Jethro Tull Live - Never Too Old To Rock & Roll!

photos by brother Tom & Java John

This show was my fouth time seeing Ian Anderson and the gang since Miami 1976. Anticipation for was high, because I was scheduled to interview guitarist Martin Barre backstage. Sadly I was told that Mr. Barre had cancelled interviews on this leg of the tour, but I was still welcome to be a guest of the band at the show...and that I'd be given a photo pass! Kool...excitement was back up!

The first song that kicked off the 2 hour set, was the vintage Someday The Sun Won't Shine For You from their debut LP, performed by Ian & Martin alone, Ian blowing some mean harp, and Martin a beautiful acoustic guitar. The band is on the heels of their "Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull" release, but it was anything but an acoustic show.
They jumped right into Living in the Past, then a few new tunes including the great The Donkey and The Drum. Throughout the first set they played a few other of my favorites: Fat Man, Bourée, and Nothing is Easy.

When the band came back from intermission, Ian joked that there were to kick off with a Zeppelin/Yes medly, but they were reminded it it was Christmas time. At this point Ian mentions (tongue firmly in cheek) that he was raised at home and in England's schools as a good Christian lad, and that he still subscribes to most of their tennants - except of course that Jesus bit! There was about a 50/50 mixture of gasps and laughter. Then the band ripped into a kool God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen from their '93 Christmas album.

From there the ever popular Thick as a Brick, in playing in top form. And after Misère, the band played a very strange "orchestral version" of Agualung...I think I like the original better, but I always enjoy a band experimenting. The gals next to me didn't, 'cause that's when they left! Strangely, the next played a cover of a cover - (Keith Emerson band) The Nice's version Leonard Bernstein's "America" (West Side Story). Pretty sweet.

I really was in the mood for Wind-Up that night, but got the always killer My God instead. No complaints here. A pleasent surprise was the always raunchy Budapest. They then wound-up with the ever rockin' Locomotive Breath, a song that I tire of on the radio, but kicks ass in concert!

The mighty Tull still rocks, check 'em out if you can, and but !


JETHRO TULL, ORLANDO 12-10-07 setlist:
Someday The Sun Won't Shine For You,
Living In The Past,
The Donkey And The Drum,
The Water Carrier,
Pastime With Good Company (King Henry's Madrigal),
Fat Man,
My Sunday Feeling,
Sossity: You're a Woman/Reasons For Waiting (Inst.),
Bourée,
Nothing Is Easy
- [Intermission] -
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,
Thick As A Brick,
Misère,
Aqualung (orchestral version),
America,
My God,
Budapest,
Locomotive Breath


a little bonus:
Bouree Live MP3
off the out of print '92 CD
Acoustic Aid - Unplugged


Buy Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull's Official Website