SHARING THE SHOWS
Jethro Tull - Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Vienna, VA - August 24, 20238/25/2023 I was beginning to feel like the only person in the Washington, DC area who’d never been to Wolf Trap. Pete, Kasi, and Stephanie lauded it as a venue. Maggie and I had discussed seeing Tedeschi Trucks there earlier this summer, but scheduling conflicts got in the way, so we settled on Jethro Tull. I had seen them at Jones Beach in 2008, and the sound of Ian Anderson’s flute had the whole crowd in a trance. I’d see them again. Maggie had come up from Newport News for the show, and of course, my couch would be her home for a couple of days. After the widespread panic (haha) that characterized this typically hectic first week of classes, I was ready for some live music. My love of DC for its public transportation options continues to increase. To get to Wolf Trap, Maggie and I would ride the Silver Line out to McLean, VA and catch a shuttle bus (only $3) to the venue. Granted, parking is free, but it is limited, and commuter traffic in this area sucks. So why not save oneself the hassle? There is a Wegman’s near the shuttle, which is a perfect place for dinner. I craved something from the Burger Bar, but as we passed the Asian section, both of our eyes gravitated toward the sushi. I got my favorite, the Philadelphia Roll, along with the Spicy King Salmon Roll. Wegman’s sushi proved to be a bad idea, as it upset both of our stomachs (but hey, points for presentation, right?). That being said, the show itself was a remarkable experience. On the train ride, we spoke with a lovely woman named Valerie, a professor of Spanish from North Carolina. A married woman, she came up solo for this show, which I always encourage people to do. IMHO, it’s a mark of true badassery. The venue itself is a work of bucolic beauty. At this point, I’ll let the pictures do the talking: We found a spot on a small grassy knoll toward the top of the lawn (the bottom part filled quite rapidly). Before the set began, Ian Anderson requested that we not take pictures or videos. Since I was top up, I could have taken some, but I do believe in karma. So I have no pictures of the band to offer. But I do have a setlist.
My introduction to Jethro Tull came when I copied a CD of Original Masters, their greatest hits compilation, onto a cassette, which I played repeatedly in my rusty 1982 Toyota Corolla as I drove to and from school, work, and hanging out with friends during my senior year of high school. From there, I did rip a few CDs onto my laptop, but for the most part, I wouldn’t be able to identify most of their songs by title. I did get “Aqualung,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “Locomotive Breath.” Ian (Valerie, a lifelong Tull fan, refers to him by first name, so I’ll do the same) did help us out by identifying most of the titles for us, particularly when they came off their new album. One highlight: before “Hunt by Numbers,” he mentioned he loved “pussycats” as opposed to dogs. I’m a cat person, and under my breath, I mumbled, “Hellwoooooo Chester.” I associate all cats and cute animals with my cat/son Chester. Jethro Tull is definitely not a band one dances to, but during the second set, Maggie and I stood on the blacktop. I found myself grooving to “The Zealot Gene” and “Dark Ages.” There’s just something about that flute. Maggie and I actually had a Siskel and Ebert-like disagreement on the act. We both loved the Nordic influence of his flute; Maggie doesn’t really dig Anderson’s voice. While I acknowledge it’s not what it used to be, I still love the sophisticated aura of his Scottish accent. And he does make me want to pick up a flute. The shuttle ride back was quiet, and we chatted some more on the Metro ride home. Once back, I hit that bed with a thud. A show is a great way to cap the first week of classes. It’s also a necessary tool to manage the stress of the semester, even with tenure. So there will be quite a few more coming over the next nine months.
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