quizzkid
Master Craftsman
Spin me back down the years...
Posts: 297
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Post by quizzkid on May 28, 2008 22:52:54 GMT
Maybe a longer review tomorrow, and Col has the definitive set list as he liberated it from the stage,
But all I have to say for now is...
Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished
A great show, three special guests, Anna Phoebe, Greg Lake and Barrie Barlow on drums for Heavy Horses, TaaB and a joint bashing with Doane on Locomotive Breath....
What a *&^%$^% great gig.
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Post by TM on May 29, 2008 0:06:27 GMT
Maybe a longer review tomorrow, and Col has the definitive set list as he liberated it from the stage, But all I have to say for now is... Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished A great show, three special guests, Anna Phoebe, Greg Lake and Barrie Barlow on drums for Heavy Horses, TaaB and a joint bashing with Doane on Locomotive Breath.... What a *&^%$^% great gig. You lucky bastard! We need details!
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Post by nonrabbit on May 29, 2008 8:52:22 GMT
Maybe a longer review tomorrow, and Col has the definitive set list as he liberated it from the stage, But all I have to say for now is... Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished A great show, three special guests, Anna Phoebe, Greg Lake and Barrie Barlow on drums for Heavy Horses, TaaB and a joint bashing with Doane on Locomotive Breath.... What a *&^%$^% great gig. You lucky bastard! We need details! Oh I wish I'd been there soooo jealous
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Post by maddogfagin on May 29, 2008 12:36:17 GMT
Yes it was a great concert - glad I was there. Should have a set list in a couple of days when I get back to Cornwall unless Col posts one first.
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Post by Col on May 29, 2008 14:08:24 GMT
Here's the setlist that Col plucked from under Ian's mic. Col will follow with his review tonight but I've been cracking the whip and sent him out on errands today so he's not been online yet ;D My Sunday Feeling Living in the Past One for John Gee So Much Trouble Nursie A Song for Jeffrey Sossity / Reasons for Waiting Serenade to a Cuckoo Farm on the freeway A New Day Yesterday 99 Lives w/ Anna Phoebe Bouree s/ Anna Phoebe Intermission For 1000 Mothers We Used to Know / With You There to Help Me Dharma for One Lucky Man w/ Greg Lake Heavy Horses w/ Barrie Barlow Thick As A Brick w/ Barrie Barlow Aqualung Encore Locomotive Breath w/ Barrie Barlow, Greg Lake and Anna Phoebe Thoroughly enjoyed the gig. Lovely venue. Greg Lake went over my head a bit, not being familiar with ELP, but Barrie Barlow rocked!! He looked noticeably relieved when he got his first little bit of drumming out the way and settled in great after that. Doane didn't go offstage but laid down behind his drum kit and I could just see his head peeping up singing along to Heavy Horses and giving words of encouragement it seemed. Thought the band didn't seem as relaxed as at Ipswich but I put that down to it being more of an occasion. Saw Jonathan Noyce in the foyer so we thought he might be appearing onstage, but later wondered if he was on "standby". All in all, great evening and very nice to catch up with a few familiar faces again Photos to follow and a little vid of Loco Breath.
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Post by fatman on May 29, 2008 14:33:00 GMT
For Quizz to say this, it must have been grrrrrreat. He's not exactly soft on Tull now, is he?
Jeff
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Post by TM on May 29, 2008 15:00:18 GMT
Now these are what I call special guests!!! The thought of Barrie back on stage with Ian and Martin gives me the chills! And having Greg Lake there is totally cool as well. I hope the Barrie clips make it on to youtube!
