As a young boy, whenever the band Jethro Tull were muttered in the car it would lead to an immediate turning off of the radio, anticipating the impending introduction of 'Dad's music!' Nevertheless, on the 24th August I agreed to accompany my Dad to see the one and only Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull's lead singer) live in Camberley, Surrey.
Upon arriving at Camberley Theatre, I was impressed by the array of instruments laid out on stage, especially those not associated with a modern rock set-up.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed and I prepared to plug in my proverbial earplugs, however, the instant upbeat rhythm caught my attention and held it throughout the show. Anderson proved himself to be a quirky yet admirable performer, and really stood out from his three accompanying musicians.
The sounds produced from his classical flute and his soloing ability combined to flaunt his talents in songwriting and live performance, and gave the show a unique signature
All four musicians showed extremely high levels of skill, taking on fourteen instruments in total, from flute and viola to a range of guitars; one member even playing keyboard and percussion simultaneously!
I have seen the likes of Justin Hawkins, Roger Daltrey and many other legendary guitarists live, but Anderson's lead guitarist is by far the one in a billion most bands struggle to find.
Guitarist Florian Ophale may not a household name, but a talent that more than deserves the spotlight. Tackling rock covers of JS Bach's classical symphonies as well as Tull classics on acoustic, electric and bass guitars, Ophale bought an essence of youth and vitality to a show with an historic feel about it.
Performing songs from the soon to be re-released album, Aqualung, Anderson created strong folk vibes with inspiration ranging from seaside folklore to events from his childhood, including an extremely graphic tale of how his dog gnawed off the head of a wild hare!
Classics such as Mother Goose and Up To Me were outstanding pieces of music when heard live, combining British folk and classical influences, before the title track Aqualung had the entire audience gaping in awe at the complexity and musical talent on display.
As the show came to an end, I felt myself eating the many distasteful words I had whispered about Jethro Tull over my lifetime! Anderson put on a show that I shall never forget and which has wholly changed my opinions of true folk music, and its capabilities to create beautiful melodies.
As a musician myself, I could only dream of possessing the raw talent present on stage and I believe most who have witnessed this show would agree with me.
Despite being by far the youngest in the audience, Anderson's performance in my opinion showed an outlook of accessibility to all who hear his music. British folk is not to be underestimated, especially with its revival in recent years, via artists such as Newton Faulkner, Paolo Nutini and Ed Sheeran (to a point).
I urge you to stage your own personal 'musical intervention' and discover the roots of British soft rock and indie by delving into the grand archives of Jethro Tull; the father of British folk.
