“The train it won’t stop going No way to slow down” (Locomotive Breath, Jethro Tull, 1971)
And so, the Jethro Tull legacy continues under the direction of sole original member and locomotive fan Ian Anderson. The current line-up of the band is the aforementioned train driver and leader Ian Anderson providing vocals, flute, acoustic and electric guitar since 1967; David Goodier on bass guitar a long-term member since 2007; John O’Hara on keyboards, accordion, vocals also a long-standing member since 2007; Scott Hammond on drums and a relatively new member since 2017 and Jack Clark on guitar a new recruit who just joined the merry crew this year, 2024. There have been some breaks in the line – up over the years, while the band undertook a hiatus, but the list above gives an overview of the current band and its lineage.
Jethro Tull and I have a long history together and a long-standing friendship. I recall my school days when I was in my early teens. The sixth formers would carry LPs under their arms to school. They played them in a little room upstairs in the dining hall at lunchtime. Sometimes, if I was lucky, they allowed me upstairs to their elite “Record Club” to listen to their new, magical, psychedelic sounds. The records they carried were badges of honour and included Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown album, Cream’s Wheels of Fire, Tyrannosaurus Rex’s My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair, But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows, and Jethro Tull’s This Was. This Was included a mix of blues, rock and strange flute playing. A year or two later, I remember sitting in my mate’s house and playing Jethro Tull’s second album Stand Up, with its great sleeve which opened out to a set of pop-ups of the band. How cool we felt. Then, in 1971, we all went to see Jethro Tull at Sunderland Empire. Happy days and magical memories. The die was cast. We were all Jethro Tull fans for life.
Roll-on 50+ years. The Seven Decades Tour. Wonderful. What is not to like. Why not go along and reminisce with old friends, listen to some old sounds, because let us face it, we all like “Living in the Past”. And plenty of old friends were there. It was great to meet up and say hello to fellow Tull aficionados.
The Glasshouse website welcomed the return of Jethro Tull thus: “Distinctive. Progressive. Iconic Flute Magic. Jethro Tull, The Seven Decades tour will indulge fans with songs spanning the bands entire catalogue of music from their 1968 debut album This Was through to their latest album RökFlöte.
With Ian Anderson as ever central to the performance, this tour will encapsulate the seven decades in which Jethro Tull have written and performed music. Through their 23 studio albums, they have continued to push the boundaries of their music. With Ian’s unique and iconic flute playing paired with his distinct vocal, they are one of the most important and distinctive bands the UK have ever produced and Ian’s desire to continually innovate has ensured they remain as relevant around the world today as they did in the seventies.
Jethro Tull have sold over 60 million albums, have an extensive global fan base and over 30 studio and live albums to their name… but much remains the same! With Ian at the helm, the bands hunger for creativity and experimentation is as strong as ever and only evolves and develops.”
And so, to the performance. Sure, Ian’s voice is not what it was, and the old coat is gone, but the flute playing remains great and the songs are as soulful, passionate, poignant, and intriguing as they ever were. We start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) with “My Sunday Feeling”; Track 1 Side 1 of This Was. This is followed by a selection of songs from throughout the band’s seven decade spanning career. Pure magic. The years disappear and the old songs flow over us all. These include other classics from the first couple of albums. My favourites are “We Used to Know” and the magical flute solo which is “Bouree”.
We were informed at the very start of the performance by Ian himself that we were not allowed any photography until the encore. Hence lots of pictures of trains on the track as the encore was, of course, as always “Locomotive Breath”. It was a shame that we could not take pictures throughout as the images shown on the backdrop were pretty fantastic.
After a short interval Ian and the band return and play a strange mix of old and new. Intriguing, enjoyable yet missing some vintage tracks which are usually performed. No “Living in the Past”. No “The Witches Promise”. Nonetheless an enjoyable selection of songs from some lesser-well known albums. The band continues to surprise the audience.
Set 2 closes with a tale of that seedy tramp “Aqualung”. The encore is, as usual these days, “Locomotive Breath”. And then it is over. I quickly chat with old friends again and then go our separate ways. Our collective verdict is a great show, but a strange collection of songs and missing some classics. I am off home in my taxi. Ian Anderson did the Tull legacy proud and gave us all another night to remember. Happy days. Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site as usual.
Setlist: Set 1: My Sunday Feeling; We Used to Know; Heavy Horses; Weathercock; Roots to Branches; Holly Herald; Wolf Unchained; Mine Is the Mountain; Bourrée in E minor.
Set 2: Farm on the Freeway; The Navigators; Warm Sporran; Mrs Tibbets; Dark Ages; Aquadiddley; Aqualung.
Encore: Locomotive Breath
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Posted by TerriersFan on May 20, 2024 at 6:17 pm
I’m glad that you enjoyed seeing an old friend yet again, Peter, regardless of the unusual setlist.
I don’t care what anyone tries to tell me – the old ones are still the best! 😊
Roger 👍🤘
Posted by vintagerock on May 21, 2024 at 11:49 am
Agreed Roger. You can’t beat classic prog rock ! Happy days Peter
Posted by LESLEY GRIFFIN on May 20, 2024 at 6:17 pm
It was a great night of music and memories and Ian’s flute playing was great – you’ve given a ‘spot on’ account of the night….everyone seemed captivated not wanting to miss a second.
It was fab to see you Peter and to have a brief catch up at the interval …keep on rocking
Posted by vintagerock on May 21, 2024 at 11:48 am
Yes lovely to meet up with you Lesley. I hope to see you at a concert again soon best wishes Peter
Posted by Dave henderson on May 22, 2024 at 5:55 pm
Hi Peter, i was the chap who spoke to you during the interval – you do a splendid job with your blog. The musicianship was top class, ian anderson was still in good voice and he boxed clever with his approach avoiding the high notes, however the set was a little disappointing. More of the old stuff would have made it much better. Keep on keeping on Peter.
Dave
Posted by vintagerock on May 24, 2024 at 9:26 am
Yes i agree Dave lovely to meet you and thanks for your support best wishes Peter