Boston Harold Podcast

There are days when I think Hot Tuna is the coolest band on the planet.  Back in the 1970s, there was a saying,  “There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.” Of course nowadays, there are plenty of things like a Grateful Dead concert. Sometimes it even features members from the original lineup.  However, there truly isn’t anything like a Hot Tuna, or a Jorma Kaukonen, concert. While things have changed since their original days as an offshoot of the Jefferson Airplane, the same vibe, and musical excellence, has remained constant. Their fan base continues to be fanatical, if a bit more subdued. No one really plays like Jorma, or has the decades-long friendship that he has with bassist Jack Casady. Plus Jorma, either solo or with Hot Tuna, still delivers the goods.  Over the past 13 months, I’ve seen Hot Tuna three times, and Mr. Kaukonen once. ( See my review of last year’s show at the Wilbur Theater in Boston.) This is an honor usually reserved for either Bob Dy...

The DAG BRAATHEN Interview (2022) I don’t know the exact moment Dag Braathen entered my life, but it must have been quite some time ago. I'm certain that it was via social media, where we follow each other on Twitter and Facebook. It soon became apparent that Mr. Braathen has an encyclopedic mind when it comes to many things, especially two of my main musical interests - Bob Dylan and the Beatles. When someone on Twitter in particular, or some other platform, asks about a particular song, album, show, or photograph, if Dag is aware of it, he will answer it. If someone posts just about anything about Dylan or the Beatles, Mr. Braathen will expound on it, improve upon it, or otherwise provide receipts to confirm it. However, Dag doesn't do this with any kind of condescension. He just shares his knowledge in a very kind and generous way. It doesn't stop there, either. I've yet to be let down or disappointed when I've asked Dag for some help answering a question. He not...