Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of the group Hot Tuna will return to Kaua‘i for a show this Wednesday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall at 7:30 p.m. They will be joined by
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of the group Hot Tuna will return to Kaua‘i for a show this Wednesday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall at 7:30 p.m.
They will be joined by mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff.
As original members of the ‘60s band Jefferson Airplane, Kaukonen and Casady worked on acoustic blues and jazz music when not playing rock ‘n’ roll. From that experience, they formed Hot Tuna.
“It was music that wasn’t being played with Jefferson Airplane, which was basically music we loved,” Casady said.
Casady said that it wasn’t difficult to make the transition from Jefferson Airplane to Hot Tuna. It was just the opposite.
“We were (acoustic) before we were Jefferson Airplane. It was more difficult to switch from that to the Jefferson Airplane,” he said.
“Over the years, we’ve played different kinds of incarnations (of their style). We try to keep it fresh, and try to play music that is accessible to the audience, and really be in the moment with the songs. And, here we are, 46 years later, and still making music.”
Casady said that, for this show, they will be taking it back to the basics.
Their tour of the Hawaiian islands include shows on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.
When not touring with Hot Tuna, Kaukonen and Casady teach guitar for the Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio, which Kaukonen founded.
Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
