I Know You Rider, Hesitation Blues, Walkin' Blues, Other Side Of This Life, The Bag I'm In, I'll Be Alright, 99 Year Blues, Mariel, Wooden Ships, 3rd Week In The Chelsea, Down Home Blues, Keep On Truckin', Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning, Candyman, I See The Light, Martha, Embryonic Journey, Ice Age, Carlos Fonseca, San Francisco Bay Blues, Genesis, Parchman Farm, Good Shepherd, Let Us Get Together, John's Other,Vampire Women, Have You Seen The Stars Tonight, Mann's Fate, Put It In My Hands, I'm Movin', Killing Time In The Crystal City, Water Song, America, Volunteers
A great show! Everyone is in fine form, and seems to be having a good time. Kantner is around for most of the show, Will Scarlett on one half-dozen songs, and Papa John joins in on a baker's dozen. Grace Slick's presence is minimal; performing her usual parts on "Wooden Ships", "Third Week in Chelsea", "Good Shepherd", and "Volunteers". The recording is very good; originally was an FM broadcast, I believe. Not really an "Unplugged" performance, since there's plenty of amplification of all guitars; I guess I would call it a "folksy" presentation.
The focus of the show is Jorma Kaukonen's guitar; up front and recorded beautifully, with even the most delicate hammer-ons ringing crystal clear. Jorma's playing is superb throughout this performance, so it's difficult to pick any highlights. Jack Casady also shines, both in ensemble with the other players, and in solo sections. Perhaps my favorite moment on the tape is an incendiary instrumental interplay between Jorma and Jack on "Trimmed and Burning".
Paul Kantner plays much more than a supporting role in this concert, to such an extent that it's a little misleading to refer to it as a Hot Tuna performance. It's an essential tape for any Kantner fan. Returning to his folk roots after an impromptu concert during his 1987 Nicaraguan adventure (mentioned in passing in "Other Side", "Mariel", "Carlos Fonseca", and "America"), he presents interesting arrangements on all his songs. I much prefer these "acoustic" versions of "Mariel" and "America". "The Bag I'm In" is simply superb. The cut on this tape I was most looking forward to hearing was "Martha", expecting a recreation of Baxter's harmonies with the presence of Grace. Well, Grace doesn't sing on this tune, but my initial disappointment was overcome after listening a few times. It's a great version, with Paul's picking, Jorma's echo laden guitar, and Jack's bass lines interweaving a beautiful aural composition - and I can understand more of the lyrics!
Papa John Creach and Will Scarlett also make wonderful contributions. "Mann's Fate", with all the players on board, is transcendent.
An outstanding recording, with great performances of much of the Hot Tuna repetoire, along with some of my Jefferson Airplane and Paul Kantner favorites. Did the high following this concert lead to the decision to go ahead with the frustating 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion?
Banter
Jorma, introducing "Keep on Truckin'" : "...an ode to feminine hygiene in the key of C"
Grace, before "Good Shepherd" : "This is kind of interesting, considering we haven't played for about a hundred-eighty years together."
Paul : "The house said we can only go for fifteen more minutes. I told em 'Fuck the house'. If you see Bill Graham out there you say...'Yeah, Bill, we'll be off in fifteen minutes, Bill'. Don't tell me things like that. Don't you know it only incites me?"