Wisdom from the Midwest!
All on the street
I know it's hard to read... but it's cool
And onward...
The Englert Theater in Iowa City… we don’t get here often enough, but we love it!
This is the breakfast spot in Iowa City...
Phil and I dined at Hamburger Inn #2.
Me and Slick Willie
Foto by Phil Jacobs
And at the Gig:
Scene of the crime... in IC
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Getting the gear ready...
Hot Tuna 21, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Englert Theater
Iowa City, Iowa
Friday, August 12, 2016
First Set:
1. Too Many Years
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Things That Might Have Been
5. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
6. Sea Child
7. Barbeque King
8. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
9. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
10. The Terrible Operation
11. How Long Blues
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
Second Set:
1. Second Chances
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
4. Candy Man
5. Coe Back Baby
6. Third Week In The Chelsea
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Sleep Song
9. Good Shepherd
10. Bar Room Crystal Ball
11. Water Song
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
13. Encore: Embryonic Journey
Nice posters...
Irving B. Weber and I commune...
Love the Englert… good friends, good food and a great show… then it was off to the Windy…
The Holy Grail in the MIdwest...
When I was at Antioch College in 1959… the Old Town School Of Folk Music was Folkie Mecca so to speak. Win Stracke did us all a service… and it was an honor for us to play there again… one more time.
Hot Tuna 22, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Two Shows @
The Old Town School Of Folk Music
Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, August 13, 2016
First Show:
1. Heart Temporary
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
4. That’ll Never Happen No More
5. Come Back Baby
6. Genesis
7. Sea Child
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Keep On Trucking Mama
11. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
12. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
13. I Know You Rider
14. Encore: Embryonic Journey
Second Show:
1. Dime For Beer
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
5. Barbeque King
6. Candy Man
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Living In The Moment
9. Sleep Song
10. Good Shepherd
11. Ain’t In No Hurry
12. San Francisco Blues
13. Bar Room Crystal Ball
14. Water Song
15. The Terrible Operation
16. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
17. Encore: Whining Boy Blues
Our name in chalk...
Foto by Phil Jacobs
Thanks Woody
Then a couple hours of sleep and off to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.
Great East African Food too!
Hot Tuna 23, 2016
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Cedar Cultural Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sunday, August 14, 2016
First Set:
1. True Religion
2. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Heart Temporary
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Barbeque King
7. Sea Child
8. Sleep Song
9. I’ll BE All Right Some Day
10. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
11. Death Don’t Have no Mrcy
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
Second Set:
1. Too Many Years
2. Candy Man
3. Come Back Baby
4. That’ll Never Happen No More
5. Watch The North Wind Rise
6. 99 Year Blues
7. 3rd Week In The Chelsea
8. Bar Room Crystal Ball
9. Water Song
10. How Long Blues
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
12. Encore: Genesis
Getting ready to send the boys to the airport
This was an awesome run… Jack and Justin and I loved the four electric gigs with Leftover Salmon and an Jack and I loved the five acoustic gigs together…
Looking forward to the next move!
Onward…
@rich lindbloom
I went to that show—where Jimmy came out and said if the fireworks dont stop we’re out of here—it was frightening man, as you recall, bottlerockets being shot across the balconies, m80s going off, I’d never seen anything that near rioutous at an indorr concert–lot of folks, underage, got drunk, they were selling beer just like at a hockey game. Page took out a violin bow and played the guitar with it, freaky. Crazy night. Great story about tickets. The Carsons we went to, we were able to get them, we were on the main floor, and all the fireworks seemed to drop down there at times. Thanks for sharing the memory…I think it was Jul 73 though. Hot Tuna was rad then and even better this time around at the OTSOFM.
@Jason Heires
I hope they come back electrified. That’s what the Beacon is – it’s a ornate old theater where Electric Hot Tuna comes and blows the door out. It’s so cool to see Electric Hot Tuna in an old theater and not in a stadium or MSG. Just like the good old days at the Academy or Palladium. Not many old psychedelic rock and roll bands still tour like Hot Tuna does – we are really lucky.
Great seeing you guys at the Englert again. Fantastic show!! Any chance for an electric show at the smaller venue??
Was 17 when I obtained my first subscription to Rolling Stone. Cameron Crowe was at the same age, writing for a prestigious publication, not really a rock critic like Robert Hilburn or Lester Bangs, more just a teenage kid writing what he knew.
