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| From | "*Bill Holmes*" <bholmes_fm@msn.com> |
| Subject | Todd the Odd |
| Date | Wed, 21 Apr 2004 08:45:49 -0400 |
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Went to see my boy Todd Rundgren last night...wow...tight band, strange
stage show, and a complete aversion to playing older material that cleared
about a quarter of the room by the midpoint of the evening. Now Todd's
always been his own man, always tried to stay a step ahead, and this
electronic presentation (computer amps, LED light show, keyboards that fold
down like ironing boards across each band member's...uhh...cube) was both
thrilling and frustrating. I do not have my copy of LIARS yet (sometimes
mail order sucks) so I didn't recognize many of the brand new tunes, but
from the lyrical snippets I heard and the performance of the band, he at
least seems to be more emotionally involved in this set of material than he
has been in recent years. Great band of Todd veterans too - Kasim Sulton on
bass, Prarie Prince on drums, Jessie Gress on guitar and John Ferenzik on
keys (Gress and Sulton play keys occasionally as well).
Did Todd strap on that geetar and wail...well, yes and no. Lots of singing
out front, voice hit and miss, soul screeches more akin to Edgar Winter than
Daryl Hall, but more energy than a man his age should have to offer,
especially one who didn't buff up for the tour. But the green Fender would
go on occasionally, and you'd remember in an instant that the man is one of
the best axemen around. Gress is no slouch either, but the visual and aural
presentation screams Todd as the centerpiece and the guys as a background
unit.
A couple of interesting covers - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (nice vocal,
solo waaaay too short, Prince has nothing to worry about), "Lunatic Fringe"
(solo, sloppy, almost pointless...would have rather had the band do it).
During one of the "Todd resting" segments - before the 70s soul set (Thick
White Duke?) - the band played a medley of "Expressway To Your Heart" and
"Superstition" (never realized how similar those two are). Kasim Sulton has
that same great voice but it's just not meant to sing lead (think "Set Me
Free"...all the right notes, but a 90 pound weakling trying to hit a home
run). The soul set was screaming for some of the more recognizable soul
medleys (Marvin Gaye, Stylistics, Smokey) that Todd has launched in the
past, but the closest he came to this was "Want Of A Nail" (which is also
the closest he came to a "hit" in the first two hours).
Two one-song encores...a version of "Hello It's Me" that rode the fence
between the original and WITH A TWIST versions, and an anthemic "Just One
Victory" that was only marred by a waaay-too-short guitar solo. It was
pretty obvious that he didn't enjoy playing either song, and the crowd
singing every word seemed to reinforce that displeasure. Why the man resents
his catalogue is a mystery to me, but then again I haven't been playing out
for forty years.
Todd looked like an old fart when he first hit the stage with his three-tone
hair and sleeveless shirt. But he had nothing on the band - their religious
costumes for the opening set feature the silliest hats I have seen on a
stage since that doofus fronting the Spin Doctors. The suits in the second
half, albeit Bee Gees disco suits, were easier on the eyes. Then again, as a
veteran of many Utopia concerts, I can thankfully report that there were no
lab coats, camouflage gear, overalls or glitter jumpsuits.
I'm one who had all but written the guy off over the past 10 years or so -
ONE LONG YEAR was pitiful to my ears - but last night showed me that he
still has some fire in his belly and something he wants to say. Just don't
take your friends who are hoping for a nostalgia trip.
Anyone else catch his show?
cheers
b
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