The "almost" official blog for everything Todd Rundgren Related........................................................................................................................................................................... Please visit the sister facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ma4utopia?ref=hl
Saturday, August 16, 2008
First fan review: by SPECIALED.. Seven Springs Resort, Champion PA
You are going to love it!
Who doesn't like the Beatles?
They played the Sgt. Pepper album nearly perfectly.
The band was having fun and Todd was clowning it up for the crowd. They missed a few cues, but that's alright, so did I.
Before the main event they each played a few tunes from their repertoire.
They opened with Revolution. It rocked.
Who doesn't like the Beatles?
They played the Sgt. Pepper album nearly perfectly.
The band was having fun and Todd was clowning it up for the crowd. They missed a few cues, but that's alright, so did I.
Before the main event they each played a few tunes from their repertoire.
They opened with Revolution. It rocked.
Denny Lane played, Go Now, and a tune he wrote for Wings.
Chris Cross played three tunes. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do), Sailing, and Ride Like the Wind.
Lou Gramm played three also, Hot Blooded, Midnight Blue, and a third I can't remember.
Bo Bice played two, southern fried originals I never heard before. Still don't know why he was there. Oh yeah... the girls love him.
Todd Played three, Open My Eyes, I Saw the Light, and Bang the Drum. Everyone loved him.
Then intermission.
Then Sgt. Peppers. Straight through, start to finish. Lots of fun! Great sound. Performances were impeccable. Everyone had a part to play and the played it well. Jesse was the director, but Todd was the ringleader. Top hat, mustache and all.
Encores: Beatle tunes, Strawberry Fields and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
Loved Every Minute Of It!
Todd on Cover of EQ magaizne
this months edition of EQ magazine has a cover story about Todd and his recording technique
This update from LYNN: who runs Todd's official myspace page
Mario Tirado, the coolest agent ever is working on booking a couple of weeks of the Arena Tour dates for October and is filling in Dec as well. So our man Todd will be working his buns off for the next few months supporting this record. I will post the new dates as they are confirmed.
Friday, August 15, 2008
RAT RACE CHOIR COVER OF 7 RAYS
SLOW DAY FOR NEWS SO HERE IS A STRANGE POST....
THANKS TO mkazazis FOR FINDING THIS
THIS IS A BAND THAT PLAYED AROUND LONG ISLAND FOR MANY YEARS THAT DID COVER SONGS ALOT OF LED ZEP
THANKS TO mkazazis FOR FINDING THIS
THIS IS A BAND THAT PLAYED AROUND LONG ISLAND FOR MANY YEARS THAT DID COVER SONGS ALOT OF LED ZEP
Video footage coming soon of 40 years ago beatles tribute
i will be attending the westbury show and will post some video footage of the show by monday
Todd on the radio: interview NYC WABC 8/16/08
Todd Rundgren will be a special guest on WABC Radio's Saturday Night Oldies, New York City, on Saturday, August 16th, 2008.
The radio show airs on 77 WABC Radio from 6:07 PM to 10 PM ET and is hosted by Mark Simone.
Listen live at http://www.wabcradio.com
Todd brings his Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Tributeto the Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury, Long Island on Sunday, Aug 17th.
The radio show airs on 77 WABC Radio from 6:07 PM to 10 PM ET and is hosted by Mark Simone.
Listen live at http://www.wabcradio.com
Todd brings his Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Tributeto the Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury, Long Island on Sunday, Aug 17th.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
pre-Review : homage to beatles 40 years ago today
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/s_582714.html
Homage to Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' kicks off tour
By Tamara Simpson Girardi
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Beatles album that was ranked the best of all time by Rolling Stone in 2003 will be performed at Seven Springs Mountain Resort by a diverse group of artists who all share a love for the band. Todd Rundgren, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Christopher Cross, Bo Bice and Denny Laine of The Moody Blues are coming together for the two-week cross-country "It Was 40 Years Ago Today" tour that features their own music and all of the songs from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.
The 10-show tour kicks off at the resort on Saturday. Co-producer and production and tour manager Ron Hausfeld says the show isn't about the bright-colored costumes the Beatles wore when they performed the songs. It's simply a tribute to the great music. "The first half of the show is the artists' individual hits," Hausfeld says. "The second half is a tribute to the album. Basically, they'll play the whole record in its entirety."
