Here are the Jamband News Top Ten Albums of 2011

10. Warren Haynes, Man in Motion Stax- I listened to this one on several road trips, going from festival to concert, and it never got old. Rock, gospel, jam, soul and blues combine for a top notch combination as done by the hardest working man in the business, Warren Haynes.
9. Hot Tuna, Steady As She Goes, Red House- Hot Tuna gets back to basics with winning results. Kaukonen and Casady at their very best make this one a must own.
8. Amos Lee, Mission Bell Blue Note Records- Amos Lee opens up his songwriting talent on radio friendly tracks like “Windows Are Rolled Down” and “El Camino.” A Keeper.
7. Lucinda Williams, Blessed Lost Highway- Lucinda Williams sets the standard once again with brilliant compositional depth on rewarding numbers such as “Buttercup,” “Born to Be Loved,” and “Kiss Like Your Kiss.” One of the best albums of this and/or any year.
6. Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band, American Legacies MCCOURY Music- This is a once in a lifetime collaboration hybrid that is simply stunning to sit and listen to. Highly recommended.
5. The Joy Formidable, The Big Roar Atlantic- The sleeper hit of the year, it gets better over time. Pounding big rock melodies and hooks that grab and take hold of the imagination. Songs like “Whirring,” “A Heavy Abacus” and “Austere” foretell a bright future for this young band.
4. Tedeschi Trucks Band, Revelator Sony Legacy- Soul, Gospel and Blues collide into one big happy family on “Midnight in Harlem” and “Love Has Something Else To Say.” And, the rest of the world is better because of it.
3. My Morning Jacket, Circuital ATO Records/Red- Louisville, KY’s finest serve up tasty helpings of the year’s finest ear candy on the memorable rock and rhythm laced monsters “Victory Dance,” “Wonderful” and “Holdin’ On to Black Metal.” ‘Nuff Said.
2. Wilco, The Whole Love Anti- Probably the most efficient statement Jeff Tweedy has produced in some time, and likely the most accessible and universal. A true high point for the group and an uncommonly influential disc for aspiring composers and musicians alike.
1. Over The Rhine, The Long Surrender Great Speckled Dog- The masterpiece of the year. Elegant, sleek and sensual, this recording is pieced together with great care and brings out the best performances of the year from Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler on the shining gems, “Undamned (with Lucinda Williams),” “Rave On,” and “All My Favorite People.” 2011′s crown jewel.

Thanks  to Kevin Morgan at KMS for the outstanding cover art! He’s the best!

The Hot Tuna Gang would like to Thank Everyone who came out to the Beacon Theater last weekend to help us  Rock the Holiday Season! Just when we thought we couldn’t top last year’s show, we were blown away by all the great music. Jorma and Jack would like to thank all the stellar musicians who helped them create one of the most memorable nights in Hot Tuna history.

Thanks go out to:

Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams
Charlie Musselwhite
G.E. Smith
David Bromberg
Steve Kimock

Of course we couldn’t have done it without Barry Mitterhoff and Skoota Warner, Thanks Guys!

You can check out Jorma’s blog for more details and audience comments.  Below are the setlists from the weekend

December 10, 2011 The Beacon Second Night

First Set:
1. Jack comes out and plays… Barry and I come out and we join Jack and wind up with Mann’s Fate
2. Candy Man (Barry, Bromberg, Larry)
3. Fifty Dollar Wig (Bromberg, Charlie, Kimock,
4. I Wish You Would (GE… Kimock)
5. Angel Of Darkness (Larry And Teresa)
6. Smokerise Journey (Larry And Teresa)
7. Long Gone From Kentucky (GE, Larry, Charlie)
8. Sad And Beautiful World (Charlie, GE)
9. Children Of Zion (Larry, Teresa)
10. Driving Wheel (Bromberg, Nancy Josephson) Larry Pedal Steel, Teresa, GE, Kimock
11. Where Highway 61 Runs (Charlie, GE, Kimock… the gang ?)
12. Hit Single # 1
Second Set:
1. Mama Let Me Lay It On You (Larry… GE)
2. Mourning Interrupted (Larry)
3. Ode To Billy Dean (Charlie, GE, Kimock)
4. A Little Faster (Larry and Teresa, GE)
5. Things That Might have Been (Larry)
6. Tongue (Bromberg. Charlie, GE Kimoch)
7. Many Rivers To Cross(Kimoch, Bromberg, Larry, GE)
8. Bar Room Chrystal Ball (Larry, Teresa)
9. If This Is Love, I want My Money Back (Larry, Teresa)
10. If I Have Bad Luck (Charlie)
11. Been So Long
12. Christo Redentor (Charlie)
13. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (Larry and Teresa)
14. Funky # 7 (The whole famdamily…GE, Bromberg)
15. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do