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Post by admin on May 29, 2008 16:37:53 GMT
Maybe a longer review tomorrow, and Col has the definitive set list as he liberated it from the stage, But all I have to say for now is... Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished A great show, three special guests, Anna Phoebe, Greg Lake and Barrie Barlow on drums for Heavy Horses, TaaB and a joint bashing with Doane on Locomotive Breath.... What a *&^%$^% great gig. Yes it was a great concert - glad I was there. Should have a set list in a couple of days when I get back to Cornwall unless Col posts one first. I'm glad you guys have said that...I was getting a bit worried I might just be becoming a bit of a Tull yes man who just laps anything up! Another excellent show and it had a real sense of occasion about it I thought, shame it wasn't filmed. All of the band and guests rose to the occasion, especially BB who was brilliant. I have to admit I was a bit concerned when IA was introducing him that it was going to be a bit of an anti climax as he only had a tiny little kit almost hidden behind Martins amps. I got the impression from my vantage point that he was very nervous too but he looked fantastic, the years have been very kind to BB and looked fit and healthy, in fact apart from being a bit grey round the edges now he's hardly changed a bit. And as soon as he started playing the years just rolled away. Despite his mini kit he played Heavy Horses & TAAB just like it was 78 all over again! He has lost none of his technique or any of that wonderful flowing style that made him one of if not the greatest Tull drummer. Anna Phoebe was excellent too, although she only had one of her own songs (99 lives) so was a bit more in the background than previous shows, but in a way that was ok as IMO it gave her a chance to demonstrate the musical contribution she's played to the Tull live sound when she appears. I hope she continues to pop up now and again at Tull shows. Greg Lake was good too. I must confess I've never been much of an ELP fan but Lucky Man is my favourite song of theirs so he picked the right one! And he sung it well too, just as I remember it. Fantastic venue, great acoustics, comfy seats (although everyone was out of them for Loco Breath - hooray!) and big too. No idea how many it seated but it was noticeably bigger than Shepherds Bush which was Tulls regular London theatre up to now. I really liked the way there was no flat floor and the seating was tiered right from the front so there was no bad seat in the house. Nice to see you Quizz and of course the lovely Mrs Quizz again too I'm a bit sad it's all over but with Tull on such fine form I haven't gone home thinking 'Is that it all over?' so we will see you both next year to do it all again no doubt....if not before! It's been a really excellent tour and I hope they keep up the momentum for the rest of the year and you guys in distant lands can get to see some great shows too. I'd have liked to have seen Dave Pegg, Clive Bunker & Jonathan Noyce with Tull again so I hope, even without a 40th celebration tour, that IA will occasionally give an old mate a call out of the blue because IMO the special guest format has worked brilliantly and has made every show different. I've never been one for following a band around and doing multiple shows (even Tull!) but I'm really glad I did it this time. Remember that German guy on the 20 years video who said he couldn't see Ian Anderson going for another 20 years, in a wheelchair maybe? I wouldn't have bet against him at the time but I am very pleased to report it seems he was completely wrong, on the strength of what I've seen over that last few weeks Tull have a few more good years of fuel left in the tank yet......another 20? Being in his 80's hasn't slowed Bruce Forsyth down so you never know! ;D
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Post by admin on May 29, 2008 16:45:50 GMT
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Post by admin on May 29, 2008 17:04:30 GMT
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Post by tullistray on May 29, 2008 17:11:21 GMT
Wow Col, really appreciate this. Let me be very clear that I love the Tull drummer of the past 25 years, Doane Perry, absolutely love him. Certainly have similar feelings about Clive Bunker but seeing Barrie in those shots, man do I miss that guy. Not replacable, full stop. Likewise for John Evan. As they age it is good to see that the old Blackpool boys can share a stage, or in the case of the fan fests, a room together, as I know John Evan has shown up for at least a couple of those, and as far as I know Ian and Jeffrey have always had a good relationship. Hope it shows up on dime torrents, only three so far and none as far as I know in startlingly good sound, I downloaded the Bournemouth and its ok, don't doubt the show there was great too. Also pleased to see a review with no mention of Ian's voice, was it ever worse than 86 thru 89? I believe it to have been on a steady uptick since 99, in part due to tailoring the sound and tempo to what he can manage. Anyway, Good job Col
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greg
Prentice Jack
Posts: 46
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Post by greg on May 29, 2008 17:28:24 GMT
Yes indeed, just back in Edinburgh after a five hour delay on the early mornign flight (grrr), but still buzzing with the second half of last night's gig especially. Great to see a crowd on their feat for the encore again, and the band seemed to rise to the enthusiasm of the crowd. Was it just me, or did Ian string out the instrumental section of Locomotive Breath a bit longer thanh usual to 'work' the front rows of the audience? Either way, they were on top form, and absiolutely wonderful to see Barrie Barlow back on the drums and seemingly on good terms with everyone. What a night! Cheers, Greg (back in the north)
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Post by nonrabbit on May 29, 2008 19:34:58 GMT
Oh GREAT STUFF Col !!
