Ian
Anderson And The Best of Jethro Tull
In
Concert At The Palace In Albany, NY
November 2, 2014
November 2, 2014
Ian Anderson (Flute, Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals), David Goodier (Bass guitar and double bass), John O’Hara (Orchestral conductor, piano, keyboards and accordion), Florian Opahle (Guitar), Scott Hammond (Drums and percussion) and Ryan O’Donnell (Vocals and stage antics) are all part of the Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull lineup in present day. They perform solo material from Anderson’s latest release and some of the best of Jethro Tull since the band’s inception.
Last evening at the beautiful Palace Theater, one of my
favorite venues in Albany NY, Anderson and his marvelous band entertained a
packed house. I got my T shirt and tour book keepsakes and even a bonus shirt
that I gave to some unsuspecting fan as a gift. It’s always a joy to do some
random nice thing to a total stranger, try it sometime, it feels good. The
Holiday season is rapidly approaching but you don’t need that for an excuse to
do a good deed.
It has been 11 years since I sat in an audience to enjoy
the music of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. This night was no different than in
the past, I looked forward to it for many months. I was not disappointed in the
least by the time the show was over.
You know it’s a prog rock concert when you have to wait
in a long line to use the men’s room at break and there is literally not one
woman in front waiting to use their facilities. This was quite the opposite of
most concerts I have attended in the past. This is rather funny actually and we
had a good time joking about it in line. Speaking of lines, if you do not want
to wait in line to get your car at the end of the concert, I wouldn’t use the
parking lot in front of the venue. They give you a ticket, you hand them your
keys then you wait in a long line to get your keys back so you can leave! The
only good thing about it is there isn’t a mad dash by everyone to leave at the
same time. Perhaps that is why they do it that way besides for general security
precautions.
It was all worth it in the end though as Ian and his spot
on band presented quite a show. They kicked it off with selections from Ian’s
solo album Homo Eraticus. What I
found interesting and quite enjoyable was the overall multimedia presentation
made throughout the show. Prior to the opening song there was a presentation of
several bands on a huge screen. I had never been to show that did this before,
I thought it was a unique albeit modern way to present different acts to an
audience before the main attraction started in lieu of having a solitary
opening act.
The show opens with a short film of the band dressed as doctors
in a sanitarium and Ian is the disgruntled patient. It is humorous and the band
then comes out on stage all dressed as they were in the film then Ian comes out
the show begins. It is all so very theatrical and most entertaining. Anderson
has a different sense of eccentricity and humor which is very English (even though
he is from Scotland). I always found it similar to that dry crazy Monty Python
type of comedy yet very original.
Ian still moves across the stage nimbly and plays the
flute with one foot carefully placed on his other leg. I thought long ago that
by now he would not be doing that once he was headed towards his seventies but
he still has a lot left in the tank. At a mighty spry 67 he just keeps on going
for the love of the music and the process of creating it. This is what drives
the man and keeps thousands of fans coming back for more at every corner of the
globe.
The new solo material is as impressive live as it is in
the studio. Ian and his band bring it all to life as if it was natural for them
to do so. Any great band of musicians is able to translate what is created in
the studio into something special and bring it to fruition with new life on the
stage. This is what took place all night long.
Many of the classic fan favorites were presented such as
“Living In The Past,” “Teacher,” the incredible “Thick as a Brick,” and of
course the ultimate curtain closer “Aqualung.” But wait, what about the encore?
A rousing interpretation of “Locomotive Breath” magnificently filled the venue
with the power of prog rock. It was a rocking good end to one special evening
for all in attendance.
This is an amazing group of musicians and the now with
added touch of theatrics and the additional voice of Ryan O’Donnell, it gives
some added textures to the music and Ian a break once in a while on the vocal duties.
If you are looking for a great night out with friends or
loved ones and are open to meeting some friends you have not met yet, give Ian
Anderson and his band a try. You will never regret it.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder Prog Rock Music Talk, Write A Music Review, New
Age Music Reviews and Rate The Tracks
Setlist:
Doggerland
Enter the
Uninvited
Puer Ferox
Adventus
The
Engineer
Tripudium
Ad Bellum
The
Browning of the Green
Cold Dead
Reckoning
Bourée
Thick as a
Brick
Living in
the Past
With You
There to Help Me
Sweet Dream
Teacher
Critique
Oblique
Too Old to
Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die
Songs from
the Wood
Farm on the
Freeway
Aqualung
Encore:
Locomotive
Breath
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