Jethro Tull, with its leader and only permanent member, Ian Anderson, were celebrating the 50 years of the band in Paris, at the Salle Pleyel.
Jethro Tull’s music, which has been classified as blues rock, progressive rock, folk rock, hard rock and electronic rock, is nonetheless easy to identify with Anderson’s distinctive flute playing and singing.
It was my first live experience with them – watching videos of concerts surely does not count. Ian Anderson’s energy on stage is still there, even though he is now 71.
In between some songs, the concert included short videos of interviews of some previous band members, friends or famous fans (Jeffrey Hammond, Mick Abrahams, Tony Iommi, Claude Nobs…) talking about the band, their favourite song or some anecdote. Anderson also introduced some songs and the different videos, with a great sense of humour.
The concert, 2 sets with a 20 minute intermission, focused almost exclusively on songs from the 60s and 70s, with just one exception from the 80s.
The following songs were particularly enjoyable:
“Love Story“, “Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine for You” with Ian playing the harmonica, “A New Day Yesterday“, the famous “Bourrée in E minor“, “Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die” with Ian playing the flute and some guitar, “Songs From the Wood“, “Pastime With Good Company“, a Renaissance folk rock piece based on the King of England’s composition, “Farm on the Freeway“, and “Aqualung” with a superb guitar solo.
The band was back for an encore with a keyboard introduction, which turned out to be “Locomotive Breath“.
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Setlist (please note that on setlist.fm the concert is wrongly listed as “Ian Anderson”, as some people never learn and don’t bother being aligned with the official information from Ian’s team despite several requests):
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
Farm on the Freeway
Aqualung
Encore:
Locomotive Breath
