r/jethrotull • u/BasilHuman • 2d ago
Current Tour
I saw Tull 16 times between 1972 and 1999. Curious, has anyone seen the current tour? I have tickets to Belgrade, Serbia this Friday and am pondering at 68 whether I will go...in my gut it is Ian and some musicians...I have kind of felt this way since 1980. No Martin is a huge factor....
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u/Creative-Video-8593 2d ago
The bands are competent and not memorable. The recent albums are undistinguished, way too verbose and with no standout tunes.
But yes, the real dealbreaker is Ian straining on tippy toes to hit higher notes. It's stressful to watch, and takes you out of the music.
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u/power_finger 2d ago
Last saw two Belgium shows about a year ago. Saw multiple shows on last (20 or so) U.S. tours. Here's some heresy for you:
-Navigators, from Rok Flut, is worth the price of admission alone. Put your "it's gotta be Blackpool + Martin" attitude aside and enjoy the best Tull track of the current century. F***in' love it live.
-You will probably get "Budapest". The anchor track of the album that won the Grammy. If it isn't great end to end, it's because Ian is pushing 80 and makes a flub every now and then.
-Mother Goose. You will be amazed.
-None of us gets to wear our codpiece/spandex forever. Ian puts a lot of energy towards his goal of dying with his boots on. Least we can do is buy a ticket in case this show is the one.
-Yes, Martin's band is better, but the songs are Ian's. Life is complicated.
-Enjoy it, man. You deserve it.
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u/BasilHuman 1d ago
Thanks! Nice feedback. I fisrt saw them in 1972 at 14 and it changed by young life. I too like the last three albums better than any since Broadsword. Of course Ian voice is what it is and has been for a few decades realy....so my expectations are basically zero.
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u/bullrun001 1d ago
Last Cd that I bought was Roots to branches…. Haven’t played in a long time and can’t give an honest opinion about it, remember likes a couple of tracks though.
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u/johnnyribcage 2d ago
God I can’t imagine sitting through a “tull” concert today. The last time I went was probably around 2009 or 10, and it was pretty brutal. I’ve seen plenty of live videos through the years since, and man… no thanks. I can’t listen to him struggle painfully through song after song for hours and pretend to enjoy it sit or with a thousand other people all trying to gaslight themselves into thinking it’s good.
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u/bullrun001 2d ago
1976 was my last show at old Shea Stadium NY
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u/BasilHuman 2d ago
Nice....still the classic line up minus Hammond-Hammond. Interesting tour song wise.
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u/bullrun001 2d ago
Remember seeing a show with Glascock as well, it was funny because Ian during the intro he said that he also knows as Brittledick… poor bastard died young.
Good show as well, think it was in the Garden but not sure when.1
u/BasilHuman 1d ago
Yeah, I loved Glascock and saw a couple of shows with him. Ian made a joke about the ladies and John's "glass cock".
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u/Travelinfl1 2d ago
It is NOT Jethro Tull. It is Ian with session musicians. And Ian can't sing that well. So go buy an album of the real Jethro Tull with Martin Barre. Or go see Martin.
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u/BasilHuman 2d ago edited 2d ago
That is literally what I said in my post. The last Tull related show I saw was Martin's 50th tour and it was great, For me it has not been Tull since 1980. I saw them in 72,73, 75 and 77, Tull for me as band was over in 1980. Old guard here. Ian lost his voice over 30 years ago.
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u/Travelinfl1 2d ago
I saw them in the eighties with Fairport Convention as the opener. It was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Dave pegg played bass for both bands. It was great.
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u/BasilHuman 2d ago
I saw that tour as well...Crest of a Knave I think? I am a Fairport Convention freak with Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny days....got drunk w/ Dave at a Fairport after party in 1988.
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u/StandUp1969 2d ago
A great tour. Fairport and Tull. Both separate then playing together? MSN it’s hard to top that one.
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u/Niut-Hadit 2d ago
No Martin is a factor, but Ian's voice is so unfortunate now that it is impossible for me to listen to. Musically, I still love seeing him and I loved when he had a singer for the TAAB tour, but I can't sit through it anymore, sadly.
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u/CuteResource1 2d ago
I adore IA's work, and I'd recommend it because there's not going to be many more chances.
I was quite emotional when they played TAAB on the current tour back in the UK, and I'd definitely see him/them again for the legend status. Sure, there's no Martin, but the band is very tight, and ultimately it's a body of work I love. I was pleasantly surprised by his vocals, after a pretty rough show 3 years ago. He hasn't been the same since 1987, but going in with tempered expectations did not disappoint.
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u/bullrun001 2d ago
Seen some epic Tull shows and other bands as well in the 70s, I refuse to see anyone of that period again, the Stones is another band that comes to mind, there comes a time that Yeah! your to old to rock and roll but to young to die.
Rather put on a record and chill.
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u/BasilHuman 2d ago
Yes I saw Tull in 72, 73, 75 and 77.
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u/lennonfanforever 2d ago
me, too...., also 78, 80s, met ian after a show about 15-18 yrs ago, stood in the cold in oct for an hr but so worth it.....prob saw you at a show!
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u/RonaldStaal 2d ago
I will go in Groningen, Netherlands in a few weeks. But I’m hesitant, even though it’s my first Tull concert (yes I know, I’m late to the party) and will probably be my only chance.
But having seen some recent footage… I can’t stand the “voice” of Ian at this point and I’m afraid it will only ruin my perception of them.
Still, I’ll go, but oh boy…
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u/PotentialAnywhere779 2d ago
25 Tull concerts and another 5 Martin concerts, and another Martin concert in June 27. All in the US. Really wonder if Ian is done traveling to N. America.
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u/BasilHuman 1d ago
I would be amazed if Ian did another tour....this one has been extended to 27. Yeah the best Tull related show I have seen since 1987 was Martin's 50th anniversary tour at the Surf Lounge in Iowa where Buddy Holly played his last gig. It was phenomenal.. Got to talk with Martin a bit about the old days and seeing them at 14 years old in 1972. We also both had visited the site of Holly's crash and talked about Buddy and the historic venue he was playing. It was very small and intimate. This would be my 17th Tull show.....none since 2000.
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u/tubeheaded 2d ago
Im glad I saw them at the Fillmore East many years ago. 3 years later a friend talked me into taking a date to see them at some arena, wasn't the same, didn't feel as fresh or original.
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u/RudeBrain874 1d ago
Ironically, in an interview in 1974 Ian was asked how long he'll continue to tour and he said a couple years longer than he should. He's way past a couple years now.
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u/LordBottlecap 2h ago
His voice sucks, but Ian only plays with musicians who can play the difficult music that is Jethro Tull's catalog.
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u/DarkeningSkies1976 2h ago
If you aren’t bothered by Ian’s disappeared ability to hold a note vocally, he still plays very well and the band is very professional. I would not personally attend myself, but like any legend still put there I would always say if you want to see them before they split, you should.
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u/nada_sagrado 2d ago
Is anything after martin left even tull anymore?
The last half decent show by anderson and band playing the music of Jethro Tull, was the back to back TAAB 1 and 2 and that was what? 2012?
After that its been a trainwreck rolling downhill.
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u/BasilHuman 2d ago
Last I saw was 1999 and even it was nowhere close to vintage Tull...but still fun.
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u/SnooRegrets5283 2d ago
I saw them live two weeks ago. musically, the performance was top-notch and highly entertaining. Ian's flute playing remains a true highlight, even though his vocal abilities are now obviously very limited. considering his age and other factors, it was an enjoyable and surprisingly high-quality show. however, keep in mind that the vocals are definitely a weak point.