Athens Irish Dance hits the road...
Foto by Myron Hart
Myron and I blasted off for the left coast on Friday and my travel garment commemorated Izze’s Irish Dance World. Who needs River Dance when you’ve got the Athens Irish Dancers?
Getting into SF we checked into an airport hotel… this was just going to be an in and out trip. Even though we had to fight traffic to get into town Friday afternoon… it was off to Mifune in the Kintetsu Center.
The scene of the crime
Mmmm... soba
... and pickeled vegetables too!
Our gig with Marsha Ball and Taj Mahal was Saturday evening in Rohnert Park… not quite to Santa Rosa. Not very far, but thanks to NOCAL traffic, it took almost three hours to go 65 miles. California is beautiful, I’m glad I live in rural America today. Just sayin’!
Anyway… once at the gig in Sonoma State… we had more than a wonderful time!
Jack, Yair Dala... his daughters and me...
Our buddy from Israel, Yair Dalal... was in town with his daughters and it was great hanging with them.
Here’s our set:
Hot Tuna 13, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
With Marsha Ball & Taj Mahal
Blues At The Green
Weill Hall & Lawn
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park,
California
Saturday, July 23, 2016
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Things That Might Have Been
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Sea Child
5. Good Shepherd
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. San Francisco Blues
9. How Long Blues
10. I Know You Rider
They boys... distant greatness!
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Got to hang with Taj a little bit… and chewed the fat with Marsha Ball.
The beast and beauty...
Then it was back to the airport hotel…
Me at 0500 in Burlingame
The IM meditation went well… everything worked at the airport counter to my paranoiac tendencies. In the airport I saw a Kiehl’s Pharmacy.
One of Aaron Morse's Harleys
Jack and I had the honor of getting to know Aaron Morse back in the 60’s. He was an amazing man… I wish I had kept up my friendship with him…
Friends I could count on
I could count on one hand
With a left over finger or two.
I took them for granted,
Let them all slip away,
Now where they are I wish I knew.
Knee Deep In A River (Dying Of Thirst)
Don Williams lyrics
And so it goes… Great to be home! Really great!
We were at the Madrid, New Mexico, show and, in my opinion that would make a dandy record (if it were recorded?) It was phenomenal, wow.
Dear Jorma, I am sorry I missed the Sonoma States show (LOOKS LIKE TANGLEWOOD). I’ve only seen you twice I think, in the late 70’s at Woody’s Roadhouse (Washington MA)I believe and with Jack up in Mountain village I. A conference room, that was like having a personal show around ’03. Your music and interpretations of other musicians are my Lifeblood! Really just want to thank you for your years of sharing your Talent! Blue Country Heart is still my favorite go-to music for Everything! Just Thanks is all. Enjoy your journey and may be our paths will cross again.
May You Have Enough, Always. In All Ways!
Peace
“Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan” (2011 documentary)
When I first saw the Grateful Dead animation, it reminded me of the skeletons in
Argonauts. Dancing skeletons, fighting skeletons, skeletons in motion.@jim hitchcock
HOT F’ING TUNA!
Ray Harryhausen was a boss.
I thought that was the origin of your interest and it turns out that it also may be the origin of your film-buffdom.@jim hitchcock
http://liveforlivemusic.com/news/jefferson-starship-members-form-the-airplane-family-friends-with-associated-musicians/
Interesting? or just ehh?
@Barbara Jacobs I was 6, it was a bright sunny day and me and my four cousins were sent down to the Fox Theater in Venice, Ca, so our parents could be with our Grandma, ‘Memaw’, at the hospital, where she passed later in the day. Jason and the Argonauts was on screen, and it was the first time I’d ever been to a movie not accompanied by adults.
Soon after the release of the song “Tales of Brave Ulysses”, lots of teenagers (and quite a few adults) could be seen around town carrying the book, trying to
study those tales of that brave guy.
That lasted a few years and Bill Graham observed:
“There’s a highbrow movement afoot in lowbrow land!”@Ham n Eggs
LOL!
What started your fascination with mythology?
I’m thinking you saw the movie “Jason and the Argonauts” in 1963.@jim hitchcock
At 12 jet lag doesn’t bother one much.Morning at the Tel Aviv Hilton was fine after 24 hours of travel. It was Saturday, and the huge table piled high with gefilte fish.
I was like ‘Hell yeah!’
My sister and Mom followed my lead.
My dad Bert, always yhe sensible one, went with cornflakes.
Within 5 minutes we were all eating cornflakes
Nice trip for a 12-year-old!
Q: “Do you read Hemingway?”
A: “Every f**kin’ day!” @jim hitchcock
One time I had a lengthy discussion with an elderly professor who specialized in Joyce. I was impressed with the letters he wrote to his mistress. ( Google Dear Fuckbird) but never have gotten into Ulysses though I’ve tried at various times over their years. The Professor turned to me at one point and said “You know he did write some other things!”
