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Saturday, April 10, 2010
complete HEALING/TODD tour dates
2010 Todd & Healing Tour:
9/05: Akron Civic Theatre
Akron, OH
Tickets will go on sale April 28 at Tix.com at 11am ET with select-a-seat option!
9/08: Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
Muskegon, MI
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at StarTickets.com at 1pm ET with select-a seat option! (on sale date subject to change)
9/10: Roberts-Orpheum Theatre
St. Louis, MO
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 11am ET (on sale date subject to change)
9/11: Clowes Memorial Hall
Indianapolis, IN
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at noon ET at Ticketmaster.com (on sale date subject to change)
9/14: Keswick Theatre
Glenside, PA near Philadelphia
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at noon ET (on sale date subject to change, more info to follow soon)
9/15: Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, New Jersey
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 1pm ET from the venue box office (on sale date subject to change)
http://www.sonsof1984.com/
9/05: Akron Civic Theatre
Akron, OH
Tickets will go on sale April 28 at Tix.com at 11am ET with select-a-seat option!
9/08: Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
Muskegon, MI
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at StarTickets.com at 1pm ET with select-a seat option! (on sale date subject to change)
9/10: Roberts-Orpheum Theatre
St. Louis, MO
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 11am ET (on sale date subject to change)
9/11: Clowes Memorial Hall
Indianapolis, IN
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at noon ET at Ticketmaster.com (on sale date subject to change)
9/14: Keswick Theatre
Glenside, PA near Philadelphia
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at noon ET (on sale date subject to change, more info to follow soon)
9/15: Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, New Jersey
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 1pm ET from the venue box office (on sale date subject to change)
http://www.sonsof1984.com/
Thursday, April 8, 2010
announcement on akron shows
Todd Rundgren will perform two albums in Akron in September
by Malcolm Abram on April 8, 2010
http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/soundcheck/2010/04/08/todd-rundgren-returns-to-akron-to-perform-two-albums/
OK, Ohio (and surrounding states) Todd Rundgren fans, get ready to do a happy dance.
The nice folks at RundgrenRadio.com who brought us the world premiere of Rundgren's theatrical staging of A Wizard, A True Star are bringing Todd back to the Akron Civic Theatre on Sunday, September 5.
This time, Runt will perform not one, but two albums in their entirety Todd and Healing.
Quoth Melinda Cain of RundgrenRadio.com:
"With the sold out concert last year in Akron we knew it was a no-brainer to return to Ohio where Todd has his biggest fan base. We loved the Akron Civic Theatre and how the city businesses embraced us and the concert attendees. The visitors from across the world were pleased with the reasonable prices of everything in the city and we expect almost of them to return in 2010 for this concert. Todd loves the Akron Civic Theatre and we knew if we started the tour there our odds would be better for getting him to agree to another unbelievable album show."
Hell yeah.
I doubt these two albums will get the wild visual treatment that AWATS received, but it should still be fun. Todd, the 1973 follow-up to AWATS has a few fan favorites including the pretty ballad A Dream Goes On Forever, Don't You Ever Learn? and The Last Ride.
Healing from 1981, is an album in the classic sense. It works best when listened to umm….in it's entirety. It also has longtime concert staple Tiny Demons as well as the peppy single Time Heals, Todd's only MTV hit (mostly because MTV's video library was awfully small back in 1981/82).
Tickets for the show go on sale at 11 a..m. on April 28 at www.Tix.com and all Ticketmaster locations.
by Malcolm Abram on April 8, 2010
http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/soundcheck/2010/04/08/todd-rundgren-returns-to-akron-to-perform-two-albums/
OK, Ohio (and surrounding states) Todd Rundgren fans, get ready to do a happy dance.
The nice folks at RundgrenRadio.com who brought us the world premiere of Rundgren's theatrical staging of A Wizard, A True Star are bringing Todd back to the Akron Civic Theatre on Sunday, September 5.
This time, Runt will perform not one, but two albums in their entirety Todd and Healing.
