Review By: JW Anderson
Saturday evening Paul Stephenson (also a member of the 2400 Fulton Street list), my youngest kid
(Jorma) and I decided it would be well worth it to go into Minneapolis
during an early evening snowstorm to see "HOT FUCKING TUNA". Let me tell
you right now, traveling the ice & snow covered highways was well worth the
price for what was in store for us that evening.
The Cabooze in Minneapolis is a small Rock & Roll club that holds maybe 500
people. The doors opened at 8:00 and we arrived at about 8:30. At the time
we figured the good seats would be gone, but to our amazment there were only
about 50 people there. So we took a table stage left and just hoped the
band made it through all the typical but shitty Minnesota weather.
We sat through a horrible opening act. A local group called the "Wierdo
Hicks". Nuff said. Finally about 10:00 Hot Tuna appeared. As I looked
about, the place just filled up so there was no room to move in the place.
A packed house, literally.
As usual Harvey made the introductions. It went something like...Hey
Minneapolis, it's cold out but things are gonna fucking heat up now. Let's
hear it for Hot Fucking Tuna". So the show started with Search My Heart and
the level of the show kept soaring all night.
The boys had smiles on their faces all night and you could see that they
were having as much fun as the rest of us. It had to be the best show I
have witnessed in many a year and there were so many high points it is hard
to single them out.
The band Jorma & Jack have put together is just amazing. Harvey Sorgen on
drums makes me realize just how bad Joey Covington was, Pete Sears has
really gotten back to his blues roots and Michael has become one hell of a
rythym guitarist. Each member took the spot light on different occasions
and Jack...What can I say about Jack? He was the most animated I have seen
him, jumping around on stage, taking bass solo's and generally livening up
the crowd.
During the night the guys jammed relentlessly and when Jorma changed to the
"red" guitar you knew that the roof was going to come off the place. When
the show came to a close much to the disappointment of us all, they had
played about 2 1/2 hours. I believe the only reason they closed the show
was because the State of Minnesota and its' scandavavian values closes the
bars at 1:00 AM.
If I were to pick out highlights of the night it probably would be 99 Year
Blues, Ice Age, Hit Single #1, Parchment Farm, Ode to Billy Dean, the show
closer Funky #7 and of course the continual jamming all night. Also the
opening of the second set with Let's Get Together, Candyman and I see the
light with Pete on Acordian and Harvey with the metal deal that looked like
a bullet proof vest (which at times should be worn in Minneapolis) was a
great addition to the show.
Because of the size of the crowd, we were not able to get to talk to any of
the guys, but maybe next time. Thanks Jorma, Jack, Mike, Harvey & Pete for
a great evening out. It made traveling through the ice & snow well worth it.
SET 1
Search My Heart
Walkin' Blues
Hesitation Blues
Been So Long
Embryonic Journey
Good Shepard
99 Year Blues
I Am The Light of this World
Ice Age
True Religion
San Francisco Bay Blues
Hit Single #1
Baby What Do You Want Me To Do
SET 2
Let's Get Together
Candyman
I See The Light
How Long Blues
Keep Your Lamps...
Trial By Fire
Parchman Farm
Water Song
Ode to Billy Dean
It's Just My Way
Junkies on Angel Dust
Funky #7
JW ANDERSON
ST. PAUL, MN