Peace, Love All Ways
Surprisingly, I never have@Barbara Jacobs
The other day I was telling a story of when I was 12 y.o. My mom had just started working for TWA, and we went on a whirlwind 2 week trip to Israel,Greece, Italy, France & England.
I was 12, and heavily invested in Greek mythology, so when, on a narrow cobblestone street in Paris, I spotted in a dusty bookstore window a copy of Ulysses, I so badly wanted it.
I was 12. My parents said ‘uh, no’.
“Moscow on the Hudson” (1984, RIP. Robin Williams)
@jim hitchcock
“Do you read Hemingway?”@jim hitchcock
Oh, I have,a couple of times 🙂@Barbara Jacobs
See: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (adapted from the story by F. Scott
Fitzgerald.)@jim hitchcock
Stories, at the risk of abusing Jorma’s good graces…
Last weekend I went into my usual place for a haircut, Amaysin Hair, and there was a sign on the door that said ‘closed due to emergency. Sorry!’
So I went rambling up Hwy 50 and wandered into a hair chain salon called Team Clips.
The lady who cut my hair was about my age, and commented on my yellowing hair.
She sold me on a product called So Silver.
Damnit, I’m already fighting off women left and right, it will be so much more difficult when I become a silver fox…
@John B
Thanks JB – that makes sense.
Johno Vanessa said that after the current New York area dates are complete Beacon info will be released.@johno
I saw that movie at the Toms River drive in. Summer of 72.@Jorma
I read this today and thought I’d share. Try and guess the difference before you read. I know I’m not the only old fart on this blog…
The Difference Between Youth and Age
…He chanced to lift his eyes from the ground and saw, far away, a solitary figure which melted into the folding of the earth and reappeared again in a different place. So peculiar and erratic were the movements of this figure that the Philosopher had great difficulty in following it, and, indeed, would have been unable to follow, but that the other chanced in his direction. When it came nearer he saw it was a young boy, who was dancing hither and thither in any and every direction. A bushy mound hid him for an instant, and the next they were standing face to face staring at each other. After a moment’s silence the boy who was about 12 years of age, and as beautiful as the morning saluted the Philosopher.
“Have you lost your way, sir,” said he.
“All paths,” the Philosopher replied, “are on the earth, and so one can never be lost – but I have lost my dinner.”
The boy commenced to laugh.
“What are you laughing at, my son?” said the Philosopher.
“Because,” he replied, “I am bringing you dinner. I wondered what sent me out in this direction, for I generally go more East.”
“Have you got my dinner?” said the Philosopher anxiously.
“I have,” said the boy: “I ate my own dinner at home, and I put your dinner in my pocket. I thought,” he explained, “that I might be hungry if I went far away.”
“The gods directed you,” said the Philosopher.
“They often do,” said the boy, and he pulled a small parcel from his pocket.
The Philosopher instantly sat down , and the boy handed him the parcel. He opened this and found bread and cheese.
“It’s a good dinner,” said he, and commenced to eat. “Would you not like a piece also, my son?”
“I would like a little piece,” and the boy, and he sat down before the Philosopher, and they ate together happily.
“when they had finished the Philosopher praise the gods, and then said, more to himself than the boy:
“If I had a little drink of water I would want nothing else.”
“There is a stream four paces from here,” said his companion. “I will get some water in my cap,” and he leaped away.
In a few moments he came back holding hi cap tenderly, and the Philosopher took this and drank the water.
“I want nothing more in the world,” said he, “except to talk with you. The sun is shining, the wind is pleasant and the grass is soft. Sit down beside me again for a little time.”
So the boy sat down, and the Philosopher lit his pipe.
“Do you live far from here?” said he.
“Not far,” sad the boy. “You could see my mother’s house from this place if you were as tall as a tree, and even from the ground you can see the shape of smoke yonder that floats over our cottage.”
The Philosopher looked but could see nothing.
“My eyes are not as good as yours are,” said he, “because I’m getting old.”
“What does it feel like to be old?” said the boy.
“It feels stiff like,” said the Philosopher.
“Is that all?’ said the boy.
“I don’t know,” the Philosopher replied after a few moments’ silence. “Can you tell me what it looks like to be young?”
“Why not?” said the boy, and then a slight look of perplexity crossed his face, and he continued, “I don’t think I can.”
“Young people,” said the Philosopher, “do not know what age is , and old people forget what youth was. When you begin to grow old always think deeply of your youth, for an old man without memories is a wasted life, and nothing is worth remembering but our childhood. I will tell you some of the differences between being old and young, and then you can ask me questions, and so we will get at both sides of the matter. First, an old man gets tired quicker than a boy.”
The boy thought for a moment, and then replied:
“That is not a great difference, for a boy does get very tired.”
The Philosopher continued:
“An old man does not want to eat as often as a boy.”
“That is not a great difference either,” the boy replied, for they both do eat. Tell me the big difference.”
