Jethro Tull live in Rome - 9th May, 2006

 

I'm asking this question also because of the fact I saw him recently, with orchestral show, and I would like to compare the shows. By the way, there's a review of that aforementioned recent show, at the page of live performances reviews, to which only one person reacted so far. It may sound like capricious child words, but I really wanted to share the impressions from the shows of the great master, and not because this review was written by my 'precious' self...

 

I think it should be better if the band include more material from 1975-1979 period. In fact in this Rome's event there is no song of these years.

 

Maybe it depends on the fact of the recent release of Aqualung live. In Mantua JT played all the Aqualung repertoire + the rest of the songs you mentioned above.

 

What about Black Sunday live? I wish I can listen to it.

 

BTW, this morning, FINALLYYY, I've bought this:

 

Now, I don't know what happened when I first posted this report - now it should come out right.

Anyway, it was the third time I'd seen JT in my life, and in spite of a few snags (more later) it was a satisfying experience indeed. Rome's gig was the second on a three-date Italian tour. Fortunately the band visit my country quite often, as they have a lot of fans there (including myself and our very own Andrea C.).

 

First of all, here's the setlist - I apologise in advance if I get the order of the songs wrong or forget anything, as I'm working from memory. I know I'll never make a good reporter!

 

Life Is A Long Song,

Skating Away...,

Living in the Past

Serenade to a Cuckoo

Beggar's Farm

Thick as a Brick

Boris Dancing

Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose

Bourée (christmas album version)

Hymn 43

Murphy's Paw

Cross-Eyed Mary

A New Day Yesterday

Budapest

Aqualung

Locomotive Breath,

Protect And Survive (inst.)

Cheerio

 

The band was very tight, the musicianship excellent as usual. Moreover, they play with lots of energy and enthusiasm - it's quite evident they have fun when they perform, and they also get on with each other remarkably well. Ian Anderson is a born showman, a force of nature; both his flute and his acoustic guitar playing were outstanding, and his between-songs banter witty and uplifting. Pity his voice's not what it used to be. His peculiar singing style, his age and the problems he had a few years ago have taken their toll on what used to be one of the most distinctive voices in prog. As I heard some people say at the end of the gig, he should probably consider having one or two backing vocalists to support him - though I can't see it happening very soon.

 

As to the other negative aspects: first of all, the concert was a bit too short (under two hours), though the tickets were far from cheap. I've seen the setlist from the UK tour, and it was almost twice as long. No sexy violinist, either - I would've liked to see her, not in THAT sense (I still prefer men - now, give me Eddie Jobson on the "A" tour, and we'll talk about him *drool*), but because I was curious to hear the contribution of her playing to the band's sound. Then, the stage was too small, and the drums (though Doane Perry is an excellent player) sounded somewhat dry and tinny. The acoustics were not the best either, as the venue (in the middle of nowhere - I reached it after a nightmare journey through an unknown suburban area of Rome) is a vast, canvas-covered structure - not bad, but not ideal either.

 

All the musicians are very accomplished, but I should give a particular mention to Martin Barre, one of the great, unsung guitar heroes. His playing was so blistering that he got a resounding ovation from the audience at the end of the gig. I was surprised at how heavy he sounded throughout: his playing really gives the band's sound a hard edge that fits in very well with Anderson's folkier leanings. His solo spots (notably "Murphy's Paw" from one of his solo albums, and the marvellous "Aqualung") were easily one of the highlights of the show.

 

After almost 40 years, JT are still going strong and up there with the very best. I really hope to have the opportunity to see them for the fourth time in the near future - possibly with a new album under their belt!