Anderson and the band followed with “Cheap Day Return”, “A New Day Yesterday” and “The Turnstile Gate” another of his new tunes. The set continued with new songs “Weathercock” and “Stick, Twist, Bust”, which was a new song. Next came “Jack-in-the-Green” and “The Witch’s Promise”. The band resumed the opera with set two and “And the World Feeds Me” and ” Living in the Past” always well received. He then ended set one with the well know and more folkish “Songs From the Wood ” Anderson new song “Prosperous Pasture” was followed by the heavy beats of “Fruits of Frankenfield”. “Farm on the Freeway” was backed by scenes of farmland being pushed out by loaded freeways clogged with streams of cars. “With You There to Help Me” and “Back to the Family” were next. Then came “Aqualung” with cheers from the crowd for Florian’s guitar playing on that oh so familiar song. They started off with “Heavy Horses”, followed by “Wind-up”. The virtual young Tull was played by Ryan O’Donnell, who also used to tour with Anderson a couple of years ago. She added clean and frankly beautiful note to production as her voice pierced the theater and took it that next level. The virtual guests were Unmur Birna Björnsdóttir playing Tull’s wife. The stage band consisted of John O’Hara on keyboard, Florian Opahle, who played particularly well on lead guitar, Grieg Robinson on bass and Scott Hammond on drums. After many years of singing Anderson’s voice is a bit raspier, but he hasn’t lost his bounce or swagger. They played 2 sets with a short intermission and it was pure energy the entire time. Most of the band members were considerably younger than Anderson’s age of 68, but you didn’t notice the gap as he cavorts about the stage shifting from flute to mandolin and on to harmonica. It was an entertaining mix of the English countryside, fields of grain, and other interesting imagery along with wailing guitar and Anderson owning the stage. Who else is instantly associated with standing on one leg, like the Pied Piper of rock, with flute in hand? His opera consists of many songs we are familiar with mixed with 5 new songs and narration from the projected video of virtual guests on the back screen to tell the story of Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson has spent decades fluting his way around the stage as one of the most recognizable front men in rock. The whole concept of a rock opera is not often done, but when pulled off right it’s a night not to be missed. It’s the story of Jethro Tull, an 18th Century agriculturist, as seen through Ian Anderson’s eyes and imagination. NovemIan Anderson’s Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera is not just another concert. Ian Anderson Ian Anderson Fox Theater, Mashantucket, CT
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