Thanks so much for that ;D
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Post by Col on May 29, 2008 21:03:20 GMT
....feel free to shout at that hairy git to get out of the way Get out of the way you hairy git! ;D
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Post by admin on May 30, 2008 9:58:25 GMT
Also pleased to see a review with no mention of Ian's voice, was it ever worse than 86 thru 89? I believe it to have been on a steady uptick since 99, in part due to tailoring the sound and tempo to what he can manage. Anyway, Good job Col Thanks mate, I didn't realise I hadn'r mentioned his voice at all, which is a compliment for him I guess! Of the shows I've been to it's been very solid, although of course lacking the power and range of the 'old days'. I haven't heard him once go for note and nothing comes out and he's managed some of the tougher stuff like the Heavy Horses chorus & Aqualung really well. Yes indeed, just back in Edinburgh after a five hour delay on the early mornign flight (grrr), but still buzzing with the second half of last night's gig especially. Great to see a crowd on their feat for the encore again, and the band seemed to rise to the enthusiasm of the crowd. Was it just me, or did Ian string out the instrumental section of Locomotive Breath a bit longer thanh usual to 'work' the front rows of the audience? Either way, they were on top form, and absiolutely wonderful to see Barrie Barlow back on the drums and seemingly on good terms with everyone. What a night! Cheers, Greg (back in the north) All the way from Edinburgh...that's dedication! Next time round I'll make a bit more than a half hearted effort on the meet up thread, it would have good to be able to swap notes after the show! Oh GREAT STUFF Col !! Thanks so much for that ;D ;D you're welcome....I didn't have to try too hard to write good things about that show! ....feel free to shout at that hairy git to get out of the way Get out of the way you hairy git! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by admin on May 30, 2008 10:41:04 GMT
About time we had one of these.....a review from a critic who obviously doesn't like Jethro Tull and was never going to change his mind.....he went to a different show to me! entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4028096.eceFrom The TimesMay 30, 2008
Jethro Tull at Festival HallDavid Sinclair
2/5 stars
There seemed to be at least two groups involved in this concert, which ended the UK leg of Jethro Tull’s 40th anniversary tour. One was a gang of lithe, aggressively hirsute, larger-than-life characters who appeared on a big screen at the back, next to ancient newspaper headlines such as “Would you take this man home to meet mum?” The other was a far more sober aggregation of musicians, most now as old as your mum, ranged across the stage.
This lot included the fifth drummer, seventh bass player and eighth keyboard player to have entered the ranks over the 40 years. Common to both groups was the flautist and singer Ian Anderson, the only member of Jethro Tull to have remained in situ throughout, although Martin Barre, who Anderson introduced as “the new guitarist”, has filled the post since 1969.
They started with My Sunday Feeling, the opening track from the group’s first album, This Was, which has just been reissued in a special “collectors’ edition”. The performance was perfect – eerily so – with Anderson’s wiry vocal boosted so high in the mix that it sounded more like a studio recording than the original did.
But there was something incongruous about hearing a band who once beat Metallica to win the Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal performance sounding about as loud and rugged as a cruise ship act. And other numbers from the rock end of their catalogue, such as New Day Yesterday, sounded even more deracinated.
Their celebrated version of Roland Kirk’s Serenade to a Cuckoo fared better, as did the similarly jazz-influenced One for John Gee, written by the band’s original guitarist, Mick Abrahams. Greg Lake of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame performed his song Lucky Man as a guest turn, and one of the departed drummers, Barriemore Barlow, stepped in as the group waded deep into the more convoluted, progressive-rock epics Heavy Horses and Thick as a Brick for which they are still best known.
Anderson cracked many appalling jokes, some of them quite funny. But no amount of levity could disguise the fact that this was a grand celebration by and of a band which has seen better days. Living in the past indeed.
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Post by admin on May 30, 2008 10:55:45 GMT
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Post by broadsword on May 30, 2008 11:16:10 GMT
About time we had one of these.....a review from a critic who obviously doesn't like Jethro Tull and was never going to change his mind.....he went to a different show to me! entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4028096.eceFrom The TimesMay 30, 2008
Jethro Tull at Festival HallDavid Sinclair
2/5 stars
There seemed to be at least two groups involved in this concert, which ended the UK leg of Jethro Tull’s 40th anniversary tour. One was a gang of lithe, aggressively hirsute, larger-than-life characters who appeared on a big screen at the back, next to ancient newspaper headlines such as “Would you take this man home to meet mum?” The other was a far more sober aggregation of musicians, most now as old as your mum, ranged across the stage.
This lot included the fifth drummer, seventh bass player and eighth keyboard player to have entered the ranks over the 40 years. Common to both groups was the flautist and singer Ian Anderson, the only member of Jethro Tull to have remained in situ throughout, although Martin Barre, who Anderson introduced as “the new guitarist”, has filled the post since 1969.
They started with My Sunday Feeling, the opening track from the group’s first album, This Was, which has just been reissued in a special “collectors’ edition”. The performance was perfect – eerily so – with Anderson’s wiry vocal boosted so high in the mix that it sounded more like a studio recording than the original did.
But there was something incongruous about hearing a band who once beat Metallica to win the Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal performance sounding about as loud and rugged as a cruise ship act. And other numbers from the rock end of their catalogue, such as New Day Yesterday, sounded even more deracinated.
Their celebrated version of Roland Kirk’s Serenade to a Cuckoo fared better, as did the similarly jazz-influenced One for John Gee, written by the band’s original guitarist, Mick Abrahams. Greg Lake of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame performed his song Lucky Man as a guest turn, and one of the departed drummers, Barriemore Barlow, stepped in as the group waded deep into the more convoluted, progressive-rock epics Heavy Horses and Thick as a Brick for which they are still best known.
Anderson cracked many appalling jokes, some of them quite funny. But no amount of levity could disguise the fact that this was a grand celebration by and of a band which has seen better days. Living in the past indeed.
