Hot Tuna, fronted by founding members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, brought their show to the stage of the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, VT on Monday, October 27 as part of their current acoustic tour.
The band began in 1969 as Jorma and Jack’s side project to their respective roles as guitarist and bassist in the Jefferson Airplane. From the start these life-long friends have greatly enjoy one another’s company and musical companionship; smiles, laughter and subtle nods between the two persisted throughout the evening.
A Hot Tuna acoustic show is a journey through America’s musical past. The band has long covered blues and jazz tunes from original masters such as Walter Davis, Leroy Carr, Jelly Roll Morton and especially the Revered Gary Davis. This evening’s show was no exception.
Kaukonen, who will turn 85 on December 23 of this year, joked a bit about his age to the mainly grey-haired audience. At one point, while taking some time to retune his guitar between songs, he faced some gentle prodding from Casady. Jorma replied “I’m comin’, I’m comin’. Ya know, I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing, but I never really got my eyes fixed, so you are just a gentle, lovable psychedelic blur (referring to Cassidy) and out there is a dark and friendly ocean (referring to the adoring crowd)”
Casady and Kaukonen were joined on stage by harpsmith Ross Garren on, what can best be described as, enhanced harmonicas. Garren is a harmonica player, keyboardist, and composer based in Southern California who uses “accessories” between the harmonica and the microphone to alter and augment the sound. Justin Guip, a member of Hot Tuna since 2014, rounded out the band on drums.
Opening for Hot Tuna, was country, bluegrass and Americana singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Jim performed a solo acoustic set to warm up the nearly sold-out theatre. He featured several songs that he co-wrote with the late-great Robert Hunter.
Hot Tuna will be performing on October 29 at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie before rounding out their tour in Delaware, Michigan and Illinois. Jorma will return to New York on November 29 for a special birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall where he will be joined by special guests G.E. Smith, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Steve Earle; Jack Casady, Justin Guip and Ross Garren will be there as well.
Hot Tuna – Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT – October 27, 2025
Setlist: Hesitation Blues, Great Divide: Revisited, Come Back Baby (Walter Davis), How Long Blues (Leroy Carr), I See the Light, Sea Child, Trial by Fire (Jefferson Airplane), Been So Long, Whining Boy Blues (Jelly Roll Morton), Death Don’t Have No Mercy (Rev. Gary Davis), Let’s Work Together (Wilbert Harrison), The Sun Gonna Shine In My Door Someday (Bill Billy Broonzy), Ice Age, Water Song
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