December 9, 2011
First Set:
1. Hesitation Blues (Jack & Jorma Acoustic)
2. New Song For The Morning (Jack, Jorma, Barry & Charlie Acoustic)
3. Can’t Get Satisfied (electric with G.E. & Charlie)
4. Where Highway 61 Runs (with Charlie & G.E.)
5. Angel Of Darkness (with Larry & Theresa)
6. A Little Faster (With Larry & Theresa)
7. Long Gone From Kentucky (With G.E. and Charlie and Larry)
8. Children Of Zion (With Larry & Theresa and GE)
9. Bowlegged Woman (with G.E. & Larry)
10. Smokerise Journey (with Larry & Theresa)
11. Rock Me Baby (with G.E., Charlie & Larry
12. Hit Single #1 (with G.E. and Larry)
Second Set:
1. I See The Light (with GE)
2. Talkin’ Bout You GE and Larry
3. Easy Now Revisited (Larry)
4. Mama Let Me Lay It On You (Larry on fiddle and GE on guitar and GE)
5. Second Chances (Larry)
6. If I Have Bad Luck (Charlie & GE)
7. Mourning Interrupted (Larry on guitar
8. GE Sings Eyesight To The Blind (with Larry and Charlie)
9. Christo Redentor (Charlie, GE and Larry)
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (Teresa and Laryry with GE
11. Funky #7 (Gang TwanG)
12. Encore: Bar Room Chrystal Ball (Larry on pedal steel, Teresa background vocals

Thanks Again to All our Fans! You guys are AWESOME!

Jorma Kaukonen and Sandy Sohcot Executive Director of the Rex Foundation

Before the Beacon Show, Jorma was honored by the Rex Foundation, with the Ralph J. Gleason Award, for his contribution to roots music education, awareness and advocacy.
Ralph J. Gleason Award is in memory of music journalist Ralph J. Gleason, a major figure in the advancement of music in America in the 1960s, whose openness to new music and ideas transcended differences between generations and styles.

The Rex Foundation award provided Jorma with a grant that allowed the Fur Peace Ranch to the help Spencer Bohren bring some much needed and appreciated musical education to Appalachia. You can read more about it here.

The Rex Foundation Mission:

Jorma and FPR Manager John Hurlbut

The Rex Foundation aims to help secure a healthy environment, promote individuality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights of indigenous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger community, and educate children and adults everywhere.

Proceeds from the event will support local grassroots non-profit endeavors.

The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, was formed in January of 2008 in memory of the legendary rock impresario, Bill Graham. The foundation is a public charity that is funded through individual and corporate contributions and grants.

The Foundation is guided by a broad-based group which includes Bill’s sons, several former long-time employees of Bill Graham Presents and other community leaders.

A mission of The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation is the giving of grants primarily in the areas of music, the arts and education, while also supporting social work, environmental protection, and spiritual and compassionate projects in our community. In this spirit, The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation seeks to assist those whose needs are oftentimes not served by larger philanthropic organizations. The mission includes education and outreach programs, the establishment of a museum and of an annual community award, the “Bill Graham Awards”. The Foundation holds annual fundraising events in San Francisco and New York.

If you have never heard Bill’s story you should. It is an amazing tale of an American Hero!

Helping them celebrate at the Beacon will be special guests, Charlie Musselwhite, master of the harmonica, who toured along with Hot Tuna and Jim Lauderdale earlier this year on the Hot Tuna Blues tour will be hanging with the guys for the weekend. Charlie’s talented harmonica playing and history steeped in the blues is a perfect blend to the Hot Tuna being served! So if you missed Charlie with Tuna earlier this year. Now is your chance.

