Photo by Vanessa Kaukonen
It has been four days since our final in person camp weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch. I have waited this long to write about it because well, it just needed a lot of processing. We have been open for twenty-four years and much has changed in that quarter century. In ’91 or ’92 we built the A Frame on the trail down to the Shade. I had a studio down there until the mid 90’s when I came to my senses and realized that I would rather play the guitar than read manuals and mess around with updating software and gear. Up above where the Ranch buildings lie today was poison ivy and multi-floral rose… our very own briar patch. We cleared the land and started building, and never stopped.
Photo by Vanessa Kaukonen
All along the way we were joined by like-minded spirits who became family to us. The Fur Peace Ranch and all that it entailed was our family, and continues to be so. The landscape is changing though and it is a work in progress. Vanessa and I are still architecting how the Ranch and its attendant events are going to evolve.
Selfie by Vanessa Kaukonen
Photo by Vanessa Kaukonen
Thanks to Todd Prusin for keeping tabs on this little set!
Pastures Of Plenty
Travelin’ a Spenser Bohren tune
Drivin Wheel
Angel Island
Kansas City Southern
Choices
The River Flows The Old Homestead… another great Spencer Bohren tune.
Photo by Vanessa Kaukonen
We’re not going anywhere… it’s just going to be different. The music never stops.
And speaking of the Music never stopping:
Photo by Jorma Kaukonen
Hot Tuna 46, 2022
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Original Acoustic Duo
With Larry Campbell
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
November 5, 2022
- True Religion
- Highway Song
- Ode To Billy Dean
- Keep On Truckin’ Mama
- Police Dog Blues Larry sings
- Sea Child
- Trial By Fire
- Good Shepherd
- Big River Larry sings
Second Set:
- Candy Man
- Barbeque King
- Ain’t In No Hurry
- That’ll Never Happen No More
- A Walk With Friends
- Deep Ellem Larry sings
- Hesitation Blues
- Song From The Stainless Cymbal
- Soliloquy For 2
- Death Don’t Have No Mercy
- Come Back Baby
- Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
- Encore: Water Song
Larry really raised the Hot Tuna show on this night!
Selfie by Vanessa Kaukonen
Jack and Larry each headed out for their home places, we said an emotional goodbye to our campers and as the last car left we began making plans for our next year here at the Ranch in Meigs County. Stay tuned, we’ve got good stuff coming!
As Paul Kantner once sang… ‘Life is change, how it differs from the rocks.’
And so it goes…
Photo by Vanessa Kaukonen
@Greg – hey Greg, I’ve got The Last Waltz 2022 this Sunday night in Richmond. Really looking forward to it as I’ve always been a big fan of The Band and a big fan of all the artists performing this great tribute on Sunday. Also, based on your encouragement from a few month back, I did travel to northern Virginia back in September to catch Van Morrison for the first time ever. He put on a super show and had a great band! Music season winding down but already have a couple shows lined up for January: Last Train Home (great alt-country band reunion show) and Vanessa Collier. Check out LTH’s tribute to Johnny & June Carter titled “Hendersonville.” Also, hope to get back to FPR at some point. Lastly, happy Veterans Day and thanks to all who served.
Berry Oakley
Apr 04, 1948 – Nov 11, 1972 (age 24)
never forgotten
RIP Bro
As my old friend Larry Fradin (may he rest in peace) used to say about Kantner singing that line: “Life differs from anything. It could be ‘Life is change, how it differs from a cheeseburger'”.
@Chappy -did you see the last waltz tour yet ?
We caught it in Nashville w/Robbie Robertson ,Jamie Johnson delivered illustrative King Harvest .
Good year for shows ,we caught Clapton in Tampa ( Got to get better in a little while ), Van in Bridgeport .
Then down to Nashville for the “Western Edge “, weekend .While there met another Fur Peace attendee from upstate NewYork . This was most fun we’ve had in years .
Thought of Hurl ,when Rodney Dillard and Herb Peterson performed Kansas City Southern.
Gene Clark’s son on stage
Great to have live music on stage .
We caught Little Feat at Lex opera house ,little disappointing.Waiting for Columbus is a great album ,but the commemorative tour ,seemed a little tired .
Nothing close to the range and spontaneity of Negril or past 30+ Little Feat shows.
Honor the vets & shake one’s hand for their dutiful service .
Thanks for tipping a hat -Captain .
Greg
Had 2 visits to FPR this year and it is clearly a magical place. Picked up some HT mementoes and saw a great show. Thanks for your blog, We look forward to it. Have tickets for HT show this April and the Stoughton Opera House. Promising better weather than this years rainy, foggy night when you played in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. In the meantime, Record Day is 11/25 and the release of “The Legendary Typewriter Tape”, a must have. Fair winds and safe travels.
Thanks and Blessings to you all for the special place you have created and continue to share with all who are so inclined.
I remain touched and grateful for my one quick pilgrimage visit to the Ranch, over ten years ago now, to have felt and seen it for myself; a poke around Athens, a drive down to Pomeroy to see the river and have dinner, and an intimate evening with HT up close and personal in your near perfect beautiful little theatre.
Thoughts and Thanks with you.
Be well Good People
I like to slowly scroll down and look at the photos before going back and reading the words.
Seeing that beautiful deer surprised me. Now I have two mental images of the fall. Watching the leaves drop like snow from the trees and that picture.
Jorma,
I hope that come 2023 I will be able to make it to Meigs Co. to be a part of what ever new beginnings you have in store for the Fur Peace Ranch. It is probably the last and only item on my Bucket List, more to follow…
11/10/2022
Happy Anniversary #247 to the USMC
Beautiful words and pictures, that never changes. Thank You for this amazing space Jorma.
Looking forward to whatever you and Vanessa come up with! I’m sure you won’t be gathering any moss…