Don't know if this guy will ever see this, but here goes............. Righto Mr. Sinclair, for every review like yours, there's 10 from genuine Tull fans, me included, who have been following Tull for damn nearly as long as the group's been in existence. I only saw 1 show this tour - at Oxford - they were superb. If you don't like 'em, what did you go for? The Oxford audience went wild at the end, well, wild for Oxford, other audiences at every show were more animated and loved the show they saw. Fifth drummer - Bunker/Barlow/Burgess/Craney/Mattacks/Conway/Perry - I make that 7. Seventh bass player, eigth keyboard player, someone else reckon that total up. And what the hell does deracinate mean? Why can't you say "uproot" or "displace"? That's it, rant over. And I've just noticed the 2 out of 5 stars, puhleeze.
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Post by tullistray on May 30, 2008 13:20:37 GMT
About time we had one of these.....a review from a critic who obviously doesn't like Jethro Tull and was never going to change his mind.....he went to a different show to me! entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4028096.eceFrom The TimesMay 30, 2008
Jethro Tull at Festival HallDavid Sinclair
2/5 stars
There seemed to be at least two groups involved in this concert, which ended the UK leg of Jethro Tull’s 40th anniversary tour. One was a gang of lithe, aggressively hirsute, larger-than-life characters who appeared on a big screen at the back, next to ancient newspaper headlines such as “Would you take this man home to meet mum?” The other was a far more sober aggregation of musicians, most now as old as your mum, ranged across the stage.
This lot included the fifth drummer, seventh bass player and eighth keyboard player to have entered the ranks over the 40 years. Common to both groups was the flautist and singer Ian Anderson, the only member of Jethro Tull to have remained in situ throughout, although Martin Barre, who Anderson introduced as “the new guitarist”, has filled the post since 1969.
They started with My Sunday Feeling, the opening track from the group’s first album, This Was, which has just been reissued in a special “collectors’ edition”. The performance was perfect – eerily so – with Anderson’s wiry vocal boosted so high in the mix that it sounded more like a studio recording than the original did.
But there was something incongruous about hearing a band who once beat Metallica to win the Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal performance sounding about as loud and rugged as a cruise ship act. And other numbers from the rock end of their catalogue, such as New Day Yesterday, sounded even more deracinated.
Their celebrated version of Roland Kirk’s Serenade to a Cuckoo fared better, as did the similarly jazz-influenced One for John Gee, written by the band’s original guitarist, Mick Abrahams. Greg Lake of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame performed his song Lucky Man as a guest turn, and one of the departed drummers, Barriemore Barlow, stepped in as the group waded deep into the more convoluted, progressive-rock epics Heavy Horses and Thick as a Brick for which they are still best known.
Anderson cracked many appalling jokes, some of them quite funny. But no amount of levity could disguise the fact that this was a grand celebration by and of a band which has seen better days. Living in the past indeed.
I can't say the guy's wrong necessarily, I can only listen with my own brain, everyones entitled, etc., but I also can't help but notice, dating to 73, that the most major markets like London are where Tull is most likely to encounter the hippest of the hip style of reviewing, I recall on the Lucia tour in NYC there was a review of the Carnegie Hall show that was not entirely bad, but made sure to distance itself from having had any direct involvement w Tull for decades, dragged there by a friend, hope no one saw them type of thing. Here in Chicago the process is usually no review, or a lukewarm assessment, re a show in about 98 where the review emphacized that while Tull was several years past their sell by date, I remember that wording, they were at least the door through which many people had come to music such as Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, etc. I kind of agreed with that premise being a huge fan of all the above, and for as long as Tull, but it has ever been patently obvious to me who the superior officer in that brigade would be, I believe in part critically they have never recovered from Passion Play, codpiece and portative pipe organs, all of which I of course love. My favorite will always be Rolling Stones initial review of SFTW, one star, during the height of the punk years when RS was trying to catch up and remain valid, now if you look in their annual booook it gets five stars, and things like Roots get 2, when i have a suspicion that it hasn't even been listened to, much less understood. I even occasionally online now see reviews of Passion Play, now that Johnny Rotten isn't watching, by people who allegedly know what they are talking about, that are actually positive!
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Post by maddogfagin on May 30, 2008 18:10:00 GMT
Just got back home to Cornwall following my trip to visit friends and see the Tull gig at the Festival hall. Nice pics Col from an evening I shan't forget in a hurry. Thanks for getting the set list posted as it's saved me getting my notebook out !
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Post by harrowman on Jun 1, 2008 12:17:36 GMT
First message what a gig RFH was so great to see Tull as a Rock band again.
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quizzkid
Master Craftsman
Spin me back down the years...
Posts: 297
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Post by quizzkid on Jun 1, 2008 13:05:20 GMT
Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished, that's what I wrote about the band the morning after seeing them last week at the RFH.
A few days on, and that's still how I feel about it.
