As a sophomore at Syracuse, I came across the local "classic rock" radio station (TK 99.5) On some random afternoon, a DJ played "My Crystal Spider" by Sweetwater. They were this little known Los Angeles band from the 60's. Eclectically, the band included a flutist, a cellist, a few percussionists. two lead singers, an electric organ, and usually... Everything but a guitar. It was through Rhino Records that I could dive into the works of a band who I otherwise only knew of through VH1. In one track, you could hear August Burns's cello solo roleplaying as a crystalline spider. "Why oh Why" would feature both a flute solo from Albert Moore as well as featuring him as Nancy Nevins's partner in the duet. After college, I had the great privilege of discussing through "My Crystal Spider" with keyboardist and songwriter Alex Del Zoppo.
Finding Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow" gave me an idea of Sweetwater's San Francisco counterpart. There were of course differences like Jorma Kaukonen's tremendous guitar playing and Grace Slick playing a recorder. Jorma's childhood friend Jack Cassady was on bass. rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner would sing lead as the Albert to Grace's Nansi (and the original female lead Signe Toly Anderson during the first year). Exploring tracks beyond "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love", I found songs that gave Kantner's singing due attention, and some pieces where members would all sing together like in select Sweetwater pieces. Toward the end, is Jorma's acoustic classic "Embryonic Journey" (which many people may recognize from the final scene of "Friends".
Jefferson Airplane was the more established band by the time of the Woodstock festival. They had several albums released, and had played other high profile festivals. The less known Sweetwater debuted their first album nine months before taking the stage at Yasner's farm. As such newcomers, Sweetwater wasn't granted exposure in "Woodstock the Movie" of the festival's live triple album. Worsening the band's trajectory, Nevins was in a car accident the December after Woodstock. Coming out of a coma, Nancy found one of her vocal chords severely damaged. It was through the Sweetwater bandmates' overall versatility that they were able to create two more studio albums before breaking up. While not judging one band as inferior, Sweetwater is highly underrated while their SF counterparts have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Half of Fame. I would describe their musical footprint to that of Fanny (a 70's rock band that needs a "Runaways" caliber cinema exposure to start getting long due recognition).
Airplane continued to record albums. There was a pause in the productivity when Grace Slick was healing from a vocal chord condition (which although not as dire as what happened to Nevins, is serious in its' own light). Keeping the creative figuratively warm and Jorma and Jack created bluesy Americana band with the addition of Jefferson Airplane bandmates and other musicians. That was the formal creation of "Hot Tuna".
Entering the 70's, the message was similar but the musical stylings became more experimental. Marty Balin left the band while violist Papa John Creach and other musicians joined. While retaining a connection psychedelic inspiration, other members of Airplane continued to grow as songwriters. People familiar with Kaukonen's "Embryonic Journey" were introduced to an electric instrumental through 1971's "Wild Turkey". In 1972, the "Long John Silver" album was released. The next year saw a live album from San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. While Kaukonen and Casady put more focus on Hot Tuna, the other members of Airplane developed a spin-off band called Jefferson Starship in 1974 with Balin rejoining. Starship (through the several lineup changes) has released 11 studio albums. Eight of the albums were released within the first 10 years and have each earned gold (if not platinum) certification on the US charts). Since the death of Paul Kantner in 2016, David Freiberg is the one remaining Jefferson Starship founder as the group celebrates a 50th anniversary. Jefferson Airplane reunited off and on through the years, including for a 1989 album and tour featuring the full Woodstock era lineup aside from drummer Spencer Dryden. Hot Tuna has recorded 14 albums, two of them recorded at a Mill Valley, CA music hall called (wait for it...) "Sweetwater". At the point of writing this post, I can only assume that it's a coincidence.
On Halloween 2022, I was talking music with a friend of mine at the shop "Fairy" on Boston's Newbury Street. When I mentioned that I was a fan of Jorma Kaukonen's instrumentals, this friend told me about Jorma's Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio. Guitarists would take workshops on this estate, studying under Jorma, Tommy Emmanuel, Warren Haynes, and other guests Before selling the ranch in Summer 2024, Jorma would also stream concerts, and one such show happened to be that night. Seeing Jorma play live on YouTube was a great Halloween treat. In 2023, I got to see Jorma perform an electric blue set at City Winery Boston the night before the Dead & Company performed at Fenway Park. After seeing Jorma, John Mayer, and Bob Weir perform within the same weekend, I met a Cambridge guitar teacher on the MBTA's Green Line who was a teen at the time of Jan & Dean and had seen Jorma many times before. For me, it was amazing to see Jorma perform in person. As someone who first learned Jorma Kaukonen's name through "Embryonic Journey", I was kind of hoping for some acoustic material too. That is why I was so enthused when I saw Hot Tuna scheduled to perform at the Wilbur Theater win December 2024. It was no guarantee, but a second chance for me to see this acoustic picking. For any other Hot Tuna fans reading I know of that "other" picking gem, and I'm getting to it.
