The MIghty Capitol!

The MIghty Capitol!

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Last night Hot Tuna and the good old New Riders shared the stage at the historic Capitol Theater in Portchester, New York. We all go back so many years with this wonderful venue… it’s an honor to be back again!

Michael Falzarano and Phil Jacobs

Michael Falzarano and Phil Jacobs

Here’s our tour manager with my old pal Michael, Falzarano. Nothing like hanging with old friends I have to say.

Jack adjusts his in-ears...

Jack adjusts his in-ears...

What a great crew at this venue…

The calm before the storm...

The calm before the storm...


Here we go...

Here we go...

It’s always a pleasure to watch professionals work!

Jack's rig...

Jack's rig...

The Versatone, the Epiphone JC Bass, and the all tub Aguilar…

My rig... by Louis Electric

My rig... by Louis Electric

I observe Louis' vintage tub tester

I observe Louis' vintage tub tester

Our pal Louis Rosano from Louis Electric came by and repaired my 1969 Marshall Steelface 50w on the spot! Thanks Louis!

Bring it on!

Bring it on!

Whoa dude...

Whoa dude...

Then it was time for the rubber to meet the road!

Then it was time for the rubber to meet the road!

Foto by Barry Berenson

Hot Tuna 20, 2015
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
And Justin Guip
The Capitol Theater
Portchester, New York
Saturday, July 18, 2015

1. I See The Light
2. True Religion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. A Little Faster
6. Trial By Fire
7. Watch The North Wind Rise
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Ode To Billy Dean
10. Good Shepherd
11. 99 Year Blues
12. Bar Room Crystal Ball
13. Water Song
14. Come Back Baby
15. Funky #7
16. Encore: Hit Single # 1

Water Song

Water Song

Foto by Barry Berenson

Back in the dressing room…

It wasn't like this in the old days...

It wasn't like this in the old days...

Check the picture on the wall. Who do you see?

Why I remember...

Why I remember...

And then it was off to Long Island and the Great South Bay Music Festival

For Portchester… a night to remember for the Tuna Gang!

Nuff said!

Nuff said!

Foto by Phil Jacobs


Comments

  1. Comment made on July 24, 2015 by Hogan

    Dear Jorma,

    I thought the electric shows were outstanding..Justin is such a good fit and gets better with every show, not to mention him and his wife are really good people. I hope you don’t mind me sayin but you and your crew are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. After doing three electric shows and heading home I was a pile at work on Monday..lol..I don’t know how you guys do it, and you make it look so easy and it’s not. You must really love what you do. As long as you keep doing what you do I will continue to go to shows and appreciate all you do no matter who you play with. Going to catch an acoustic show in September closer to home with my oldest daughter Amber. Thanks to you and Vanessa’s heads up Chris and I got excellent seats for the Beacon.. Thanks….Enjoy your time at home with your family, you so deserve it.
    Take care and safe travels
    Hogan
    🙂

  2. Comment made on July 23, 2015 by Sweetbac

    Sure, Hot Tuna have set a VERY high bar as of late,
    but let’s keep it real, baby!
    An encore of “Invitation>Feel So Good” from 1976 is longer than an entire
    Tuna set of 2015…apples n’ oranges, really.
    Just glad Jorma n’ Jack are still having fun playing.

  3. Comment made on July 22, 2015 by bob b.

    Check the LIVE RELEASE CATALOG at the top right of this page for a vault. I really believe Hot Tuna is as good as back in the 70’s. I do miss the hour and a half acoustic set before a 2 hour electric set, though.

  4. Comment made on July 22, 2015 by bob b.

    Sorry Kevin… you are absolutely correct.

  5. Comment made on July 22, 2015 by Sweetbac

    Hell, I’d be happy with some officially released live Hot Tuna shows
    from the 1975-1976 era.
    During The legendary WNEW-FM 11/76 broadcast from the Palladium NYC, the
    DJ’s mentioned it was being recorded for a live album.
    Are the tapes in a Tuna vault?…PLEASE tell me there’s a Tuna vault!

