I discovered Jethro Tull back in 1995 with the release of the album Roots to Branches, which is fairly late, I know; both in that they had already been around, releasing albums for some 28 years at that time and in that I was already 20 years old. Nevertheless, I found them at just the right moment in my life, while my deepening interest in music slowly started to turn more and more towards the progressive rock scene. Thus I was truly tempted to go see Tull in concert already that year (they did visit Göteborg), but passed on the opportunity as I was already going to two other concerts that fall (Fish and Levellers) and didn't want to spread myself to thin money-wise. Although I did get to see two memorable concerts, I have always regretted my decision not to go see Tull as well.
For various reasons, I have since managed to miss subsequent opportunities to catch Tull, most recently in 2008, when I waited too long with deciding. So, when the opportunity arose this time, I didn't waste much time in ordering my ticket... and after Saturday evening, I have no regrets for doing that whatsoever.
The concert opened with "Dun Ringill" from the 1979 album Stormwatch and definitely set the pace for the evening. Sadly, though by no means unexpectedly (after all, this is hardly news for Tull fans), Ian Anderson's voice is not what it once used to be. Obviously, this becomes more of an issue with older songs that were written for a younger Anderson's register and much less so for later songs (e.g. the excellent rendition of "Budapest" from the 1987 album Crest of a Knave). That being said, one could imagine it becoming a rather big issue with a set list where the majority of songs dated back to the late 60s and early 70s. However, Anderson and his merry men nevertheless pulled it off and most certainly rocked!
Despite the vocals lacking in high pitch and strength on many occasion, especially early on in the set, the musicianship more than made up for this; and Anderson's stage persona is still a sight to see. Not to mention the fact that the man is a absolutely tremendous flautist.
The first half of the set included the new song "Hare in a Wine Cup", which Anderson presented as a song somehow related to the "Hare who Lost his Spectacles" section from the B-side of the 1973 album A Passion Play; and it ended with a marvellous rendition of "Bourée", which was rather welcome after an admittedly less than stellar rendition of "Songs from the Wood" (mostly so because it lacked in vocal harmonies; partly drowned out by the instruments and partly, from what I could tell, non-existing in the first place). All in all, the concert up until the 20 minutes break included a heavy representation by the 1969 album Stand Up (three songs out of eleven played).
The second half opened rather calmly with King Henry's ballad "Pastime with Good Company", which was followed by the Anoushka Shenkar co-written (and originally co-performed) song "A Change of Horses" (previously also known as "Tea with Anoushka"). The latter no doubt would sound all the more interesting with the inclusion of the intended sitar, which is not to say that Martin Barre's guitar playing in those places wasn't enjoyable; but there is something special with sitar music, I think most people would agree upon.
After these two songs, the second half of the set (five songs in total) really kicked into gear. First off, "My God" from the 1971 album Aqualung really provided a full on rock assault upon the audience, that was much appreciated. This was followed up with the aforementioned "Budapest", where Anderson's vocals probably had their finest moment during the entire evening. Closing the second half of the set, Anderson and his merry men pulled out a no holds bar version of "Aqualung", much to the enjoyment of the audience (albeit a very much seated and rather static audience on the whole, I am sad to say).
Naturally, the notion of an encore is, by now, a well worked in feature of any rock concert and Tull returned to the stage to follow up their successful rendition of "Aqualung" with an equally brilliant rendition of "Locomotive Breath" from the same album. And that was that, a very good concert ended and an evening well spent.
Sure, I would not have minded to hear the abbreviated version of Thick As a Brick or a track or two from Roots to Branches, but I honestly have no real complaints whatsoever.
Set list:
"Dun Ringill" (Stormwatch, 1979)
"Beggar's Farm" (This Was, 1968)
"Life Is a Long Song" (Living in the Past, 1972)
"Jack-in-the-Green" (Songs from the Wood, 1977)
"Hare in a Wine Cup" (new song with its roots in "The Hare who Lost his Spectacles" on A Passion Play, 1973)
"Eurology" (Ian Anderson, Rupi's Dance, 2003)
"A New Day Yesterday" (Stand Up, 1969)
"Nothing Is Easy" (Stand Up, 1969)
"Cross-Eyed Mary" (Aqualung, 1971)
"Songs from the Woods" (Songs from the Wood, 1977)
"Bourée" (Stand Up, 1969)
[20 minutes PAUSE]
"Pastime with Good Company" (The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull, 2007 (also available as "King Henry's Madrigal" on the remastered edition of Stormwatch))
"A Change of Horses" (previously known as "Tea with Anoushka", written and originally performed together with Anoushka Shenkar in 2008)
"My God" (Aqualung, 1971)
"Budapest" (Crest of a Knave, 1987)
"Aqualung" (Aqualung, 1971)
[ENCORE]
"Locomotive Breath" (Aqualung, 1971)
For various reasons, I have since managed to miss subsequent opportunities to catch Tull, most recently in 2008, when I waited too long with deciding. So, when the opportunity arose this time, I didn't waste much time in ordering my ticket... and after Saturday evening, I have no regrets for doing that whatsoever.
