Hot Tuna NYE canceled

Thanks Judit. I guess the decision was made for me.

We have tickets to the other three shows; not sure yet...

It does seem a little strange they wouldn't just cancel the whole run.

So strange to cancel just one of the four shows!

My guess is the "sold out" surviving shows will be lightly attended. Hope any Zoners that make it will give a boots on the ground report.

Happy New Year?

I just emailed the Freight to see if I can refund my tickets for tomorrow.

Paul, can you let us know the result?

we're gonna celebrate Wed 12-29 like it's 2022!...

This is an illogical decision, if the concern is the virus. Seems like more of a business decision concerining other things. I'm thinking about getting a refund for the 12/29 show. It seems like it is too risky, but band and venue don't want to forfeit more money to covid. I understand that, but it makes no sense that the same venue would be safe enough for 3 nights to carry on with the show, but then such a public health hazard on the 4th night that they need to cancel. How does that work, in terms of science? The only difference between NYE and the other 3 shows is the price of the tickets, and the number of tickets sold. If anything, if NYE doesn't sell out, then there would be less people in the building, which would theoretically (but probably not really) be safer against covid contagions than the 3 sold out shows. What bullshit. It's either too risky, or not too risky to do the show, regardless of whether it's the 1st 3 nights, or the 4th night. The risk is the same each night.

^Maybe it's a problem with the champagne toast...

I'm glad that I live less than 2 miles from the venue.

They could do the NYE show but cancel the champagne toast, haha. Not as if they would serve any champagne worth drinking. As is, no concessions, no food or drink allowed in the building. I don't know if they enforce the mask mandate while audience is seated, but I am not happy about the idea of wearing a mask for an entire concert. Usually, the mask is just for show while entering, the nobody cares. So, between the risk of catching covid, even though I am fully vaccinated and boosted, and the unpleasantness of wearing a mask and not being able to drink anything, even water all night, I am strongly considering bailing on Tuna. I could either sell tickets, or claim symptoms and get a refund. Still undecided at this moment.

The Freight refunded my order no problem.....

Thanks for the update, Woz.

The concessions aren't open so you can't purchase a beer or a soda and you have to wear a mask through the entire event. Punt....and I can't even talk Marcy into going out to eat indoors now......I'm so tired of this COVID bullshit.

Thanks for the update, Judit.  Not on Jorma's blog yet. Not surprised on this.  Saw a few Tuna NYE shows back in the day--Ritz in the 80s, Beacon Theater in 1983 and the Fillmore here in SF in 96.  We ordered the stream for this NYE so hopefully, they will offer prompt refunds of that as well. Here's to a better, safer 2022 powered by Tuna

Thanks Paul.

I'm out, the wife is going...she's been to a few shows there in the last couple months and really likes the place,

so she's in.

    I'm fine with missing it.

Yowzer.     This thread has pretty much made up my mind.  Supposed to snow here today, tonight and tomorrow. And I have to drive over the pass at Mt St Helena to get there(and more importantly get back home). Forecast 27 w/ snow and therefore ice. Add to that covid concerns, and I guess a no brainer.  Bummed cause I have really been looking forward to this show tonight.   Next time I guess. If there is one.....

Is weird to cancel just one show.

My wife and I are bailing on Hot Tuna, as much as I love the band. Too many fully vaccinated people are getting the Omicron variant, so I do  not feel protected enough to go to the show, or eat in a restaurant. Even if it is milder than previous variants, I don't want it, no thanks. The Freight is processing a refund for my order. They are all good people, but the band and the venue is blowing this big time. They are going to get bombarded with refund requests, so if anyone wants to go, there likely will be tickets available at the door. They should have postponed the shows. I would have held on to my tickets for the rescheduled date. They are making a questionable compromise to avoid losing money. Their business interests trump any concern for limiting the spread of disease. This is why the pandemic continues, because businesses needs to make money is more important overall in the world, than reducing the spread of disease. Money is usually the most important factor driving most decisions.

Freight & Salvage is a non-profit, though everyone needs money. 

Quick, get your commerative Tuna poster with the canceled NYE show before they sell for thousands on ebay. 

