Jena ArdellWe're pretty sure we were getting a second-hand high from your parents Saturday night during the Jethro Tull concert at the Greek Theatre.
The audience was an eclectic mix of middle-aged fans, married couples, thirty-somethings and a few awesome dads who brought their sons to the show.
The tranquil, yet packed, Greek Theatre proved to be the perfect, whimsical setting for Tull to perform their Aqualung album in its entirety. We didn't have far to walk, but could only imagine how trippy Ian Anderson's swirly flute solos would sound during a moonlit hike through the foothills of Griffith Park. (Don't bother trying it with your iPod because it won't sound the same–and if a mountain lion or coyote doesn't eat you, one of the feral gold fish living in Griffith Park will).
This year marked the album Aqualung's 40th anniversary and Tull proved that quality songs from the '70s still stand their ground. Despite the album's age, societal issues found in the lyrics, like the plight of the homeless and discontent with organized religion, still resonate today.
The audience did as much rocking as could be done while seated, but once Tull started performing “Cross-Eyed Mary”, nearly everyone was on their feet. Most of the audience sang along with the instrumental parts as well as the lyrical parts of the songs, which was entertaining.
We couldn't help but chuckle when we overheard this snippet of conversation while Jethro Tull performed “My God”:
“Keith Richards could never write a riff this good!”
“Ozzie wishes!”
The guys of Jethro Tull.; Credit: The original Jethro Tull, an English agricultural pioneer who helped bring about the British Agricultural Revolution in the 1600s.
The guys of Jethro Tull.
Jethro Tull kicked off their second set with their classic, and unarguably most popular, song “Aqualung”. Once folks heard the infamous opening chords, they scurried back to their seats, trying not to spill their fresh cups of beer. A prism projection of the “dribbly-nosed voyeur” appeared behind the band and the ending of the song was met with a standing ovation.
Thanks to Rock Band 2, the ten-year-old seated next to us was able to identify “Hymn 43” and proceeded to rock out with his dad.
Anderson is still the same wide-eyed piper his diehard fans recall, often creeping across the stage and standing on one foot. The album Aqualung, which is revered as “one the greatest concept albums ever made”, proved itself a timeless piece of musical histor, yet again.
Tull came back onstage for two encore songs, ending with “Locomotive Breath”, a song both heavy on bass and guitar, featuring an extended guitar solo.
[Read our EXCLUSIVE interview with Ian Anderson HERE].
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.
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