Each of the performers' hits is diverse, spanning genres and generations. Pennsylvania-born Todd Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager in Philadelphia. He founded The Nazz, a '60s cult group, but left the band in 1969 to pursue a solo career. Rundgren's albums include "Runt," "Something/Anything" -- in which he played all the instruments, sang all vocal parts and acted as his own producer --"Hermits of Mink Hollow" and "A Wizard, a True Star."
This isn't Rundgren's first Beatles performance. "Todd Rundgren did a tour called A Walk Down Abbey Road with us, where he and the other acts performed a selection of Beatles spanning their catalogue," says tour creator and producer Toby Ludwig. "It was a big success, and he was more than happy to come back for this project. All the musicians here have a deep love for the Beatles' music, and it shows in their performances of the material."
"Powerhouse vocalist and songwriter" Lou Gramm also will perform. A member of the band Foreigner, Gramm has racked eight top 5 singles and five top five albums in the United States.
Christopher Cross has released eight albums that led to eight hit singles such as "Sailing" and "Ride Like the Wind," several world tours, five Grammys and an Oscar.
The wide-sweeping success of "American Idol" made Bo Bice, the runner-up from the 2004-2005 season of the show, a household name. "See The Light" is the musician's latest album. It includes the Southern-fried rock of "This Train," and "Whiskey, Women & Time" and emotional ballads such as "Only Words" and "I'm Gone."
Denny Laine joined Paul McCartney in starting the group Wings, which was responsible for Laine's greatest success, the song "Mull of Kintyre." "
All the artists definitely draw a different crowd base," Hausfeld says. "It's a very diverse project. But (the artists) have one thing in common. They all love the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's. So, it should be fun."
Tamara Simpson Girardi can be reached at mailto:tsimpson%40tribweb.com
Homage to Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' kicks off tour
By Tamara Simpson Girardi
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Beatles album that was ranked the best of all time by Rolling Stone in 2003 will be performed at Seven Springs Mountain Resort by a diverse group of artists who all share a love for the band. Todd Rundgren, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Christopher Cross, Bo Bice and Denny Laine of The Moody Blues are coming together for the two-week cross-country "It Was 40 Years Ago Today" tour that features their own music and all of the songs from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.
The 10-show tour kicks off at the resort on Saturday. Co-producer and production and tour manager Ron Hausfeld says the show isn't about the bright-colored costumes the Beatles wore when they performed the songs. It's simply a tribute to the great music. "The first half of the show is the artists' individual hits," Hausfeld says. "The second half is a tribute to the album. Basically, they'll play the whole record in its entirety."
Each of the performers' hits is diverse, spanning genres and generations. Pennsylvania-born Todd Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager in Philadelphia. He founded The Nazz, a '60s cult group, but left the band in 1969 to pursue a solo career. Rundgren's albums include "Runt," "Something/Anything" -- in which he played all the instruments, sang all vocal parts and acted as his own producer --"Hermits of Mink Hollow" and "A Wizard, a True Star."
This isn't Rundgren's first Beatles performance. "Todd Rundgren did a tour called A Walk Down Abbey Road with us, where he and the other acts performed a selection of Beatles spanning their catalogue," says tour creator and producer Toby Ludwig. "It was a big success, and he was more than happy to come back for this project. All the musicians here have a deep love for the Beatles' music, and it shows in their performances of the material."
"Powerhouse vocalist and songwriter" Lou Gramm also will perform. A member of the band Foreigner, Gramm has racked eight top 5 singles and five top five albums in the United States.
Christopher Cross has released eight albums that led to eight hit singles such as "Sailing" and "Ride Like the Wind," several world tours, five Grammys and an Oscar.
The wide-sweeping success of "American Idol" made Bo Bice, the runner-up from the 2004-2005 season of the show, a household name. "See The Light" is the musician's latest album. It includes the Southern-fried rock of "This Train," and "Whiskey, Women & Time" and emotional ballads such as "Only Words" and "I'm Gone."
Denny Laine joined Paul McCartney in starting the group Wings, which was responsible for Laine's greatest success, the song "Mull of Kintyre." "
All the artists definitely draw a different crowd base," Hausfeld says. "It's a very diverse project. But (the artists) have one thing in common. They all love the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's. So, it should be fun."