During their more than four decade long career Jorma and Jack have created some of the most significant music of our time and Steady As She Goes shows that they remain one of the most innovative bands in American music. Recorded at Levon Helm’s studio and produced by Grammy-winning producer Larry Campbell, the album captures the energy of their live performances with Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin, drummer Skoota Warner (Cyndi Lauper, Matisyahu, Santana) as well as Campbell joining them on guitar, fiddle, organ and vocals and Theresa Williams on vocals.

David Bromberg, often referred to as the guitarist’s guitarist, will be joining Hot Tuna at the Beacon too! Jorma and David find themselves performing together a few times each year, and their roots run deep. It will be interesting to see if he comes acoustic or electric . . . only one way to find out!

GE Smith has to be one of the most sought after session players around. He has performed and recorded with an exceptionally wide spectrum of influential artists from Bob Dylan, Eddie Van Halen, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Rickie Lee Jones, Al Green, Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Lonnie Mack and the list…too long to print.

Steve Kimock, who has earned a living wowing all kinds of audiences with his extraordinary guitar abilities, will also be joining the guys for the weekend. Steve adds a new element to the Tuna stew with his wide range of playing styles that can progress from jazz-influenced rhythms to Roky Erikson (13th Floor Elevators) styled psychedelic leads.

Get Your Tickets Now! Before it sells out like last year!

The cover art for Hot Tuna’s latest studio album, Steady As She Goes, created by Kevin Morgan, is in a beauty contest.

A company out of London England, called ArtVinyl, which makes Play & Display Flip Frames is conducting their annual Best Cover Art Contest.

View the Nominations Here

Vote Here

Anyone can vote, small registration required.

02/23/12 The Opera House
Thomaston, CT Acoustic Hot Tuna

02/24/12 The Colonial Theatre
Keene, NH Acoustic Hot Tuna

02/25/12 Swyer Theater-The Egg
Albany, NY Acoustic Hot Tuna

02/27/12 Rams Head Tavern
Annapolis, MD Acoustic Hot Tuna 0

2/29/12 Birchmere
Alexandria, VA Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/01/12 Jefferson Theater
Charlottesville, VA Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/02/12 Keswick Theatre
Glenside, PA Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/03/12 Whitaker Center
Harrisburg, PA Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/05/12 The German House Theater
Rochester, NY Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/06/12 The Ark
Ann Arbor, MI Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/08/12 The Englert Theatre
Iowa City, IA Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/09/12 Old Town School Of Folk Music
Chicago, IL Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/10/12 Cedar Cultural Center
Minneapolis, MN Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/11/12 Pabst Theater
Milwaukee, WI Acoustic Hot Tuna

03/15/12 20th Century Theater
Cincinnati, OH Acoustic Hot Tuna

Rare: Only 13 prints were made! Most are in the hands of band members, album producers, recording industry executives and promoters, but this one could be yours for a $10 raffle ticket!

All proceeds from this raffle will be donated to Good Works Inc., of Athens Ohio. Good Works, Inc. is a COMMUNITY OF HOPE for those struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia. Good Works helps those in need by providing housing, meals, and skills training among many other activities. Find out more about Good Works, Inc. and how you can become involved by visiting: http://www.good-works.net

Raffle entries can be purchased through October 31, 2011. Winner will be announced during the Hot Tuna All-stars performance at the Fur Peace Station Concert Hall on November 12, 2011. (You do not need to be in attendance to win.)

During the tour some friends from Dish Magazine got on the bus for some catching up and a conversation of the future. Check it out.

Electric Hot Tuna will play Mountain Stage Show in Athens

October 9 at 7 pm
Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium – Athens, OH
Doors 6:30pm
*ON SALE NOW*
Tickets: $25 – first 10 rows and $15 – remainder
Available online By phone: 740-593-1780 or
Box office: M-F 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The Jayhawks
Hot Tuna
Karan Casey & John Doyle
Ha Ha Tonka
Southeast Engine
Special Cameo Appearance by Todd Burge

Experience Hot Tuna’s Steady As She Goes as never before with the deluxe collector’s edition vinyl! Pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl with half-speed mastering, the 12 tracks of the album are cut into the first three sides of the double LP and the 4th side features a truly unique etching artwork of Jorma and Jack’s faces.

This premier quality collector’s item also features photos from the studio not included in the original CD package, a CD version of the record (in white paper sleeve) as well as the Hot Tuna temporary tattoo!

Buy the new Vinyl LP here!