Ian Anderson 30th April 2012 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham

I didn't realise it at the time, but Ian Anderson is pretty much Jethro Tull now. He has since stated that the band no longer exists as it was and that he is recording and performing in his own right with the legacy of material at his disposal.

This was a gig in support of his recording of the follow up the Thick as a Brick album (TAAB2) and my initial disappointment that it was not the full band was immediately tempered by the way that they approached this. He had the vision to understand his vocal limitations and therefore brought in an additional vocalists to support his efforts – in addition, his band really went for the theatrical look and it gave me the impression of how it would have been to see Tull back in the heyday of the mid-1970s when they were releasing an album a year and playing at Maddison Square Gardens. I also enjoyed the concept of a two-part gig where everyone gets a break in the middle.

What his next project will be, I can only guess but perhaps he could put together a touring band to cover each of the great albums in their entirety? Just a thought...

7.5 out of 10