CON IAN ANDERSON E I JETHRO TULL SIAMO SU UN ALTRO PIANETA

Info: j-tull.com

Ian Anderson is half musical genius, half meticulous elitist.

Off the stage, the legendary Jethro Tull flautist/lead singer steers clear of rock music, doesn’t enjoy being asked about when a new Jethro Tull album will be released, and spends the bulk of his time at his U.K. office.

On the stage, none of Anderson’s eccentric hoopla matters.

And really, it shouldn’t.

For more than 40 years, the British legend has effortlessly made the flute cool–and has sold nearly 60 million vinyl records, eight-tracks, and CDs along the way.

Anderson will play the National in Richmond on Sunday, and the Birchmere in Alexandria on Monday.

How has this success happened?

“In reality, I don’t know exactly how,” Anderson said in a phone interview from the United Kingdom. “I would like to think that in the period of 42 years, we’ve managed to stay outside the mainstream of rock music, while keeping afoot and being accessible and not too difficult to listen to.

“It’s all about being different, but not too different.”

Jethro Tull’s sound is indeed different. The way Anderson seamlessly weaves flute elements and deeply intellectual lyrics to a full electric backdrop has yet to be replicated in modern music.

Jethro Tull has released 25 albums over the years–most of which Anderson will pull from on his current tour. The first half of the show will primarily be acoustic before he rips into an electric storm during the homestretch.

The show “is one that embodies 80 percent of Jethro Tull music, but not necessarily all of the best-known songs,” said Anderson. “An Ian Anderson show goes a little deeper and wider into the Jethro Tull cataloge.

“It’s a fairly eclectic mix.”

For this tour, Anderson has opted for a handful of intimate venues in hopes that the focus will be less on atmosphere and more on the music itself.

“We like to keep the riffraff out,” said Anderson. “We hope the folks who get loud and drunk will stay at home and watch football.”

And as for that new Jethro Tull album? Don’t count on it anytime soon.

“Every time I get that question, it’s like I wiggle on the end of a hook,” Anderson said with a laugh. “There are pretty complex reasons as to why we haven’t done it I’ll continue to follow my creative instincts.

“I’m not writing to please other people.”