Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 1st 2010.
One of most prodigious bands to have made the long trek from the late sixties as jobbing musicians to international superstars made a welcome return to the Liverpool Philharmonic this week and wowed old and new fans alike with a set list full of tracks from an extensive and much loved back catalogue.
Jethro Tull opened the night with Dun Ringill and The Water Carrier before criss-crossing through the years and playing tracks as diverse as Eurology, A New Day Yesterday and the outstanding Songs from the Wood for which Martin Barre excelled on guitar. As always Ian is consummate showman and all the way through the gig he didn’t disappoint the crowd as he played his trademark flute with such beguiling accuracy that it was beyond reason how he still managed to stand in his usual manner of one leg high and tucked in throughout most of the show.
The second album Stand Up got a big mention through the songs Bouree (the J.S Bach inspired track) and the exquisite Fat Man.
Ian then recounted how some people would remember the days when they were a small blues band doing the circuit at the Marquee Club in London, then in the early seventies they did a pastiche of a genre of “Prog”, (which drew a huge cheer from a section of the audience, to which Ian gently raised his eyebrows and said in a gentle mocking tone “really”) then onto the more folk rock “which also had a little bit of “prog” within it (which once again drew a loud cheer).
Ian Anderson dedicated a song to the great Ravi Shankar, whose inspiration guided The Beatles during some of their more experimental recording days, as he approached his ninetieth birthday. The band then proceeded to play the wonderful A change of Horses.
The guys finished an excellent set interwoven with inventive stories with the eagerly awaited Aqualung for which Ian Anderson and the band truly revelled in.
Jethro Tull are noted for their expansive, crowd friendly sets and once again they didn’t disappoint as they produced an evening that will stand out in the memory of those there for a very long time.
Ian D. Hall