Quoth Melinda Cain of RundgrenRadio.com:
"With the sold out concert last year in Akron we knew it was a no-brainer to return to Ohio where Todd has his biggest fan base. We loved the Akron Civic Theatre and how the city businesses embraced us and the concert attendees. The visitors from across the world were pleased with the reasonable prices of everything in the city and we expect almost of them to return in 2010 for this concert. Todd loves the Akron Civic Theatre and we knew if we started the tour there our odds would be better for getting him to agree to another unbelievable album show."
Hell yeah.
I doubt these two albums will get the wild visual treatment that AWATS received, but it should still be fun. Todd, the 1973 follow-up to AWATS has a few fan favorites including the pretty ballad A Dream Goes On Forever, Don't You Ever Learn? and The Last Ride.
Healing from 1981, is an album in the classic sense. It works best when listened to umm….in it's entirety. It also has longtime concert staple Tiny Demons as well as the peppy single Time Heals, Todd's only MTV hit (mostly because MTV's video library was awfully small back in 1981/82).
Tickets for the show go on sale at 11 a..m. on April 28 at www.Tix.com and all Ticketmaster locations.
next sept shows announced for healing and todd shows
9/10 St. Louis, MO
Roberts-Orpheum Theatre
9/11 Indianapolis, IN
Clowes Memorial Hall
Roberts-Orpheum Theatre
9/11 Indianapolis, IN
Clowes Memorial Hall
princeton record exchange blog tour announcement
http://www.prex.com/blog/extra-extra-hot-off-the-press-only-here-new-old-todd-rundgren-show-announced/
EXTRA EXTRA! HOT OFF THE PRESS!! ONLY HERE!!! NEW OLD TODD RUNDGREN SHOW ANNOUNCED
by Jeff Boule in Concert Reviews, Editorials, Musician Reviews, News, Opinion Posts, Reviews, Song Reviews
How about a little fanfare, fans? Not only did we get a first look at Rundgren’s Johnson EP, how it’s doing sales wise and the Tour for it during our last blog, but this week we are privy to some dynamite EXCLUSIVE info about a NEW promotional tour. But the NEW tour is promoting OLD albums. Albums? Plural? Let’s look back to look ahead!
Those of you familiar with my blog know that I cover progressive bands, leaning heavily towards Todd Rundgren (hey, I blog what I know…), King Crimson and other oddball stuff. This bit of info comes from a very inside source to the Rundgren camp, and it is right up my weirdo alley!!!
It seems that this year’s Rundgren Radio Birthday Bash (the event that sprawled into a tour last year, and that found itself nestled among some mighty positive reviews when all was said and done) is giving rise to another such opportunity for outrageous fun!
Let us review before we preview: Last year’s birthday bash was the A Wizard A True Star show which featured three-quarters of Utopia reuniting as the opening act. Utopia Keyboardist Roger Powell had been asked to perform keyboard parts for the entire AWATS album (which is quite the undertaking, get the album and you will know!). Since Utopia Bassist Kasim Sulton was still Rundgren’s touring bassist, with Rundgren that made three. The fourth, Willie Wilcox was unavailable to tour, so longtime Rundgren / Tubes drummer Prairie Prince was tapped to play Wilcox’s part. But without Wilcox, Utopia purists (like me) would say it was NOT a true Utopia reunion. But it was damn close enough!!!
Then after a brief intermission (during which time, the sparse warm-up instrumentation was struck from the stage) for the second act, two white bandstands were revealed, containing guitar, bass and drums on one white island, keyboards and winds were contained on the other. Rundgren emerged in costume after outrageous costume, and he and his six-piece band (with spousal wardrobist) put on an AMAZING show. When I was finished with it, I knew this would be one of those times I would remember for the rest of my life.
Leave it to Rundgren Radio to outdo themselves by redoing themselves!!!
