Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour Hits U.S.: Recap
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Ian Anderson with the band on May 30, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ on opening night of their North American tour
In celebration of Jethro Tull’s 50th anniversary—they played their first show at the Marquee Club London on February 2, 1968—Ian Anderson has organized a tour for the golden celebration. It began in Europe in April and began its North American run on May 30.
On May 25, a career-spanning 3-CD set, 50 For 50, was released, with tracks selected by Anderson.
On Friday night (June 1), the tour arrived in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre, with a 20-song set packed with classic rock hits from the group’s 11 gold and five platinum records. Anderson is back by David Goodier (bass guitar), John O’Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar), and Scott Hammond (drums). We’ve got video highlights from the tour’s first two dates.
Watch Aqualung‘s “My God” from the North American tour’s opening night in Phoenix
Here’s “Cross-Eyed Mary” from that same show
Related: Our interview with Ian Anderson
Watch “Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die”
And for the June 1 encore… “Locomotive Breath”
Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary Tour, June 1, 2018 Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, Setlist
My Sunday Feeling
Love Story
A Song For Jeffrey
Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine For You
Dharma For One
Living in the Past
A New Day Yesterday
Bourree in E Minor
With You There to Help Me / The Witch’s Promise
My God
Cross-Eyed Mary
Thick as a Brick
A Passion Play
Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die
Songs From the Wood
Ring Out, Solstice Bells
Heavy Horses
Farm on the Freeway
Aqualung
Encore
Locomotive Breath
Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary North American Dates (Tickets available here and here)
May 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
Jun 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Jun 02 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre
Jun 03 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Jun 05 – Visalia, CA – Visalia Fox Theatre
Jun 06 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Community Theater
Jun 08 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
Jun 09 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield
Jun 10 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Jun 29 – St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
Jun 30 – New Buffalo, MI – Four Winds Casino Resort
Jul 01 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Jul 03 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Jul 06 – Ottawa, Canada – Bluesfest
Jul 07 – Montreal, Canada – Festival International de Jazz
Aug 31 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
Sep 01 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Sep 03 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
Sep 05 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at the Heights
Sep 07 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
Sep 08 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center for the Perf. Arts
Sep 09 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Sep 11 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Sep 12 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
- Eric Clapton Announces First Dates of 2025 Tour - 11/18/2024
- Rod Stewart Sets ‘One Last Time’ 2025 Tour, With Cheap Trick - 11/18/2024
- New Book Celebrates 50 Years of TV’s ‘Happy Days’ - 11/17/2024
9 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI was at Jethro Tulls at the Fox Theater Visalia Ca.
He seemed to have sparatic times where his mike cut out.
Other than that it was a great show…
Four out of five fingers up.. iiii
This is from your ad on this page the bands name is Jethro Tull not Aqualung
Watch Aqualung‘s “My God” from the North American tour’s opening night
I saw tull at the state theater mpls 83118 they were classic and crisp like wow top 4 of 17 thru the years I’ve watched 17
I saw Tull last night, 9-5-18, for my 10th time. It was sad to say the least. Yes, the screen behind him was pretty cool, however, his voice is gone. You could barely hear him and it was as if he was straining to sing, the music and his singing seem to be out of sync and the once glorious voice was completely gone. He did have some people sing on the video screen, lyrics that he should have been singing. I was very disappointed to say the least. I longed for the times in the 70’s watching the ultimate showman. But one thing Ian has not lost, he is still the greatest flautist out there.
I also was very disappointed in the songs he chose to play. The first half of the concert was not classic Tull. Rather boring.
He played a snippet and I mean a snippet of side 2 of Thick as a Brick. Now please, he could have done much better than that. Then the second half, still not up to my standards for Tull, the only songs that got the crowd going was Aqualung, Heavy Horses and Locomotive Breath. The total time played was 90 mins. At $63.00 per ticket that was paid, I would expect more than that.
But perhaps it is better that it wasn’t longer since his singing is gone. At 71, that can be expected. Ian still and always will be special to me. Thanks for the early years Ian!
We saw them last night in Philadelphia and your review could have been mine. I agree 100%.
Yea, he is 70 by-the-by and he brought what he could. It was an anniversary tour , a nostalgic tour if you will; not a single hit from each one of his/their 30 studio albums. This tour showcased the foundation of the band and their first 10 albums. I thought it was great. This was my 53rd time seeing them.
9.7.2018 Wolf Trap VA. I saw Ian Anderson and some other people under the Tull Moniker. I was so disappointed. Ian the performer has lost his voice. Ian knows this due to the large projection of someone (?) singing Aqualung in back of the band. At $95.00 a ticket? Really? I have seen Jethro Tull twice in the early 70’s. I will cherish those memories. But, I am sad to say this scam is what I will remember most.
I just watched the concert at the Mann Center in Philly. Very disappointing. Poor choice of songs. Silly videos from people like Joe Bonomassa, Tommy Iommi, and some guy from Metalica.
Ian Anderson obviously prerecorded some of his vocals and lip synched. He can’t sing through an entire concert anymore.
Anderson should rework this thing and give his fans the things they like.
My wife and I walked out a couple of songs from the end and I looked at the faces of the people as I left. Boredom. Disappointment.
Saw Jethro Tull at Arcada Theater in St Charles IL last nite, didn’t even play flute! Some songs were good but all in all very disappointed
We were at the concert at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga CA. I’m sorry to say, but the concert was awful. I wanted to hear some of my favorite familiar Tull songs. But no, we had to sit there and for 2 hours and hear songs that basically no one cared about. And finally at the end when they played Auqalung and Locomotive, Ian couldn’t even sing!!!! If he would have just played some of the favorites early in the concert it would have been ok. But we all sat there waiting and then didn’t even get what we came for. I heard others say the same thing after the concert. Total waste of money and time