Post by admin on Jun 27, 2008 12:25:35 GMT
David Ward Maclean has posted this blog on his myspace page about his guest spots on the UK tour.....
Friday, June 20, 2008
3 NIGHTS WITH JETHRO TULL
Current mood: inspired
Soooo…it's about 6 weeks since the last of the 3 guest spots I played on the Jethro Tull 40th anniversary tour. Well, finally here's the blog – ask ye not why the delay, what with me and my motormouth ways. Sometimes the words just don't come as one might wish. Maybe I was just flabbergasted that I got to play with one of my all-time favourite groups in such an auspicious year. Probably. Definitely.
In any case, no diary, no blow-by-blow, no gallery of pics: just some fragments and moments that remain for me….
….the difference between Martin Barre with a newspaper and a cup of tea in a quiet corner somewhere backstage and Martin Barre with guitar onstage. What a fabulous musician this man is…
…having Mr A. as my roadie (his suggestion) for the first 2 gigs because I didn't bring my own guitar stand (sorry gents, lesson learned, also regarding jack-plugs), which he performed with the same dry humour, aplomb and forethought as he does all things gig-related, major and minor…
…the first rehearsal at the soundcheck with Mr A, Doane Perry and David Goodier, 2 hours before the first gig at the Glasgow, using Doane's arrangements. Only one or 2 small cues to check out in Afterlife. We went straight through Song With No Name without one hitch or re-run…
…realising I was less nervous onstage at the Pavilion than I would have been up in the Gods looking down. I have an unabiding terror of heights….
…3 am standing outside the tour bus at an almost deserted Tesco carpark somewhere on the way to Aberdeen. No smoking on the bus, so nicotine in the chill air, the unreal electric blue and white lights, gulls calling in the pitch-black sky…
…watching Tom shifting copies of my CD on the merchandise stall at Aberdeen like they were his own. He sold out all 31 copies I had with me in ten minutes flat. What a star, as were all the crew led by Chris…
… singing the middle verse of Locomotive Breath, then belting the hell out of a poor innocent tambourine while Mr A. brought out some scalding flute solos to magic up the end of the night as only he can. I told him later that it was like having a toy train set, then being asked if I wanted a shot of driving a real one for a minute …
…driving home with Steve Kendra after the last date in Sheffield, the sweet and gorgeous sound of Edwina Hayes on the CD player… afterthoughts…
knowing I could have done that for ever…but could have done a bit better here and there…make no mistake, it's all about those 2 hours, always…
…John O'Hara and David and I with tea and coffee in my favourite place in York the day after, busking languorously abandoned, talking in the sun and shade. I think they loved this place too…find it for yourself if you can…
…ca 1 a.m. Monday in York, after the Opera House gig, talking with Doane for over half an hour in the cold about lyrics, music, the Tull, Harry Partch, The Foo Fighters, anything…
And then I was done.
Thank you Heather, thank you James, thank you Ian.
Friday, June 20, 2008
3 NIGHTS WITH JETHRO TULL
Current mood: inspired
Soooo…it's about 6 weeks since the last of the 3 guest spots I played on the Jethro Tull 40th anniversary tour. Well, finally here's the blog – ask ye not why the delay, what with me and my motormouth ways. Sometimes the words just don't come as one might wish. Maybe I was just flabbergasted that I got to play with one of my all-time favourite groups in such an auspicious year. Probably. Definitely.
In any case, no diary, no blow-by-blow, no gallery of pics: just some fragments and moments that remain for me….
….the difference between Martin Barre with a newspaper and a cup of tea in a quiet corner somewhere backstage and Martin Barre with guitar onstage. What a fabulous musician this man is…
…having Mr A. as my roadie (his suggestion) for the first 2 gigs because I didn't bring my own guitar stand (sorry gents, lesson learned, also regarding jack-plugs), which he performed with the same dry humour, aplomb and forethought as he does all things gig-related, major and minor…
…the first rehearsal at the soundcheck with Mr A, Doane Perry and David Goodier, 2 hours before the first gig at the Glasgow, using Doane's arrangements. Only one or 2 small cues to check out in Afterlife. We went straight through Song With No Name without one hitch or re-run…
…realising I was less nervous onstage at the Pavilion than I would have been up in the Gods looking down. I have an unabiding terror of heights….
…3 am standing outside the tour bus at an almost deserted Tesco carpark somewhere on the way to Aberdeen. No smoking on the bus, so nicotine in the chill air, the unreal electric blue and white lights, gulls calling in the pitch-black sky…
…watching Tom shifting copies of my CD on the merchandise stall at Aberdeen like they were his own. He sold out all 31 copies I had with me in ten minutes flat. What a star, as were all the crew led by Chris…
… singing the middle verse of Locomotive Breath, then belting the hell out of a poor innocent tambourine while Mr A. brought out some scalding flute solos to magic up the end of the night as only he can. I told him later that it was like having a toy train set, then being asked if I wanted a shot of driving a real one for a minute …
…driving home with Steve Kendra after the last date in Sheffield, the sweet and gorgeous sound of Edwina Hayes on the CD player… afterthoughts…
knowing I could have done that for ever…but could have done a bit better here and there…make no mistake, it's all about those 2 hours, always…
…John O'Hara and David and I with tea and coffee in my favourite place in York the day after, busking languorously abandoned, talking in the sun and shade. I think they loved this place too…find it for yourself if you can…
…ca 1 a.m. Monday in York, after the Opera House gig, talking with Doane for over half an hour in the cold about lyrics, music, the Tull, Harry Partch, The Foo Fighters, anything…
And then I was done.
Thank you Heather, thank you James, thank you Ian.