Yes, there has been a lot of double talk, double talk about new is old, blah blah, but this is how it shakes out: Yes, Rundgren Radio is again holding a Rundgren Radio Birthday Bash, and the scoop news is that this year’s Rundgren Radio Bash (or for those of you in the know will refer to as RR Bash 3) will again, be held in Akron Ohio!!! More news for those of you who might not be aware, this year’s Bash shows will be live performances of the albums Todd and Healing! When originally released in 1974, Todd was a groundbreaking LP (vinyl, remember vinyl?) in that it’s running time was generous, generous to the point of groove-cramming, which was the practice of making the actual pressing grooves narrower in order to accommodate longer playing times. Vinyl purists will say this was often detrimental to the album’s audio quality. One of his subsequent albums, Initiation pushed this envelope to such a point that a disclaimer was included by Rundgren more or less urging that if the audience was not satisfied by the audio quality, they could find those missing frequencies by “turning it up!”
Now THAT’S rock and roll!!!
But the Todd album had other unique qualities (besides the brilliant music on those platters), one being that a reproduction of the front cover photo was represented on a poster inside the packaging. Wait, a minute, you say, that’s not so original!!! No, if that’s all there was to it. But the poster’s image was not a straight reproduction, but the image was generated by varying the ink’s darkness when printing the names of each and every fan who replied by sending back a postcard that was included in the previous album, AWATS. The last track, “Sons Of 1984” was unique in that Rundgren included live audience recordings of the audience who were asked to sing along during the song’s chorus. Panned to one side, was the audience from a West Coast venue, the other side was the audience from an East Coast venue. I do know the East Coast venue as being Wolman Rink in NYC as my sister was one of the many voices on the East Coast track.
Todd is my favorite Rundgren album. It has a tremendous balance of pop sensibility and electronic (as well as other) weirdness. The second half of this new show is the entire album Healing. This album was released in 1981. It has some unique qualities of it’s own. Side one of this album details the story of the trials and tribulations of one who is anointed with the power to heal the body. From the time of this revelation to the healer’s father to the time the healer has healed his last, several gorgeous, beautiful, even a humorous tune about exploitation, all detail the life and times from the point of view of those around the healer and healer himself. Side two is one track. One track, three parts. Side two details not the healer, but the healing. Rundgren sings the listener through a psychic healing experience, as though he is trying to heal the listener.
Give that up, we’re too far-gone!
Now if nearly three sides of continuous music isn’t enough, when Rundgren submitted Healing to then-label Warner Brothers, they said “We can’t hear a single on this” (which was a total load as “Compassion” from side one was as commercial as anything). Rundgren, an expert at this reaction by now, recorded two more songs. But instead of holding up the pressing of the album, they added the two songs, “Tiny Demons” and the song who’s video was the seventh ever played on MTV, “Time Heals” on an additional 7” vinyl included in the packaging. “Tiny Demons” became a live staple for Rundgren in later years.
The pairing of these two albums, the possibilities for this show to turn into one of those “remember-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life” occurrences, and the reputation Rundgren Radio has built by presenting phenomenal show after show…
You’d be a fool to miss this! Get your tickets now!!
EXTRA EXTRA! HOT OFF THE PRESS!! ONLY HERE!!! NEW OLD TODD RUNDGREN SHOW ANNOUNCED
by Jeff Boule in Concert Reviews, Editorials, Musician Reviews, News, Opinion Posts, Reviews, Song Reviews
How about a little fanfare, fans? Not only did we get a first look at Rundgren’s Johnson EP, how it’s doing sales wise and the Tour for it during our last blog, but this week we are privy to some dynamite EXCLUSIVE info about a NEW promotional tour. But the NEW tour is promoting OLD albums. Albums? Plural? Let’s look back to look ahead!
Those of you familiar with my blog know that I cover progressive bands, leaning heavily towards Todd Rundgren (hey, I blog what I know…), King Crimson and other oddball stuff. This bit of info comes from a very inside source to the Rundgren camp, and it is right up my weirdo alley!!!
It seems that this year’s Rundgren Radio Birthday Bash (the event that sprawled into a tour last year, and that found itself nestled among some mighty positive reviews when all was said and done) is giving rise to another such opportunity for outrageous fun!
