Tull 50th anniversary tour

[Progatron]

I would have personally taken something from Roots to Branches over one of the 4 tracks from This Was

Roots To Branches always had a great atmosphere live, I thought. I always enjoyed when they played it whenever I saw them. I never saw them do Rare And Precious Chain, but that would be a great pick as well.

[bill g]

Roots To Branches always had a great atmosphere live, I thought. I always enjoyed when they played it whenever I saw them. I never saw them do Rare And Precious Chain, but that would be a great pick as well.

Yeah definitely, as would 'Stuck In The August Rain'.

[Mister Triscuits]

Yeah definitely, as would 'Stuck In The August Rain'.

Ugh, I've always hated that song. I've always thought Roots to Branches started out strong, but turned really drippy towards the end, mainly the last two songs and the smarmy vocal parts of "Wounded, Old & Treacherous."

[bill g]

Ugh, I've always hated that song. I've always thought Roots to Branches started out strong, but turned really drippy towards the end, mainly the last two songs and the smarmy vocal parts of "Wounded, Old & Treacherous."

Love a lot of the more acoustic moody side of Tull. Love 'August Rain', love 'Mother Goose', 'Wondering Aloud', 'Alive and Well & Living In', etc...Not as much as things like 'Thick as a Brick' of course. Roots... was actually my favorite Tull album probably since A, which was probably my favorite since 'Heavy Horses'

[Mister Triscuits]

Love a lot of the more acoustic moody side of Tull. ... love 'Mother Goose', 'Wondering Aloud', 'Alive and Well & Living In', etc...

I certainly agree with all of those!

[kid_runningfox]

Roots To Branches always had a great atmosphere live, I thought. I always enjoyed when they played it whenever I saw them. I never saw them do Rare And Precious Chain, but that would be a great pick as well.

Last tour I saw Tull on, at Newcastle City Hall. One of the strongest line-ups the band had in its later years, and Anderson could still, just about, sing. I actually think Roots to Branches is a very strong album - Tull's best since Under Wraps, and I liked the growing influence of non-Western music on Anderson's songwriting. Certainly, it was a major step-up from the likes of the frankly godawful Rock Island and Catfish Rising.

[Kcrimso]

Last tour I saw Tull on, at Newcastle City Hall. One of the strongest line-ups the band had in its later years, and Anderson could still, just about, sing. I actually think Roots to Branches is a very strong album - Tull's best since Under Wraps, and I liked the growing influence of non-Western music on Anderson's songwriting. Certainly, it was a major step-up from the likes of the frankly godawful Rock Island and Catfish Rising.

I think Roots To Branches is the strongest Tull album since Heavy Horses.

[progholio]

I think Roots To Branches is the strongest Tull album since Heavy Horses.

I agree that Roots is a very strong album and probably the last "good" Tull album. I thought having a badass session player like Steve Bailey on bass made it more interesting too.

[Kcrimso]

I agree that Roots is a very strong album and probably the last "good" Tull album. I thought having a badass session player like Steve Bailey on bass made it more interesting too.

Indeed! Rhythm section is much stronger on that album than on anything that Anderson has done since.

[Larry Canary]

I totally concur with the Steve Bailey observation. Great bass on that album. But Pegg is an excellent player also.

[Vic2012]

Ugh, I've always hated that song. I've always thought Roots to Branches started out strong, but turned really drippy towards the end, mainly the last two songs and the smarmy vocal parts of "Wounded, Old & Treacherous."

My exact feelings about RTB. Great start, so so middle, meh ending. It's way down my Tull list.

[Vic2012]

+1. In my top three.

Definitely in my top 5 favorite JT albums. For years I avoided it for all the usual criticism it gets. I loved it in the first spin. For me it's far better than Stand Up.

[Progatron]

Just for the hell of it, here's My Sunday Feeling, the concert opener from last night in Toronto. Make of it what you will...

[arturs]

^^^ For some contrast...

[Vic2012]

It's Metal Tull (almost.....). I hope Ian kept the Grammy. Well deserved.

[The Dark Elf]

^^^ For some contrast...

Yeah, but no, I think I'll just keep the memories of seeing extraordinary Tull live shows from another era, rather than wincing every time he struggles, nearly lifting himself off his feet, to hit even the semblance of a higher note. Last time I saw him was Orchestral Tull, which was a more sensible venue for his music at this point.

[progholio]

^^^ For some contrast...

Clive Bunker is the shit!!! (well, so is Glenn Cornick and Martin too!)

[chalkpie]

Bunker really kicks the living cream cheese out of those drums - what a crazy style he had!

[Progatron]

Bunker was great. Barlow has said numerous times how much respect he has for his drumming, after having to learn the earlier songs.

I love the youthful energy of that lineup.

[The Dark Elf]

Bunker was great. Barlow has said numerous times how much respect he has for his drumming, after having to learn the earlier songs.

I love the youthful energy of that lineup.

Yep, that Isle of Wight performance is the very definition of "piss and vinegar".

[chalkpie]

Bunker was great. Barlow has said numerous times how much respect he has for his drumming, after having to learn the earlier songs.

I love the youthful energy of that lineup.

Yep, that Isle of Wight performance is the very definition of "piss and vinegar".

Yes and yes.

[taliesin]

Just for the hell of it, here's My Sunday Feeling, the concert opener from last night in Toronto. Make of it what you will...

I was at the show as well and it was okay. The first half was all the standard songs from the early albums that have been in the JT/IA setlists for the past 20 years - they were all competently played but not a lot of spark.

A couple of nice choices in the second half but IA's voice didn't really get any better than in this clip.

And the show is clearly designed for smaller venues than this so it was a bit lost on the size of stage at the venue.

[Progatron]

I was at the show as well and it was okay. The first half was all the standard songs from the early albums that have been in the JT/IA setlists for the past 20 years - they were all competently played but not a lot of spark.

You've nailed it there. It's the other thing (next to Ian's voice) that I notice in every one of these modern live clips (the one above is not mine, BTW, I haven't seen Tull since 2007.) The energy is so lacking. I don't expect them to be jumping around like young men, but this is so far removed from, say, fifteen years ago with guys like Barre, Perry, Giddings... there was an element of showmanship on the stage - indeed, as there always was in Tull - that just isn't there anymore.

Perhaps if I actually went to a recent show, I would see things differently. Who knows? Just calling it like I see it from here.

[Mister Triscuits]

You've nailed it there. It's the other thing (next to Ian's voice) that I notice in every one of these modern live clips (the one above is not mine, BTW, I haven't seen Tull since 2007.) The energy is so lacking.

Two people in our group at the Berkeley show were drummers*, and they were extremely critical of Scott Hammond's playing...although no one was sure if he's just naturally a boring drummer, or if it's because of the tight leash Ian has him on.

*The others were a guitarist, a flute player, and a chiropractor.

[PROGMONSTER]

Tull's last album was the xmas album about 15 years ago. Ian should just tour under his name because the current lineup isn't Tull at all.