italian review of london AWATS show

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http://quotidianonet.ilsole24ore.com/spettacoli/musica/2010/02/09/290802-quella_folle_suite_rock_firmata_todd_rundgren.shtml
London, February 9, 2010 - Maybe you remember someone in a brief and unexpected presence of Sanremo. Only l? Last year, in fact, has joined Patty Pravo on the evening of the festival devoted to duets. But if Todd Rundgren Utopia had called the group that made him famous perhaps not c? Was more surprising? much. Surprised however, to the delight of over 3000 spectators all? Hammersmith Apollo, his re-proposal of an album (A Wizard, A True Star) came out in 1973.


One show (the first of only two European dates) to great effect, with six musicians in full frac white and ten CHANGE? Suit for him to 62 years? still in perfect shape. Histrionic one hand, but above all great music, with his talent also highlighted in its activities? Manufacturer (Patti Smith, Meatloaf, Hall & Oates, New York Dolls, The Tubes and many others).


'A Wizard, A True Star' was a breakthrough album all? Time when USC?: It was a long suite that occupied without interruption the two sides of vinyl. Unlike for? other productions of? age (as of Thick as a Brick Jethro Tull), the disc has a continuous range from a musical genre all? else. The experiments with the synthesizer to psychedelia, from musicals to soul, to rock classic. What today can? seem normal, then it was so revolutionary that it seemed odd.


Onstage with Rundgren concert in London on Saturday evening, one of the musicians who participate? all? original album, Ralph Schuckett on keyboards, joined by Greg Hawkes of the Cars who have been entrusted mainly to the sounds of synthesizers. The rhythm section has seen the drummer Prairie Prince, which in turn was part of The Tubes and the Utopia bassist Kasim Sulton.


The group was completed by guitarist Jesse Gress, with Rundgren and especially from Bobby Strickland to woodwinds, keyboards and percussion, a real vice-elf at the side of Todd, but also an exceptional musician who was entrusted with the musical direction. Rundgren is? also cut a further role, to open his concert in a? another guise, that of the blues musician: The Todd Rundgren? s Johnsons (he, Sulton, Gress and Prince) have played half an hour of classics like "Sweet Home Chicago Crossroads to the surprise of an audience came to listen to everyone? else.


Then, when? started A Wizard, A True Star and Todd? presented astronaut suit, viewers were able to see a musician eager to reinterpret himself for 64 minutes yarns costumes spanning his entire career. The giant American rocker? magician dressed in tails, a biker, a child obese, as a eunuch, he used bright tracksuits. In order to do it? has often had to do without his Gibson guitar, but the voice? in excellent shape. Parts of the suites are very new, from International Feel a Rock? N? Roll pussy, from Flamingo to Hungry for Love, until the grand finale Just One Victory. Audience in raptures, but especially A Wizard, A True Star has been the confirmation of a musical genius.

Michele Manzotti