Let us review before we preview: Last year’s birthday bash was the A Wizard A True Star show which featured three-quarters of Utopia reuniting as the opening act. Utopia Keyboardist Roger Powell had been asked to perform keyboard parts for the entire AWATS album (which is quite the undertaking, get the album and you will know!). Since Utopia Bassist Kasim Sulton was still Rundgren’s touring bassist, with Rundgren that made three. The fourth, Willie Wilcox was unavailable to tour, so longtime Rundgren / Tubes drummer Prairie Prince was tapped to play Wilcox’s part. But without Wilcox, Utopia purists (like me) would say it was NOT a true Utopia reunion. But it was damn close enough!!!
Then after a brief intermission (during which time, the sparse warm-up instrumentation was struck from the stage) for the second act, two white bandstands were revealed, containing guitar, bass and drums on one white island, keyboards and winds were contained on the other. Rundgren emerged in costume after outrageous costume, and he and his six-piece band (with spousal wardrobist) put on an AMAZING show. When I was finished with it, I knew this would be one of those times I would remember for the rest of my life.
Leave it to Rundgren Radio to outdo themselves by redoing themselves!!!
Yes, there has been a lot of double talk, double talk about new is old, blah blah, but this is how it shakes out: Yes, Rundgren Radio is again holding a Rundgren Radio Birthday Bash, and the scoop news is that this year’s Rundgren Radio Bash (or for those of you in the know will refer to as RR Bash 3) will again, be held in Akron Ohio!!! More news for those of you who might not be aware, this year’s Bash shows will be live performances of the albums Todd and Healing! When originally released in 1974, Todd was a groundbreaking LP (vinyl, remember vinyl?) in that it’s running time was generous, generous to the point of groove-cramming, which was the practice of making the actual pressing grooves narrower in order to accommodate longer playing times. Vinyl purists will say this was often detrimental to the album’s audio quality. One of his subsequent albums, Initiation pushed this envelope to such a point that a disclaimer was included by Rundgren more or less urging that if the audience was not satisfied by the audio quality, they could find those missing frequencies by “turning it up!”
Now THAT’S rock and roll!!!
But the Todd album had other unique qualities (besides the brilliant music on those platters), one being that a reproduction of the front cover photo was represented on a poster inside the packaging. Wait, a minute, you say, that’s not so original!!! No, if that’s all there was to it. But the poster’s image was not a straight reproduction, but the image was generated by varying the ink’s darkness when printing the names of each and every fan who replied by sending back a postcard that was included in the previous album, AWATS. The last track, “Sons Of 1984” was unique in that Rundgren included live audience recordings of the audience who were asked to sing along during the song’s chorus. Panned to one side, was the audience from a West Coast venue, the other side was the audience from an East Coast venue. I do know the East Coast venue as being Wolman Rink in NYC as my sister was one of the many voices on the East Coast track.
Todd is my favorite Rundgren album. It has a tremendous balance of pop sensibility and electronic (as well as other) weirdness. The second half of this new show is the entire album Healing. This album was released in 1981. It has some unique qualities of it’s own. Side one of this album details the story of the trials and tribulations of one who is anointed with the power to heal the body. From the time of this revelation to the healer’s father to the time the healer has healed his last, several gorgeous, beautiful, even a humorous tune about exploitation, all detail the life and times from the point of view of those around the healer and healer himself. Side two is one track. One track, three parts. Side two details not the healer, but the healing. Rundgren sings the listener through a psychic healing experience, as though he is trying to heal the listener.
Give that up, we’re too far-gone!
Now if nearly three sides of continuous music isn’t enough, when Rundgren submitted Healing to then-label Warner Brothers, they said “We can’t hear a single on this” (which was a total load as “Compassion” from side one was as commercial as anything). Rundgren, an expert at this reaction by now, recorded two more songs. But instead of holding up the pressing of the album, they added the two songs, “Tiny Demons” and the song who’s video was the seventh ever played on MTV, “Time Heals” on an additional 7” vinyl included in the packaging. “Tiny Demons” became a live staple for Rundgren in later years.
