Another music icon from the past. Not able to make the London gig we booked the next nearest event in Guildford.
We arrived late and snuck in halfway through a performance in its entirety of his latest album, Homo Erracticus. An peripatetic ramble through the last century and before. It was a full blown, gold plated, prog rock concept album complete with backing visuals; an exemplar of the genre.
At the end he cheerfully said that after the break he would play the greatest hits that we had come to hear. During the interval I bought a programme, the album on vinyl and got a free mug.
Picture courtesy of http://jethrotull.com/
The second half opened with Living in the Past - a track to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Here was the original man playing one of the all time classic tracks.
Happy and I'm smiling,
walk a mile to drink your water.
You know I'd love to love you,
and above you there's no other.
He then proceeded to romp through all the old favourites. This is what we came to hear!
Picture courtesy of http://jethrotull.com/
A young man sounding uncannily like Ian provided vocal support. So sound-alike I was convinced it must be his son. The programme said otherwise, it was in fact one Ryan O'Donnell. Not the frst time we have been to see a more mature artist who wisely chose a backing singer to add some oomph to the mix. And beside it meant Ian could get on with playing the flute and standing on one leg.
Ian seemed like a jolly nice chap, the sort you could chat to over a beer. There were hints of cynicism, or was it just dry wit? Certainly he didn't take himself too seriously but in a good way.
A damned fine concert.
PS. Loads more photos from the Shepherd's Bush concert.
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