Jethro Tull gig last night

[MartinBarre]

As you'll see from my username and avatar, I'm a big Tull fan. But the first time I saw them on their last tour was the worst gig I'd ever been to. So I went to this, their 40th Anniversary tour, with some trepidation. I couldn't even get any of my pals to come to it, had to beg the wife to come!

Anyway, they fucking ROCKED. Every member of the band was on fire, Martin Barre (playing a PRS with what looked like either EMG's or Duncan Blackouts?) proved again what an incredible player he is. Never hit a bum note all night (Ian Anderson did, had a wee laugh about it to himself too), and his technique was flawless. His rythm work was perfect and the solos were unbelievable (although he did miss having a trem during "Farm on the Freeway" IMO).

They played a lot of (really) older songs, "Serenade For A Cuckoo", "My Sunay Feeling", "For a Thousand Mothers", along with "I'm Beside Myself" from the much newer Roots to Branches album, and the usual classics like "Aqualung", "Locomotive Breath" and a tight as fuck "Thick As A Brick".

Ian Anderson looked slimmer than in years and cavorted around like a man much younger. His voice sounded a lot better than it has in ages too. His performance really won over my wife who really couldn't stand the band before last night. She was shocked that Martin Barre - a small elderly man with hardly any (white) hair left rocked so fucking hard! She thought he looked like he was going to keel over any moment, but played the guitar like a beast. Which is a pretty good summation of how he's performed and looked his entire illustrious career!

Overall, I was shocked at how hard these old guys rocked, especially after the garbage they played at their last gig. I just wish I could have seen them 35 years ago when they were at the height of their powers - they must have been incredible back then.

[necrotechno]

The only time I saw them live was in 2002, in Savanah, Georgia (USA). For a convenient reference, it was the night before the performance that was recorded in Clearwater, Florida, for the "Living With the Past" CD and DVD. Pretty much the same set list, minus Bouree (sadly, as Jonathan Noyce totally smoked that number on the DVD). Three tracks from Ian's solo album Secret Language of Birds (too many, IMO), and the strange choice of the then recently sex-changed David Palmer's boring "Elegy" instrumental.

Anyway, it's pretty obvious the vocals on the LWTP DVD were overdubbed, since Ian lost his voice after only three songs the performance I saw. Ian played the acoustic part of Aqualung on a yellow Stratocaster (?!? — He had his tiny Manson custom on other songs), with a Boss AC-2 I'm guessing. Fairly convincing sound. Martin played his backup pearl silver Strat while his main black Strat was being worked on at a local shop, and I guess I'm being charitable to attribute that to his solos being somewhat sloppy. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him. But he did purchase a Gibson L-5 that I had actually played in the store, and he featured it on one track on his Stage Left solo album.

The following year (2003) they performed at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival, which Eagle Vision released on DVD in 2007. I got that not too long ago, and Ian's voice seems much less strained. May have been dubbed, I have no idea. Standout track for me was (unfortunately) the opening number, "Someday the Sun Won't Shine For You," Ian on harmonica. Some nice (and obscure) bridge pieces from "Protect and Survive" and "Dark Ages," as well as some of their cool traditional jig/rock anthems, and a Martin solo acoustic track, "Empty Cafe." Some odd choices from their pre-Aqualung catalogue ("With You There to Help Me" and "Nothing is Easy").

Their live performance of the entire Aqualung album a couple years ago at the XM Radio studios in Seattle was fairly atrocious (title track noticeably played in a lower register), but the re-worked Hymn 43 and bonus comments were fun. It's that record that made me realize it's not the strain in Ian's voice that I hate, it's that his phrasing is off-beat compared with the recorded versions of the songs. It's impossible to sing along with him.

Best version I've ever heard of Thick as a Brick (besides the whole thing, of course) was the selection chosen in 1984, featured on the MTV program Rock Influences. Ian co-hosted an episode dedicated to Progressive Rock.

Tull have been my favorite band since I first started listening to them in the early 80's (long after their peak in popularity, on the beginning of their slide into obscurity), and probably always will be.

[MartinBarre]

The only time I saw them live was in 2002, in Savanah, Georgia (USA). For a convenient reference, it was the night before the performance that was recorded in Clearwater, Florida, for the "Living With the Past" CD and DVD. Pretty much the same set list, minus Bouree (sadly, as Jonathan Noyce totally smoked that number on the DVD). Three tracks from Ian's solo album Secret Language of Birds (too many, IMO), and the strange choice of the then recently sex-changed David Palmer's boring "Elegy" instrumental.