'

When I emailed for my refund, I asked them why NYE and not the other nights. This was their response.

"Our New Year's Eve show is never just a concert, it's typically longer in length, with more set breaks and additional celebratory happenings such as a countdown and midnight toast, and as such during these rapidly changing conditions the safe choice is to cancel the event."

They refunded. No problem.

Yea, I got the same reply. It's polite, disingenuous nonsense. They could cancel the cheap champagne at midnight and very few people would be upset. Counting down from 10 to zero does not necessarily cause covid to spread, nor does an additional set or set break.

In reality, there is no scientific, medical reason why it could be considered safe to play the non-NYE nights but unsafe to play NYE. In reality, during these rapidly changing conditions, the safest choice is to cancel all 4 events, but instead the band and venue have consciously decided to not make the safest choice.

 Their business interests trump any concern for limiting the spread of disease. This is why the pandemic continues, because businesses needs to make money is more important overall in the world, than reducing the spread of disease. Money is usually the most important factor driving most decisions>>>

Bob & Company still on for next week.....

JAN 7, 2022 - JAN 10, 2022

Playing In The Sand Uno   SOLD OUT 

JAN 13, 2022 - JAN 16, 2022

Playing In The Sand Dos   SOLD OUT

Have you seen the movie Don't Look Up on Netflix? Similar plot.

I think that we can agree that more people drink more alcoholic beverages on New Years Eve than on your typical weeknight. More drinking means less face mask time and more crowded drink lines, declining judgement, etc, etc.

I'm planning to GTTS tonight and will let you know how it went. 

Wishing everyone good health and happiness. 

The just NYE thing doesn't add up.  Whatever but it seems there are other issues at play as COVID is already in the house.  

So, what did I miss Johnny?

Hitting the Show tonite

Will there be a setbreak so we can get a safety meeting organized?

Sorry to miss those that had to bail...

Hey WALSTIB-

Alex and i will be there tonight. safety meeting at break! 6 foot distance masked safety meeting that is!

Stu Allen just canceled all 3 of his shows

I'll be at Country Joe McDonald 80th on Jan 2, also at Freight and Salvage-$20

Hey WALSTIB!  I'll be there again this evening and hope to hang with you (at least outside during the break).  I recommend that you bring desired comestibles and other refreshments with you for pre-, post-, and in-between times - leave them in your car.  (I was able to use set-break to walk a few blocks to my car, drink a bit of water, and walk a few more blocks around downtown Berkeley before checking in with some friends and returning to the show.

Leaving the home and going to an indoor show certainly is a risk; however, I feel that the Freight (and the Tuna) is doing a great job of mitigation.  I was at the Freight a couple of weeks ago to see John Mayall (88 years-old!) and they had food/drinks available, so people were able to sit around the front room/concessions area and drop their masks while eating and drinking (front windows were open for cold ventilation).  Closing down the food/drinks seems like a very good decision during this time.  I think that the band and Freight were very nice to allow full refunds for the tickets (maybe that's standard practice, I don't know).  There are even air purifiers in the restrooms (there is also a very nice restroom near the entrance of the parking garage next door, in case people really want to distance themselves).

EVERYBODY had their masks on, many of them doubling up with 95s of different sorts.  Well, Jack and Jorma didn't have masks and the lead staff took her mask off to introduce the band from the stage (then put hers back on).  Lots of older (than me) couples sitting together and people generally had extra space in the upper chairs (lower level was pretty packed).

I found a nice stool in the mid-section, with no one behind me (a post between me and the left person and a cocktail table between me and the right person).  I also enjoyed wandering around to sit in an aisle seat on the back row and standing/dancing at the very back of the room.  The sound was impeccable at every location.

Mark, the show was FANTASTIC!  And Jorma/Jack seemed to feel right at home.  Unfortunately, I am not a Hot Tuna connoisseur, so I don't know that many of their songs, but they played many of my favorite tunes: Candy Man, Hesitation Blues, Far Too Long (and another similar sounding tune that Jorma apparently dusted off for the first time in 50 years during one of his Fur Peace Ranch streams), Death Don't Have No Mercy (audible call for Coach Madden), and many more that escape my mind at this time.  Some great acoustic jams happening.   Loved the regular buzz of Jack's acoustic bass and the twang of Jorma's guitar.  Gorgeous.