The concert opened with "Dun Ringill" from the 1979 album Stormwatch and definitely set the pace for the evening. Sadly, though by no means unexpectedly (after all, this is hardly news for Tull fans), Ian Anderson's voice is not what it once used to be. Obviously, this becomes more of an issue with older songs that were written for a younger Anderson's register and much less so for later songs (e.g. the excellent rendition of "Budapest" from the 1987 album Crest of a Knave). That being said, one could imagine it becoming a rather big issue with a set list where the majority of songs dated back to the late 60s and early 70s. However, Anderson and his merry men nevertheless pulled it off and most certainly rocked!
Despite the vocals lacking in high pitch and strength on many occasion, especially early on in the set, the musicianship more than made up for this; and Anderson's stage persona is still a sight to see. Not to mention the fact that the man is a absolutely tremendous flautist.
The first half of the set included the new song "Hare in a Wine Cup", which Anderson presented as a song somehow related to the "Hare who Lost his Spectacles" section from the B-side of the 1973 album A Passion Play; and it ended with a marvellous rendition of "Bourée", which was rather welcome after an admittedly less than stellar rendition of "Songs from the Wood" (mostly so because it lacked in vocal harmonies; partly drowned out by the instruments and partly, from what I could tell, non-existing in the first place). All in all, the concert up until the 20 minutes break included a heavy representation by the 1969 album Stand Up (three songs out of eleven played).
The second half opened rather calmly with King Henry's ballad "Pastime with Good Company", which was followed by the Anoushka Shenkar co-written (and originally co-performed) song "A Change of Horses" (previously also known as "Tea with Anoushka"). The latter no doubt would sound all the more interesting with the inclusion of the intended sitar, which is not to say that Martin Barre's guitar playing in those places wasn't enjoyable; but there is something special with sitar music, I think most people would agree upon.
After these two songs, the second half of the set (five songs in total) really kicked into gear. First off, "My God" from the 1971 album Aqualung really provided a full on rock assault upon the audience, that was much appreciated. This was followed up with the aforementioned "Budapest", where Anderson's vocals probably had their finest moment during the entire evening. Closing the second half of the set, Anderson and his merry men pulled out a no holds bar version of "Aqualung", much to the enjoyment of the audience (albeit a very much seated and rather static audience on the whole, I am sad to say).
Naturally, the notion of an encore is, by now, a well worked in feature of any rock concert and Tull returned to the stage to follow up their successful rendition of "Aqualung" with an equally brilliant rendition of "Locomotive Breath" from the same album. And that was that, a very good concert ended and an evening well spent.
Sure, I would not have minded to hear the abbreviated version of Thick As a Brick or a track or two from Roots to Branches, but I honestly have no real complaints whatsoever.
Set list:
"Dun Ringill" (Stormwatch, 1979)
"Beggar's Farm" (This Was, 1968)
"Life Is a Long Song" (Living in the Past, 1972)
"Jack-in-the-Green" (Songs from the Wood, 1977)
"Hare in a Wine Cup" (new song with its roots in "The Hare who Lost his Spectacles" on A Passion Play, 1973)
"Eurology" (Ian Anderson, Rupi's Dance, 2003)
"A New Day Yesterday" (Stand Up, 1969)
"Nothing Is Easy" (Stand Up, 1969)
"Cross-Eyed Mary" (Aqualung, 1971)
"Songs from the Woods" (Songs from the Wood, 1977)
"Bourée" (Stand Up, 1969)
[20 minutes PAUSE]
"Pastime with Good Company" (The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull, 2007 (also available as "King Henry's Madrigal" on the remastered edition of Stormwatch))
"A Change of Horses" (previously known as "Tea with Anoushka", written and originally performed together with Anoushka Shenkar in 2008)
"My God" (Aqualung, 1971)
"Budapest" (Crest of a Knave, 1987)
"Aqualung" (Aqualung, 1971)
[ENCORE]
"Locomotive Breath" (Aqualung, 1971)
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