Hot Tuna and Friends Work Up Acoustic Blues

Hot Tuna’s much-loved (by a knowing few) brand of stone-washed acoustic blues was augmented Saturday night at the Variety Arts Center by a sit-in appearance by guitarist Paul Kantner and the guest fly-by of the lovable Papa John Creach. Whatever sentiment there might have been in such a meeting of old comrades, however, making softly fantastic music was the main thing.

The audience vibes in the room were clearly adulatory as the Jefferson Airplane founding trio--Tuna regulars guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady plus Kantner--worked through some handsome blues and a few other low-key bonuses. Among the latter: the still-cheerful jazz-folk swooping of violinist Creach, who maintains his air of pleased, if fuddled, surprise on stage after who knows how many years.

The telepathic tightness of Kaukonen, Casady and Kantner took a completely different tack from Kantner’s previous band excursion, the ill-conceived KBC Band, by sticking to the basics: acoustic blues, Western folk and the odd Crosby, Stills & Nash cover. The expanded Hot Tuna (or whatever the trio might have called themselves: Scalding Swordfish?) simply lit a fire under blues standards you think you’ve grown weary of, like “Down Home Blues” and “Forty-Nine.”

That left the whole, generous, three-hour-plus night feeling like your favorite pair of 17-year-old jeans: so comfortable and known, they’re unique.