One of the remaining great radio stations!
I left San Francisco on Monday… next stop NYC. Tuesday, up to Fordham for WFUV with John Platt.
Me and John Platt
John invited me up to the campus to tape a radio show for WFUV. We chewed the fat for a while and I played several songs… then back down to the 70’s and dinner at Serafina. Michael Falzarano joined Myron and myself for a delicious dinner!
Walking around the neighborhood, around the corner from Amsterdam in 76th, was the building where Joe Zinman, Jos Davidson and myself roomed in 1960 when I had an Antioch Co-Op job at the Rusk Institute For Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at 400 E. 34th St.
This used to be the Lincoln Square Hotel… the three of us lived in a two room apartment. Good times!
This used to be the Lincoln Square Hotel
I worked as an attendant at the hospital during the day. I got $80.00 a week before taxes. This was a seminal moment in my life. On my own, paying my own bills and playing guitar in the Village non stop. My first ‘public’ guitar moment in NYC was at Gerde’s Folk City at a Hootenanny run by Brother John Sellers. What a time.
Fast forward to the present, and around the corner from the old Lincoln Square was this:
This is way uptown and a thousand years away from Gerde's!
Foto by Phil Jacobs
The Beacon Theater is such an amazing place.
To see this, to be here... to play.... well.......
I got a chance to play an hour set before Tedeschi/Trucks… the sound was awesome an the audience wonderful!
Jorma Kaukonen 29, 2016
At The Beacon Theater
With Tedeschi/Trucks
New York City, New York
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. Dime For Beer
4. San Francisco Bay Blues
5. Sleep Song
6. Good Shepherd
7. Come Back Baby
8. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
9. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. River Of Time
12. That’ll Never Happen No More
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Then I got together with Derek to go over Let’s Go Get Stoned and Rollin’ And Tumblin’ for their encore.
Thanks Derek... every little bit helps.
Foto by Myron Hart
What an amazing couple of days, and what a great night!
Into the light...
I’d like to walk into this light as long as possible!
That said, it’s great to be home!
missedthe beacon show had 12 hours of surgery sept 1 due to crohns disease and a little cancer thrown in, have had crohns since i was 14. have been dancing to the tuna since i was 19. i enjoy your blog jorma when i am laid up and cannot do much. i also enjoy everyones comments and feel as though i have grown to know you all. i hopeto be well enough for tuna december/nov/? show if not i have my memoriesfrom past shows. ilove that theater, last year i got front rowseat and had my pix taken with jorma and jack wow wow wow !!!!! of course they looked great and i looked like a deer caught in the headlights!!0n oct 13th i will be 61 thank u for 40 years of wonderful music and the past fewyears of your insightful historical travelogue of experiences and great pix too. thanks for sharing jorma and everyone in comments. it is people like you who make this world a better place. you are the light ….
hummin a little water song and all is well. lookin forward to more tuna concerts and getting to fpr and seein that silo one of these days. no to trump. yes to hot f….ing tuna!!!
Just came back from the Catskills and they are ablaze in reds, oranges and yellows. They are really colorful – if you’re a leaf peeper get upstate real fast – it’s peaking. I remember when I was younger peaking was something else – something to do with tripping. I sure miss the good old days. I wonder how many people are experienced. The good old days.
“He used the cruelest weapon of all, sarcasm.”
“DINSDALE!!!”
@carey georgas
“Dinsdale!!”
For some reason, the weekend’s revelations and developments brought to mind an old Monty Python skit, “The Piranha Brothers” They were hunted down by the intrepid inspector, Harry “Snapper” Organs. The surname, paired with the nickname fits the Donald to a T. My new nickname for him now is “The Snapper”. Seems to fit on several levels.@Barbara Jacobs
Completely agree @jim hitchcock: “Music is the universal language of mankind”. Longfellow.
Perfect
Truly the best thing I love about music is that it recognizes no artificial borders 🙂
Oh Jim you flatter me, i’ll never be old enough not to dance, the cure is in Jorma’s care. Joe is way high but what is funny is that both we are thrilled by the Morse code.
How true. Evidently.
@jim hitchcock
My guess is that having a self assured woman taking an abuser out at the kneecaps verbally is more humiliating them doing it literally 🙂
The Donald’s theme-song, which should be played as he takes the Debate stage tonight:
“GOLDFINGER” !@Barbara Jacobs
^I’m Barbara Jacobs and I support this message.^ lol!
