Hot Tuna – North Shore Center Van Dusen Theatre

From the moment the venerated artists of Hot Tuna, Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, graced the stage of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, the audience was immediately reminded that they were in the presence of living history. The spontaneous standing ovation that erupted before a single note was struck underscored the duo’s formidable, decades-spanning legacy—a testament few contemporary acts could command.

This was a masterful, acoustic presentation of Blues Rock, a format that allowed the enduring, palpable chemistry between these high-school friends to shine as brightly as their musical talent. Their synchronicity on stage is not mere professionalism, but a genuine, shared narrative woven over years, lending a deeply authentic texture to the performance.

The history of Jorma and Jack goes back to high school in Washington DC. They played in the band The Triumphs. In 1962 Jorma moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he learned his signature finger picking style from a college friend. Jorma gave guitar lessons at a local guitar shop, where he was approached by Paul Kantner to join the band he was forming with Marty Balin. Jorma eventually joined the band and named them Jefferson Airplane, one of the biggest bands to come out of the Bay area. Their second album “Surrealistic Pillow” brought them fame with its two big hits “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” They played all the big events of the 60’s including the Monterey Pop Fest, Woodstock, and the ill-fated Altamont. Jorma and Jack formed Hot Tuna as a side project  to give them more room to jam. Closing in on 57 years of Hot Tuna they released 14 albums. Besides touring and recoding albums, Jorma opened the music school “Fur Peace Ranch” where they taught guitar and bass of different levels. Their philosophy was simple – to give back.

At 84, Kaukonen remains an utterly compelling figure, his voice a rich, soulful instrument that seems to defy time, and his signature fingerpicking technique an act of pure, breathtaking stagecraft. Casady, with a more reserved but mighty demeanor, anchored the evening with bass work that was felt as much as heard. With Justin Guip on drums and Ross Garren’s harmonic contributions, the quartet elevated the material, ensuring the evening was not simply a retrospective but a vibrant, living piece of art.

The Skokie venue itself proved an ideal setting for this intimate concert, its aesthetic appeal matched by acoustics perfectly calibrated for the nuances of the show. Playing to a nearly sold-out house, Hot Tuna delivered precisely what their devoted followers desired: a two-hour journey through great music and memory.—–

Set List
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Justin Guip & Ross Garren
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts
Skokie, Illinois
Wednesday, November 5, 2025

1. Been So Long
2. Where Have My Good Friends Gone?
3. Great Divide Revisited
4. Letter To The North Star
5. Too Many Years
6. Come Back Baby
7. Trial By Fire
8. Sea Child
9. Hesitation Blues
10. Take Your Time
11. Whining Boy Blues
12. Good Shepherd
13. Ice Age
    Encore: Water Song

Reviewed by Gayle Kirshenbaum / Terry Giardina