Tamara Simpson Girardi can be reached at mailto:tsimpson%40tribweb.com
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Benefit show: B.R. Cohn Winery Ampitheater Glen Ellen, CA
Todd Benefit show
Saturday, October 4th, 2008
Charity Fall Music Festival
B.R. Cohn Winery Amphitheater, Glen Ellen, CA
A Benefit for:
~ Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance ~
~ Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club ~
~ Sonoma Valley Education Foundation ~
~ National Veteran's Foundation ~
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Saturday, October 4th, 2008
Charity Fall Music Festival
B.R. Cohn Winery Amphitheater, Glen Ellen, CA
A Benefit for:
~ Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance ~
~ Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club ~
~ Sonoma Valley Education Foundation ~
~ National Veteran's Foundation ~
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Todd signs licensing deal in UK for new CD ARENA
Todd Rundgren's new album, "Arena" has been licensed to Cooking Vinyl
for UK release on Monday 29th September (the album will be released
in North America by Hi-Fi Recordings on Tuesday 30th September).
"We are delighted to be releasing Todd's new guitar rock album in the
UK," says Cooking Vinyl MD, Martin Goldschmidt.
The album will be followed by a UK tour in November, with Rundgren
playing dates at Manchester Academy 2 (Nov 6), Edinburgh Picture
House (Nov 7), Norwich Waterfront (Nov 22) and London Kentish Town
Forum (Nov 23).
Former Utopia bass guitarist, Kasim Sulton, is confirmed to play
guitar, keyboards and sing vocals on Rundgren's forthcoming American
and European "Arena" tours. Sulton, who recently was the musical
director for Meatloaf's North American and European tours, will join
Rachel Haden (bass), Jesse Gresse (guitar), former Tubes drummer
Prairie Prince and Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar).
Read the online press release for the tour and new album -
http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/todd_rundgren/toddrundgren.htm
for UK release on Monday 29th September (the album will be released
in North America by Hi-Fi Recordings on Tuesday 30th September).
"We are delighted to be releasing Todd's new guitar rock album in the
UK," says Cooking Vinyl MD, Martin Goldschmidt.
The album will be followed by a UK tour in November, with Rundgren
playing dates at Manchester Academy 2 (Nov 6), Edinburgh Picture
House (Nov 7), Norwich Waterfront (Nov 22) and London Kentish Town
Forum (Nov 23).
Former Utopia bass guitarist, Kasim Sulton, is confirmed to play
guitar, keyboards and sing vocals on Rundgren's forthcoming American
and European "Arena" tours. Sulton, who recently was the musical
director for Meatloaf's North American and European tours, will join
Rachel Haden (bass), Jesse Gresse (guitar), former Tubes drummer
Prairie Prince and Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar).
Read the online press release for the tour and new album -
http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/todd_rundgren/toddrundgren.htm
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Album Review 4 & 1/2 stars getreadytorock.com
TODD RUNDGREN Arena Hi Fi Recordings(2008)
Rundgren's last offering - 'Liars' in 2004 - reasserted his claim to be one of rock's true talents, if somewhat of acquired taste status.
With album content unpredictable, he has boldly gone where artists fear to tread, sometimes out of kilter with prevailing musical tastes or reviving old genres. This confuses some but his fans love him for it.
And, with a couple of UK tours since, and now one planned for November to promote this album, his faithful can understandably be rubbing their hands with glee. The rest of us should quickly draw breath.
Hearing that 'Arena' is a return to guitar rock was intriguing as I always felt in previous years his musical focus has been elsewhere - Bossa Nova, soul, even acappella. Conceived as a tribute (and antidote) to those arena rock albums (and bands) and with a lyrical theme that explores the vulnerability, paranoia and aggression of men, 'Arena' is a natural successor to 'Liars' which was somewhat more philosophical in content.
'Arena' is an album that may be aimed fair and square at the greybeards who predominately make up Rundgren's target demographic but, hey, they can bring their kids to this party...
Musically, there is enough of a nod to Rundgren's past to connect with the faithful whilst for the rest of us it is all highly accessible - more so than 'Liars'.
Rundgren's trademark multi-layered harmonies and the deft way he works a song with exquisite time changes and hooks are gloriously evident.
'Afraid' in particular is a gem, with a resonant sixties thriller motif that hooks you into a trademark killer chorus underpinned with wonderful phased guitar riff, and there's a quirky synth-led bridge section. Cue guitar solo. And if you need further confirmation, 'Courage' admirably evokes past glories and will have the faithful in raptures.