I’m not in the race. I’m not running for anything.
I don’t even run for the bus.
But, if somebody comes for me — I’ll brake their (self-perceived) grip on me.
I’d rather do it with my intellect. Braking their body-part on the NYC. subway
is a big production. Commuters need to get to work.
@jim hitchcock
Not sure if I was taught this as a lesson, or just absorbed it. Rule 1, treat the opposite sex with class, if you don’t, you’ll be a Jr High Schooler all your life. Rule 2, treat everyone you meet with the sane regard. Rule 2 is not always that easy to follow, but it can be done, if one respects themself enough.@Barbara Jacobs
I’ve been reading his comments for years, and in my minds eye I see Carlo doing the Joe Walsh boogie dance on a table top at a Tuna show he has that kind of wonderful spirit. @carlo pagliano
Seriously !
My advice to each and every client/friend before entering a television/radio studio and/or any situation where they will be interviewed is:
“Don’t talk shit anywhere in there, even if you aren’t mic-ed
When you are mic-ed: keepa you moutha shuta, even before the actual interview/appearance begins. Don’t assume anything — EXPECT that the mic is hot
(on and recording). That includes after the interview appearance.
Just in case you ever want to run for public office, and even if you don’t.
It just goes to prove that, what you do with your education is up to you — just get an education.
What you do with the emotional intelligence you develop in High School — is up to you. Just graduate from High School, so at least you’ll have that basic emotional intelligence. Without it — you will always be at a disadvantage intellectually and emotionally.
Being “The King”, without a basic education, isn’t worthy of the crown. Even if your crown is very sparkly and people admire its shine.
It seems that although Trump graduated from Business School (one of the very best in the USA.) he never advanced his emotional intelligence. That’s what happens when somebody is fawned-over. The Emperor has no clothes.
Nobody ever tried to “grab (my) pussy” — because they knew I was too smart to want or need that kind of attention. My intelligence and hard work was enough.
I don’t ride the subway in NYC., not for any other reason than:
the last time I was on a subway car (around 1989) some perv took a grab at me.
I broke his arm. It tied-up the subway for over an hour, as somebody pulled the “emergency brake”. We waited while the Transit Police arrived, they had to call the NYPD. I had to go to the local Police precinct to file an official complaint.
@Carey Georgas
I’ve been in a few locker rooms over the years and I ain’t never heard no talk like that, and that’s going all the way back to, and including junior high.@Barbara Jacobs
Jorma, I remember those days of course. I remember the hotel but forgot the name of of it. Ah yes, Gerdes Folk City. Who could forget? Nursing a beer all night. Salad days.
Ray has a very good sense of humor.@jim hitchcock
Oh, hilarious callback@Barbara Jacobs .
Thinking sweet tempered Davies would cackle at being mentioned vis a vis The Donny.
Will there be a sign language interpreter at the next debate?
Thamsanqa Jantjie might be available.
Ray Davies has never tried to “Grab (me) by the pussy”.
I’ve met lots of male celebrities over the course of decades — none of them has ever tried to “grab (me) by the pussy”.
Alec Baldwin was hilarious on SNL last night!
@jim hitchcock
Wow Jorma! It’s like breathing the glorious past up in today’s air. Sounds so good. Apropos of sounding supreme: soo rockin’ Rock the Hot Tuna elec in Golden Gate Park. Superfine Rock is back on the blocks. What a Total Jack and what an unimaginable Justin and what a flywheel of power is Myron and of course The Captain! Shine a light. Shine all of the lights.
Victoria, a favorite, one of those mystical things called songs that always makes me happy@Dead Head
@jim hitchcock
I fully understand. Was/am a huge Kinks fan since the 60’s. Ray liked to have a good time…….”so tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for you”.
It’a Ray Davies song, written in the early ’70’s, friend of Barbara. Pretty sure he would not like being called a visionary, but I think he’d be okay with me calling him a cool dude 🙂@Dead Head
And I rationalize: one reason I am glad to be as old as I am.
