The minstrel in the gallery? It's a good Tull song but I'd actually not done that as an intentional reference to Tull (though I enjoy Ian Anderson a great deal), but have been deeply mired in documentaries about Medieval Architecture.
But, it works as a Jethro Tull reference, as well.
Sort of related: We have not one, but two, people who are also floutists. This makes me happy and we cover a couple of Tull songs.
Prior to this, I'd never been in a band with anyone able to passably play a flute. So, the few times that I've been allowed to cover Tull have been when the flute was covered by the keyboardist and that's not just the same. I'm far more excited about covering Tull than I probably should be, but I'm actually quite a fan of the band and of his solo work.
I'm going to mark it down as an intentional reference, and it's MY story, so I will tell it anyway I want!
Like most people, I would assume, I became acquainted with JT through radio and Aqualung. I picked up the album, and heard the songs on side 2 for the first time, and was a bit blown away. Started going back and finding their other work after that breakthrough, and was highly impressed with the different styles and ability to make music in multiple genres. Been a favorite for a long time. (Always liked NY for the same reason. That and spitting out the 2nd side of Rust Never Sleeps at a time when disco was all the rage was pretty cool. You get this nice acoustic set on Side 1, flip that and BAM! Powderfinger IN YO FACE! Picked up the harmonica because of Neil, learned by ear, so I do everything wrong. That old Marine Corps G has such warped reeds now, it's worthless.)
Anyhow, I have been recently hitting the local record shops and found Thick as a Brick on vinyl for $5. So I grabbed it! Reminded me of a story where Ian was a bit frustrated with everyone running around calling Aqualung a "concept" album, and decided to show everyone what a "concept" album REALLY looked like. Seems kind of a snarky thing to do. I fell in love immediately.
One of the things I find amusing is that Ian claims to be completely sober. I don't believe that, not even for a minute.
I've seen him in concert and I'm pretty sure he's snorting coke behind the stacks. Pretty sure...
Loved the Tull reference near the end.