As Jeff pointed out, I'm not exactly soft on the band these days, mainly due to the sychophantic pieces written in some magazines and publications over the last few years. And, I truly thought this would be my last Tull gig ever.
The anticipation of a Tull gig seemed to be gone and for me that was a big part of the show, but the reviews I've read on here lately were encouraging as they were from fans of the band who were honest in their opinions and not the sort of reviews you'd get from a crowd of drinking buddies.
Anyway, after years of no or little expectation from Ian and the band my anticipation quotient went up a notch or two when I noticed, from my seat in the centre third row, that tucked at the back of the stage, behind Martin's amp was a small drum kit under a black tarpaulin......so who could it be? Clive, Gerry Conway, Dave Mattocks, possibly.....Barrie.......nah! More chance it would be Phil Collins...................God forbid!
Anyway, by now I was looking forward to seeing anyone play with the band who I had spent years growing up with, as long as it was Tull stuff they were playing.
The lights dimmed and the band came on.....
I could actually hear Martin's crisp and clean sound and it was a lot louder than I had heard for awhile, maybe Ian had listened to a few of the gripes from the old board. Doane was in place, not Master James, there was no plexi-glass screen balanced on beer crates. and whilst John O'Hara and Dave Goodier looked a bit out of place, I would tend to focus on centre and stage left for most of the gig.
Anderson's voice was stronger than I've heard it for a good many years. He still has trouble hitting a few of the high notes on some of the older stuff but it was a pretty good showing in my opinion.
Even Mrs Q thought the sound, Martin's playing and Ian's voice were in fine[r] fettle.
Now the first half [see Col and Jen's listing] was pretty good, loved hearing One for John Gee...and dare I say it, I even liked Bouree with Anna Phoebe, again it was good seeing an athletic performer on the stage with Tull with hair and a frock coat......[and sorry to say it Ian, but with a rather cracking figure and no looming middle aged spread.....sorry to the ladies for being so un-PC].
Then onto the second half, met up with an old mate of mine at half-time who had tipped me the wink that I would not be unhapy with the 2nd half guests, he was right, I wasn't.
Greg Lake doing Lucky man, and then the tarpaulin was pulled away to reveal a drum kit not much bigger than the Woolworth's toy kit I got from 6th birthday, many, many moons ago.
Ian said it looked "like a rather bad christmas present" as the "drummer" wasn't revealed as the cloth came off, he then went onto introduce...... Barrie Barlow.
Barrie came on looking rather like he didn't want the spotlight or the applause. he made his way to the kit. I had thought that Doane may have taken the smaller kit and offered his to Barrie, but no Doane on this track, just Barrie and the small kit.
Heavy Horses ensued and Barrie knocked seven bells out of the kit and his sticks. In fact I think he lost a drumstick on the opening, but he played like.......Barrimore Barlow. Brilliant.
If that wasn't enough, it was pretty much straight into TaaB, with Barrie again.
What a brillaint drummer he is. No disrespect meant to Doane, who I think does fit the Tull mould of drummers, but Barrie, in the words of Tina Turner, was/is simply the best.
Ian, why not use both of them in future? Once behind the kit Barrie looked at home and comfortable....and totally in control.
He and martin were clearly enjoying it, with little glances and smiles all the time. Especially when Ian joked about "put your hand up those in the band with a senior citizens rail card" and Martin motioned to Barrie, who replied with a smile, a raised single digit and mouthed what looked like the words "**** off"
The band and special guests were all back for the encore and the crowd at the RFH were loving it.
Tull were back on form, supported by a show that had obviously been given some thought, and it showed.
A couple of small gripes [it wouldn't be a Quizz review without some would it]
The programme, better than anything for a long time, but how about some new words...haven't I read these before.....somewhere, several times.
The clown who kept distarcting things down the front taking snaps on his mobile 'phone, the curse of modern day concerts.
The backdrop images despite being great to see, were a little out of focus...[and it wasn't my eyes, a few other complained about it]
The food at Pizza Express before the gig...although I don't expect Tull to do anything about that! Just a warning to anyone going to the RFH in future, go elsewhere to eat.
Would I go again to see the mighty Tull?
Too bloody right I will.
Oh, and by the way, in case you're interested David Sinclair's latest book "Spice Girls: Revisited" is published by Omnibus..............................says it all really.
and his first album, 'Hey', was released on Critical Discs/Proper on February 12. If I can get a copy, maybe I'll give it a spin and review it.....Journo turned muso.........not necessarliy a great career step either way.
Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished...yep that's about right in my view.
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Post by nonrabbit on Jun 1, 2008 15:17:11 GMT
Glad to see all the Uk shows were well received and enjoyed.
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Post by maddogfagin on Jun 1, 2008 15:27:36 GMT
Agree with your statement nonrabbit. Ian's voice at the Festival Hall wasn't as strained as it was in 2007 when I saw them and Martin Barre was an eye opener and his playing was excellent which may have something to do with his having the operation on his shoulder at the start of the year.