Maybe why I like Roadies a lot…
@Bill R
By the way, if you knew Lynn, you might have heard that one of WXRT’s finest passed away recently. Leslie Witt was the DJ for Saturday Morning Flashback for many years. She had such a beautiful voice, wry sense of humor, and great taste in music (i.e. she liked what I liked:0
I was working as a janitor at Oak forest HS at the time, the 7 to 7 shift on Saturdays and Sundays. I’d always have the boom box on while I worked, dialed in to Chicago’s Fine Rock. One morning, as I was stripping the cafeteria floor, Leslie spins Arlo Guthrie’s, “Alices Restaurant.” I was a bit disappointed in her selection, because I was in the mood for a rocker.
But as anyone familiar with Arlo’s classic can attest to, it doesn’t take long to get hooked. Before long, I just sat down and listened and laughed.
“And I went up there, I said, “Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I
wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and
guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead, burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill,
KILL, KILL.” And I started jumpin up and down yelling, “KILL, KILL,” and
he started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down
yelling, “KILL, KILL.” And the Sergeant came over, pinned a medal on me,
sent me down the hall, said, “You’re our boy.”
Didn’t feel too good about it.”
At any rate, when the song ‘finally’ ended, Leslie breaks through the air waves and says, “I could hear you singing out there,” in her sweet, low keyed DJ voice. I busted up laughing – indeed I was singing the chorus at the end with gusto. i’m sure I wasn’t alone, but it felt like she was talking directly to me. I distinctly remember calling the station and telling her she made me laugh, and then asking her to play some Hot Tuna. (I’m not making that up!)
hopefully, I’ll see Leslie up in heaven some day. If she spins a slow one, we’ll omit. But if it’s a rocker, than we’ll git it. If it’s Alice’s Restaurant, well…, we’ll just sit down for a spell and have a good cry. RIP to one of XRT’s finest.
@Bill R
Ha, I recall standing in line outside at Carson’s to buy tickets to Led zeppelin at the Chicago Stadium, also around 1972. I was about 30th in line at the Carsons at Dixie Square Mall in Harvey.- about an hour before the doors opened.
Doors opened at 9am, and around 10:30, only two people had been allowed into the Ticketron area. Apparently the mother board was overloaded. Just when we were about to give up, this guy pulls up to the line and said they drove down to the Stadium and walked right up to the window and got tickets. It sounded to good to be true, but we figured we had nothing to lose.
Sure enough, we walked right up and secured two tickets to the July 3rd show. It was an awesome show, although knuckleheads were throwing M-80’s from the balcony’s unto the main floor below. (I doubt if they’d pass the metal detectors now a days!)
I didn’t go to the July 4th show, but I heard Jimmy Page came out by himself that night and wailed on his guitar for about 6 to 8 minutes. When he finished he asked the crowd if they were ready for the show. Of course, 18,000 screaming maniacs let him know what he already knew. He then states, “If one more fire cracker goes off in the place, LZ were going to walk off the stage.”
Talk about instantaneous behavior modification! Needless to say, the show went on. As Ed Sullivan would put it, “It was a really big show.”
@rich l
Lynn Van Matre died a couple years ago, Cancer—taken far too soon, she and her husband kept her illness and subsequent passing very very low key, little news or fanfare, just how Lynn was…Girl from small town Iowa hits the big town, becomes the rock critic in 1969 for Trib, wrote until she turned 40–thought 40 was too old, but today, her successor, Greg Kott is still going strong at 58. Lynn wrote or reviewed nearly every rock act and show that passed through Chicago back then from 69 until maybe 1990ish, including HT..she is who turned me on to them with a pre show write up of their rep. at the time, for loudness. Remember when tickets were 4.50, 5,50, 6.50 from Ticketron– buy at Carsons, or Record stores everywhere…Then Burgers sealed the deal for me and here I am. Great story too about the fan, we all have something like that after a show, and a Dad and a wtf is wrong with you look, or question…good times…better times now.
The entire album Burgers is fantastic – so psychedelic. If anybody ever saw Sammy Piazza play drums with Hot Tuna they were lucky. He was the best drummer Hot Tuna ever had. He was just incredible. Every song was great on the album. I still get goosebumps when I hear Sea Child and Sunny Day Strut.
@rich l
I saw Hot Tuna open for Santana at the Aragon around that time – Oye como Jorma – como se quah quah?