As I was psyching up for the Hot Tuna show, I was spreading word among my friends. This is part of what I do here. Connecting people with great music that they may otherwise not be aware of. Guitarist friends of mine sometimes knew of Jorma. Bassist friends of mine had heard of Jack Casady. In the sappiest way, I was so moved when hearing about these two performing together since they were TEENS! Hot Tuna as a brand is 65 years old, but their teamwork and friendship is in decade #7! I'm sentimental enough to think that it's cute when Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor were flashing each other little smiles during a 2023 Duran Duran show. Seeing two octogenarian rock gods joking each other and sharing their craft with an audience is something that I found moving.
It had been raining all through the day of the concert. I was stepping back from the option to bring a sketchbook since drawing on my phone was so successful at Vienna Teng's City Winery show. While City Winery often has a level of intimacy that can be broken with photography, and sometimes lighting that isn't read well by the lenses, unauthorized photography is prohibited at Tremont Street's Wilbur, Wang, and Schubert theaters. Sometimes (like at Eric Johnson's 2023 Boston show), staff can be super-vigilant about photography and video recording. As long as I kept my phone's screen a little dimmed, I was hoping that no ushers would have a problem with my drawing the concert from my seat in the Wilbur's balcony section. Sketching out the stage setup, I was able to plot out the perspective and scale. Apologizes to the accompanists who joined Jorma, and Jack, and drummer Justin Guip after a few songs. I was already working on gesture drawings by that point, and a composition including all five fusions would be either long and narrow, or everyone would be relatively tiny and indistinguishable.
Life drawing while listening to music has been a practice of mine since art school. Sometimes, a local radio station would be playing. Other times, it would be a show of hospitality to the classes' nude models to welcome their own CD selections. There's one woman who I remember both for the art created but her introducing me to the "Shake Your Money Maker" album by the Black Crowes and Soul Asylum's "Grave Dancers Union". While not familiar with each individual Hot Tuna track, I just leaned back (as far as my theater seat allowed) started working on my art while enjoying a night of great blues music. Not to devalue the work and thought which goes into every thought and word, You can listen for songs that you know while enjoying the set as a whole. Analyzing the setlist in retrospect, there were songs sourced Hot Tuna albums, Jorma's solo work, covers of musicians that Jorma and Jack admire, and even some music from their days with Jefferson Airplane. There was a point where some guy in the audience wanted specifically to play a role in the concert so he yelled up a sudden "That was fuckin' awesome!". Rolling with the candor, Jorma jells back in aggreement "Fuck, yeah!". Jorma turned to Jack, demonstrating with his fingers how that quick little exchange is now some small part of history. The soft-spoken (or at least un-mic'ed) bassist nodded. The iconic guitar picker joked about how he used to perform at concerts later into the night, but had just one more gem left for us. For the finale, Hot Tuna played 1972's "Water Song". That composition isn't as well known as "Embryonic Journey", but when you look for the ultimate acoustic picking classics by Jorma, these two both can be expected in the conversation. While "Embryonic Journey" is very chill and relaxing, "Water Song" is exciting. I'd compare it to a norther elementally inspired instrumental. Jeff Beck's "Blue Wind". Given the aquatic title, I would compare the song to white water kayaking. There is depth, and Casady's bass playing giving you some safe buoyancy Jorma plays dynamically quick picking rhythm that rolls like a fast-moving current. Then, he would alternate in a low-toned rhythm which I imagine is on the lower strings of the guitar (as an observer not trained in playing the instrument). This pattern goes through subtle changes as if they were passing landscapes until Jorma, Jack, Justin, their accompanists, and everyone else their for the ride all just splash down into this tranquil ending. The musicians thank the audience and take their bows. Lights turn on, and as I'm walking to the Tufts Medical Center Orange Line station, I think to myself about how great that was. I took at my drawing of Hot Tuna, and look forward to writing this installment to r0ck bl0gster.
Until next time.
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