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The Jethro Tull locomotive wouldn't stop going and there was no way to slow it down as it plowed through Laxson Auditorium last week.
Jethro Tull, one of the few bands of the 1960s rock era that still tours, proved it hasn't run out of steam just yet.
The illustrious band brought baby boomers to their feet with its appearance in Chico. The middle-aged crowd was able to relive the classic concert experience with a modern twist, trading lighters for cell phone lights and psychedelic substances for a night out with the kids.
Though the band has been around for nearly 40 years, fans didn't expect anything less than a spectacular performance.
"You don't hang around on your shingles at this age and have nothing to show for it," Robert Seals said.
Seals was excited that Jethro Tull was coming through Chico. He and his wife bought their tickets over the summer to ensure they would see the rare spectacle.
The hype for Jethro Tull had been elevating for months, but legendary rock bands didn't always receive the attention they deserved in Chico.
"The Grateful Dead played here once, but no one showed up," Seals said.
A range of tie-dye clad individuals along with the more conservative couples scurried into their seats as the lights dimmed for the show. There was no need for an opening act or delay, and Jethro Tull immediately emerged on stage to woo the crowd for 90 minutes.
"Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!" an audience member said, morphing back into his carefree youth.
The spotlight hit lead singer Ian Anderson as he cracked his harmonica and took the crowd on the Jethro Tull ride. The rest of the band - Doane Perry on drums, John O'Hara on the keyboard, David Goodier on the bass and Martin Barre on lead guitar - wandered onto the stage.
Anderson didn't waste time getting comfortable in his performance. He was constantly switching from harmonica to flute to guitar and back to the microphone. The inclusion of the flute in most Jethro Tull songs has set it apart from many of its peers.
A standing ovation followed the first song, and the rest of the show for that matter. Anderson ensured that the audience got its moneys worth by introducing each tune with a bit of historical background and comical wit.
"Back in 1968, we didn't have to worry about political correctness," Anderson said. "But the title of this song should now be called 'I Don't Want to be a Clinically Obese Person,'" he said, referring to the song "Fat Man." Anderson joked that the song was dedicated to a fat man in the front row.
The band made every song look easy to play and proved that performing music was something it loved to do. Anderson pranced across every inch of the stage like the Pied Piper with his flute.
After a set of new songs and old classics such as "Aqualung" and "Thick as a Brick," the cell phone lights popped on, signaling a much-desired encore. The band didn't fail to wrap up with an astonishing performance of "Locomotive Breath."
The entertainment was the definition of what a good concert should be, consisting of flawlessly played music and a stage presence that gave audience members chills.
Musicians of this generation could learn a thing or two from the classic act put on by Jethro Tull. Maybe they should dig into their parents' record collection as a resource - the baby boomers know how it's done.
Lindsay Wright can be reached at lwright@theorion.com
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