Jethro Tull War Child tour Newcastle Odeon November 1974
Jethro Tull returned to Newcastle in November 1974, during the tour to promote the War Child album. Support for the tour was all-girl band Fanny. This time Tull had graduated to playing the massive Odeon theatre, which hosted a number of gigs in the early 70s and had a slightly larger capacity to that of the City Hall. Ian Anderson and co were at their pomp best at the time, and this album and tour saw them returning to straight songs after the concept albums Thick as a Brick and Passion Play. 
The single from the album was Bungle in the Jungle, which was quirky but also pretty catchy. If I remember correctly, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond did a nifty version of (How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window? during the concert, and the band was accompanied by a string quartet. This was classic Tull at their best. Setlist: Minstrel in the Gallery; Wind Up; A Passion Play (excerpt); Thick as a Brick; My God (including Flute Solo with Bouree); Cross-Eyed Mary; (How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?; Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day; Wond’ring Aloud; Ladies; War Child; Sealion; Bungle in the Jungle; Aqualung; Back-Door Angels; Locomotive Breath; Hard-Headed English General; Back-Door Angels (reprise)
Archive for the ‘Fanny’ Category
21 Jul
Jethro Tull War Child tour Newcastle Odeon November 1974
28 Nov
Fanny early 70s gigs
Fanny early 70s gigs
I’d all but forgotten Fanny. In my alphabetical ramblings on this blog I am trying to recall all of the significant bands I have seen in concert and I am currently working through the letter F. Today the band Fanny came into my mind. Fanny were, of course, one of the first all-girl bands, and certainly the first real heavy rock girl band. They have been described as the “Godmothers of Chick Rock”, and they were often seen at the time as a novelty act, rather than a real credible rock band. But a credible rock act is exactly what they were. They should be remembered for their music and live performances, both of which were pretty damn good. David Bowie is on record as saying, during an interview for Rolling Stone magazine: “One of the most important female bands in American rock has been buried without a trace. And that is Fanny. They were one of the finest… rock bands of their time, in about 1973. They were extraordinary… they’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever; it just wasn’t their time.” Pretty strong praise. I saw Fanny at least a couple of times, once supporting Jethro Tull on their Warchild tour, and one Friday night at Sunderland Locarno. Both were good performances. I remember they did a great version of the Beatles “Hey Bulldog”. I have a copy of their Fanny Hill lp, which is pictured here; I must look it out and give it a spin to remind me of their music.
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