I stood right in front of the wall of speakers on the right side. No doubt, the ears were ringing on the way home.
Triple headers at the Aragon! On a side note, one of the best concerts I ever saw was at the Aragon – again, a hot summer night – no AC in that joint. REO Speedwagon opened up – nobody new much about them yet and they were great. Then Joe Walsh and the Barnstormers came out – played three encores. Like Jorma and Jack, Joe Walsh and bassist Kenny Passarelli had a major synergy thing going on – it seemed they just fed off each other. Hated when The barnstormers called it quits. When The Barnstormers finally called it a night, I said to a friend, “If I’m Mott the Hoople, I’m thinking I don’t want to follow that act.
Of course Mott came out and fantastic – hard to go wrong with Mick Ronson, Ian Hunter and Overend Watts. Ian Hunter is scheduled to play City Winery in October – might have to check that one out.
The only bummer of that Triple header was I got home about 2am. We didn’t have air conditioning, but we had a fan strategically placed in the hallway, to keep the 80 degree night time temps circulating. well that night, someone repositioned the fan in the hallway and I walked right into it, knocking it over. The grill on the fan came loose and the fan blades were smacking it with enough noise to raise the dead. My father shoots out of the bedroom, and with the scariest face I ever saw, gritting his teeth, hollers go to bed. I didn’t take time to explain to him that someone moved the fan.@Phillip Zisook
Somewhere back in the cobwebs of my cranium – I remember Lynn. What ever happened to her?
LOL – $6.50 ticket.
I think my favorite song on Burgers is Highway Song – just love the singing and Jack’s bass on that song, and the great riff at the end. I guess it’s too hard too pull off acoustically – in fact Jorma I’d double dog dare you to try and pull it off next time you grace the Windy City – oh just forget it – it’s asking way too much – some songs are just too hard- forget I asked. (trying the old reverse psychology thing here) @Bill R
Hmm, I saw Hot Tuna in Chicago in ’72 but the show was at the Aragon w/ Papa John and Sammy P. Also on the bill was Joe Walsh’s Barnstorm as the middle act, and opening act, (ahem) Flash. Very loud, long show. But so good!
@rich l
Yes Rich it was summer of 72 HT with Papa at the Chicago Auditorium…decided to go after reading a pre concert spot, in the High School library, from the immortal now deaparted, Lynn Van Matre, rock critic extraordinaire from the Chicago Tribune—her reviews back then were one of the few forms of learning about how shows were or would be, other than word of mouth or RS or The Seed once in awhile. She wrote in that pre show write up about how so very loud Tuna would be, particularly Jacks bass guitar. So some of us bought the 6.50 ticket and got as close as we could to that sound. She wasnt kidding, this recent OTSFM Acoustic 10 pm show was “Haunting in a Happy Way”–the 72 show was “Demanding in an Overpowering Way”…went out after that, bought Burgers, got hooked, then the Army came, but overseas in disbelief through some kind of stocking error they had Yellow Fever at the little PX as my tour wound down. It carried me home. The recent show has me now learning to play Rev Gary Davis, Hesitation Blues….you’ve worn the shirt since the show–I havent stopped thinking about that show or the first one I saw, since then. Captivating, isnt it? I think it happens to more folks than I realized…thanks for sharing your review of the earlier show.
I still have my blue Hoppkorv shirt, and also one from Jorma’s 1978 fall tour. I just wish they’d fit!
Yes, more 2016 Tour shirts, please!
I go on the merchandise tab on this website to buy Hot Tuna t-shirts all the time and there’s a lot of FPR stuff but not much Hot Tuna stuff. Just went on today to buy a Hot Tuna 2016 Tour t-shirt and all they have left is small. If there was more Hot Tuna merchandise on sale I think you would sell more stuff – just saying. I already have the Hot Tuna Alumni and Quah t-shirts, hats etc. An America’s Choice t-shirt is a good idea.
@rich l
I still have mine from ’76.
I would buy a new one as well.
God I Love Hot Tuna
@JB
A new America’s Choice t-shirt would be a great idea. I would order one now!
Rich I- You missed your calling! I still have my America’s Choice tee shirt somewhere! Moth eaten, but still in one piece.I would love to get a new one 😉
Thanks frisbee master extraordinaire!
