Saw Ian Anderson perform the entire "Thick As A Brick" album

Denis · October 01, 2012, 11:01:01 AM

Saturday the gf and I and a couple of friends went to see Ian Anderson and his current touring band perform "Thick As A Brick" in it's entirety. Apparently this tour represents the first time the album has been performed live in it's entirety since 1972.

I never saw Jethro Tull, much to my eternal sadness, but I have to say it was a fantastic show. His band was super tight and although I've listened to the record countless times since high school I never had an appreciation for the complexity of that record until Saturday night.

The encore was simple: "Locomotive Breath".

Major Kudos to anyone who can perform that stuff!!!

Highlander · October 01, 2012, 11:02:18 AM

Sweet...!

How long did the show last in total...?

Denis · October 01, 2012, 12:23:14 PM

All told I would say they played about an hour and 45 minutes or so, since they played both the original AND this year's "Thick As A Brick 2". It sure was worth the time and money spent to go.

On a similiar and humorous note, a couple of months ago a buddy and I went to see Roger Waters perform "The Wall". He'd read a guy's forum post stating he'd seen the show twice and complained it was the same both times.

Highlander · October 01, 2012, 01:23:23 PM

Heaven forbid your buddy seeing an orchestral work...

Rush, back in the late 70's through the 80's could easily be accused of that, even down to the blurb between numbers... $:-\$

uwe · October 01, 2012, 02:14:58 PM

True, I saw Rush on the Spirit of Radio tour and I almost left early, it was too boring, a reproduction of their studio work.

The new Thick as a Brick II is nice. I've only heard good things about their gigs.

Herbie, I have to admonish you, you forgot to make special mention of the mationality of the new boy lead guitarist or didn't he wear his jack boots?

Denis · October 01, 2012, 03:39:51 PM

I had known this touring band wouldn't include Martin Barre and maybe that's why it's not a Jethro Tull album and tour. Still, his guitar work was missed!

Highlander · October 01, 2012, 04:08:09 PM

Quote from: uwe on October 01, 2012, 02:14:58 PM
Herbie, I have to admonish you...

Ich demütig zu entschuldigen - vielleicht sollte ich nur post in Deutsch für eine Woche, oder vielleicht bootroom pflichten...?

What do you know of the young maestro...?

eb2 · October 02, 2012, 10:26:10 PM

I saw different versions of Tull, and last saw a version 10 years ago. It was really Ian Anderson and Martin Barre with some competent but generic guys. The last version, though visibly in a different world, was more in line with an early 70s vibe than some of the post-A oddness. Healthy guys though. I would probably see this thing.

jumbodbassman · October 03, 2012, 12:36:36 PM

saw them do it in 72 and passion play next tour. great shows

gweimer · October 03, 2012, 12:50:54 PM

Quote from: jumbodbassman on October 03, 2012, 12:36:36 PM
saw them do it in 72 and passion play next tour. great shows

I saw them between Benefit and Aqualung. Back in the days when a band road tested their new material before the record hit the racks. Also a great show.

uwe · October 03, 2012, 01:21:42 PM

Quote from: HERBIE on October 01, 2012, 04:08:09 PM
Ich demütig zu entschuldigen - vielleicht sollte ich nur post in Deutsch für eine Woche, oder vielleicht bootroom pflichten...?

What do you know of the young maestro...?

He's young, a kraut, had backed Ian Anderson on some orchestral solo thing of Ian a couple of times and got the new job offered. Barre and Anderson must have had some falling out, so they keep quiet about it. Barre says he doesn't know why he wasn't invited to record and tour Thick as a Brick II and is currently touring the UK clubs playing - you guessed it - "the music of Jethro Tull".

He who may not be named in every thread is incidentally a great fan of Martin Barre, calling him once "not a great improviser, but I admire him for remembering all those weird little bits Ian comes up with, I could never do that, the music is really complex".

gweimer · October 03, 2012, 02:39:42 PM

Barre's solo in "Aqualung" alone should be a lesson in how to write a GREAT solo. The solo is practically a song in itself, with the most tasteful phrasing I think I've ever heard. It remains in my top five favorites of all time.

Highlander · October 03, 2012, 04:22:37 PM

Quote from: uwe on October 03, 2012, 01:21:42 PM
He who may not be named in every thread...

Who's that...? Have I missed something...?

Dave W · October 03, 2012, 08:53:05 PM

Quote from: HERBIE on October 03, 2012, 04:22:37 PM
Who's that...? Have I missed something...?

He's been on the defensive ever since I asked if there were any band or musician discussions here where he didn't manage to work in a mention of Blackmore.

Pilgrim · October 04, 2012, 01:53:54 PM

Quote from: Dave W on October 03, 2012, 08:53:05 PM
He's been on the defensive ever since I asked if there were any band or musician discussions here where he didn't manage to work in a mention of Blackmore.

Well, that name does sound kind of like a cough (Blackmore

) dropped into a sentence.