The pairing of these two albums, the possibilities for this show to turn into one of those “remember-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life” occurrences, and the reputation Rundgren Radio has built by presenting phenomenal show after show…
You’d be a fool to miss this! Get your tickets now!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Info: Akron premiere of TODD and HEALING "LIVE"
Todd Rundgren will be performing every song from the TODD and HEALING albums for the first time ever at the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, OH on September 5th, 2010 beginning at 7:30pm!
This is the same venue as the first ever AWATS which SOLD OUT at 2400+! Listen to Rundgren Radio and/or visit www.SonsOf1984.com for updates including when tickets go on sale!
Hotel sold out last year and is already setup for a group rate of $79 -- Akron City Centre Hotel --- use the code "Rundgren Radio".
Akron City Centre Hotel
www.akroncitycentrehotel.com
20 West Mill Street
Akron, OH 44308
(330) 384-1500
This is the same venue as the first ever AWATS which SOLD OUT at 2400+! Listen to Rundgren Radio and/or visit www.SonsOf1984.com for updates including when tickets go on sale!
Hotel sold out last year and is already setup for a group rate of $79 -- Akron City Centre Hotel --- use the code "Rundgren Radio".
Akron City Centre Hotel
www.akroncitycentrehotel.com
20 West Mill Street
Akron, OH 44308
(330) 384-1500
premiere of Healer / todd live
"TODD + HEALING LIVE for the first time ever! Akron Civic Theatre AKRON OH!" on Sunday, September 5 at 7:30pm.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
more September shows announced for Healer / Todd tour
2010 Todd & Healing Tour:
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
Muskegon, Michigan
Concert date: 9/8/2010
Possible event/party on 9/7/2010 in or near Muskegon!
9/14: Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA near Philadelphia
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at noon ET (on sale date subject to change, more info to follow soon).
9/15: Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, New Jersey
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 1pm ET from the venue box office (on sale date subject to change)
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
Muskegon, Michigan
Concert date: 9/8/2010
Possible event/party on 9/7/2010 in or near Muskegon!
9/14: Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA near Philadelphia
Tickets will go on sale May 1st at noon ET (on sale date subject to change, more info to follow soon).
9/15: Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, New Jersey
Tickets will go on sale May 8th at 1pm ET from the venue box office (on sale date subject to change)
RundgrenRadio tonight guest Michael Shrieve
With special guest Michael Shrieve, original drummer with Santana and a member of the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame.
We will also be announcing another venue/city for one of the September Todd+Healing gigs among other things.
8:30pm ET at www.RundgrenRadio.com or www.blogtalkradio.com/runt
We will also be announcing another venue/city for one of the September Todd+Healing gigs among other things.
8:30pm ET at www.RundgrenRadio.com or www.blogtalkradio.com/runt
Book: A Wizard, a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio (Paperback)
A Wizard, a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio (Paperback)
~ Paul Myers (Author)
* Paperback: 336 pages
* Publisher: Jawbone Press (October 1, 2010)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1906002339
* ISBN-13: 978-1906002336
* Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,329 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-True-Star-Rundgren-Studio/dp/1906002339/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270544333&sr=1-4
Monday, April 5, 2010
Review: soundpress.net Bergan PAC
http://www.soundpress.net/files-feature-articles/fa-2010-04-04-todd-rundgren.php
Todd Rundgren Unleashes Johnson
and Delivers a Big Batch of the Blues at the BergenPAC
A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Rich and Laura Lynch
On a day when Christians around the world were marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - the recording artist Todd Rundgren, known as "God" to many of his fervent fans - went down to the crossroads on the opening night of his tour that is a tribute to the blues guitarist Robert Johnson who is perhaps best-known for his alleged deal with the devil. Rundgren and his band performed to a packed house on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 at the BergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey and by all accounts got his "Johnson" off to a great start.
