GRATEFUL TUNA
PETER HARRIS - Guitar
Peter, toured and recorded with Melvin Seals’ JGB back in the 90s. They recorded an incendiary live cd at the Hollywood House of Blues, called “Welcome to our World” for the House of Blues record label. In 2002 Peter joined other Bay Area greats such as bassist Mario Cipollina, vocalist Joli Valenti, and drummer Greg Anton in the band Quicksilver Gold. Several dynamic live bootlegs of that configuration are in circulation.
In the late 90s/early 2000s Pete co-founded a number of different bands, each showcasing his ever expanding songwriting and performing abilities including: Hard Times Band, Mystery Cats and Junior Tucker Band. Pete, along with his brother Charlie on bass, and keyboardist/guitarist Steve Farzan, formed a gypsy jazz jam band called Django Obscura, in 2006. This band morphed into the psychedelic 60s electric band Obscura Jam.
More recently, Harris for several years played in the fiercely blues laced Linda Imperial Band thru out the Bay Area where David Freiberg would frequently join in.
JODY SALINO - Guitar
Jody was hooked in his early teens when he first heard Hot Tuna. Where were all those sounds coming from? Influenced to play guitar. Drawn to fingerpicking. He sought out his heroes and studied with them. Ian Buchanan, Dave van Ronk, Stefan Grossman and Jorma Kaukonen all had one thing in common, they played the Piedmont style made famous by Rev. Gary Davis.
By the early 80’s he was part of the seminal New York jam band (before ‘jam band’ was a thing), EarMen. After a move to the west coast in the mid 80’s, Jody co-fronted BluesCasters and recorded Dirt Road. He then engineered and performed on the JC Flyer album Movin’ On. Subsequently he took the guitar chair in Bay Area band, Shakey Zimmerman. Incorporating his piedmont influenced style into all of these bands, Jody performed with many of his heroes over the years.
In addition to his guitar skills, Jody had also worked with Phil Lesh and Friends for an audio editor, earning a Columbia Records credit for his work editing and mastering the bonus disc on Phil’s There and Back Again album.
CHARLIE HARRIS - Bass
As a lifelong student of the bass guitar, and most recently student of Jack Casady, Charlie's signature sound immediately transports you to the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Charlie is Peter's older brother. Together, the brothers Harris formed Django Obsucra and then Obscura Jam along with Steve Farzan.
JAY YOUNG - Drums
Jay’s parents kindly bought him a 1960’s vintage Ludwig champagne pink sparkle kit when he was 10 and Jay has since pursued the beat all his life. Living in Marin County, Jay’s first bands were primarily San Francisco inspired jam bands. The Webs, which he co-founded in 1979 with Peter Harris and others gained regional notoriety and was one of the first Grateful Dead cover bands around. Many other bands and gigs followed thru out the Bay Area in a variety of genres for more than 20 years. Jay’s reconnection with Peter, Charlie and Jody to form Grateful Tuna in 2019 has reinvigorated his love of drumming and joy of performing.
ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING
Mik Bondy – Guitar & Vocals
Kat Walkerson – Vocals
Dan F Crea – Bass
Mik Bondy fills the “Jerry” role with modesty and an understanding that no one can replace Jerry – but that we all together can rejoice in his music. Mik has two tribute guitars and a recreation of Jerry’s actual guitar amps, effects and speakers. Mik loves to jam and really feels the music. A long time Jerry-head, Mik enjoyed the last few years of Jerry’s life following the Jerry Garcia Band around whenever he could. Mik has guested on guitar and vocals with Melvin Seals and JGB.
Kat Walkerson adds heartfelt and soulful female vocals to the mix. She brings an awesome energy to the project and you can feel her love for this music though her singing. She exudes positive vibes and her smiles are a testament to her appreciation of the music. Kat has performed as vocalist for Melvin Seals and JGB and has been a guest vocalist with Dark Star Orchestra.
Dan brings a background in academic music theory, jazz, rock, and playing old and new country in smokey road houses across the upper Midwest as well as a thorough study of both John Kahn and Phil Lesh. He uses two customized Fender Precisions like Kahn used from ’74 to ’81, with Fender necks, Warmoth bodies, LaBella flatwound strings, and EMG electronics with a modified Steinberger Sprit with full EMG system and Steinberger flatwounds for the late 80’s early 90’s shows. With the Acoustically Speaking Trio he uses a Palatino electric upright bass.