Hot Tuna’s show in Pittsburgh on Monday branched out of stereotypical concerts to produce an intimate, acoustic show. 

Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna, most known for their work in the band Jefferson Airplane, fully channel musical authenticity and capture the hippy spirit through their duo band. Their live performances are nothing short of this, either. 

Casady and Kaukonen performed at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall to a crowd of no more than a couple hundred – an environment perfect for the bluesy acoustics. 

Many fans know the band as a dual sword, as they are capable of putting on electric shows alongside their acoustic sessions. But Casady and Kaukonen typically bring along at least a drummer and a couple amps regardless, but this wasn’t the case at Monday’s unique show. 

Hot Tuna opened with a few off-setlist tracks, and the duo immediately filled the room with their warm energy. 

As for the music itself, with Casady on bass and Kaukonen’s guitar and vocal skills, the duo’s stellar musical talent shined through during the roughly two-and-a-half hour long performance. 

While the music hall was filled with long-time fans, even those who were unfamiliar with the group could easily slip into the zone and the mellow vibes. 

All in all, the style of the production had a lot of room for error, but Hot Tuna managed to perfectly avoid any awkwardness and create a great show for anyone to enjoy.