before the late show. You can see that in the snapshot taken across a booth before the show.
http://goo.gl/vfRo6
Wow Ken. Exercising my free speech right to say lighten up, enjoy the music, listen for the nuances and enjoy the, (sorry Jorma gonna use a nonTuna example) when Phil Lesh changes Dylan’s words to ‘and my good friend my doctor won’t even tell me what it is that I dropped”, just think wow too funny! Mr Lesh hasn’t done bad stuff in years either. Listen for Jorma’s words between the words, that is part of the fun.
Keep on truckin on Jorma.
@ Kenny the red
Are you freakin serious? why, why, why ? if you don’t like the song, don’t listen to it, get off your high horse and quit trying to rewrite history. Life is as it is, I don’t party any more and I don’t shoot people, and I like the song just the way it is. Unbelievable !!
Are you serious? Redue an old blues song — one that’s been recorded in the Smithsonian Anthology of Folk Music — just to appease some horseshit idea of political correctness? You have got to be kidding me. That is just plain insane. Jorma, some of your fans act more like your foe. I don’t get it. As my old, English friend James says, “Don’t go changing”. Keep on Rocking in the Free World.
Wow, this can be a tough commenters’ crowd, at times.
Who, these days, even refers to smoking a doob as “smoking dope”?
Back in the day (my day) “smoking dope” was: ingesting opium, by way of burning it (usually on a piece of tin-foil) and then snogging it up (usually through a piece of dry-cleaners’ cardboard, cut away from its wire frame).
Result: High for a few minutes and then had a headache for the rest of the night.
Nothing ” kinda’ backwards” about missing that.
Jorma you never cease to amaze. Just saw the ‘go home’ and related posts. Good stuff, spot on. Know you are glad to be home. Keep on being you.
Ditto @chuck newman
Hey Jorma, my friend and I greatly enjoyed the Madison show, thanks for coming around! Something you said during “99 Year Blues” caught my attention and got me thinking (always dangerous, I know). After the line that says “I’m going to shoot everybody I don’t like at all,” you added the wry comment that “this is a song about a guy with issues.” Mabye you’re feeling that the line cuts a little too close to home these days, and wanted to distance yourself from it some? I’ve noticed for years there’s another line in the song that you drop entirely, the one about finding a connection and smoking dope. That sets up an interesting contrast: killing people en masse is still ok to sing about, with a little humor, but smoking dope is so bad it can’t be sung at all, not at all? Seems kinda backwards to me….
I’m not sure what the solution is for the song, maybe there’s a way to rework both those lines into something that resonates more currently. How about, “I’m going to defriend everybody I don’t like at all?” 🙂 Maybe the dope line can be changed to one about developing hope. Anyway, just wanted to throw this out there for some cogitation.
Jorma:
My boyfriend is a structural engineer. He’s a music fan and he loves Hot Tuna.
On our way to the airport to catch a flight out of town recently, our friend was driving and in charge of music selection.
He called out: “Let’s have some HFT !!!”
I said: “Yeah — HFT !!!”
My boyfriend asked:
“What does music have to do with high-frequency traders?”
I had to explain to him that “HFT” is for “Hot F’ing Tuna”,
not for “high-frequency traders” : (hedge funds, banks and other investors using capital and high-speed servers to gain a micro-second advantage for their financial trades.)
Never too old to learn something new!
Jorma it is wonderful to see you’re getting back home and can take your boots off for awhile. Just a thought about “Then” and “Now” that’s been so much discussed. I recently went past my grandparents old farm and felt a deep sadness because the old house had been torn down. I realized that I don’t even have a photo of that house to help me tell stories to my grandchildren. All that I have are my memories and words. I thought about having missed an opportunity to take a photo all these years and now that opportunity was gone. No longer can a visit inspire something more. I live now and in the here and now but what I am now is always somewhat made up of what was. If I were to go back to share or create something with those from my past it doesn’t mean I live there. But if I don’t take a “photo” in the here and now with what was, I may not get the opportunity later.
Ya know Jorma, bless you, You have certainly earned the right to be appreciated and experienced in a contemporary way.
I tell my friends who don’t really know the Tuna that one of the main reasons I’ve gone to over 200 shows is that I can count on a different set list night to night, along with a new twist to the interpretation of any given number. This not only happens nightly, but musical growth happens year after year. The joy I receive from your music has given me a lifetime of enjoyment.
That being said, looking back at the first time experiences, for most of us was an eye & ear opening experience that changed many lives forever & for better. Sometimes, it just has to be said.
What a gift you’ve given so many for a long time now.
Over the years, your performances have become more varied and musically excellent. What should I have expected?
Thank you
Enjoy your time home!! I wish I was going to Negril…two of my favorite things, Negril and Hot Tuna sounds like paradise! …..see you in June @ The Egg!!
Dear Jorma,
So much reminiscing about old shows back in the day!
I love it! First time I ever saw you and Jack was back in’72 at an Airplane show
My cousin John( may he rest in peace) brought me to. I was hooked! So the ride has been for quite a long time
And I have loved and appreciated every moment of it!
Travel safely, and enjoy your time home.
Best,
Cyndy
Rock Chicago Tonight Jorma!
Wonderful writings from all sides.
Thanks for the “Special and Precious” rust-proof tip. It gives the right and unique value to all our years spent like rope-dancers on this earth, and the steadiness to rock still on the same wire all our given days.
It feels Great & Greater every blessed Jorma’s enter.
Four times ‘Jorma at the Beacon’ DVDs a day had the doctor of the ‘sacred fire’ to say, play and sing along for better assumption, in the night time it’s magic.
Steady As She Goes
Bless You Jorma!
This is what makes this experience so beautiful. I’m a veteran of over 200 HT show’s more than 40 years worth and we have our opinions. We love this and that, and as fans we are entitled. Right above me is a guy that saw his first show and loved it. I was 17 when I said that, Jorma you were ….. you know the math. Music: is the universal language that transcends time. Embryonic Journey was Iconic in the 60’s, Scott Muni played in NY during his tenure at WNEW FM NY. Then FRIENDS uses at their sign off-goodbye piece and now my friend. Mr. Kaukonen You are a part of Television History. Enjoy your break, your family, and peace to the planet…..Ya gotta love it!!
Thoroughly enjoyed the show at the Barrymore last night. My first ever Hot Tuna concert. What a terrific venue for seeing the artists up close. I’m used to seeing concerts at much larger venues, where you have to watch the big video screens.
Now that I’ve seen Hot Tuna Acoustic, I’d love to also see an electric show. I hope you have plans for an electric tour in the future.
Safe travels! Enjoy Jamaica next month.
Always feel better after experiencing live Hot Tuna. Thank You for coming to MadCity… May those four winds blow You safely Home…
Good afternoon-
Am most delighted to catch your ten o’clock show tonight in Chicago prior to your return home.
We were most fortunate to be seated in front of you at the Old Rock House, St Louis , this past November.
Furthermore, after FOUR DECADES of waiting, you graciously honored my request and played Embryonic Journey as the encore!
Perhaps I might hear that masterpiece again this evening?
We will make an attempt this evening to get a cd to you containing full sized photo files of you and Barry performing in St Louis
It might still be winter,but a couple feathered friends been hangin round and sayin you almost there.Damper down and nite..nite..Jorma
Always feel better after reading your notes…