There was a very good vibe in the house last night.  A calm sense of community, reunion, and caring for each other (maybe it was just me).

I'm very much looking forward to returning this evening.  And am extremely grateful to Zooey for sending me her tix, then encouraging me to attend when I asked her if she would like to receive refunds.

View from the middle:

View from the back:

Whoa!  I just saw your post, DickyB!

And $20 for Joe...Hmmm...

Cool Thanks for the intel.

May check out that Cornerstone Berkeley venue b4 the show...

Stop whining and be grateful

Last night shell was freaking unbelievable just pure magic

it was sold out and everyone was wearing a mask

the staff was very professional

and JACK Cassidy is right up there with Phil lesH

Spectacular telecommunication having develop from over 50 years playing together

Dickyb

check your phone msg...

I'm glad you enjoyed the show, Johnny D. 

So, the difference between the perceived risk factor on 12/28-30 vs. 12/31 is apparently the food/drink. The fact that they chose to do the 3 shows only under the conditions of not allowing food or drink, illustrates how problematic of a situation it really is. If the only way to safely do the show safely is to require audience to wear mask the whole time and not eat or drink anything, even water, than going ahead with the show is a questionable decision. Conceivably, they could do the same for NYE, but decided that canceling altogether was better than offering a show with no food or drink, but only for 1 of the 4 nights. The other 3 nights, better to have a thirsty audience than cancel.

Inconsistent, and lacking in solid logic, to my sensibilities, though I've seen much worse over the past 2 years. I doubt the wisdom that the lack of food/drink and a shorter show on 12/28-30 actually makes it such a considerably safer environment than if they allowed food/drink, that THAT makes the difference between being able to do the show safely, or not. 

To put things into realistic perspective, my wife and I bailed on tonight's show out of precaution, but not without reason. My son and his girlfriend visited us briefly on 12/24, then felt sick a day or 2 later, and now are positive for covid. My wife and I feel healthy right now, with no symptoms, but were potentially exposed. We don't feel sick, but we don't know if we have the virus or not. If we went to the show, and wound up being positive, we would be part of the problem of spreading infectious disease. So, the responsible thing is to forego seeing on of my favorite bands in a nice place. Seems like the obvious thing that any smart, sane adult would do, yet surely some people will (perhaps unknowingly) pass on the gift of covid to strangers somewhere along their travels over the next few days, despite new information becoming available.

and over on Facebook, Fox news and all over this land... Probably 75-100 million Americans would call me a woke pussy libtard, something less than a real man, and other silly insults, for choosing to stay home, and forego something pleasurable that I previously planned, in order to do the responsible thing. Oh the horrors of foregoing immediate gratification under any circumstances! How un-American. SMH! 

Thanks for the rant. Enjoy the shows if you go! 

Here's a Happy New Year aspiration for 2022: After all this covid crap is in the rear view mirror, we're going to have a West Coast Zoner Jam somewhere in Northern California, perhaps summer 2022. I will start a thread about it when spring has sprung. I have a few loose ideas swirling around the thc soaked areas of my mind! Think good thoughts (and also harsh negative shit too if you want, don't censor yourself, keep it real hahahahaha)!

Wishing good health and happiness to all Tofu Heads.   

Looking forward to good times in 2022.

Thank you!

I'm listening to Jorma and Jack right now. Not Hot Tuna, but that other band they were in, Jefferson Airplane Live at Fillmore East 1968.

Good shit. Feed your head.

We ended up buying tickets for tonight and will be going to the freight. I need to hear done music, feeling cooped up at home.

^You won't regret it.  They were absolutely amazing last night. 

I'm thinking about heading over again tonight, or at least watching the stream. 

Enjoy!

Streaming tonight's show. Sounds great. As if they're playing in my living room. HFT!

That was an incredible show, Jack's bass sounded so rich and Jorma still has the magic touch. I really liked the set list too.....it was good to get out.