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August 29, 2007
Cause of Increased Traffic Identified!
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| Many of my blog readers (2, which is 40% of
readership) have sent me offline comments asking where all the extra vehicle
traffic is coming from.
The
roads in
Chico are clogged and the parking lots downtown are filled-to-the-rim (with
Brim?). As a blogger I'm always doing what it takes to keep my readers happy. In fact that's even part of my credo... CI Credo - "I'll do anything to keep my readers happy. Unless it's hard, takes a lot of time, costs me money, or if I have something better to do." And I've been doing what I do best, and that's cutting edge investigative reporting, to figure out the cause of our traffic problems. I've found that there's no need to build expensive parking structures or ban cars from downtown. Our traffic problem is temporary. The new traffic we're experienced can be summed up in one word... Jethro Tull. And I'm not talking about the 18th century British agriculturalist Jethro Tull. I'm talking about Ian Anderson's band that's coming to Chico on October 3rd. This magnificent band is coming to Chico as part of Chico State's contribution to Artoberfest. The performing arts page linked above also links to a music sample of Jethro Tull's "The Teacher", a fantastic song. Hear a snippet of The Teacher. Jethro Tull has produced a wide variety of music over the 39 years they've been making albums. They're mostly known for the classic rock exemplified by songs like Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, and even The Teacher. My favorite period was when they moved to a more rural sound as heard on the albums "Songs From The Woods", "Broadsword and the Beast", and "Heavy Horses". Hear a clip of Broadsword. This band has been eclipsed by the Rolling Stones throughout its history. The Stones still manage to ramble around on stage every now and again and mimic their old rocker days. Jethro Tull in contrast have become consummate musicians. This won't be a rock concert so much as a musical symphony. The long haired Ian Anderson of the past (shown in the photo above) is replaced by a mature musician whose musical skills have been perfected over four decades of showmanship. So we just have to make it through October 3rd and the traffic problem will ease. Once Jethro Tull has come and gone things will return to normal. I promise. Side Note: The Chico State ad for this band states that it's Jethro Tull and "a very special guest". I don't want to ruin the surprise, but as Tull's biggest local fan I've been asked to dance the "squirrel" while the band plays its classics. Here's a sneak preview. |
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 CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Tom Hall, with a new CI Challenge record of 21 minutes. Good job Tom, see comments below for the answer. |
Posted by Lon at August 29, 2007 08:23 AM
Comments
Is it the valve on a flute?
Posted by: Tom Hall at August 29, 2007 08:44 AM
Tom,
Yep. I knew that one was pretty easy, but congrats on being the winner and establishing the new CI Challenge record of 21 minutes.
Lon
Posted by: Lon at August 29, 2007 08:48 AM
Lon,
The first time I came to Chico was in 1971. I was a junior in high school and was given permission by my father to drive up to Chico to spend the Pioneer Week weekend visiting my brother, who was a freshman at CSU Chico. I made the trip in my first car, a 1957 VW bug (small window in the back). Oh, how I wish I had that car now! During the trip from Fairfield I was listening to my 8 track tape player. Although I had a fair collection of tapes the one tape that played over and over again during the 2 hour trip was Aqualung by Jethro Tull. Because it was 35 years ago, I don’t remember everything that went on that weekend. However, I distinctly remember that drive and the music that was a great soundtrack for a young kid's first weekend of freedom from parental supervision. Today, while I sit working at my computer, I think I will be listening to Aqualung over and over and over again.
Tom Hall
Posted by: Tom Hall at August 29, 2007 09:03 AM
Tom,
Maybe I'll see you at the concert?
When I left the army in 1989 I drove to Chico to start my stellar career as a college student. As I drove out of the gates of Fort Lewis for the last time I listened to "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day" by Tull. So for me their music brings back an intense sense of freedom as well.
I've added a Youtube video of the song being played in 1997 by Jethro Tull, that includes a dated reverberation effect and not the best sound quality, but otherwise isn't a bad version.
This song is also interesting in that Ian Anderson doesn't play his signature flute.
Lon
Posted by: Lon at August 29, 2007 09:49 AM