Last Thursday night, the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado became the setting for the world to bid farewell to the electric configuration of the legendary group Hot Tuna. Forming in 1969 and powered by the renowned chemistry of Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, Hot Tuna originally came together as a side project to the duo’s full-time gig in Jefferson Airplane. Although Jefferson Airplane has been grounded for some time, Kaukonen and Casady have continued flying high in both acoustic and electric settings for over five decades. Closing out this chapter in the storied Hot Tuna tale, these musical giants delivered two strong sets played with the same fervor and charisma as the hundreds of shows preceding it, and for an audience that celebrated them throughout this final night, the evening delivered on expectation, power, and magic. Rounding out the stringed sorcery of these two, long-time collaborators and integral members of all things Tuna, Justin Guip anchored the meter and complemented the direction and improvisation just as he has since 2014.
With an advertised door-opening time of seven and a show start at eight, the crowd slowly trickled into the art deco halls of the 1930s movie house and when the lights dimmed, the room was comfortably full. Looking about the floor and balcony, many remained seated, soaking in every note and making memories at the moment, while others filled the periphery to stand and dance, attentive not to block the view of those taking in the show. With the close of every selection, those witnessing an end of an era let the band know without hesitation how appreciative they were of the performance, many calling out statements of adoration, others yelling wildly at the trio who were giving it their all. The love that was doled out was certainly not limited to just the players but rather spilled over to those recognized faces that have helped these wheels to keep turning over the years, specifically longtime road manager Phil Jacobs, guitar tech pillar Myron Hart, publicity queen Cash Edwards, and the always loving best friend of Casady, Chester, who even greeted a fan with a nose-to-nose encounter before the show and did so like a pro signing an autograph.
Although the back-to-back sets were loaded with band standards, this element proved to secure nothing but great connections for the three-headed galvanic force, the group landing time and time again with exceptional solidarity. Speaking with attendees, no one seemed to be surprised at a lack of deep cuts or bustouts but rather came with the full intent and outlook for a memorable celebration of community and commemoration, and in the end, that is exactly what everyone shared. The performance itself came off as effortless and vibrant, with both Kaukonen and Casady playing like men half their age and enjoying themselves as much as anyone witnessing the event. Casady’s haunting boom bellowed and shuttered as expected, producing often a wide grin from the maestro himself as everyone seconded his emotion. Kaukonen’s unique finger-picking illustrated his earned place in the pantheon of legend and showed easily that even as an octogenarian, he still has what it takes to draw a hush and a gasp while he does his thing. The two combined tonally gripped the heart and ear, charging everyone with emotion and shaking everyone from the inside out. Let us not forget the beloved timekeeper Guip, who shifted and slid from the delicate to the raucous with precision, eternally focused on the conversation at hand.
Although this was a farewell show, the mood of the room was light, full of smiles, and devoid of anything resembling a death knell. As stated by both Kaukonen and Casady in interviews preceding the tour as well as onstage Thursday night, this performance was not the end of Hot Tuna by any means, nor the end of the relationship between this band of brothers that runs just as deep offstage as it does in front of a crowd. Rather, it was a putting to rest of the electric tradition to make way for new things, take aim at new horizons, and ease the taxation and requirement that comes along with touring as an electric ensemble.
With the house lights relit, the stage became active one final time with the production crew doing the teardown as the post-gig vibe remained bright and vibrant, the employees and security of Paramount Theater allowing patrons to linger and exchange. Many shared stories of their first fishing trips, while others regarded the lengths they had gone to to make sure they were present for this significant evening, including buying and trading up tickets multiple times over to get seats as close to the front as possible.
When the last of the guests were kindly asked to find the door, the remaining dozen or so VIPs were escorted to the Green Room and did so with a bounce, eventually finding themselves backstage within the bowels of the theater. Upon entering the small room with a few snacks and standing room only, everyone was greeted with the warmth and smile of Guip, who invited everyone in and made all feel welcome. It would be some time before Kaukonen and Casady would follow suit and would make their way to the close quarters. Approaching the doorway, Casady initially paused in the entry hall and accepted well-wishers in for focused conversations, one by one, away from the multitude. Conversely, Kaukonen, with broad stature, permeated the room slowly and sweetly, addressing each group as he circulated to give everyone face time. Phil Jacobs weaved in and out of the conversation, snapping stills to capture the moment, and the lovely Cash Edwards embraced everyone with her joy and Texas hospitality, both Jacobs and Cash making introductions with grace and enthusiasm. Casady eventually strolled deeper into the collective and followed suit, shaking hands and making himself available for selfies.
As the night finally wound down and the toil of three-plus hours of music set in, one by one the last of the fans said goodbye to the heroes of the stage and thanked them for the decades of dedication to the calling, and with each compliment and accolade of appreciation, each band member remained as gracious, genuine, and grateful as they had been from the start of the night. Stepping into the brisk air of Thursday turning to Friday on this cold December night, reflections of wonder danced in my head and I thought to myself, “What a great time to have gone fishing!”
In closing, Grateful Web would like to thank the band and Cash Edwards for their continued support of allowing us to document the live music experience and making us always feel welcome, especially on nights like this one. We would also like to thank the fans for supporting our endeavors and appreciating the value of recording these memorable events. A special thanks go out to the front row of Paramount Theatre, namely Josh, Jeremy, Valerie, and Alan, for accommodating the cramped quarters for the first three songs and sharing their history of melody and verse in pursuit of catching Jorma, Jack, and the whole Tuna collective.
Much like it had been out in front of the stage, those lucky to make it into the after-gathering knew each other or made fast friends, all of whom seemed to be just as entertained talking to each other as they were exchanging with Kaukonen, Casady, and Guip.
