Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson visited the Carolina Theater in Durham, NC on Tuesday as part of his ‘Rubbing Elbows’ tour. The concept behind the tour is that Anderson and his current backing band select a local musician and learn one of his songs in preparation for the gig. Anderson then invites the artist to share the stage and a conversation before collaborating on a version of his guest’s song. On this night the flautist brought out Jon Shain and joined him for ‘Getaway Car’ from Shain’s No Tag, No Tail Light release.
Shain comments, ‘‘It is amazing that a guy of Ian Anderson’s stature is setting his tour up to include lesser known songwriters. He is spreading the word on great songwriters all around the country, and that is a very generous and supportive gesture. They (Anderson’s band) were more than ready to play my song – each band member had my song charted for their part, and they well extremely well-rehearsed.’
Shain’s Tull (to a degree) is Flyin’ Mice, the group he performed in for a number of years before embarking on his current solo career.
The ‘Rubbing Elbows’ tour continues this evening at the Carefree Theater in West Palm Beach, FL. Shain’s next show is a benefit for The Helping Hand of Raleigh at the Six String Cafe in Cary, NC 11/26.