MARTIN BARRE – 29.11.2024 – Troon

Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre surely needs no introduction as his immense contribution to prog rock (and rock music in general) these past many decades speaks for itself; all those timeless songs and musically adventurous LPs and their influence and impact and whatnot cannot be overstated. Friday evening at the wonderful WinterStorm festival in Troon saw the gentleman and his ridiculously skilled musical compatriots take to the stage and perform the iconic Aqualung album by Jethro Tull in its entirety along with a select few additions that included the outstanding “A New Day Yesterday.” To these eyes and ears, what we witnessed was nothing short of a triumph, and being able to enjoy a vibrant and vigorous live rendition of one of my favorite records made the whole event rather momentous and unlike anything else. With Barre’s warmth, humor, and perfectly timed sarcasm not to mention a stellar band playing their asses off and giving it their all, it was as if the outside world did not exist as the unique tone, melodic strength, dynamics, and atmosphere of the 1971 masterpiece filled the Troon Concert Hall. Luckily, the sound was crisp but also carried a lot of punch, which entailed that all the subtle nuances of the compositions came to the fore while maintaining a heavy (and occasionally thunderous) feel. Dan Crisp’s vocals were spot on, and he was suitably animated and charmingly intense throughout, which added drama and pathos to the songs, and I could listen to Alan Thomson and Terri Bryant’s marvelous interplay all day long. A phenomenal gig in every imaginable way and one that I will never forget.