Review: "Todd The Angry God!" - Morristown Green Article at NJ.com

Todd the angry god by George!
Friday October 10, 2008, 11:36 AM Ear
plugs are no match for Todd Rundgren's "Arena" tour!

There is plenty of bad news to grouse about these days.

But Todd Rundgren went a step farther. He grabbed a laptop, barricaded
himself in a linen closet at his eco/smart Hawaiian home, and emerged
with 13 snarling, tonsil-burning, ear-blistering songs. This guy knows
how to do angry.

The album is called "Arena," and Todd and his band hammered out every
track at the Community Theatre on Thursday.

Fans who came hoping to hear such '70s pop classics as "Hello, It's Me"
or "Can We Still Be Friends" took awhile to warm to this aural assault.
But Todd overpowered them, breaking their will to resist by the fourth
or fifth song.

"Arena" sounds like Frank Zappa-meets-AC/DC. . .with catchy riffs and
sharp lyrics (when they cut through the din).

"Seek the truth," Todd advised between tunes, blasting the country's
"horrible, horrible" leadership by "cowards, perverts, liars and
hypocrites."

The songs from "Arena" are meant to be heard together. Concept albums,
alas, are not dead. It's nice to know that after 20 albums, Todd
Rundgren still has something to say. Plenty, in fact. At the top of his
lungs.

But let's hope, for everyone's sake, that there is no sequel to "Arena."
Because Todd would have to get really riled for that. Which probably
would mean the world had come completely unhinged.

Todd Rundgren at the Community Theatre on Thursday.
Backing Todd Rundgren are drummer Prairie Prince, bass player
Rachel Haden and Todd's former Utopia band-mate, Kasim Sulton. Guitarist Jesse Gress
Todd Rundgren, at Morristown's Community Theatre.

Todd Rundgren played for an hour and 45 minutes on Thursday.

Todd Rundgren: "I'm in the same freaking boat as you guys," he told the big crowd, referring to economic meltdown. "Seek the truth!" advised Todd Rundgren,
citing "horrible, horrible leadership (by) cowards, perverts, liars and
hypocrites."

A force of nature--Todd Rundgren puts the pedal to the metal
at age 60

by George! by George!Todd Rundgren at the Community Theatre by
George!Todd Rundgren by George! by George!Todd Rundgren's band performs
songs from new "Arena" album at the Community Theatre on Thursday