Anyway, it's pretty obvious the vocals on the LWTP DVD were overdubbed, since Ian lost his voice after only three songs the performance I saw. Ian played the acoustic part of Aqualung on a yellow Stratocaster (?!? — He had his tiny Manson custom on other songs), with a Boss AC-2 I'm guessing. Fairly convincing sound. Martin played his backup pearl silver Strat while his main black Strat was being worked on at a local shop, and I guess I'm being charitable to attribute that to his solos being somewhat sloppy. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him. But he did purchase a Gibson L-5 that I had actually played in the store, and he featured it on one track on his Stage Left solo album.

The following year (2003) they performed at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival, which Eagle Vision released on DVD in 2007. I got that not too long ago, and Ian's voice seems much less strained. May have been dubbed, I have no idea. Standout track for me was (unfortunately) the opening number, "Someday the Sun Won't Shine For You," Ian on harmonica. Some nice (and obscure) bridge pieces from "Protect and Survive" and "Dark Ages," as well as some of their cool traditional jig/rock anthems, and a Martin solo acoustic track, "Empty Cafe." Some odd choices from their pre-Aqualung catalogue ("With You There to Help Me" and "Nothing is Easy").

Their live performance of the entire Aqualung album a couple years ago at the XM Radio studios in Seattle was fairly atrocious (title track noticeably played in a lower register), but the re-worked Hymn 43 and bonus comments were fun. It's that record that made me realize it's not the strain in Ian's voice that I hate, it's that his phrasing is off-beat compared with the recorded versions of the songs. It's impossible to sing along with him.

Best version I've ever heard of Thick as a Brick (besides the whole thing, of course) was the selection chosen in 1984, featured on the MTV program Rock Influences. Ian co-hosted an episode dedicated to Progressive Rock.

Tull have been my favorite band since I first started listening to them in the early 80's (long after their peak in popularity, on the beginning of their slide into obscurity), and probably always will be.

Excellent post, thanks for that! There's no accounting for taste though - I LOVE "Elegy". It's something I'd love to learn on the flute. Beautiful piece of music.

I totally agree with what you say about Ian's voice/phrasing. He sounded good the other night, his voice was actually fine all the way through, but he drags words out way past the beat, in an irritating way.
It was funny when the drunk arseholes behind me kept trying to sing along only to sound totally different to Ian. Pair of dicks, I felt like punching one at one point when he said, during Martins solo section "Stop fucking soloing Martin". He got a dirty look from me then started clapping and cheering any time Martin took another solo. Twat.

I believe Ian's been working on a new Tull album, I really hope so as this band, especially with the new musicians, has a LOT to offer still.
Another "El Nino" would do me nicely.

[necrotechno]

I think it's pretty hilarious that people (myself included) still think of Jonathan Noyce and Andrew Giddings as the "new" guys. When they've been with Tull for like fifteen years or more. Although Jonathan is a couple years younger than me (grrr! bastard!), he quickly started looking much older after joining. Ian's just now starting to look as old as he did on the very first album cover (This Was), so there must be some kind of strange magic going on there.

Ian's son, James, has played drums with the band some in the last five years; and I have some MP3's somewhere of Martin's son playing guitar with them. Dave Pegg's son used to fill in on bass when his dad was having health problems in the early 90's.

[MartinBarre]

I think it's pretty hilarious that people (myself included) still think of Jonathan Noyce and Andrew Giddings as the "new" guys. When they've been with Tull for like fifteen years or more. Although Jonathan is a couple years younger than me (grrr! bastard!), he quickly started looking much older after joining. Ian's just now starting to look as old as he did on the very first album cover (This Was), so there must be some kind of strange magic going on there.

Ian's son, James, has played drums with the band some in the last five years; and I have some MP3's somewhere of Martin's son playing guitar with them. Dave Pegg's son used to fill in on bass when his dad was having health problems in the early 90's.

Noyce and Giddings are now "old" guys. They're not in the band any more...It was two other guys who played with them last Friday. I never liked Noyce in general, most uncharismatic man I've ever set eyes on, and Giddings, well I never liked his sound. The two new guys, in particular the bassist, were much better IMO.

I recall reading an interview with Dave Pegg's son, who was less than complimentary about his dad's relationship with Ian... I think Dave still has some kind of "problems". He disbanded Fairport last year for some odd reason. Dunno if it's drink or what, but I loved his playing with Tull and he's been great in Fairport. He's a lot more charismatic than Noyce ever was anyway!