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Post by admin on Jun 2, 2008 7:58:18 GMT
Don't know if this guy will ever see this, but here goes............. Righto Mr. Sinclair, for every review like yours, there's 10 from genuine Tull fans, me included, who have been following Tull for damn nearly as long as the group's been in existence. I only saw 1 show this tour - at Oxford - they were superb. If you don't like 'em, what did you go for? The Oxford audience went wild at the end, well, wild for Oxford, other audiences at every show were more animated and loved the show they saw. Fifth drummer - Bunker/Barlow/Burgess/Craney/Mattacks/Conway/Perry - I make that 7. Seventh bass player, eigth keyboard player, someone else reckon that total up. And what the hell does deracinate mean? Why can't you say "uproot" or "displace"? That's it, rant over. And I've just noticed the 2 out of 5 stars, puhleeze. I can't say the guy's wrong necessarily, I can only listen with my own brain, everyones entitled, etc., but I also can't help but notice, dating to 73, that the most major markets like London are where Tull is most likely to encounter the hippest of the hip style of reviewing, I recall on the Lucia tour in NYC there was a review of the Carnegie Hall show that was not entirely bad, but made sure to distance itself from having had any direct involvement w Tull for decades, dragged there by a friend, hope no one saw them type of thing. Here in Chicago the process is usually no review, or a lukewarm assessment, re a show in about 98 where the review emphacized that while Tull was several years past their sell by date, I remember that wording, they were at least the door through which many people had come to music such as Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, etc. I kind of agreed with that premise being a huge fan of all the above, and for as long as Tull, but it has ever been patently obvious to me who the superior officer in that brigade would be, I believe in part critically they have never recovered from Passion Play, codpiece and portative pipe organs, all of which I of course love. My favorite will always be Rolling Stones initial review of SFTW, one star, during the height of the punk years when RS was trying to catch up and remain valid, now if you look in their annual booook it gets five stars, and things like Roots get 2, when i have a suspicion that it hasn't even been listened to, much less understood. I even occasionally online now see reviews of Passion Play, now that Johnny Rotten isn't watching, by people who allegedly know what they are talking about, that are actually positive! I suppose 'Jethro Tull in bad review' is not really headline news, this guy is of course just the latest of many but the thing that irked me a bit about this review was he didn't actually have much bad to say about the gig. Except Tull are a bunch of old duffers who are annoyingly still around...haven't we killed off their career yet? And not only that, they are actually still really good.....grrrrr!
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Post by admin on Jun 2, 2008 8:18:14 GMT
First message what a gig RFH was so great to see Tull as a Rock band again. First of many I hope? Welcome to the forum mate glad you enjoyed the show. Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished, that's what I wrote about the band the morning after seeing them last week at the RFH. A few days on, and that's still how I feel about it. As Jeff pointed out, I'm not exactly soft on the band these days, mainly due to the sychophantic pieces written in some magazines and publications over the last few years. And, I truly thought this would be my last Tull gig ever. The anticipation of a Tull gig seemed to be gone and for me that was a big part of the show, but the reviews I've read on here lately were encouraging as they were from fans of the band who were honest in their opinions and not the sort of reviews you'd get from a crowd of drinking buddies. Anyway, after years of no or little expectation from Ian and the band my anticipation quotient went up a notch or two when I noticed, from my seat in the centre third row, that tucked at the back of the stage, behind Martin's amp was a small drum kit under a black tarpaulin......so who could it be? Clive, Gerry Conway, Dave Mattocks, possibly.....Barrie.......nah! More chance it would be Phil Collins...................God forbid! Anyway, by now I was looking forward to seeing anyone play with the band who I had spent years growing up with, as long as it was Tull stuff they were playing. The lights dimmed and the band came on..... I could actually hear Martin's crisp and clean sound and it was a lot louder than I had heard for awhile, maybe Ian had listened to a few of the gripes from the old board. Doane was in place, not Master James, there was no plexi-glass screen balanced on beer crates. and whilst John O'Hara and Dave Goodier looked a bit out of place, I would tend to focus on centre and stage left for most of the gig. Anderson's voice was stronger than I've heard it for a good many years. He still has trouble hitting a few of the high notes on some of the older stuff but it was a pretty good showing in my opinion. Even Mrs Q thought the sound, Martin's playing and Ian's voice were in fine[r] fettle. Now the first half [see Col and Jen's listing] was pretty good, loved hearing One for John Gee...and dare I say it, I even liked Bouree with Anna Phoebe, again it was good seeing an athletic performer on the stage with Tull with hair and a frock coat......