Review: Ian Anderson, King George's Hall, Blackburn
11:05am Monday 23rd April 2012 in Leisure
By John Anson, Features editor
Prog rock legend Ian Anderson.
CONVENTIONAL has never been a word which best describes Ian Anderson, driving force behind Jethro Tull.
So, it should come as no surprise that for his latest live outings, he is playing not just one concept album in its entirety, but two.
The first half of the show was Thick As A Brick, a concept album released 40 years ago widely regarded as one of the cornerstones of prog rock. Act two was the follow-up released this year.
This was a night for the fans – and there were plenty of them in attendance.
The musicianship was to be admired but sadly Anderson’s voice isn’t what it used to be.
But he got round this by having a second singer, Ryan O’Donnell, who took over many of the vocals.
Vocally below par he may be, but Anderson’s still rock’s premier flautist often pirouetting on one leg.
Prog rock has always been slightly over the top, slightly wacky and more than a little self-indulgent. That’s why its supporters love it – and that’s what they got with this show.
