Jorma Kaukonen has played Monterey Pop, Woodstock and festivals all around the world for the past half century plus.
On this chilly October, New England night amidst the pandemic, it’s time for him to head towards the stage solo, wearing a mask, under a tent of socially distanced fans eagerly awaiting what is likely several music lover’s first concert experience for 2020.
He begins this late show (two shows in one night, 4pm and 7:30pm) with one of his set regulars, “Been So Long”:
“Been so long since I belong here,
Ever since I lost my way
That was when I still had something,
Special left for me to say”.
He then proclaims, “I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to play music for people that aren’t direct family for a change!”
He moves into his set relaxed, seeming to enjoy finding what song feels right for the moment. Jorma certainly has many options in his repertoire that can be instantly crowd pleasing to his fans. But his approach is more to enchant through performance rather than relying on his most well known songs to do the work for him. He is also conscious of not repeating songs from the earlier show. So on this night, we have 34 songs in 2 shows:
The Ridgefield Playhouse
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Early Show
Saturday, October 24, 2020
- Too Many Years
- Ice Age
- Whining Boy Blues
- Barbeque King
- In The Kingdom
- Sea Child
- Song For The Stainless Cymbal
- I Am The Light Of This World
- Uncle Sam Blues
- Serpent of Dreams
- Death Don’t Have No Mercy
- Follow The Drinking Gourd
- Another Man Done Gone
- Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
- I Know You Rider
- Encore: Embryonic Journey
Late Show
Saturday, October 24, 2020
- Been So Long
- Dime For Beer.
- River Of Time
- 99 Year Blues
- I See The Light
- Sleep Song
- Good Shepherd
- Watch The North Wind Rise
- Day To Day Out The Window Blues
- Hesitation Blues
- Hamar Promenade
- Trouble In Mind
- How Long Blues
- Waiting For A Train
- 3rdWeek In The Chelsea
- F. Bay Blues
- Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
- Encore: Water Song
Jorma has a devoted audience, much of it on the north side of 50. A common site at a Jorma or Hot Tuna acoustic concert (Jorma Kaukonen- guitar, Jack Casady- bass) for decades has been a smattering of long haired fellas in tie-dyes and ladies in hippie dresses dancing double time to impeccably attacked acoustic fingerpicking music. The aging crowd is starting to look a little less wild but you can still experience some hootin’ and hollerin’ along with a taste of biker debauchery that has been a staple to this scene since it’s inception. The tradition of yelling out song requests (obvious or intentionally bizarre) and other banter is still present. Part of what makes this aspect so fun, is Jorma’s humble, dry and often hysterical approach to addressing the gallery. “I love you Jorma” one man shouted, “Wait ‘til you get to know me”, he said with a smile. Later in the show someone yelled out, “Play, Tiny Bubbles”. Jorma laughed and warned that just because of that strange request, he believes he is just going to have to learn that one (Tiny Bubbles, for those of you not in the know, was the easy listening, signature song of Hawaiian music legend, Don Ho).
Every Jorma show is different, but always approached with a high level of artistic integrity entwined with a “discovery of the power and depth of American blues and roots music”.
He is a true American treasure himself, a gentleman and a warrior that has enjoyed some of the most Dionysian times in musical history. Yet, unlike other talented friends like Jerry Garcia or Janis Joplin, he made it out alive.
Jorma has been sober for about 25 years now. He is playing consistently and continuing to evolve artistically while turning 80 (this December 23rd). He looks incredibly healthy and shows no signs of slowing up anytime soon.
So if choreographed dance moves, hot chicks in skimpy attire and steamy lyrics about booty and sexting are your thing, Jorma Kaukonen is the man you need to see.