BTW I believe Giddings had a right go at Ian Anderson on his website, but I've not seen what it was he said. I'd like to read that. ian seems to be a right bastard to his band members.

[necrotechno]

Okay, this is news to me. I guess the new(-ish) DVD of them at Montreaux left me with the impression that same group was still together. Now I have to do some mouse-clicking...

[MartinBarre]

I just found this:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/Jethro.html

I don't believe Ian has ever played electric guitar - live at least - for Tull. So why the hell did Hamer do a signature model? That seems bizarre beyond belief.
I know Martin used them, but Ian?

[AlexL]

Love Tull. Saw them first in 86 on the Crest of a Knave tour, and for the three subsequent tours after that.

One of my all-time faves. I even played flute for a number of years as a result of Ian's influence. Played in my sister's wedding, and used to play in church on Sunday mornings, including some Flute duets. I wasn't half bad.

I met my wife at work. The first time we did anything outside of the office, before we were dating, she came over to my place (err... my parent's place rather...) and I made her dinner and we watched excerpts from the "Slipstream" video. The next day I gave her a mix tape of all of my favorite Jethro Tull tunes. When we started dating, I would play "Wond'ring Aloud" on my acoustic for her.

Needless to say, they were a huge part of my early memories of our relationship.

Classic band, and will be forever.

- E.

[necrotechno]

II don't believe Ian has ever played electric guitar - live at least - for Tull. So why the hell did Hamer do a signature model? That seems bizarre beyond belief.
I know Martin used them, but Ian?

Martin was (still is?) a close friend of Paul Hamer's for many years, and played Hamer guitars ('though not exclusively) from the mid-70's through the late 90's (probably stopped because of Kaman buying the company about that time). That guitar was just a one-off gift to Ian, and I've never seen him playing it. But he was indeed strumming on a Hamer Californian in the Steel Monkey video.

And like I said, he played a Strat for the acoustic sections of Aqualung in the show I saw.


On Andrew Giddings' comments, all I can really find is an interviewon the front page at tullworld.com, wherein he says Ian's interest in playing with new band mates may be influenced by the new guys being paid less.

[OnlineStageGear]

I saw Tull back in the early 90's and he kicked ass. Ian's voice cracked a few times near the end of the show but other than that it rocked. They were tight as hell and i would go see them again.

Matt

[MartinBarre]

Martin was (still is?) a close friend of Paul Hamer's for many years, and played Hamer guitars ('though not exclusively) from the mid-70's through the late 90's (probably stopped because of Kaman buying the company about that time). That guitar was just a one-off gift to Ian, and I've never seen him playing it. But he was indeed strumming on a Hamer Californian in the Steel Monkey video.

And like I said, he played a Strat for the acoustic sections of Aqualung in the show I saw.


On Andrew Giddings' comments, all I can really find is an interviewon the front page at tullworld.com, wherein he says Ian's interest in playing with new band mates may be influenced by the new guys being paid less.

Interesting info about the guitar. Must be nice to be a millionaire and have people like Hamer making one off guitars for you as a gift!

The Giddings thing goes deeper. I recall someone on one of the Tul forums posting saying Andy Giddings had posted somewhere or other, something really having a go at Ian Anderson. But by the time I got around to seeing that thread everything Andy said had been removed from whatever site it had been on.
Not the first time someone's "left" Tull with bad feeling.

[MartinBarre]

Love Tull. Saw them first in 86 on the Crest of a Knave tour, and for the three subsequent tours after that.

One of my all-time faves. I even played flute for a number of years as a result of Ian's influence. Played in my sister's wedding, and used to play in church on Sunday mornings, including some Flute duets. I wasn't half bad.

I met my wife at work. The first time we did anything outside of the office, before we were dating, she came over to my place (err... my parent's place rather...) and I made her dinner and we watched excerpts from the "Slipstream" video. The next day I gave her a mix tape of all of my favorite Jethro Tull tunes. When we started dating, I would play "Wond'ring Aloud" on my acoustic for her.

Needless to say, they were a huge part of my early memories of our relationship.

Classic band, and will be forever.

- E.

Great story! I wish my wife liked Tull, but at least she came along to the gig and enjoyed it so that's something. I can't see her watching "Slipstream" with me though, which is a shame as the performance of "Heavy Horses" on that is incredible!