It really was “one of those” shows. It’s been a few blue moons since I hollered “More!” At a concert. I would have lit a match if I had one.
so cool to see those old farts can still bring it!
I went to do some gardening two nights ago, and grabbed my black Jorma shirt. My son said, “Dad, you’ve been wearing the same shirt since you went to the concert”
Question though, i was on you tube the other night and aaw Jorma playing electric with a Hot Tuna Tide shirt. It was slevveless – really cool looking.(in this day and age, is it still kosher to call simething cool?:)
At any rate, is it possible to buy that one anywhere?
@Joey Hudoklin
@rich l
Thank you for the post on this show Rich…I love it!
Hot Tuna!
@chuck newman
http://liveforlivemusic.com/features/celebrating-woodstocks-anniversary-with-the-top-15-performances/
Just dropping in Jorma on the 17th of August to say Happy 47th Woodstock Anniversary. Them there fingers of yours sure have been making my ears happy for a lot of years. Thanks Jorma.
So where do I start in attempting to describe the 7pm show at the Old Town?
Well, as my sister MT said, “Extra, extra great night.” It don’t get no better than two extra’s!
My brother Bob, who is a fan but not as diehard as some, said immediately after the show, “I’m in for sure the next time they come around.”
From the reply’s posted on your blog, it appears Phil and Sonia saw both shows. I was very curious how the Late Show went. From Phil’s response, “Please consider releasing these,” I have to assume the “fiery” two man band picked up where they left off after Embryonic Journey. In Chicago, we call that “Kicking ass, and taking names.”
I told my brother half way through the first show, that if they released that on a CD, I would be the first one to buy it. On a scale of 1-10, Jorma and Jack were an 11 that night. They proved it is possible to give 110%
I liked Bill R’s response also, “Haunting in a Happy Way. I’m still trying to wrap my little pea brain around that description. I must admit, I had a shit eating grin on my face all night, and haunting sure is a way to describe some Hot tuna songs.
Bill R, that show at the Auditorium might have been the same one that was my first Tuna show also. (summer of either in 1971 or 1972.) Those were my high monster days. I’m lucky to have emerged relatively unscathed.
Jorma set the mood for the rest of the evening with his first song, Heart Temporary. It is a very pensive song – and you know what Jorma – that early morning rain ain’t necessarily a bad thing! There is just so much right with that song – “You reach for her hand, but still your miles apart.” I just love the image of the lazy old dogs lying in the sun on that hill – perfect.
I said in a post awhile back that Heart Temporary is ‘one of them songs.” Jorma and Jack nailed it to the wall with a sledge hammer last Saturday. As my brother Bob said, “That was beautiful.” Actually, the whole Stars In My Crown album is starting to grow on me. “When the man comes around” is an interesting number.
The boys played sterling renditions of “Serpent of Dreams” and “Nobody knows you when your down and out,” before an incredible version of “That’ll never happen no more.” Fun” is probably the best word to describe their efforts on that classic – it might have been the best song of the night – really hard to pick one. All I know is I wanted to stomp, dance, carry on, clap, and sing along. Instead, I tapped my foot and bobbed my head like one of those characters that people used to put in the back windows of their cars. “He beat me with a chair till my head got sore” – rest in peace Blind Blake.
In a very humorous moment during that song, Jorma sang “The wind in Chicago winter and fall, it caused me to wear my overalls…” Jorma starts laughing realizing he sounds like one of those groups that mention whatever city their in to get a rise out of the crowd. While not skipping a beat, he says “it’s actually in the song!”
After a bluesy rendition of “You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille,” errrr, I mean “Come Back Baby One More time,” the Jorma and Jack launched into a Murderer’s Row segment of the show. Genesis, Sea Child (Don’t you just love everything about the Burgers album?!)They followed Sea Child with Watch the North Wind Rise. (lways wanted to know what Hopkorv stood for – Wikipedia says it stand for jumping hot dog – so much for deep, hidden meanings, eh?)
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Jorma played the best version of I Am The Light Of This World that I’ve ever heard him play. Jorma, if you played that song in a black Baptist church in Taylorsville Mississippi, they’d most like start calling you Rev Jorma. Preach!