@jim hitchcock
Just my opinion here, but you address a serious issue: overpopulation on a global scale (over 7 BILLION). It is simple arithmetic as to supply, volume, and sadly, what the future holds. But no one seems to be aware of it, or at least how to deal with it. IT WILL CARRY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
Kinks, revisted (to make Barbara laugh):
“Apeman”
I think I’m sophisticated
‘Cos I’m living my life like a good homosapien
But all around me everybody’s multiplying
Till they’re walking round like flies man
So I’m no better than the animals sitting in their cages
In the zoo man
‘Cos compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an ape man
I think I’m so educated and I’m so civilized
‘Cos I’m a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don’t feel safe in this world no more
I don’t want to die in a Donald Trump war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man
I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man
I’m an ape man I’m a King Kong man I’m ape ape man
I’m an ape man
‘Cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies
I am an ape man
In man’s evolution he has created the cities and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And I’d be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle
‘Cos the only time that I feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man
I’m an ape, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man
I’m an ape man
I look out my window, but I can’t see the sky
‘Cos the air pollution is fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an ape man
Come and love me, be my ape man girl
And we will be so happy in my ape man world
I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man
I’m an ape man
I’ll be your Tarzan, you’ll be my Jane
I’ll keep you warm and you’ll keep me sane
And we’ll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day
Just like an ape man
I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man
I’m an ape man.
I don’t feel safe in this world no more
I don’t want to die in a Donald Trump war
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an ape man
Awesome, thanks for the tip @Dead Head
So glad to have you home, jorma! See you at the tabernacle real soon!
Jorma and Jack next Friday (10/14) on PBS; Bob Weir on CBS Saturday Morning (10/22). Ace still chugging along, too. It’s all good, even if it’s TV.
Great NYC memories Jorma….any idea when FUV will broadcast your session with John Platt? Looking forward to Tabernacle and Beacon shows next month.
Thanks Jorma. that set was great….We especially wanted to go this nite for TTB cause you were playing….Us simple folk at Metropolitan Thank you much….
Should have read insight rather than incite…anyway..
Good stuff! Would love to hear more about your early days in NYC. Any thoughts about penning an autobiography? I am pretty sure it would be well written and provide awesome incite and historical context to all the great music that you have written, played, sang and interpreted over the years and all the musicians you have been involved with over the years. I think a lot of people would appreciate it and enjoy it. Heck, your blogs would be great to include in it and/or be a book in itself. Anyway, thanks for a life of great music, soul and spirit. Still amazed and appreciative that I first got turned on to Hot Tuna as a freshman in college at OU in Athens in 1980. Blessings to you, your Family and all the fine folks at FPR.
A week after Vinnie’s last broadcast, Jorma’s post is meaningful to me:
“As a student, Scully showed interest in sports broadcasting as a founding member of WFUV radio station”
The Beacon’s a great theater. Saw a lot of bands there. Saw Keith Richards solo with black candles burning on stage…
Used to listen to FUV with my headphones at night in the early 80’s because it played an eclectic mix of off tracks and bands not covered by mainstream FM Radio.
Great minds vision alike! lol!@carey georgas
Cool.@Barbara Jacobs
Very creative, descriptive travelogue!
When I have some free time in Brooklyn, I like to go sit on a bench at the Bay.
There are dozens of swans (in addition to the ducks) floating peacefully there and I watch them while listening to music.
Water Song must be an intra-species ESP. type of thing, because as I watch them and ponder the universe; they appeared to be floating and dipping their beaks into the water (as swans and ducks do) to the music.
@carey georgas
If what I saw back in Arvada is any indication, you’ll be walking in that light for a while!
I had a singular experience with Water Song I want to relate. I was walking Ka’anapali beach late one morning with Hot Tuna playing in my ears while cold tuna were playing in the waters beneath my gaze. It was getting pretty warm, when up popped this compact little shade tree by the beach. I stepped under it right about the time Water Song started playing. I decided to stand still in the shade’s coolness and let the visual scene of the water before me flood my eyes while the musical water flooded my ears, and see what came up. The first thing I saw was Jack’s bass in the steady roll of the waves moving through the water and onto the shore. Soon enough, Jorma’s guitar appeared riding on that wave, soft as the sea foam that faded into the sand, then soaring like the caps of the breakers as they were ripped away by the wind. I watched for the duration of the song, and it was very peaceful. It was a quite vivid aural representation of a visual experience. Thank you for making that be able to happen.
Travelogue complete.
Musta been great to play a long solo set in the Beacon Jorma.
Life is Good!
Really enjoyed the Beacon show. In particular, it was a treat to hear Sleep Song.
It is always so cool to hear about the circular nature of life
Thanks Jorma
B
Looking forward to the FUV show and thanks for this treasure trove of information and history….just looked up Brother John Sellers…More has been revealed indeed.