Hot Tuna Tickets

Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American band, formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Ironically, the band's fans often refer to them loudly as Hot Fucking Tuna. Even Airplane lead vocalist Grace Slick introduced the pair with the middle expletive.At first Hot Tuna used to open Airplane concerts. As Jefferson Airplane slowly wound down in the early 1970s, the splinter group became a new musical entity in its own right.

Their early repertoire was derived mainly from American country blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis, Jelly Roll Morton, Bo Carter and Arthur Blake. In 1970, Casady and Kaukonen added Will Scarlett on harmonica and released a live album, Hot Tuna. This album was recorded in the fall of 1969 and is affectionately known by Tunaphiles as the breaking glass album. This LP was followed by a long series of well received albums that played mostly to a small but devoted cult following. After 1978, aside from the eight year breakup, Hot Tuna have continued to perform to the present day.

After the release of the eponymous debut album, the band went electric. This configuration was dominated by the latter two's soul-rock compositions and opened most shows for the parent band throughout late 1969 and 1970. After a string of disastrous concerts in Jamaica marked by flaring tensions between Balin and Kaukonen, they briefly resumed their acoustic performances. In the autumn of 1970, they returned to the band format. The studio albums Burgers and The Phosphorescent Rat followed. These two albums featured compositions mainly of Kaukonen original material and included some of the guitarist's most delicate and poetic works. David Crosby sang supporting vocals on the Burgers track Highway Song, and Nick Buck made his first appearance on what would become a semi permanent tenure during the 1970s.

The year 1974 marked a departure from their primarily bluesy acoustic style when TUNA morphed into a heavy rock band. The albums America's Choice, Yellow Fever, and Hoppkorv, showcase a power trio with the addition of new drummer Bob Steeler. Kaukonen's electric guitar playing was exceptionally multi-layered. This style continued on tracks such as Song for the Fire Maiden, Sunrise Dance with the Devil and the closing number Surphase Tension. Hot Tuna live performances during this period were characterize by free-flow improvisational jams and very long sets with extended versions of their studio material. Because of this, they are often considered a forerunner of modern jam bands, such as Phish.

In 1978, Casady and Kaukonen went their separate ways and pursued short-lived careers in the new wave bands SVT and Vital Parts, respectively. In the mid-1980s they re-formed Hot Tuna with guitarist and producer Michael Falzarano. Their first album of all new material in almost 14 years was 1990s Pair of Dice Found with New Yorker Harvey Sorgen playing drums. Kaukonen and Falzarano both contributed original songs.

Throughout the 1990s, Tuna again alternated between acoustic and electric styles. The two Sweetwater albums were predominantly acoustic sets. The 1997 release Live in Japan was evocative of the very first Hot Tuna album. Falzarano stayed with the band until 2002 when he left to release and promote his solo album The King James Sessions.

Most recently, they have toured with multi-instrumentalist Barry Mitterhoff and drummer Erik Diaz. Hot Tuna appeared at Merlefest, America's largest folk music festival in April 2006.

Throughout the band's history they garnered much fan support based on their pro-taping policy, allowing fans to record their live shows. Recently the band has changed their stance, no longer permitting taping.

Kaukonen and Casady are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as former members of Jefferson Airplane.

An acoustic spinoff of the American rock band Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna became a full fledge band in 1970. After seeing a frequent change in lineup, it currently plays with four members. Taking the shape of blues rock band, Hot Tuna is led by one of the best bass guitarists in the rock music genre, Jack Casady along with the equally talented Jorma Kaukonen. Other members include the sensational musician Barry Mitterhoff and the drummer Skoota Warner.

The band released its self-titled album in 1970 and it immediately found place on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Hot Tuna has so far released 25 albums, the latest one hitting the stores in April 2011. Steady As She Goes claimed a spot on Billboard Independent Albums and won rave reviews from the critics. The album has also used the expertise of other artists and has Larry Campbell rocking various instruments and Teresa Williams on vocals.

Living legends and Rock n Roll Hall of Famers, Casady and Kaukonen have brought in their years of experience in this album. Artfully blending rock music with blues, the duo has laced the songs with acoustic folk rhythms. Offering a spectrum of styles, Steady As She Goes is considered a masterpiece.

Hot Tuna has hit the road with the album and will be seen rocking the arenas in different cities. To catch the live version of Angel of Darkness and Things That Might Have Been, get your Hot Tuna tickets as soon as possible. It'll be a night to remember.