Todd Rundgren's musical muse has spanned many styles through the decades - morphing from power pop star to progressive rocker to acapella artist - he has been well-known for always experimenting and mixing up his approach to music. By taking on this current project Rundgren is mining territory that's been well covered by acts such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and countless others - all who have been influenced by the legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson - who died young in 1937 - yet, made his mark on generations of guitarists with his passionate playing and vocals.
Rundgren has said that he wanted to put his own stamp on the Johnson material and what became apparent was that him and his band - Jesse Gress (guitar), Prairie Prince (drums) and Kasim Sulton (bass) - were ready to mine the back catalogue for his own rarities that would be well-suited to a treatment of the blues.
The audience enthusiastically greeted Todd and his crew who were all clad in dark colors. The stage layout was straightforward with equipment and lighting. The concert started with a double guitar assault with Todd and Jesse exchanging licks on "Dust My Broom" backed by the lively rhythm team of Prairie and Kasim. This set the timing and tone for the evening. "Stop Breaking Down" had a sultry groove and glaring solos. It was followed by "Kiddie Boy" with its feisty fret work and tempos.
Rundgren's approach to the blues was aggressive with emphasis on guitars and beguiling beats with less focus on the emotion and perhaps empathy associated with the blues. Todd handled lead vocals backed by harmonizing band mates. Rundgren blended solos with singing as they performed songs from his catalogue mixed in with blues classics. Throughout the night, Todd chatted with the crowd promising a "shit load of blues" and jesting about johnson.
"We're going to liberally apply the Johnson throughout the show," Rundgren said when greeting the New Jersey audience. "We came here with the assumption that a lot of you came here to get your fill of the Johnson."
"We're going to be plumbing the archives for songs we haven't played before," Rundgren said between bluesy takes on his own "Black Maria" and "Bleeding" adding to the unique vibe of this tour.
"We're gonna hop back on the Johnson for a minute," Todd told the crowd before launching into "Last Fair Deal" and "Love In Vain".
While the setlist swelled with over two dozen songs the majority of the numbers were fast paced, short and succinct - showcasing galloping guitar leads backed by tight blues grooves powered by Todd's royal rhythm section featuring Sulton and Prince. However, the guys did stretch it out for a longer take on "Mystified/Broke Down and Busted" which was the mesmerizing musical climax of the evening.
During the concert we did learn a little more about Todd the man and the tools of his trade. He introduced the audience to his "new BFF" - a cream-colored Fender Telecaster he called "Butters". Over the past few years Rundgren has been using a bright green six-string and tonight we learned its name was "Foamy" - Todd would switch between both axes throughout the show as he chopped away at his two-page setlist.
This being Todd's first time - er, first night of the new tour - the Johnson did get a little sloppy at times. There were a few moments where Todd forgot lyrics, one song was aborted and after performing a version of "Red Hot" he said - "Yeah, we're working on that one."
Todd a producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has put his own spin on Johnson's songs utilizing an aggressive two-guitar attack in the process. The volume was turned up high in the BergenPAC and this was definitely the loudest show we have seen in the venue. Fans more familiar with Rundgren's pop and radio-friendly periods may have been taken aback by Todd's intense and noisy interpretation of the blues, and we did notice a number of patrons heading for the door early, but the majority of the people in attendance stayed for the full two-hour show.
Other highlights from the evening included "Walking Blues", "Born To Synthesize" and "Riverside" merging into "Crossroads". The encore featured an engaging version of "I Saw The Light" and "Tiny Demons" which had a slightly spacy feel and flow. Rundgren ended the night with more hard driving riffs and rhythms in "Boogies". Todd's covers were liberal and lively demonstrating how subjective interpretations can be but also keeping it interesting by being different. Thus, after many years in the music business Todd is still imaginative and an important, iconic figure in rock.