[and sorry to say it Ian, but with a rather cracking figure and no looming middle aged spread.....sorry to the ladies for being so un-PC]. Then onto the second half, met up with an old mate of mine at half-time who had tipped me the wink that I would not be unhapy with the 2nd half guests, he was right, I wasn't. Greg Lake doing Lucky man, and then the tarpaulin was pulled away to reveal a drum kit not much bigger than the Woolworth's toy kit I got from 6th birthday, many, many moons ago. Ian said it looked "like a rather bad christmas present" as the "drummer" wasn't revealed as the cloth came off, he then went onto introduce...... Barrie Barlow. Barrie came on looking rather like he didn't want the spotlight or the applause. he made his way to the kit. I had thought that Doane may have taken the smaller kit and offered his to Barrie, but no Doane on this track, just Barrie and the small kit. Heavy Horses ensued and Barrie knocked seven bells out of the kit and his sticks. In fact I think he lost a drumstick on the opening, but he played like.......Barrimore Barlow. Brilliant. If that wasn't enough, it was pretty much straight into TaaB, with Barrie again. What a brillaint drummer he is. No disrespect meant to Doane, who I think does fit the Tull mould of drummers, but Barrie, in the words of Tina Turner, was/is simply the best. Ian, why not use both of them in future? Once behind the kit Barrie looked at home and comfortable....and totally in control. He and martin were clearly enjoying it, with little glances and smiles all the time. Especially when Ian joked about "put your hand up those in the band with a senior citizens rail card" and Martin motioned to Barrie, who replied with a smile, a raised single digit and mouthed what looked like the words "**** off" The band and special guests were all back for the encore and the crowd at the RFH were loving it. Tull were back on form, supported by a show that had obviously been given some thought, and it showed. A couple of small gripes [it wouldn't be a Quizz review without some would it] The programme, better than anything for a long time, but how about some new words...haven't I read these before.....somewhere, several times. The clown who kept distarcting things down the front taking snaps on his mobile 'phone, the curse of modern day concerts. The backdrop images despite being great to see, were a little out of focus...[and it wasn't my eyes, a few other complained about it] The food at Pizza Express before the gig...although I don't expect Tull to do anything about that! Just a warning to anyone going to the RFH in future, go elsewhere to eat. Would I go again to see the mighty Tull? Too bloody right I will. Oh, and by the way, in case you're interested David Sinclair's latest book "Spice Girls: Revisited" is published by Omnibus..............................says it all really. and his first album, 'Hey', was released on Critical Discs/Proper on February 12. If I can get a copy, maybe I'll give it a spin and review it.....Journo turned muso.........not necessarliy a great career step either way. Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished...yep that's about right in my view. lol, Spice girls revisited!! That explains alot It seems Tull would have got a much better write up if they'd have played a set of below average pub rock! www.myspace.com/davidsinclair And speaking of F offs, Mr mobile phone got a good one from Jen too.
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Post by admin on Jun 2, 2008 8:34:13 GMT
From music.guardian.co.uk/Jethro Tull
3/5 Royal Festival Hall, London
Paul Lester Monday June 2, 2008 The Guardian
Fronted by a frizzy-haired beardy-weirdy with a tendency to play his flute while standing on one leg, Jethro Tull have never enjoyed the critical rehabilitation of the likes of Yes and Pink Floyd. But these progressive rock doyens, influenced by blues, prone to instrumental jams and plugged into Britain's folk tradition, are rarely namechecked in interviews. Frontman Ian Anderson might have been a joke after punk for his salmon-farming activities, but here the pie-eyed singer cuts a fairly cool figure, with his black beanie, black jeans and matching boots, white T-shirt and black waistcoat.
He's droll, too. "There's a misconception that we play elaborate, lengthy pieces that bore the $h1t out of you," he says, introducing Nursie. "Here's a short one that will bore the $h1t out of you." The reference, before the intermission, to the incontinence pants on sale at the merchandise stall gets the lapsed hippies roaring. "Don't laugh," he chides. "I'm wearing mine now." Images of the once-ubiquitous furry freaks circa their 1968-72 heyday appear on the screen behind the stage, and it is shocking to see these wild old men of rock resembling members of Kings of Leon. So Much Trouble, by bluesman Sonny Terry, is dedicated to early Tull champion John Peel. "He [Terry] was a great harmonica player," says Anderson, mouth harp in hand. "I'm not."
Lucky Man features the once-cherubic, now plain chubby Greg Lake of prog gods ELP on guitar, while 99 Lives sees guest number two, violinist Anna Phoebe, waft onstage. She arches her back and darts about like a, well, young, female Anderson. The violinist and the flute-parping roué duel on early Tull favourite Bouree like an old fox and his prey, the highlight of a surprisingly entertaining set.
