by
Mike Scinto
The year was 1968. I
was a sophomore at Carroll High School in Dayton, Ohio. I was also the singer
in a startup garage band. The drummer in that band, a student of jazz-style
drums, was one of my best friends. While my preferred genre of music was
classic rock I decided to check out two jazz-style albums that he thought would
be break-through releases. The albums were “This
Was” and “Stand Up” by a “guy”
named Jethro Tull. I was an instant
convert and besides loving the music, I also learned quickly that Jethro Tull
wasn’t a man, but the band.
Let’s fast-forward to
last evening at The Rose Music Center at
The Heights in Huber Heights, Ohio. Kathy and I experienced what might have
been one of the final live performances of the current line-up, from the more
than 36 players over the past 50 years, carrying the Jethro Tull name. The one constant in that select group has been Ian Anderson, the founder and
consummate leader. Many who, like me, thought he WAS Jethro Tull, are only half
wrong; without his leadership, flute and vocals there would be no Jethro Tull.
The current tour, “Ian Anderson Presents the 50th
Anniversary of Jethro Tull” (50
years and 50 dates) was a definite trip down memory lane. From the opening
song, “My Sunday Feeling” which was
the first Tull song I ever heard up to the hugely successful classic “Aqualung” and the encore of “Locomotive Breath”, the tunes took us
on a journey from the “country jazz” roots to the hard-driven rock and roll that
makes this band, and leader true classics!
The show was
completely sold out and there wasn’t a vacant seat in the center, except for a
brief intermission allowing attendees to catch their breath between performances
and grab a cold beverage on this warm summer night. Anderson has said this
would be his final tour; although I remember the same warning on the 20th
anniversary tour. By the way, several folks sitting around us had on the
t-shirts from that 1988 tour. If that’s the case, Kathy and I were privileged
to hear Anderson offer up these classic pieces of music history. If the band
continues on we’ll take our seats for the 60th anniversary tour a
decade down the road. This was another feather in the cap of The Rose bringing
current stars and seasoned legends to our region and putting Huber Heights on
the performance map.
One congratulatory
comment to The Rose Music Center at the
Heights; we actually got to see the show! When I was 20 years old, I was
standing right down front at concerts rocking out to the music. I realize now,
in my seasoned years, how annoying it can be to pay for seats and the person in
front of you stands up from the opening note to the encore. You either don’t
see anything or have to stand the entire time. For venues it’s almost impossible
to enforce a “stay in your seats” rule. The Rose DID IT! It’s the first time
I’ve seen it announce and successfully enforce a stay seated rule! Hats off to
The Rose! We all stood for “Aqualung” and
“Locomotive Breath” but those are
the classics and at the end of the show. It made for an even more enjoyable
night!
The season is winding
down but Yes, American Idol Live, Ziggy Marley and REO Speedwagon are yet to
appear this season. For great seats and a fantastic evening, grab your tickets
and your memories now at http://rosemusiccenter.com.
