Celebrating the 75th birthday of Jorma Kaukonen, Hot Tuna brought the heat to the Beacon Theatre in NYC this weekend. Scheduled to be “Freakin’ At The Beacon! Hot Tuna & Friends”, the American blues rock band played acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs, playing tribute to acts like Jerry Garcia, Muddy Waters, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, and of course, Jefferson Airplane. The special “friends” included John Hammond, Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell, Rachael Price, and Jeff Pehrson. A freakin’ celebration, indeed, it was!

Check out some of our favorite photos from the shows, both nights’ setlists, and a full gallery of the weekend! All photos courtesy of Vernon Webb:

 

Setlist: Hot Tuna & Friends At The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY – 11/20/15

Set 1a (Acoustic Hot Tuna duo with John Hammond on harmonica):
Hesitation Blues, Come Back Baby (Walter Davis cover), Death Don’t Have No Mercy (Reverend Gary Davis cover)
Set 1b (Electric Hot Tuna trio with Justin Guip):
Serpent of Dreams, Watch the North Wind Rise, I Can’t Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters cover)
Ode for Billy Dean
In the Kingdom (first time played since 2007)
99 Year Blues (Julius Daniels cover)
Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man (Bobby Rush cover)
Hit Single #1
Set 2 (Electric Hot Tuna with Justin Guip, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams):
I See the Light (Larry Campbell on violin)
Children of Zion (Reverend Gary Davis cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals; Larry Campbell on mandolin)
Where There’s Two There’s Trouble (Teresa Williams backing vocals)
Mourning Interrupted
Rock Me Baby (B.B. King cover)
Wade in the Water (Fisk Jubilee Singers cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)
Bar Room Crystal Ball (Teresa Williams backing vocals, Larry Campbell on pedal steel guitar)
Water Song (Larry Campbell on mandolin)
Big River (Johnny Cash cover)(Larry Campbell lead vocals, Teresa Williams backing vocals)
Good Shepherd (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell on backing vovals )
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (Blind Willie Johnson cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)
Funky #7
Encore: Sugaree (Jerry Garcia cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)

Setlist: Hot Tuna & Friends At The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY – 11/21/15

Set 1 (Electric Hot Tuna trio with Justin Guip):
True Religion
Ain’t In No Hurry
Hesitation Blues
Ode for Billy Dean
I Can’t Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters cover)
In the Kingdom
Watch the North Wind Rise
Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man (Bobby Rush cover)
99 Year Blues (Julius Daniels cover)
Rock Me Baby (B.B. King cover)
Funky #7
Happy Birthday (Mildred J. Hill cover) (with birthday cake for Jorma)
Hit Single #1
Set 2 (Jefferson Airplane tribute):
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Jeff Pehrson lead vocals)
Greasy Heart (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Rachael Price lead vocals)
Good Shepherd (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Jorma Kaukonen lead vocals)
White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)
Law Man (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Rachael Price lead vocals)
Plastic Fantastic Lover (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Jeff Pehrson lead vocals)
Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)
Eskimo Blue Day (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Rachael Price lead vocals)
Come Back Baby (Walter Davis cover) (Jorma Kaukonen lead vocals, Larry Campbell on fiddle)
Feel So Good (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Rachael Price and Teresa Williams lead vocals, Larry Campbell on fiddle )
Play Video
Encore:
Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane cover) (Jeff Pehrson lead vocals)
Encore 2:
Sugaree (Jerry Garcia cover) (Teresa Williams lead vocals)

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