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.