Someone hollered out something from the crowd at the end the song and Jorma said, “I love that song to.” For the Holy ghost is my witness, and the angel done sung my name. Amen and amen.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the boys pulled another
from Burgers, Keep on Trucking Mama. Like everything they seemed to touch on Saturday, it turned to gold. Cn you say Midas touch? I believe Jack belted outa solo on this one – as usual, he whipped the joint into a frenzy. Jack doesn’t play a solo, he launches one. Keep on trucking Mama was just plain out fun. Get your yas, yas out of my door.
I believe it was at this point in the concert that Jorma noted Cassidy was the epitome of Sartorial splendor. Jack looked a bit like Black Bart – he had a black shirt, black sports jacket, shiny black shoes and highly functional black trousers. Apparently he had them designed with a special pocket to hold his oversized smart phone. Jorma’s attire by contrast, was rather non descript. Rest assured, his picking wasn’t!
Where there’s Two There’s Trouble followed those five classics. It was a very good rendition, but I need to be honest here – I really miss Teresa’s vocal on that number. Something seems to be missing without the harmony on that song – maybe Jack could pitch in on that one in the future?
Finishing out with Death Don’t have no Mercy, Know you rider and Embryonic Journey put the icing on the cake. The place was buzzing as we filed out into a lovely Chicago evening. When HT came back for their encore, someone hollered out “White Rabbit.” Jack immediately broke into the beginning base line, making us all smile – again. Jorma said, “If you sing it I’ll play it.”
I bring this up, because while we were eating Sheperd’s Pie at Grafton’s, I told Bob, MT and Jerry that I was going to teach them the opening lines to Hamar Promenade so we could all sing together when they came back out for their encore. When I started belting out “Well gotta make time start slipping on, at a faster…” my sister stopped me and said, “you’re on your own on that one.” Damn it MT, where’s your sense of adventure. Although the truth of the statement “Discretion is the better part of valor,” probably never rang more true!
We stood in front of the Old Town’s steps after the show for awhile, pondering whether or not we should take in the nightcap An hour and forty minutes of Hot tuna is just a tease.From the few comments I read, it sounds like the second show was as good as the first.
please, come back Jorma, “many more times.” It was an extra, extra great nite.
Very nice. Thank you Barbara.@Barbara Jacobs
Must be my lucky week – not only did I score 4th row @ the Beacon in Nov but scored front row center in Riverhead in Dec. I am so psyched – gonna see electric HT in the city and gonna see you acoustic out in Riverhead. Can’t wait. Jorma thanks for coming out to play to your loyal fans all over the country and the world. You are the best! Hoping for Feels So Good in the city and Genesis(my wife’s favorite song) out on the island. Thanks again.
Actually Jack did talk about it – he said the hole – upper top left – was to grab ahold of it in case it slipped. Jack is all about function@Sonia
Gentle on my mind -Kudos -Glen
As for the other one (?), he’s like the Witchata lineman -I won’t comment – but he’s still on the line!
Jorma,
Speaking of Slick Willie:
You know how he bites his lower lip, while giving a speech?
I believe he lifted that bit of stagecraft from his fellow Arkansonian,
Glen Campbell (he did that during singing).
“How good were the stars to lead me here,
the year of the blue goat, brown duck,
the year of the squawk and coo, the loyal dog
who barked at strange men and storms.
— Mary Swander “Heaven?” “
I can’t read what the first plaque says.
My daughter and I saw you guys at The Cedar (Mnpls). Wow, what a wonderful show. I’m still humming your tunes. Thank you Jorma, Jack and your crew for coming to the West Bank! It was an equally wonderful surprise to see and hear Jack’s Diana Bass on stage and the opportunity for me to reflect on the undeniable love he has for his wife. Pretty heavy… I’d have to say that you folks really get a body to think. Man, do I love it! I suppose it’s because music is good for the body and soul! Take care in your travels Jorma and enjoy your time at home. See ya down the road…
I see the re-emergence of Third Week in the Chelsea.
Very cool.
The set lists are so deep. I love the way you guys pull from all the eras of your career.
I’d love to hear Walkin’Blues make a comeback.
Maybe in Santa Cruz?
Absolutely great night in Chicago. The Old Town School was miked so well. Everything Jorma and Jack played was crystal clear and the playing on each song was exceptional. Thanks so much Jorma and Jack PLEASE consider releasing these!
It was a blessing for me to listen to you and Jack for both shows at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Thank you for making me wish that I had two pairs of eyes to see both of you playing at the same time. My only wish is that Jack could have talked a bit about the exotic looking bass guitar that he was playing.