Martin Barre Concert-A Brief History of Jethro Tull
The Worthington
Country Club, Massachusetts
June 18, 2023
https://martinbarre.com/martin-barre-tour/
Nestled in the country along Route 143 off Worthington Road in
Massachusetts is the beautiful Golf Links, owned by David and Helen Pollard. It
was my distinct pleasure to attend the concert being held there with Martin Barre.
For a few reasons: I knew the Pollards very well and had worked for them for
five years in the early 2000s. And I had not seen them in 14 years! Secondly, I
am very familiar with Martin’s guitar playing with Jethro Tull, covering
several of the reissues of their group’s studio recordings over the years,
seeing them play live with the band, and providing coverage before he departed
on his solo career. With that in mind and being able to see some old friends, I
had been anticipating this event for months.
We had a beautiful clear blue sky with the sun shining to usher
in this rock legend; however, as the night rolled on, it got a bit nippy, and
Martin was warming his fingers to keep them agile.
Martin Barre is one of the finest guitar players in the world
and has been for many decades. Now in his 70s, he has not lost a step in
showcasing his six-string virtuosity. I was to realize this fully last night as
he made his way through two lengthy sets. His band consists of Dan Crisp (lead
vocals/keyboards), Alan Thomson (bass), and Darby Todd on Drums. The lead
singer bares a remarkable resemblance to a younger Phil Collins. That is what I
recognized in short order. And besides that, after belting out the first number
with authority, he did a complete turnaround. He sang like a young Ian
Anderson, including all the facial expressions and mannerisms of the Jethro
Tull mastermind and leader, writer, singer, and musician.
Another surprise may have been Martin being an accomplished
flute player. I had known this, but many in attendance were surprised. The
crowd expressed their delight as Martin handled his second instrument quite
well. Quite honestly, and even though I still enjoy Jethro Tull to this day,
Ian has lost his voice due to age and wear and tear, and nobody ever could
replace Martin on guitar. It has not been the same since he left the band.
This night I relived the good old days with Martin wailing away
and rocking the crowd and Dan Crisp doing a splendid job with each song from
the Tull catalog. There are so many outstanding Tull albums and much ground to
cover. Martin and his band are tight and did a marvelous job recreating all the
music. Even Ian Anderson would be impressed.
The first Tull album I got was Warchild back in the day when there were
record and CD clubs that no longer exists. It still stands as my favorite
album. Now there are many different choices if you are a vinyl enthusiast to
choose from. Hearing them play “Warchild,” “Back Door Angels,” and “Sea Lion”
was a treat for the ears and senses. And of course, there are many of the
favorites that the audience recognized immediately, such as “Bouree,” “My God,”
“Thick As A Brick,” and many more, including the all-out rocking encore numbers
“Locomotive Breath” and “Teacher.” Martin and the band ended the show on fire,
cranking out those two prog rock classics. Fitting, it ended with plenty of
fireworks from Martin’s guitar.
It was another night for me to remember, and an honor to be able
to see the show and report on it. Thank you, David and Helen, for the night
that will forever be in my consciousness and for giving this old rocker a smile
from the inside out.
If you like the beauty of nature and outdoor music, visiting the
Worthington Golf Club this summer is a must. Look at what is on tap for the
rest of the season and get your tickets here: https://worthingtongolfclub.com/music-concerts-and-events.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
June 19, 2023
First Set:
Look Into The Sun
Someday The Sun
Cat’s Squirrel
We Used To Know
Serenade To A Cuckoo
Bouree
Sossity
Bass Solo
Back To The Family
Nothing To Say
My God
(chat) Thick As A Brick
Passion Play
Whistler
Black Satin Dancer
Back Door Angels
(chat) Warchild
Sea Lion
Set Two:
Acres Wild
Jack Frost
(chat) Under Wraps Acoustic
Under Wraps Electric
Protect And Survive
Watching Me
Fallen On Hard Times
Too Old To Rock & Roll
Slow Marching Band
(chat)
Locomotive Breath
Teacher