'Mercenary', 'Panic' and 'Manup' is excellent riff-rock and there's a bluesy feel to 'Gun'. 'Strike' is out and out stadium rock and will go down well live - as Rundgren says, he wanted to create an album you could punch the air to. And AC/DC fans will be doing just that. 'Mountaintop' would have graced a glam rock album - sort of The Sweet via The Darkness.
'Bardo' is - perhaps surprisingly - right out of the Robin Trower songbook and could be Bridge Of Sighs Part 2, lovely arpeggiated guitar and a moody vibe throughout. And a link to the spirit of 'Liars' is provided in the tracks 'Weakness' and 'Today'.
Like on 'Liars' Rundgren has played all instruments and his underrated guitar playing is exemplary throughout. Although touted as a return to guitar rock, unfortunately there is little solo guitar and what exists is perhaps a little too restrained. The solo on 'Afraid' being a case in point. This might all be corrected in the live context.
But overall this really is a return to the straight-ahead style displayed on 'One Long Year' (2000) that spawned the superb 'Buffalo Grass', updated here with the lead track 'Mad'. Coincidentally that album also featured current tour band members Jesse Green and Prairie Prince.
Todd has recently turned 60, 'Arena' should therefore mark a permanent Rundgren Renaissance in the UK. For too long the preserve of those in the know - at least this side of the pond - he has bounced back with an album that doffs a baseball cap to classic guitar rock and provides another springboard to investigate sumptuous back catalogue. A true wizard indeed.
****½
Review by David Randall
Rundgren's last offering - 'Liars' in 2004 - reasserted his claim to be one of rock's true talents, if somewhat of acquired taste status.
With album content unpredictable, he has boldly gone where artists fear to tread, sometimes out of kilter with prevailing musical tastes or reviving old genres. This confuses some but his fans love him for it.
And, with a couple of UK tours since, and now one planned for November to promote this album, his faithful can understandably be rubbing their hands with glee. The rest of us should quickly draw breath.
Hearing that 'Arena' is a return to guitar rock was intriguing as I always felt in previous years his musical focus has been elsewhere - Bossa Nova, soul, even acappella. Conceived as a tribute (and antidote) to those arena rock albums (and bands) and with a lyrical theme that explores the vulnerability, paranoia and aggression of men, 'Arena' is a natural successor to 'Liars' which was somewhat more philosophical in content.
'Arena' is an album that may be aimed fair and square at the greybeards who predominately make up Rundgren's target demographic but, hey, they can bring their kids to this party...
Musically, there is enough of a nod to Rundgren's past to connect with the faithful whilst for the rest of us it is all highly accessible - more so than 'Liars'.
Rundgren's trademark multi-layered harmonies and the deft way he works a song with exquisite time changes and hooks are gloriously evident.
'Afraid' in particular is a gem, with a resonant sixties thriller motif that hooks you into a trademark killer chorus underpinned with wonderful phased guitar riff, and there's a quirky synth-led bridge section. Cue guitar solo. And if you need further confirmation, 'Courage' admirably evokes past glories and will have the faithful in raptures.
'Mercenary', 'Panic' and 'Manup' is excellent riff-rock and there's a bluesy feel to 'Gun'. 'Strike' is out and out stadium rock and will go down well live - as Rundgren says, he wanted to create an album you could punch the air to. And AC/DC fans will be doing just that. 'Mountaintop' would have graced a glam rock album - sort of The Sweet via The Darkness.
'Bardo' is - perhaps surprisingly - right out of the Robin Trower songbook and could be Bridge Of Sighs Part 2, lovely arpeggiated guitar and a moody vibe throughout. And a link to the spirit of 'Liars' is provided in the tracks 'Weakness' and 'Today'.
Like on 'Liars' Rundgren has played all instruments and his underrated guitar playing is exemplary throughout. Although touted as a return to guitar rock, unfortunately there is little solo guitar and what exists is perhaps a little too restrained. The solo on 'Afraid' being a case in point. This might all be corrected in the live context.
But overall this really is a return to the straight-ahead style displayed on 'One Long Year' (2000) that spawned the superb 'Buffalo Grass', updated here with the lead track 'Mad'. Coincidentally that album also featured current tour band members Jesse Green and Prairie Prince.
Todd has recently turned 60, 'Arena' should therefore mark a permanent Rundgren Renaissance in the UK. For too long the preserve of those in the know - at least this side of the pond - he has bounced back with an album that doffs a baseball cap to classic guitar rock and provides another springboard to investigate sumptuous back catalogue. A true wizard indeed.
****½
Review by David Randall
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)