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Post by TM on Jun 3, 2008 13:40:29 GMT
Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished, that's what I wrote about the band the morning after seeing them last week at the RFH. A few days on, and that's still how I feel about it. As Jeff pointed out, I'm not exactly soft on the band these days, mainly due to the sychophantic pieces written in some magazines and publications over the last few years. And, I truly thought this would be my last Tull gig ever. The anticipation of a Tull gig seemed to be gone and for me that was a big part of the show, but the reviews I've read on here lately were encouraging as they were from fans of the band who were honest in their opinions and not the sort of reviews you'd get from a crowd of drinking buddies. Anyway, after years of no or little expectation from Ian and the band my anticipation quotient went up a notch or two when I noticed, from my seat in the centre third row, that tucked at the back of the stage, behind Martin's amp was a small drum kit under a black tarpaulin......so who could it be? Clive, Gerry Conway, Dave Mattocks, possibly.....Barrie.......nah! More chance it would be Phil Collins...................God forbid! Anyway, by now I was looking forward to seeing anyone play with the band who I had spent years growing up with, as long as it was Tull stuff they were playing. The lights dimmed and the band came on..... I could actually hear Martin's crisp and clean sound and it was a lot louder than I had heard for awhile, maybe Ian had listened to a few of the gripes from the old board. Doane was in place, not Master James, there was no plexi-glass screen balanced on beer crates. and whilst John O'Hara and Dave Goodier looked a bit out of place, I would tend to focus on centre and stage left for most of the gig. Anderson's voice was stronger than I've heard it for a good many years. He still has trouble hitting a few of the high notes on some of the older stuff but it was a pretty good showing in my opinion. Even Mrs Q thought the sound, Martin's playing and Ian's voice were in fine[r] fettle. Now the first half [see Col and Jen's listing] was pretty good, loved hearing One for John Gee...and dare I say it, I even liked Bouree with Anna Phoebe, again it was good seeing an athletic performer on the stage with Tull with hair and a frock coat......[and sorry to say it Ian, but with a rather cracking figure and no looming middle aged spread.....sorry to the ladies for being so un-PC]. Then onto the second half, met up with an old mate of mine at half-time who had tipped me the wink that I would not be unhapy with the 2nd half guests, he was right, I wasn't. Greg Lake doing Lucky man, and then the tarpaulin was pulled away to reveal a drum kit not much bigger than the Woolworth's toy kit I got from 6th birthday, many, many moons ago. Ian said it looked "like a rather bad christmas present" as the "drummer" wasn't revealed as the cloth came off, he then went onto introduce...... Barrie Barlow. Barrie came on looking rather like he didn't want the spotlight or the applause. he made his way to the kit. I had thought that Doane may have taken the smaller kit and offered his to Barrie, but no Doane on this track, just Barrie and the small kit. Heavy Horses ensued and Barrie knocked seven bells out of the kit and his sticks. In fact I think he lost a drumstick on the opening, but he played like.......Barrimore Barlow. Brilliant. If that wasn't enough, it was pretty much straight into TaaB, with Barrie again. What a brillaint drummer he is. No disrespect meant to Doane, who I think does fit the Tull mould of drummers, but Barrie, in the words of Tina Turner, was/is simply the best. Ian, why not use both of them in future? Once behind the kit Barrie looked at home and comfortable....and totally in control. He and martin were clearly enjoying it, with little glances and smiles all the time. Especially when Ian joked about "put your hand up those in the band with a senior citizens rail card" and Martin motioned to Barrie, who replied with a smile, a raised single digit and mouthed what looked like the words "**** off" The band and special guests were all back for the encore and the crowd at the RFH were loving it. Tull were back on form, supported by a show that had obviously been given some thought, and it showed. A couple of small gripes [it wouldn't be a Quizz review without some would it] The programme, better than anything for a long time, but how about some new words...haven't I read these before.....somewhere, several times. The clown who kept distarcting things down the front taking snaps on his mobile 'phone, the curse of modern day concerts. The backdrop images despite being great to see, were a little out of focus...[and it wasn't my eyes, a few other complained about it] The food at Pizza Express before the gig...although I don't expect Tull to do anything about that! Just a warning to anyone going to the RFH in future, go elsewhere to eat. Would I go again to see the mighty Tull? Too bloody right I will. Oh, and by the way, in case you're interested David Sinclair's latest book "Spice Girls: Revisited" is published by Omnibus..............................says it all really. and his first album, 'Hey', was released on Critical Discs/Proper on February 12. If I can get a copy, maybe I'll give it a spin and review it.....Journo turned muso.........not necessarliy a great career step either way. Regenerated, Rejuvenated and Replenished...yep that's about right in my view. Great read Quizz. Thanks for putting it down. Man how I would have loved to be there...
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quizzkid
Master Craftsman
Spin me back down the years...
Posts: 297
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Post by quizzkid on Jun 3, 2008 16:16:25 GMT
Great read Quizz. Thanks for putting it down. Man how I would have loved to be there... Thanks TM, I did actually make a comment to Col as we left the venue that you would no doubt have loved to have been there being the devout Barrie fan that you are. I'm sure that all the guests provided something special to the shows, but it was good seeing barrie back on stage, and I must admit he played like he still had the requisite fire in his belly.
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