Hot Tuna w/ Larry & Teresa | Bardavon Theatre | 12/5/19

Article Contributed by Howard Horder | Published on Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The annual late fall Hot Tuna run through the Northeastern US is in full swing when I cross paths with the band’s tour itinerary in Poughkeepsie, NY. This night is different than the previous electric Hot Tuna 50th anniversary show we attended earlier in the year. This show will be an all-acoustic evening with intricate musicianship and a long way from over forty years ago (11/26/76) and the power-trio ear-splitting days of the 1970s at the Palladium on 14th Street in Manhattan. The concert featured an evening of Americana, Blues, Traditional and original songs. The harmonies blend well with musical duo extraordinaire, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. Watching these touring musicians play together, create their art live, share immense musical respect for each other, it’s a pleasure and it’s always memorable.

Bardavon 1869 Opera House | Poughkeepsie, NY

The show set-list covered almost every era of the 50 years of the band and then some. Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams played a fantastic opening set and they ended by being joined by Jorma & Jack for a song that everyone will acknowledge is virtually owned by Teresa Williams, "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning." It’s a wonder that anyone else can play that song ever again without considering Teresa Williams’ live version. We were primed and ready for the main event.

Jack & Jorma | Hot Tuna

The Acoustic Hot Tuna set opened with "New Song For The Morning" and closed with two early-era songs, "Good Shepherd" from Airplane's Volunteers into the "I Know Your Rider" from the self-titled Hot Tuna debut album. In-between was a nod to almost every era and every genre of Jorma & Jack’s 50+ year collaboration. According to Jorma’s blog, the exact setlist was:

New Song For The Morning

Hesitation Blues

Been So Long

Ain’t In No Hurry

Barbeque King

Search My Heart

San Francisco Bay Blues

Trial By Fire

Flying Clouds

Watch The North Wind Rise

River Of Time

I Am The Light Of This World

Come Back Baby

Let Us Get Together Right Down Here

Serpent Of Dreams

Sleep Song

Good Shepherd

I Know You Rider

Encore: Children Of Zion with Larry & Teresa

Encore 2: Bar Room Crystal Ball with Larry & Teresa

Jack, Larry, Teresa, & Jorma

The encores featuring Jorma & Jack, Larry & Teresa were a seamless blending of vocal harmonies and guitars. The enjoyment these four have playing with each other in a live concert setting is apparent for all to see.

Jack & Jorma | Poughkeepsie, NY

Up next for the 1969 – 2019 Celebrating Fifty Years of Hot Tuna will be two year-end shows in Florida, Acoustic Hot Tuna, December 28th at the Bilheimer Theatre in Clearwater and an Electric Hot Tuna New Year’s Eve celebration at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. Happy Birthday to Jorma, celebrating his 79th birthday on December 23