Martin Barre & Band

Don't know if there's already a thread, so apologies if this is a repeat. And same goes for the title; not sure if it's Martin Barre Band as it did start out as Martin Barre's New Day.

Anywhoo, finally managed to get to see Martin Barre’s band, the one he’s been touring since Jethro Tull… well whatever happened to Jethro Tull…?

So what do you get? Jethro Tull’s greatest hits? No, what you get is more a “fan’s selection” of past Tull classics, tweaked and rocked-up a bit as the main core of the set, but Martin isn’t sitting back and coasting on past glories; his playing is as crisp and fiery as ever it was when he got the Grammy back in 1988 for Crest of A Knave; though a good many of the back catalogue were more 1968 & 1969 but without sounding as dated as you may expect. It’s certainly been a long while since I’ve heard the likes of Sweet Dream or To Cry You A Song let alone the relatively more recent Skating Away. However, it wasn’t all past glories though The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby got some treatment and the band’s take on the Blues classic Crossroads was Mississippi delta meets British folk and a washboard thrown in. Martin Barre is a fine writer in his own right, and several self-penned numbers from his latest studio album Back to Steel were included to great reception.

He’s also put together a really solid band; Dan Crisp handling 2nd guitar and vocal duties; he may not stand on one leg and twirl a flute, but he can certainly handle the mad-eyed nuances of Anderson’s songs. Solid bass from Alan Thomson, who also delivered superb slide when required. Drums on this (part) tour were handled by the only other former-Tull-ist Paul Burgess (between Broadsword & Under Wraps era) and two backing singers, mainly on the non-Tull songs, Alex Hart & Elani Andrea. The girls were allowed to do a few songs on their own, before the main band came out, and their harmonies were spellbinding.

To sum up the show - there were Minstrels in The Cluny this night…...

Only Keighly, Ripley & Kinross over this week-end in the UK, but for folks over the pond:-

USA / Canada 2017

2 March - Center For The Arts, Bonita Springs FL

3 March - Arts Garage, Del Ray Beach FL

4 March - Arts Garage, Del Ray Beach FL

5 March - Ace's Music Hall, Bradenton FL

10 March - The Plaza Live, Orlando FL

11 March - Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, Coconut Creek FL -

15 March - Smiths Old Bar, Atlanta GA

22 March - Revelry Room, Chattanooga TN

23 March - City Winery, Nashville TN

24 March - The Grey Eagle, Ashville NC

25 March - The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount VA

26 March - The Groove Music Hall, Woodford VA

28 March - One Longfellow Square, Portland ME

29 March - One Longfellow Square, Portland ME

30 March - The Gremio Lusitano Club, Ludlow MA

31 March - Daryls House Club, Pawling NY

1 April - The Flying Monkey, Plymouth NH

2 April - Shalin Liu Performance Hall, Rockport MA

6 April - Sportsman Tavern, Buffalo NY

7 April - Aeolian Hall, London ON

8 April - Hugh's Room, Toronto ON

11 April - Market Hall Performing Arts Center, Peterborough ON

12 April - Violet's Venue, Barrie ON

13 April - Mady Centre for the Performing Arts, Barrie ON

15 April - Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville PA

22 April - The Regatta Bar, Cambridge MA

23 April - BB Kings, New York NY

28 April - Martyr's Live, Chicago IL

29 April - Martyr's Live, Chicago IL

1 May - Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis MD

3 May - Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza, Worthington OH

4 May - Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza, Worthington OH

6 May - Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, Harrisburg PA

1 September - Yoshi's, Oakland CA

2 September - The Mystic Theather & Music Hall, Petaluma CA

3 September - Moe 's Alley, Santa Cruz CA

16 September - Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster CA

6 October - Mexicali Live, Teanek NJ

7 October - New Hope Winery, New Hope PA

20 October - The Bridge, Jefferson City MO

21 October - Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville IL

22 October - Reggie's Rock Festival, Chicago IL

27 October - Callahan 's Music Hall, Auburn Hills MI

28 October - Callahan 's Music Hall, Auburn Hills MI

Great review Mike.

A few months ago, The Mentulls shared the same dressing room with Martin and his band at A New Day Festival and after Martin had taken a look at the band and in particular guitarist Andrew Pipe, he decided to invite Andrew on stage at Ripley Town Hall (21 Jan show) for a couple of numbers including the encore Locomotive Breath.

Such an honour for Andrew as he cites Martin has his guitar hero and inspiration for taking up guitar at the age of 10.

Video to follow.

The Mentulls.

BansheeUK wrote:

Some clips from The Cluny (19th Jan)

Sweet Dream - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIY9ly-Bo6I
Skating Away - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPd6i97HMjw
Locomotive Breath - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Ci_c_MQiM

Banshee, outstanding and when I clicked on I found a vid of Teacher as well! Still sounds great after all these years!

                                                                                    Martin Rocks!!!

                                                                                    J Dawg

many thanks for the vids....... I wonder how many remember that they made an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in June or July of 1970 ? They played Teacher and Witches Promise, the youngish crowd was somewhat stunned by it all. It is loaded on Utube but the sound quality is terrible.

I saw something on the Tull website that they will do a one off concert in London, not sure on that date

If this is the same group then it's the Mandoki Soulmates, March 3rd at Hammersmith Eventim Apollo and will feature among others Al Di Meola, Randy Brecker, and Bill Evans. I just love Bill Evans on sax !!! If I was there this would be a can't miss event

BansheeUK wrote:

Don't know if it's of interest, but Mr. Anderson has been re-working some of the Tull back catalogue, in a church, with a string quartet....?  Imaginatively titled; Jethro Tull: The String Quartets its available toward the end of March, or you can pre-order via www.pledgemusic.com