Jethro Tull - 40th Anniversary tour.

Is it really 40 years? I guess it is but what a 40 years it's been. Some of the best albums and some of the best gigs of my life have been delivered by Jethro Tull.

This wasn't, in all honesty, the best but still fantastic entertainment. Ian Anderson is one of, if not THE, best front men in music. Witty to the extreme and great fun to listen to. Just before the interval he said that at their advanced years intervals are a necessary thing because of the onset of bladder and prostate problems. Looking at most of the audience I think they were grateful. I know I was. Ian suggested that we take the opportunity to visit the Merchandise stalls where we could pick up a set of Jethro Tull Ovaltine mugs and to put in a pre-order for next years addition of Jethro Tull incontinence pants. I almost peed myself laughing.

There were a few special guests. Greg Lake!!! Who sang Lucky Man, Drummer Barrie Barlow who, even with the small kit he played, was AWESOME. The time signatures he played flawlessly on Heavy horses and Thick as a Brick were mind boggling. A real genius of the skins. Another guest was the violinist Anna Phoebe who has played on recent tours. I kept thinking that it was a shame our own Violin Cyndee wasn't there. She would have been great I know.

The band were as tight as ever and even though Ian's voice is different these days he still can knock the spots off many other vocalists half his age.

There were a few surprises in the set including a great rendition of the very Jazzy "One for John Gee" which was the B-side of one of their first singles.

Good to hear them play "Dharma for one" with Doane Perry throwing in a very good drum solo. It even included the famous Klaghorn, the sound of which Ian likened to the musical equivalent of a prostate examination. More laughs from a very knowing audience.

The set list says it all really. The latest song played was from Crest of a Knave but it was great to hear those old standards again.

Ian has said in interviews that he will probably continue playing until he's 69 but can't see a 70 year old treading the boards. Shame really as "49 and half anniversary tour" doesn't have the same ring as "50th" does it?

Long may they play and entertain us.

Set list

My Sunday Feeling
Living in the Past
One for John Gee
So Much Trouble
Nursie
A Song for Jeffrey
Sossity / Reasons for Waiting
Serenade to a Cuckoo
Farm on the freeway
A New Day Yesterday
99 Lives w/ Anna Phoebe
Bouree s/ Anna Phoebe

Intermission

For 1000 Mothers
We Used to Know / With You There to Help Me
Dharma for One
Lucky Man w/ Greg Lake
Heavy Horses w/ Barrie Barlow
Thick As A Brick w/ Barrie Barlow
Aqualung

Encore
Locomotive Breath w/ Barrie Barlow, Greg Lake and Anna Phoebe

[Ted]

KeithieW,

WOW - awesome set list - sounds like a wonderful concert. Did you take any pics? Very nice description! You have an AMAZING memory.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience. Did Pam go with you?

Regards from Texas,
Ted

Ted,

I have a confession to make. I needed help from the Brits on Prog-Ears to get the set list. As, should be apparent from the review, age is taking it's toll and the senile dimensions are setting in.

Pam did go too she is a real Tull fan as well. She has been going with me to Tull gigs since 1977.

[Rick and Roll]

Keithie is amazing, Ted, but the set list was posted on Progressive Ears Most of the time I can't remember all of the songs 10 minutes after the show. Used to write them down but that was too geeky... (oh now I see KW fessed up...)

Anyway -

Barriemore Barlow is one of the best drummers ever. I doubt in the US we'll get him or greg Lake to guest, so a hoorah (third, lol) for you Mr. Waye...

As the band goes, they're hitting many more very old songs. A few years back it was Stand Up songs, and now the first record is getting a lot of play...they do miss a lot of the War Child to Broadsword period but you can NEVER complain about the best band on the planet.

I love Ian's witticsms. Last year he mentioned the 121 combined years of he and Martin...

looks like they played Budapest again (even though it isn't on the list)? I so tire of that song.

Was Aqualung rearranged like last time? That was fantastic.

Story about Nursie...I played that to a drunk friend in college at 45 RPM. He kept mentioning that it was his favorite Tull song!

Will see them also in August..thanks for the info!

Beat you to it Rick.

Sorry mate but I knew you'd throw in a comment so I 'fessed up.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by KeithieW

Beat you to it Rick.

Sorry mate but I knew you'd throw in a comment so I 'fessed up.

When I used to post sometimes I would get distracted, etc and time out...and lose the post. So now I either do it from my email (my show threads) or put a few comments down and go back and edit).

but you are still faster than me....i should have taken typing!

Here's a snippet from the encore. Shows Greg Lake, Anna Phoebe and Barrie Barlow playing Locomotive Breath with the band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwGSODUy_CA

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by KeithieW

Here's a snippet from the encore. Shows Greg Lake, Anna Phoebe and Barrie Barlow playing Locomotive Breath with the band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwGSODUy_CA

I like Anna's bend at the knees and slapping of the bow.

However, they should ban those camera phones...people look like dorks waving them around trying to get a pic. Watch the show!

[RogorMortis]

I'll see Tull in DK in November

I hope they do Locomotive Breath - one of my fav Tull tracks

I write down the songs if I get the bloody title - I can't remember sods when it comes to the crunch - I can never really pick up the lyrics anyway.........