By Danny Coleman
originally published: 08/25/2016
"Five years removed from Jethro Tull and I haven't heard from anyone. The demise of Jethro Tull was orchestrated by Ian; the ball was always in his court," says long time Tull guitarist Martin Barre as he readies to launch the next leg of a tour in support of his latest release, "Back To Steel." "I'm having too much fun with my band now and the more I'm with them; the happier I am. I've got some big things coming and I can't give it away just yet but I'll announce them soon."
"The ball," so to speak, is now firmly in the court and the hands of Barre and from the looks of things,he doesn't plan on dropping or handing it off any time soon. "I like where I'm at now," stated a seemingly at ease Barre. "I can't say it enough; I am very happy with my band. I could never turn my back on them. We are four piece and we play just great music. That has always been my focus, our focus from the beginning. Going on the road and performing, playing the Tull songs mixed with my material and me having the say as to where we go and where we perform is refreshing. On this tour, we are not playing huge venues and that's how I've designed it; I'm building things slowly. I'm very particular about where we go and what we play on stage."
Speaking from England a day prior to the tour kicking off, Barre spoke with confidence as he discussed the first go around of the journey. "The audiences have been inspiring. The first portion of the tour, nobody knew what to expect but then after; so many people have come to me saying the same. They'll say, "We didn't know what to expect but this was fantastic"and that's a great feeling."
One of the reasons for the success of the product on stage, is Barre's willingness to change and do so at times on a nightly basis. Intertwining classic Tull material with his own; Barre keeps his past as prevalent as his present. "I change my show pretty much all of the time. New tour means new songs and there will be a few surprises; I don't want people to know what is coming from one song to the next and I don't wish to be predictable. I may play my flute, which is something that I rarely do. I own five flutes, I've been playing since I was a young boy. I played it a lot in a blues band; until I met Ian and then I no longer had a need (laughs)."
Along with the tour comes the new album and "Back To Steel" is a new look with an old twist. This twelve track disc features two remakes of the Tull tunes, "Slow Marching Band" and his version of "Skating Away" as it's titled on this CD. "The record came out last year and it's gotten great reviews," he explained with a combination of relief and satisfaction. "It has done me an awful lot of good to have a CD of my original material. People are now getting to know me as a songwriter and it's been fantastic. People are thinking of me as a a writer and it has been wonderful."
Barre is making a stop in New Jersey on September 7 at Parker Press Park in Woodbridge located at 400 Rahway Avenue, where he'll perform an outdoor 7:30 p.m. show. "This is about a 10 week tour of North America and we'll be stopping in New York, New Jersey, Boston and many others; then we go back over to Europe. We are very much ready and looking forward to getting started."
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church Street Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. (TBA)
Sat. 8 p.m. Sounds Of The Street
Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers Street Trenton
Fri. 6 p.m. Another Vendetta (CD Release Party), I Am The Trireme, Buried, Since The Fire, Cadaveric Spasm, (TBA). All ages, $10/$12
Sat. 3 p.m. "Bobby Potter Memorial Show" feat. Sabella, Kaonashi, Abhorrence, Illusionist, Born A New, Krooked Youth, Tragic Life, Soul Conscious, Repressed, Samsara. All ages, $10
Mon. 10 p.m. Matt Wixson's Flying Circus, Dim, (TBA). Ages 21+, $5
Tues. 5 p.m. Tear Out The Heart, It Lies Within, Less Than Ruined, Lost In Betrayal, (TBA). All ages, $10/$12
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Bowman's Tavern1600 River Road New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. David Dales Trio
Fri. 8 p.m. Bob Egan
Sat. 8 p.m. Patrick & Debra
Sun. 6 p.m. Lorenzo
Mon. 6 p.m. Andy Prescott
Tues. 6 p.m. Larry Tritel
Wed. 6 p.m. Michelle Wiley
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Lynn Riley Sax Quartet. $10 (cover charge includes buffet)
Cedar Gardens Banquet Facility661 Highway 33 Hamilton
(609) 931=9464
Thurs. 8 p.m. "End of Summer Beach Party" w/ The Drunk Monkeys
Fri. 7 p.m. "Old Skool R & B Show" Hosted by Carl Jenkins feat. Amazin' Grace Little Band, Black Frost, This Friday. $30 (advance)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia
Dempster's Pub437 Pine Street Mount Holly
(609) 261-0500
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. DJ DNIAL
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Chris
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Chance A/K/A Nytrous
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Keli Vale Jazz (9 p.m.) Visoon
