For the better part of the last 55 years, concertgoers have been packing clubs to watch fingerstyle guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady make music together.
This pair of longtime, legendary friends met each other growing up locally in Washington, DC, and became known far and wide as members of Jefferson Airplane. But in 1969, they launched a side project. Save an eight-year hiatus, they’ve stuck it out to thrive as the sneaky blues rock endeavor they call Hot Tuna.
In Annapolis, desperate fans recently were turned away from the Rams Head on Stage box office while those with tickets in hand giddily took a seat in the West Street space to experience Hot Tuna in its current design — a loose billing as the Hot Tuna Acoustic Quartet.
Revisit the premiere and self-titled Hot Tuna album, released back in 1970:
“The suspense builds to a fever pitch,” Kaukonen said as he and his mates settled in on Feb. 4 and loud cheers kept coming from any direction.
“Let’s fucking TUNA!” bellowed one of the old heads lucky enough to make their way into the sold-out venue for two marvelous sets featuring tracks from Hot Tuna’s early recordings, some of Kaukonen’s own compositions, traditional blues songs and acoustic takes on a couple Jefferson Airplane tunes.
Hot Tuna swam into Annapolis peddling custom condoms, lip gloss, and some vinyl and CDs as well, laughing at themselves the whole way. (Photo by Casey Ryan Vock)
But the festive evening also brought a variety of numbers by the old bluesman and composers who had a heavy influence on Kaukonen’s intricate playing — the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Blind Willie Johnson, and the Reverend Gary Davis.
Hot Tuna’s final go in this form, Kaukonen and Casady were joined by the tireless Justin Guip, the longest-tenured of any Hot Tuna drummer. This edition of the group also featured Ross Garren, an on-the-rise harmonica player, keyboardist, and composer who’s worked on a few high-profile films, most recently the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”
For one more night on this tour, Garren helped these veterans — Kaukonen, now 84; Casady, 80 — regale their followers and showcase the fruits of a collaboration lasting more than five decades, a testament to friendship through music.
Setlist
Set 1
Been So Long
Trouble in Mind
Hesitation Blues
Heart Temporary
That’ll Never Happen No More
Great Divide: Revisited
Sleep Song
Trial by Fire
Song From the Stainless Cymbal
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning
Set 2
Where Have My Good Friends Gone?
How Long Blues
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
Terrible Operation Blues
Death Don’t Have No Mercy
Sea Child
Good Shepherd
Ode for Billy Dean
Winin’ Boy Blues
Ice Age
Below are home-rolled, developed and scanned 35mm black-and-white film photos along with digital color shots of Hot Tuna performing at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, Md., on Feb. 4, 2025. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