  6. Comment made on July 22, 2015 by Kevin

    Hot Tuna cover band? Sorry, turns my stomach, that chemistry cannot be duplicated.

  7. Comment made on July 22, 2015 by bob b.

    On April 1, the site posted a concert in Chicago where all of Yellow Fever and Hopkorv would be performed. I bit… clicked on Chicago Auditorium and up popped April Fool! I love the idea, but probably better for some Tuna cover band for a time when we don’t have “Our Boys” putting the very best out there.

  8. Comment made on July 21, 2015 by Joey Hudoklin

    @Sweetbac
    I agree with you Sweetbac. I’ll bet the odds of it are slim to none.
    Yellow Fever was my introduction to HT after seeing them at the Academy of Music midnight show in ’75. I love the tone of that record, and the unadulterated raw edge.
    I’d be happy to get a reprise of some of the numbers that got left behind a long time ago. Like…Free Reign…Sleep Song…Invitation…Song for the Fire Maiden….you know what I’m talkin’bout. As much as I love all the Tuna collection, Yellow Fever has a special place in this Tuna Heads heart.

  9. Comment made on July 21, 2015 by Sweetbac

    Hows about a 40th anniversary tour of “Americas Choice>Yellow Fever” played
    in their entirety with Jorma, Jack and Bob Steeler!

  10. Comment made on July 21, 2015 by Todd E

    Jorma, Saturday night at the Cap was a Tuna show for the ages–and a dream come true for those who yearned to see an electric trio show once again. After 43 years of going to your shows, every gig is still fresh, unique, and special–and your connection with us fans is still special. So glad I was up from Miami for the show, and I’ll see you at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton in a few weeks. My thanks to you and Jack for continuing to be out there playing and delivering the goods!

  11. Comment made on July 21, 2015 by David

    Hot Tuna! Triumphant return to NY… everyone’s going nuts over these electric trio shows

  12. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Jaime Arce

    An amazing show. I go back to the Academy of Music days with Sammy Piazza. So glad the Captain and Jack went to their electric roots. The smiles from you guys shine so well. Justin kept the train chugging! Great set list.

  13. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by doug mlyn

    @Art
    what he said 🙂

  14. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by bob b.

    If that’s Jim Haag, stanwood st, Philly… sorry I didn’t bump into you.

  15. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Art

    These guys just keep upping the game. I must have heard Tuna play Hesitation Blues like 20 times live over the years and every time they give you your money’s worth and then some. This time was a super treat. The whole show, in fact. They never phone it in. Never! Not once. Every show is unique, yet each song is concise – no stumbling around (either there is an unprecedented form of improvisational musical genius here, or these boys work their tails off arranging stuff for every gig). The sound was spot on. This is the best American folk-rock has to offer, period. I want to tell my friends who haven’t experienced it: do not miss these guys. There’s just nothing like Jorma & Jack (and Justin! – great drummer who meshes perfectly).

  16. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by John B

    I considered dancing in the aisle but I was afraid I would fall over the railing. I” m not as agile as I used to be..@Sharon Mushock

  17. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by John R.

    @johno
    Nice story. We’re assuming the “evidence” had been extinguished first.
    Wasn’t at that show, which took place just before I discovered the Tuna (alternate) universe. Was at 11/76 and 11/77 shows, and the Jorma 5/78 show that was supposed to have been Tuna (but that’s another story).

  18. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by johno

    @John R.
    I remember many great Tuna shows at the Capitol in Passaic. Back in ’75 the Passaic cops raided our car – they opened the doors and a lots of smoke came out but I swallowed the evidence – so they didn’t get us – those were the days.

  19. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by doug mlyn

    Caught the web cast of the Capitol show and it was freakin amazing. Hot Tuna has had some great drummers over the years, and Justin is my favorite since Bob Steeler. Everything was just so spot on. You guys weren’t too bad either 🙂

  20. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by John R.

