Cracks in the Finish

Photo by Jorma Kaukonen Sr.

Mothers Day Blog 2020

Sunday, May 8, 2022

It is 2022 and another Mother’s Day is upon us. It is not a thought that I dwell on but it occurs to me at moments like this that growing up my mother was the most important adult member of our family to me. My dad was gone so much of the time, first WW II and then his jobs with the Department of ...
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Photo by Jorma Kaukonen

I first came to Duluth with my dad in ’94. He was two years in the strokes that would ultimately bring his life to a close but he had time to take a roots trip with me. Dad had been reading book by the Anishinaabe writer and poet Jim Northrup called Walking The Rez Road which he shared with me. We were on our way to Ironwood, Michigan in Gogebic county ...
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Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

After the weekend at the Ranch with Spencer Bohren and Tim Reynolds I got ready to head for Salt Lake City… but first I must note a great solo show by Tim!

Tim is an amazing player and a great guy. Big shout out to Fluffy too!

Here’s our class picture from the air.

Foto by Jorma Kaukonen

Saying adieu to another great weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch Jack, Myron, Phil and I flew out to Salt Lake City ...
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Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

That’s how my week started on Tuesday… New Bike! What’s not to like.

Got a couple of rides in and then it was time to pick Jack, Justin and Phil up at the airport and head to the Dark Star Jubilee… Could it get better?

Weather beautiful… good friends abound!

They said it might rain… but it was holding off.

Foto by Suzy Perler

What a great Festival this is and what an honor to be here!

Hot Tuna 7, 2016
The Electric Trio
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The more they stay the same… Fall comes with its change in the season, and yet we feel so completely at home with that change. It is a welcome shift in viewpoint. The seasonal shift was one of the things that I always missed during my years in California. I am truly an East Coaster at heart.

Anyhow… into Woodstock and the Woodstock Theater we came.

Sure I remember George Bernard Shaw… who doesn’t? The actors and actresses are lost in ...
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First night at the Beacon Theater was indeed all I expected and more. Tomorrow when I get home to Hillside Farm, I’m going to do a more complete blog with some detailed thanks to all the wonderful friends who helped make this weekend happen. Many, many thanks are in order. For now, let me thank last night’s players: Of course our band… Jack Casady, Barry Mitterhoff and Skoota Warner… Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Steve Kimock, Bill Kirchen, G.E. Smith, ...
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Here in Los Angeles there are angels… and I visited them today at the Inglewood Cemetery. My Grandparents, Ida and Jaako, my Mother and Father, Beatrice and Jorma, and my Uncle Pentti all rest here together, not far from the airport. My Uncle Tarmo is in a military cemetery and I have never had the honor to pay my respects… perhaps next time. The last time I was here was right around the time Barry Mitterhoff’s Dad, Murray, ...
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One day it’s sunset on the Vineyard with family and then it’s back on the road. After my friend’s wedding Myron and I headed down to Vineyard Haven and hopped on the ferry to Wood’s Hole.

As we slid out of the slip we glided by this magnificent two master and headed out towards Woods Hole. Five hours later we drove into Tarrytown and turned in for some much needed sleep. At breakfast I heard that even though the Clearwater ...
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Indeed, good old Hot Tuna wended it’s way up to the Uptown Theater in Napa, California. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but it’s a beautiful place… as is the venue. We played with Bill Kreutzman’s band, the 7 Walkers and they were outstanding. Here is me and Papa Mali:

What a great player and a great guy! I love this gig, and speaking of gigs… here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 22, 2010
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff ...
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 Scotch Plains, New Jersey

At this point in my life, the passage of time has come to mean many different things. On the one hand, our children grow and we share in the splendor of their discovery and on the other hand, the ones who brought us here complete their journey as their time comes and we are saddened by their loss and enriched for having known them. I think of a Robert Duvall line in ...
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