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) Faraway Guys
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz (3 p.m.) (TBA)
Wed. 8 p.m. Mia Johnson
Fran's Pub116 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows age 21+
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-9897
Thus. 8 p.m. Kofi Baker's "Cream Experience." Doors at 6 p.m., $15
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Loop
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Se7en
Sun. 6 p.m. JB Kline Blues Band
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 8 p.m. "Live, Local, Unplugged" Hosted by Pat Foran
Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. Catherine Marie Charlton Duo w/ J. Jody Janetta
Fri. 6 p.m. Hopewell Valley Vineyards Jazz Ensemble
Sat, 6 p.m. Craig Sailor Project
Sun. 2 p.m."Jazzy Sundays" feat. Haddon Jazz Quartet
Iron Plow Vineyards26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 6 p.m. Gregg Parker
Sat. 1 p.m. John & Maggs
Sun. 1 p.m. Ed Wilson
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 9 p.m. Slo Motion
Sat. 9 p.m. Soul Custody
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
Killarney's Publik House1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Thurs. 9 p.m. Lip Sync Battle
Sat. 3 p.m. "Cruise Night" Car Show
Laurita Winery85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Thurs. 7 p.m. "Farm to Table" Winemakers Sunset Dinner. $99 (Reservations required)
Sat. 1 p.m. The Half Brothers
Sun. 1 p.m. "Lefty" The "Mann" of 1,200 Songs
Wed. 6 p.m. "Girls Night Out"
Levitt Amp Trenton 2016 Music SeriesCapital Green @ 201 Barrack Street Trenton
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Bumper Jacksons
Logan Inn10 West Ferry Street New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2300
Fri. 7:30 p.m. John Patrick Bastiani
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Soul Rebels
Sun. 11 a.m. Alan Rigoletto
Mamma Rosa's 572 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 588-5454
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Richard Schneider
Fri. 7 p.m. Paul Plumeri & Joe Zook
McStews Irish Sports Pub5316 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ RV & MC Slim
Fri. 9 p.m. (TBA)
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike
Mercer County Park AmphitheaterMC Park Festival Grounds/Edinburgh Road West Windsor
Thurs. 6 p.m. Kevin Toft & The All Stars / Fabulous Chevy and The Family
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Tues. 10 p.m. "Local Artist" Hip Hop, Experimental EDM and Bass Music Showcase
O'Connor's American Bar & Grille1383 Monmouth Road Easthampton Mt. Holly
(609) 261-1555
No music in August
Olde Liberty Tavern2114 Liberty Street Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Out Of The Red
All shows 21 +
Pete's Steak House523 Whitehorse Avenue Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 9:30 p.m. DEB n the Sons of RoCk
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Thurs. 7 p.m. The Dollyrots (SRO tickets available at the door night of show)
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 10 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Bob E Luv. Ages 21+, $5 (cover charge w/ college ID $15 without)
Small World Coffee14 Witherspoon Street Princeton
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Rick Fiori Jazz Trio
1867 Sanctuary 101 Scotch Road Ewing
(609) 392-6409
Sat. 7 p.m. The Jay Players / Jason Ager with C.O.P.O. $20
Tara's Tavern 1 Cookstown-New Egypt Road Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Fri. 10 p.m. Out Of The Red
Sat. 10 p.m. Rich Scanella Band
Tavern On The Lake101 Main Street Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Kickback
Sat. 9 p.m. Anything Goes
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Synergy
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street Bordentown
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8 p.m. (TBA)
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. Smoked Ice
Sat. 10 p.m. Never Enough
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Fri. 9 p.m. Jersey Surecats Trio
Sat. 9 p.m. DC Duo
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad Street Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. The Drunk Monkeys
Sat. 9 p.m. No Way Out
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Avenue Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Sat 9 p.m. 70's and 80's Jukebox
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine Street Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 4 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Bella's Bartok. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. The Letters Home. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.)
Wed. 9 p.m. Smokin' Joe Duo
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Road Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
Yardley Inn82 East Afton Avenue Yardley, PA
(215) 493-3800
Sat. 8 p.m. Zuka & Billy D.
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