    Ah. . . , Hot Tuna at the old Capitol Theatre in Passaic NJ–may she rest in peace. Did it get any better than that (other than the fact that the Capitol did not sell beer, if I recall correctly, and the non-smoking/toking policy was rather strictly enforced)?

  21. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Sharon Mushock

    Great show, as always. You and Jack …. the music, the smiles and me dancing in the crowd like I was 21 again! It is powerful, heartfelt and one of my happy places. Just the story of the two of you as young musicians starting out going through the decades and still playing together as you do, so freaking well add to the experience!!! It makes watching you guys that much more powerful, to me anyway. A thrill. Myself and my husband of 37 years this August, started seeing Hot Tuna in the 70’s, we grew up in Central New Jersey. Capital Theater, Passaic, Asbury Park, other venues in the area I can’t even remember… great, great times. Now 4 children later, and 1 amazing granddaughter, we have been back out for the last 5 years seeing you play as often as we can. Love you artistry and passion with words and music. I have also been able to devote more time to painting again as well, and I must say I do my best painting and have the best time with it, while listening to Hot Tuna. It puts me in such a creative state of mind! Well I don’t know if you are even still reading this, but I want you to know how much we enjoyed the show and honest to God admire you playing so great and enjoying evert minute! Your smiles on stage are freakin awesome !! Your voice that nite btw …WOW! Oh one more thing, new drummer -Fantastic!!! Thanks for all the memories and music.
    – Next time

  22. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Matt

    Great pics from the Capitol. Cool stuff.

  23. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Andy K

    Just rec’d the word. Tix on sale Thursday at 10AM for Nov 20 & Nov 21. Password is “guitar”
    Big 75th birthday bash for sure.
    Way to go boyz!

    P.S. Too bad Bill Kirchen is on the west coast that weekend. He was smokin’ at the 70th birthday Beacon bash.

  24. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Andy K

    Beacon tix on sale today. What is the November date? Is there a password?

  25. Comment made on July 20, 2015 by Andy K

    Jorma, you mentioned that the November Beacon show’s tickets go on presale today.
    However, I see no information on the Beacon nor Ticketmaster websites.
    What is the date of the show (I’m guessing the 20th or 21st) and is there a presale password?
    Will we be celebrating #75?
    Thanks so much!

  26. Comment made on July 19, 2015 by Jim Haag

    Last night’s Hot Tuna show at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York was the best Hot Tuna show I’ve seen since 1996 !!!

  27. Comment made on July 19, 2015 by John B

    Yes Jorma last night was indeed a night to remember. It was evident that Jack had his track shoes on by the way he was running around the stage and your admiration for your friend and lifetime musical partner was made clear by your broad smile as you watched him play. Thanks for a great time.

  28. Comment made on July 19, 2015 by Hamneggs

    Fellas
    thanks.
    Was able to get up in the aisle and dance to my hearts contentment sitting way up in the next to last row. Kind of a dervish,yoga, meditation into some beautiful spiritual place-go ride the music indeed. I don’t want to babble but I had a great time.
    NRPS were also fun to see after quite a few years.
    Peace
    Love All Ways

  29. Comment made on July 19, 2015 by Steve A.

    Capitol Theatre was great! Finally the electric trio again. As far back as the Nick Buck days anything more than Jorma, Jack, drums is just clutter. What a treat seeing the Captiain and Jack jamming through a great setlist. Hope this becomes a habit.

  30. Comment made on July 19, 2015 by bob b.

    “Give me a pistol and three round balls…”. Hot, Hot Tuna! Ending in “Stronger Than Dirt!!”. Back in the day… I use to ask my friends, is it Hit Single #1 or Funky #7 that ends like Stronger Than Dirt…? (The commercial) Got it straight now. I remember last summer at Pine Belt Arena, you ended the show with Hit Single #1 and about a hundred of us we allowed to rock and dance that last song in front of the stage. Well, thanks for letting me share.

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