Review: Hot Tuna

In 1969, a year in which Janis Joplin titled an album "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!," Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen founded a new outlet for their unique brand of blues. The duo, members of the popular rock band Jefferson Airplane, named their new psychedelia-tinged project Hot Tuna.

More than 40 years later, its long, strange trip brought Hot Tuna to Yardley Hall, where a capacity audience of 1,300 witnessed more than two hours of gratifyingly "kosmic" blues on Saturday. Divided into dramatically different acoustic and electric sets, Hot Tuna, along with a few notable friends, demonstrated its impressive vitality and ongoing relevance.

While the pair's initial recordings were longer on enthusiasm than authenticity, Casady and Kaukonen have aged into the roles of believable blues men. "Hesitation Blues," one of Hot Tuna's signature songs, was entirely convincing. Casady, an imaginative bassist, continues to find fresh ways to express himself on the blues standard. The tasteful mandolin work of Barry Mitterhoff added to the set's front porch-style charm.

By the fifth song, an exceedingly laid back version Merle's Haggard's "More Than My Old Guitar," the mellow approach became almost too relaxed. Not even when joined by blues giant Charlie Musselwhite and renowned guitar slinger G.E. Smith during Leroy Carr's "How Long, How Long Blues," did the atmosphere become sufficiently charged.

Pleasant to a fault, the band's approach more closely resembled the music of James Taylor than blues icon Robert Johnson. Tedium never set in, but drowsy moments abounded. Sales of coffee were brisk at intermission. Fans concerned about nodding off during the concert's second half needn't have worried.

"This is the sensitive part of the show," Kaukonen kidded as the second set opened with a thunderous reading of "I Wish You Would."

Along with the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, Hot Tuna's long-winded guitar solos and extended improvisations during the 1970s influenced generations of jam bands. Needless noodling was kept to a minimum Saturday as Kaukonen and Smith engaged in concise, tough-minded instrumental duels. Smith's slide guitar on "Children of Zion" showed why the former Hall & Oates guitarist and one-time Saturday Night Live bandleader remains in high demand.

Smith's lead vocals on "Long Gone From Kentucky" and "Arrowhead" accentuated the concert's only significant flaw. Smith and Musselwhite are renowned for their instrumental prowess rather than for their singing. Kaukonen's voice has never been much more than an amiable mumble. The absence of Jim Lauderdale, who dropped off the tour to be with his ailing mother, meant that the night was without a great vocalist.

Even so, Musselwhite's astounding harmonica work made the evening memorable. Just as his "Sad and Beautiful World" provided the most charming segment of the acoustic set, the hard-won soulfulness Musselwhite displayed on three consecutive songs during the electric set dazzled. Devastatingly lonesome, Musselwhite's haunting performance on "Cristo Redemptor" was Saturday's emotional pinnacle. Blues harmonica simply doesn't get any finer. His extraordinary playing was enhanced by ideal sound reproduction.

"This is no Knuckleheads," Emily Behrmann, general manager of Johnson County Community College's performing arts series, admitted as she introduced Hot Tuna. "But do you think you can handle it for one night?"

The posh and formal Yardley Hall may lack the East Bottoms venue's authentic funkiness, but for one night, at least, it was completely "kosmic."

 

Bill Brownlee, Specal to The Star

Set list (from Jorma Kaukonen's tour blog)

First set, acoustic: What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?; River Of Time; Hesitation Blues; Things That Might Have Been; More Than My Old Guitar; How Long Blues; That’ll Never Happen No More; Uncle Sam Blues; Nine Pound Hammer; Sad And Beautiful World; Red River Blues

Second set, electric: I Wish You Would; Children Of Zion; Long Gone From Kentucky; Goodbye To The Blues; I See The LIght; Arrowhead; If I Should Have Bad Luck; Where Highway 61 Runs; Cristo Redemptor; Come Back Baby. Encore: Hit Single No. 1.

Comments

[Oz]

Bill, even though I wasn't present at this performance, your review seems a tad inaccurate about the history of this band and what they are all about. What is authentic anyway? I don't think a lad from small town Kansas has the answer, eh? I would never consider 'Christo Redemptor' as being lonesome either. Duke Pearson wrote this tune after seeing the statue in Rio. But I digress, you the bomb when it comes to still getting out and hearing everything. Let's have lunch sometime, okay?

[ugg slippers]

I was extremely pleased to find this website. This is a good website.

[scott]

I thought Smith's Arrowhead was one of the highlights of the electric set. Had you ever heard the last verse that he did. I went back to Shendell's version and didn't find it. I didn't think he was neccesary in the first set but did add to it. He added a lot to the electric set. I thought Jorma was hanging back in the electric set.

[limousine in phoenix]

This goes double if you're planning something for a busy season, such as prom or Christmas.

[Carolyn]

I just wanted all Hot Tuna fans to know that Hot Tuna will soon be visiting Long Island, on the waterfront at Shorefront Park in Patchogue.

They are performing July 15th 2011 along with over 35 other performers that weekend. There will be plenty of other rock, jam, folk, blues & “Americana” genres as well. It’s going to be the most affordable festival in the Northeast, and features over 35 performers over three days in the rock, jam, folk, blues & “Americana” genres.

Definitely check it out, there’s more information on the Great South Bay Music Festival website!!!
www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com

[Jhnycat99]

smells like fish-oh-baby

[Ricky]

Where is the anger for the mega spam here? Kilby, you can probably find these spammers, look em on the net, call em up, locate and go get em boy.

sickem'Kilby, sickem'boy.

[mulberry factory]

Very, very nicely done!