Opening for Todd was Bergen County's own "Lucky" Larry Stevens who has made a career of warming up for many big name acts in the region. Stevens - who describes himself as a cross between John Mayer and Elvis Costello - was engaging. He was joined by Montclair guitarist Van Manakas who underscored the singer-songwriter's tunes with a rich and warm electric lead tone that was a highlight of the set. Steven's is currently finishing up his third solo titled record with help from the rhythm section of Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel) and Muddy Shews (Southside Johnny) slated for a summer release.
ABOUT THE BERGENPAC: Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) is an organization of and for the community that it serves throughout northern New Jersey, by being a creative focus, educational resource, and engine of economic vitality. BergenPAC's mission is to make the live performing arts accessible to the entire population - building a creative home that guides and liberates the imagination of our young, inspires and expands the lives of our adults, and attracts established and emerging artists of excellence and relevance. This timeless theater is conveniently located in downtown Englewood among a diverse range of restaurants and shops.
SETLIST:
Dust My Broom
Stop Breaking Down
Kiddie Boy
Soul Brother
Walking Blues
Kindhearted Woman
Bleeding
Black Maria
Last Fair Deal
Love In Vain
Open My Eyes
Mystified
Red Hot
Sweet Home Chicago
#1 Lowest Common
I Went To The Mirror
Come In My Kitchen
Hellhound
Born To Synthesize
Weakness
Riverside
Crossroads
Encore
I Saw The Light
Tiny Demons
Boogies
Todd Rundgren Unleashes Johnson
and Delivers a Big Batch of the Blues at the BergenPAC
A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Rich and Laura Lynch
On a day when Christians around the world were marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - the recording artist Todd Rundgren, known as "God" to many of his fervent fans - went down to the crossroads on the opening night of his tour that is a tribute to the blues guitarist Robert Johnson who is perhaps best-known for his alleged deal with the devil. Rundgren and his band performed to a packed house on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 at the BergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey and by all accounts got his "Johnson" off to a great start.
Todd Rundgren's musical muse has spanned many styles through the decades - morphing from power pop star to progressive rocker to acapella artist - he has been well-known for always experimenting and mixing up his approach to music. By taking on this current project Rundgren is mining territory that's been well covered by acts such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and countless others - all who have been influenced by the legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson - who died young in 1937 - yet, made his mark on generations of guitarists with his passionate playing and vocals.
Rundgren has said that he wanted to put his own stamp on the Johnson material and what became apparent was that him and his band - Jesse Gress (guitar), Prairie Prince (drums) and Kasim Sulton (bass) - were ready to mine the back catalogue for his own rarities that would be well-suited to a treatment of the blues.
The audience enthusiastically greeted Todd and his crew who were all clad in dark colors. The stage layout was straightforward with equipment and lighting. The concert started with a double guitar assault with Todd and Jesse exchanging licks on "Dust My Broom" backed by the lively rhythm team of Prairie and Kasim. This set the timing and tone for the evening. "Stop Breaking Down" had a sultry groove and glaring solos. It was followed by "Kiddie Boy" with its feisty fret work and tempos.
Rundgren's approach to the blues was aggressive with emphasis on guitars and beguiling beats with less focus on the emotion and perhaps empathy associated with the blues. Todd handled lead vocals backed by harmonizing band mates. Rundgren blended solos with singing as they performed songs from his catalogue mixed in with blues classics. Throughout the night, Todd chatted with the crowd promising a "shit load of blues" and jesting about johnson.
"We're going to liberally apply the Johnson throughout the show," Rundgren said when greeting the New Jersey audience. "We came here with the assumption that a lot of you came here to get your fill of the Johnson."
"We're going to be plumbing the archives for songs we haven't played before," Rundgren said between bluesy takes on his own "Black Maria" and "Bleeding" adding to the unique vibe of this tour.
"We're gonna hop back on the Johnson for a minute," Todd told the crowd before launching into "Last Fair Deal" and "Love In Vain".
While the setlist swelled with over two dozen songs the majority of the numbers were fast paced, short and succinct - showcasing galloping guitar leads backed by tight blues grooves powered by Todd's royal rhythm section featuring Sulton and Prince. However, the guys did stretch it out for a longer take on "Mystified/Broke Down and Busted" which was the mesmerizing musical climax of the evening.
