Ian Anderson Presents: Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour (Wallingford, CT) [2018-09-12]

Ian Anderson Presents: Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour
Toyota Oakdale Theater
Wallingford, CT
September 12, 2018

Ian Anderson brought his band to the Oakdale Theater on September 12th to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jethro Tull.

The 70 year old Anderson proclaimed his surprise that the years had flown by so quickly. Even at this age he is still fit on his feet and cavorted the stage with his signature foot raised moves while playing the flute.

It was 1968 at the Marquee Club in that Jethro Tull launched itself into history with the progressive sound and being the only band with a flutist frontman. Anderson is not only adept with flute but also on harmonica as well as singing lead for the band.

Ian Anderson was joined onstage by Jethro Tull band musicians David Goodier on bass , Florian Opahle on guitar, John O’Hara on keyboards and Scott Hammond on drums.

They divided the show into two sets with a short intermission. The first set was the early years of the bands cuts and started of with “My Sunday Feeling” off the album “This Was” from 1968. They progressed through songs of the early years and cuts off albums that were released into the 70’s.

The show had a backing of video from concerts back in the 60’s and early 70’s behind the band. There were also small clips from former band members and notable fans of Jethro Tull played between songs. Notably though that with all of the clips praising Anderson and the band there was not a clip from Martin Barre. He was perhaps the most well know member by the public and fans next to Ian Anderson. Barre contributed much to the band and its legacy and it was too bad he was not a part of this 50th year recognition.

There were clips from Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott. Even Joe Bonamassa who recorded the song “A New Day Yesterday” on his debut studio album in 2000 joined in to wish the band well in the 50th year.

With the intro to “My God” off the 1971 “Aqualung” album Anderson stated that he was criticized and called blasphemous when performing the song in the deep south bible belt. He reasoned the song was misunderstood and it was not his intent.

The second set included ironically the song “Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die,” which at the time written was comical and seemed to make fun of old rockers. It drew laughter from the audience, many who have followed Jethro Tull’s music since the early days.

As most bands do they saved the biggest hits for last and had the audience cheering when they started the always looked for “Aqualung.” The animated Anderson was still full of energy and finished off on a great note.

The encore was “Locomotive Breath” and the crowd was not dissapointed as the band chugged into the night and the crowd was the all time winner. There were a couple of songs I would have liked for them to have included that they didn’t such as “Bungle in the Jungle” and “Living in the Past,” but with their large collection to select from they can’t all always be played in a couple of hours. Maybe next time.

Anderson still has boundless energy and stage presence throughout the show. Like all of the 60’s bands each year of touring is a gift.

Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris

Set 1:
My Sunday Feeling
Love Story
A Song for Jeffrey
Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine for You
Dharma for One
A New Day Yesterday
Bourrée in E minor
My God
Thick as a Brick

Set 2:
A Passion Play
Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die
Songs From the Wood
Ring Out, Solstice Bells
Heavy Horses
Pastime With Good Company (King Henry VIII of England cover)
Farm on the Freeway
Aqualung

Encore:
Locomotive Breath