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http://www.lowellsun.com/lifestyles/ci_3096298:
Tull anything but dull at Lowell Auditorium
By DENNIS SHAUGHNESSEY, Sun Staff
Jethro Tull at Lowell Memorial Auditorium Thursday night.
LOWELL -- At times subdued and at times raucous, Jethro Tull's performance last night at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium had something for everyone.
As Ian Anderson, frontman and floutist for the band, took the stage, acoustic guitar in hand, he immediately launched into 'Life's A Long Song' from the 1972 album Living In the Past.
The band joined in on the chorus, and then Anderson, who, at 58, can still prance along the stage in maniacal fashion, laid his guitar down and pulled the flute from its leather sheath near the microphone, bringing cheers from the devotees.
“That was one of our classic pieces and now we'd like to continue with something more up-to-date,” said Anderson. “This is from 1974 and it's called, 'Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of A New Day'.”
His head covered with a black bandana, Anderson resembled a pirate, in black trousers and embroidered vest over a white T-shirt. Midway through the first set, the band, which features Martin Barre on guitar, Andrew Giddings on keyboards, Jonathan Noyce on bass and Doane Perry on drums, was joined by 22-year-old violinist Lucia Marcarelli.
'She has the groove', remarked Anderson before the beginning strains of 'Wondering Aloud', from 1971's Aqualung album. The raven-haired Marcarelli, barefoot and wearing a gypsy-style dress, was the perfect complement to Anderson's flute as the pair played a version of the 'Love Theme From the Godfather' and climaxed with a rendition of Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir', bringing the crowd to its feet.
The piece featured a fierce exchange between Marcarelli, who viciously attacked her instrument, and Anderson, who breathed guttural fury into his flute. All to the flawless backing of the band.
The band did not stray too far from the Aqualung album, playing all 11 tracks. Concertgoers received a free copy of the new Aqualung Live album, which was recorded earlier this year in Washington State for XM Satellite Radio. All artist and publishing royalties from the album will go to charities for the homeless.
'Cross-eyed Mary' followed a 20-minute intermission with the steady-as-a-rock Barre on lead guitar, providing the middle. His voice labored at times when trying to reach the upper register, Anderson let his flute sing for him with an Irish-inspired 'Hymn 43', a song he says he loathed until the band changed the arrangement. The band finished with 'Aqualung', 'Wind Up' and 'Locomotive Breath', resulting in a mad rush by the crowd to the front of the stage, momentarily appearing that the night might end on a sour note.
But the crowd went no farther, showing their adulation with raised fists and singing the words to the songs.
As has been his custom for several decades, Anderson finished the evening by tossing giant, white balloons into the audience as 'Cheerio' played from the loudspeakers.