“I do not know it, my son; but I have always thought there was a big difference. Perhaps it is that an old man has memories of things which a boy could not even guess at.”
“But they both have memories,” said the boy, laughing, “and so it is not a big difference.”
“That is true,” said the Philosopher. “Maybe there is not so much difference after all. Tell me things you do, and we will see if I can do them also.”
“But I don’t know what I do,” he replied.
“You must know the things you do,” said the Philosopher, “but you may not understand how to put them in order. The great trouble about any kind of examination is to know where to begin, but there are always two places in everything with which we can commence – they are the beginning and the end. From either of these points of view may be had which comprehends the entire period. So we will begin with the things you did this morning.”
“I am satisfied with that,” said the boy.
The Philosopher then continued:
“When you awakened this morning and went out of the house what was the first thing you did?”
The boy thought –
“I went out, then picked up a stone and threw it into a field as far as I could.”
“What then?” asked the Philosopher.
“Then I ran after the stone to see could I catch up on it before it hit the ground.”
“Yes,” said the Philosopher.
“I ran so fast that I tumbled over myself into the grass.”
“What did you do after that?”
“I lay where I fell and plucked handfuls of the grass with both hands and threw them on my back.”
“Did you get up then?”
“No, I pressed my face into the grass and shouted a lot of times with my mouth against the ground, and then I sat up and did not move for a long time.”
“Were you thinking?” said the Philosopher.
“No, I was not thinking or doing anything.”
“Why do you do all these things? said the Philosopher.
“For no reason at all,” said the boy.
“That,” said the Philosopher triumphantly, “is the difference between age and youth. Boys do things for no reason, and old people do not. I wonder do we get old because we do things by reason instead of instinct?”
“I don’t know,” said the boy, “everything gets old…”
and then I’m guessing the Philosopher “walked into a little room that whistled like a sigh.” – Jorma
Hush, Fool!
Rock Them All Home Tonight Jorma!
Call off the dogs. I ordered a pizza with one topping: tuna. I end up with barracuda, and this one had a toothache. Guess I’ll feed it to the dogs or throw it away. Better yet, I’ll put it in my scrapbook but it sure is going to stink after a while……..
Right Right
Yes, scalpers: be forewarned:
I don’t work for Jorma, but he’s my friend and I would do anything to help him.
If my comment leads to putting procedures into place by the promoter — great!
Scalpers who show-up to concerts where I’m working for another promoter:
I catch you: videotaped and arrested. Your photo(s), video(s) of you
will be sent to all Security and the NYPD (or whatever/wherever).
It will be in the promoter’s files, so I won’t just be walking around trying to catch scalpers –I will know your face from the photos and I will recognize you.
Not only will you be arrested, but your tickets will be seized by me, then I take them to the “Sale” window and give them to whomever is first on line, until I run out. Let’s just call it “wealth redistribution”.
@Ham n Eggs
the things that go on behind the scene. Watch yourself
Peace
Love All Ways
These days, ticket scalpers should be extinct.
When I arrive at a venue (and also throughout the afternoon, up until “doors”, whenever I have some time)I’m out there and every time I’m approached by a ticket scalper: I take a photo, it’s forwarded to all security. If I see a ticket-scalper at work, I take a video.
I don’t expect fans to do that, but somebody needs to be assigned to do the same.
@johno
Scalpers everywhere on 74th st. Don’t want to hear where you miss this one. Might be someone sitting next to you as long as it’s center section. BE THERE
Jorma – still waiting for that Beacon show in November. Think it’ll happen this year. Hope so. Just love it – still watching.
My poor typing: “Netted and Meshed In the Orchestra”
I’m often “Netted and mashed I the Orchestra” just before Jorma starts to play
Watch out for the olde “Ultra V
Dim? What does that mean?@Jorma
Clockwork Orange…. Pete, Georgie and Dim… the Malcolm McDowell character’s pals.
Saw some awsome footage lastnight that i hadent seen before jorma the day after woodstock on the dick cavett show with stephen stills and david crosby,you where smokin man and love the hair du lol,ive seen about everything out there but some how i missed that footage,very nice brother and as always thanks for makin me smile : )
“…this was just going to be an in and out trip…”
Clockwork Orange: “A bit ‘o the ‘ol in an’ out, eh Gov?”
Don’t call me Dim…
Yup – big cities do not appeal to me either. I love rural America – it’s just so much better. No pollution, no traffic, no crime etc etc. Making my plans to move to the mountains. Even suburbia seems crowded. The older I get, the more I love the country life. Give me a good book, good food and a fishing pole and I’m happy. Movin to the mountains.
Jorma! It took us 50 minutes to get to the show from Oakland. Y’all took the wrong roads….Thanks so much for the show. As always, just brilliant music from a couple of old pals.
Jorma, Next time you’re at Mifune, get you some Hamar Hamachi, baby!
Nice fish,indeed!
Grá
Siócháin
The Craic is mighty!
Good times indeed
Grá
Siócháin
The Craic is mighty!