Jethro Tull in Portland

Going to see Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull in an acoustic plus orchestral setting tomorrow night in Portland…33rd time I’ve seen ’em…this one’ll be on Friday the 13th…oooh…

Ian Anderson was lots of fun as usual…acoustic, classical, folk, jazz, and even a little electric Tull…classy venue, very aged audience…so many greybearded geezers…but they gave him rousing applause throughout the night…interesting to hear a classical arrangement of tunes like Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, My God, and Thick as a Brick to name a few…lots of whimsey, wild fluting and stage antics too…support musicians were first rate and the band was as tight as a duck’s behind (would you expect less?)

Longer show than usual too, this time…a number of supporting players did original numbers…his flamenco guitarist was hot, the female violist (viola player) rocked, and the flautist, oboeist, and bassonist were very fine too…not to mention the whole Oregon Symphony…

The dude is as funny (and bawdy) as ever…the audience hung on his every word…doesn’t have the angry man voice he once did, but after singing Aqualung 5,000 times, you wouldn’t either…not to mention he’s 62 effing years old…