There was some speculation earlier that one of the Reykjavik concerts was going to be televised - would love to see a broadcast recording of a show from this tour.
Hi, I did attend the second show in Reykjavik. Having been an avid fan for many years, and having attended some 20 IA/JT shows (I have lost count)...I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the Reykjavik show. I enjoyed watching the show alright, but felt let down at the end as I was leaving the theater. I saw the Aqualung show last June in Vancouver B.C. and an Ian Anderson show in Stockholm backed by a string quartet in Stockholm this past October. Both great shows. And I love the new TAAB2 album. So what happened? Thinking about that helps me realize that 1) I had really high expectations for this TAAB / TAAB2 tour. 2) Maybe in trying to play both of these albums back to back in a way that really reproduced the albums Ian didn't provide any real WOW moments with the spontaneity or improv sections that usually come in live performances. The video and the Prostate cancer awareness bit added some of the flavor and fun of old Tull concerts, but they weren't enough to carry the show. I missed Martin and Doane, but even so, Ian didn't really give Florian the space to shine the way he has in past IA shows I've seen (In Stockholm Florian had the stage, and jammed on Carmina Burana, backed up by the string quartet...fun). To sum up...a great idea to take TAAB out again, but by reproducing the albums so faithfully, it just lacked the spontaneity and WOW moments that usually come in a live Tull or Ian Anderson show. It lacked the usual punch. Still a big fan, always will be. Just my honest opinion. BTW, yes a video camera was running on a servo boom. So they may have been taping for TV. I have also heard rumors that they were going to tape for a DVD in Reykjavik. If so, I'm sure it could be edited into a great DVD. Cheers!
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2012 14:31:38 GMT -5 by Delfeild
Hi, I did attend the second show in Reykjavik. Having been an avid fan for many years, and having attended some 20 IA/JT shows (I have lost count)...I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the Reykjavik show. I enjoyed watching the show alright, but felt let down at the end as I was leaving the theater. I saw the Aqualung show last June in Vancouver B.C. and an Ian Anderson show in Stockholm backed by a string quartet in Stockholm this past October. Both great shows. And I love the new TAAB2 album. So what happened? Thinking about that helps me realize that 1) I had really high expectations for this TAAB / TAAB2 tour. 2) Maybe in trying to play both of these albums back to back in a way that really reproduced the albums Ian didn't provide any real WOW moments with the spontaneity or improv sections that usually come in live performances. The video and the Prostate cancer awareness bit added some of the flavor and fun of old Tull concerts, but they weren't enough to carry the show. I missed Martin and Doane, but even so, Ian didn't really give Florian the space to shine the way he has in past IA shows I've seen (In Stockholm Florian had the stage, and jammed on Carmina Burana, backed up by the string quartet...fun). To sum up...a great idea to take TAAB out again, but by reproducing the albums so faithfully, it just lacked the spontaneity and WOW moments that usually come in a live Tull or Ian Anderson show. It lacked the usual punch. Still a big fan, always will be. Just my honest opinion. BTW, yes a video camera was running on a servo boom. So they may have been taping for TV. I have also heard rumors that they were going to tape for a DVD in Reykjavik. If so, I'm sure it could be edited into a great DVD. Cheers!
Welcome Delfield, and thanks for your thoughtful review. I can appreciate where you are coming from as I recall when I saw Divinties live I was thinking the exact same thing. He played each song in the exact same order of the album and without improvisation which made it all anti-climatic.
It will be interesting to see if I share your views after seeing this show in September.
