Fronted by Ian Anderson, one of the most distinctive leaders in rock 'n' roll, Jethro Tull performed two sets at their Chicago stop. The first was mostly acoustic, and a primer on Tull history. It showcased FM staples "Life is a Long Song," "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day," and fan favorites "Jack-in-the-Green" and "Bouree." Joined by violinist Lucia Micarelli, the band spread out on "Aqualung," "Hymn 43" and "Up to Me."Music like this must be tackled by near virtuosos on their respective instruments. But Jethro Tull doesn't seem a group that’s content to go through the motions recreating this complex music. Instead, the band often alters and extends songs. This show kept fans guessing at points, as arrangements jumped from new to old and back.
Anderson's often hilarious asides and between-song patter kept the whole affair from taking itself too seriously. In the end, the music spoke for itself. As always, Jethro Tull was about shades of light and dark, with delicate acoustic or classical passages segueing into thunderous riff rock.
Guitarist Martin Barre continued to be a textbook example of melodious metallic six-string played with taste and restraint. Doane Perry, the sole American member of the British band, played inventive and solid poly-rhythms within - but not confined by - the original songs' arrangements. Bassist Jonathan Noyce and keyboardist Andrew Giddings contributed to the arrangements with precision and "chops."
The concert's second half opened with Micarelli joining the band to perform her tribute to English rock, including snippets of "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Kashmir." A Martin Barre instrumental, "Morris Minus" (dedicated to his neutered cat), gave Joe Satriani and Steve Vai a run for their money. Tull continued with the fan gem "Budapest," and the trilogy of "Aqualung," "Wind Up," "Locomotive Breath."
Although FM has rotated four or five of Tull's hits nearly ad nauseum, the group plays to its loyal fans. This makes the show more intimate than the casual concertgoer might expect. The fans recognize the musicianship, the sense of humor, and the history of the band - even when taken out of an album's context.
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