During the concert we did learn a little more about Todd the man and the tools of his trade. He introduced the audience to his "new BFF" - a cream-colored Fender Telecaster he called "Butters". Over the past few years Rundgren has been using a bright green six-string and tonight we learned its name was "Foamy" - Todd would switch between both axes throughout the show as he chopped away at his two-page setlist.
This being Todd's first time - er, first night of the new tour - the Johnson did get a little sloppy at times. There were a few moments where Todd forgot lyrics, one song was aborted and after performing a version of "Red Hot" he said - "Yeah, we're working on that one."
Todd a producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has put his own spin on Johnson's songs utilizing an aggressive two-guitar attack in the process. The volume was turned up high in the BergenPAC and this was definitely the loudest show we have seen in the venue. Fans more familiar with Rundgren's pop and radio-friendly periods may have been taken aback by Todd's intense and noisy interpretation of the blues, and we did notice a number of patrons heading for the door early, but the majority of the people in attendance stayed for the full two-hour show.
Other highlights from the evening included "Walking Blues", "Born To Synthesize" and "Riverside" merging into "Crossroads". The encore featured an engaging version of "I Saw The Light" and "Tiny Demons" which had a slightly spacy feel and flow. Rundgren ended the night with more hard driving riffs and rhythms in "Boogies". Todd's covers were liberal and lively demonstrating how subjective interpretations can be but also keeping it interesting by being different. Thus, after many years in the music business Todd is still imaginative and an important, iconic figure in rock.
Opening for Todd was Bergen County's own "Lucky" Larry Stevens who has made a career of warming up for many big name acts in the region. Stevens - who describes himself as a cross between John Mayer and Elvis Costello - was engaging. He was joined by Montclair guitarist Van Manakas who underscored the singer-songwriter's tunes with a rich and warm electric lead tone that was a highlight of the set. Steven's is currently finishing up his third solo titled record with help from the rhythm section of Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel) and Muddy Shews (Southside Johnny) slated for a summer release.
ABOUT THE BERGENPAC: Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) is an organization of and for the community that it serves throughout northern New Jersey, by being a creative focus, educational resource, and engine of economic vitality. BergenPAC's mission is to make the live performing arts accessible to the entire population - building a creative home that guides and liberates the imagination of our young, inspires and expands the lives of our adults, and attracts established and emerging artists of excellence and relevance. This timeless theater is conveniently located in downtown Englewood among a diverse range of restaurants and shops.
SETLIST:
Dust My Broom
Stop Breaking Down
Kiddie Boy
Soul Brother
Walking Blues
Kindhearted Woman
Bleeding
Black Maria
Last Fair Deal
Love In Vain
Open My Eyes
Mystified
Red Hot
Sweet Home Chicago
#1 Lowest Common
I Went To The Mirror
Come In My Kitchen
Hellhound
Born To Synthesize
Weakness
Riverside
Crossroads
Encore
I Saw The Light
Tiny Demons
Boogies
Video: I went to the mirror 4/3/10
fflbrgst — April 04, 2010 — Todd Rundgren's Johnson - I Went To The Mirror, April 3, 2010, Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, MA
Video: Born to Synthesize 4/3/10 .
fflbrgst — April 04, 2010 — Todd Rundgren's Johnson - Born To Synthesize, April 3, 2010, Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, MA
The band was having fun on this one, trying to screw each other up!
The band was having fun on this one, trying to screw each other up!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Video: Bleeding / Kiddie Boy 4/3/10 tr's johnson tour
upped on youtube by fflbrgst — April 04, 2010 — Todd Rundgren's Johnson - Bleeding, April 3, 2010 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, MA
fflbrgst — April 04, 2010 — Todd Rundgren's Johnson - Kiddie Boy, April 3, 2010 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, MA
fflbrgst — April 04, 2010 — Todd Rundgren's Johnson - Kiddie Boy, April 3, 2010 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, MA
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