Performing tunes like “Serenade To A Cuckoo” by Roland Kirk, from their 1968 album This Was, the band managed to surprise even their die hard fans. With a set list that relied heavily on the aforementioned disc, as well as tunes from Stand Up, many obvious “hits” were nowhere in sight. No “Bungle In The Jungle,” “Too Old To Rock and Roll” or “Thick As A Brick” this time around, though favorites like “Bouree” and “Locomotive Breath” certainly did make their way into the show. New intros, like that on “Bouree,” made even those old standards appear a breath of fresh air.

Ian Anderson, looking a little older and slightly heavier, still managed to lift his leg (briefly) and wail on the flute, letting us all recall a time when a younger man struck the pose for much longer, but with no less energy than he does today. His playing was still as amazing as ever, such as on the ending of “My God,” where he managed to somehow grunt and groan through the flute as he plays, creating a totally unique experience for the uninitiated. His “Oh Shit!,” declared at the last note, had his sense of humor shining through clearly, and the audience smiling along throughout the show. At one point, Ian turned the tables and made the photographers the center of attention, photographing US! A strange interlude to be sure. This was one man, and one band, that was most certainly having a ball playing for us.

Speaking of the band, let’s not forget the inimitable Martin Barre on guitar, delivering those hook-filled six-string parts as fervently as he ever did. These two mainstays have been joined by extraordinary keyboard player Andrew Giddings (the longest lasting keyboard player in Tull history, having just passed the eight year mark), Doane Perry on Drums and Percussion and Jonathan Noyce on some really heavy bass. This conglomeration of Tull is definitely a winner, the band very clearly having a great time throughout the show.

A mini-acoustic set brought us a superb “Thin Man,” what with Andrew’s cool “Squeezy German Thing” (an accordion), Doane’s percussion, Ian’s mandolin and Martin’s odd-looking Balalaika adding to the sweet, sweet mix. A variety of tunes from their many discs, including their new one J-Tull.Com, on Fuel 2000 Records, made this show a truly enjoyable experience. “Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square,” an oldie, and songs like “Dot.com” and “Hot Mango Flush,” both new and improved, showed Tull to be a band that shows no signs of slowing down as we enter the new millennium.

“Aqualung” and “Living In The Past” rounded out the encores, proving Jethro Tull to be, and this is truly a metaphor for their entire career, as hot at the end as they were at the top of the show. To quote one of their most famous lines... this band simply has “...no way to slow down.” And we can all thank God for that.