Tull in tune with West Midlands fans

Jethro Tull

Birmingham Symphony Hall

Review by Bob Greaves

Jethro Tull have been playing to the packed concert halls of the world for more than 40 years. Fronted by the ever-youthful Ian Anderson,they thrilled West Midlands fans this week.

Anderson was ably backed by long-time guitarist Martin Barre and drummer Doane Perry, and recent additions John O'Hara on keyboards/accordian and David Goodier on bass guitar.

The sumptuous surroundings of Birmingham's Symphony Hall added to the sense of occasion – one heckler who unwisely yelled out from the back was swiftly put down with the tongue-in-cheek retort from Mr Anderson "this is a symphony hall, not a football match."

The set featured a welcome mix of the group's more- and less-regularly performed tunes, which pleased the enthusiastic crowd. A Change of Horses proved a surprise stand-out track, whose subtle lines and melodies – alongside Tea With a Princess - were penned in collaboration with Ravi Shankar's daughter Anoushka.

It almost goes without saying that greats like Budapest and Dun Ringill were equally well received.

That JT's music deserves a wider (and dare I say, younger?) audience is beyond doubt, but the sedate folk-rock image has been with the band a while now and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Their material has a depth and complexity, where orchestration and timing are as carefully applied as to any classical genre of music. But hey, if you just like a good toe-tapping tune, it works on that level too.

At the end, the delighted crowd rose to their feet for a heart-felt standing ovation for these veteran masters of the stage and it was clearly appreciated by the band, not least Martin Barre, who was Birmingham born and bred.

Life's been a long song for Tull and long may it continue.

SET LIST:

Dun Ringill

The Water Carrier

Life is a Long Song

Eurology

Nothing is Easy

A New Day Yesterday

Tea with a Princess

Songs from the Wood

Fat Man

Bouree

A Change of Horses

Bug (Martin Barre and Doane Perry solo)

Budapest

Aqualung

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Locomotive Breath