Jethro Tull - Sheffield City Hall April 1st

Starting with playlist from the event

Dun Ringill
The Water Carrier
Life is a Long Song
Eurology
Nothing is Easy 
A New Day Yesterday 
Tea With the Princess 
Songs from the Wood 
Fat Man
Bouree
A Change of Horses
Bug (Martin Barre instrumental)
Budapest
Aqualung
Encore - Locomotive Breath

Copying directly from Andy's (Blacksword) post in bold

This was my first live Tull experience, and they didn't dissapoint ...this comprised of singer/pianist Saori Jo and her Spanish accompaniest Miguel on guitar. Before they played, Anderson came on stage, politely said good evening, and announced that numerous members of Tull would accompany Saori during her set.

In my opinion the support act did not live up to the standards of accompanying the mighty Tull (a bit over-reactive young - definitely talented - girl but her pop music coloured with bits and pieces of folk, jazz and eastern music did not impress me).

The 50-55 year old audience thoroughly enjoyed the night as the too old to rock 'n roll dinosaurs (well at least 2 of them) gave a brilliant performance which is among the best shows I have ever watched. Very clever and cynical jokes from Ian Anderson throughout the night maintained the balance between highly sophisticated music and a ''little night music'' atmosphere. Not being very familiar with their non-70's stuff I was thoroughly impressed with the use of numerous different instruments (mandolin, flute of course, accordeon, various percussion, bouzouki-like instruments etc) and surprised by the quality and the musical influences of the compositions. Middle east, folk, hindi sounds and the traditional prog and rock moments made this a must-see event. Indeed, the voice of Ian might have been a bit weak at times, but his energy and classic Tull one-foot standing flute-playing moments were there!!! - just like those 70's videos you watch on youtube... Martin Barre although looking like an 80-year old chap (honestly) delivered great rocking tunes in odd-time signatures and performed a great instrumental as well.

The Water Carrier, Tea with the Princess, A change of horses and Budapest among the highlights...

Definitely an experience you should not miss... thank God I saw them even being my first time 42 years after they first started...

So glad you finally got to see them. And that's a very nice looking setlist.
Such a crime that Ian is no longer able to sing. But this has been the case since '82.
Anyway, I pray I'll get to see them at least one more time.

harmonium.ro wrote: Lizzy wrote: So glad you finally got to see them. And that's a very nice looking setlist. Such a crime that Ian is no longer able to sing. But this has been the case since '82. Anyway, I pray I'll get to see them at least one more time. Wait a minute, you mean you didn't go see them in Sibiu in 2008?

2007, mon ami! Looking at the poster as I type.:D And if you read carefully, I said one MOAR time.

harmonium.ro wrote: Both my memory and attention are apparently leaving me, probably an age thing

But of course. You can ask the 80 year looking Martin for his Zimmer frame. Not necessarily good for the memory, but there are other practical uses for it.

Blacksword wrote: Lizzy wrote: So glad you finally got to see them. And that's a very nice looking setlist.Such a crime that Ian is no longer able to sing. But this has been the case since '82.Anyway, I pray I'll get to see them at least one more time. The first time I heard Tull was a radio broadcast of their Milton Keynes show, supporting Marillion. I remember tinking at the time, that Andersons voice was pretty rough. I think he even apologised to the crowd for it, but the music stood up, and caught my attention immediately. The combination of flute and rock guitar wasn't something I'd heard before. I was fairly new to prog rock, back then..

At that time I thing he was either before or recovering from a throat surgery. But he himself admitted that he didn't have the best vocals one could find on the market, but what I truly love is the beauty of his vocal timbre, not the range. You can hear that for example in The Chequered Flag.

Blacksword wrote: Lizzy wrote: Blacksword wrote: Lizzy wrote: So glad you finally got to see them. And that's a very nice looking setlist.Such a crime that Ian is no longer able to sing. But this has been the case since '82.Anyway, I pray I'll get to see them at least one more time. The first time I heard Tull was a radio broadcast of their Milton Keynes show, supporting Marillion. I remember tinking at the time, that Andersons voice was pretty rough. I think he even apologised to the crowd for it, but the music stood up, and caught my attention immediately. The combination of flute and rock guitar wasn't something I'd heard before. I was fairly new to prog rock, back then.. At that time I thing he was either before or recovering from a throat surgery. But he himself admitted that he didn't have the best vocals one could find on the market, but what I truly love is the beauty of his vocal timbre, not the range. You can hear that for example in The Chequered Flag. Agree. His voice is perhaps the most important conponant of the Tull sound...and the flute of course!

I was privileged enough to see that show, and, yes, he was recovering from surgery, hence the fact that the majority of the set was instrumental. It didn't detract from the quality though.

Having first seen Tull on the 'Broadsword' tour back in 1982 & on several occasions since then, I can say that Anderson's voice has been on something of a downward spiral since the early 1990s; sometimes you catch him on a good(ish) night (for example the Cropredy Festival 2/3 years back), but so often, it's weak & out of tune, which is a shame - on the plus side, his sheer stage presence & flute playing are always perfection, so I can forgive the vocal flutters...

If you want to see the man at the height of his powers, check out the Madison Square Gardens DVD - truly top notch

...that notwithstanding, it sounds like JT as a band were on fine form as always at Sheffield; shame I couldn't get tickets for St Albans (sold out in about 3 seconds flat )

Blacksword wrote: Yep! The Madison Square Gardens DVD is truly Tull at their best!

Hehe! Then you haven't seen Isle of Wigh ('70)t or Tanglewood ('70) or  Tampa ('76) or my ultimate favourite - Golders Green Hippodrome (77).
At MSG Ian was already old... and fat. Brilliant show nonetheless. Pitty John Glascock was very ill at the time and didn't make it to the concert.

Have they played APP bits after '75?
Btw, nice avi, Max!

Is that an early pic of Mr. Anderson?