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69 comments:
Not since Oraon Welles in 1938 has a performer planned a broadcast with the potential of bringing such terror and hopelessness to the general public.
Have you sold any tickets to your next out-pouring Sir Winston ? Can't wait to see you on your next TV broadcast or you tube. Your base is still a grand total of ONE
Oh my.
Awww come on, let asswipes like Winston and 23rd do their freedom of speech thang! Sure the comments they're posting are a bit repetitious but man do i love reading them. They truly knock it out of the park pathological trolling-wise. Man i hope they will also comment on my post. Are you guys always this on the money? Even when buying a pack of Milk? Maybe you should consider doing a podcast where all you do is bitch about Michelle's weight, the tiki bar and Todd's Global album. That would be great!!
That sounds like a good idea for a special broadcast of Rundgren Radio, sponsored by Jenny Craig and Chase Mortgage.
For those without a sense of humor, the argument against the current album and tour is:
This is not the TR we`ve known and respected all these decades.
This is a man utterly bereft of inspiration and ideas who is simply desperate to cling to his high-tech mansion and toys in a place 99% of his fans can`t afford to fly over, much less visit.
He has become lazy, fat and clueless as to what sort of music to make. He`s ripping off people half his age with less than an eighth of his talent.
I think he`d benefit from a return to NYC - I`m sure he could afford a place next to Yoko`s in the Dakota, and the subway`s only a few blocks away.
He`s not cool, the kids don`t care about him and he could tattoo himself from head to toe and still not garner a single new fan.
That`s why I called for something age-appropriate like a late-life Ballad... album, something he could record and tour with dignity and that would remind everyone of why we`re all still paying attention.
I`m going to sleep through the self-defeating webcast and the embarrassing Letterman appearance.
Wake me when it`s over.
There is BLACK HUMOR & many other varieties. Your comments do not even register as lame humor so do not pretend anyone is missing your raw negativity as having a sliver of humor within.
Why not demonstrate a sliver of courage & good humor by identifying your selves kids ?
A Milwaukee TR listener, RR
Did the previous anonymous blogger just demand other anonymous bloggers identify themselves?
This goofball act that just appeared at the Old Vic was more like the Jim Rose Circus than Todd Rundgren. Epic fail.
These Global videos have a weird Richard Simmons Sweating to the Oldies vibe. Sad Grandpa needs to ditch the techno.
Poor guy was literally out of breath amongst his sweat, a number of times, in the show we saw.
I was afraid he would keel over dead any second, as I wondered where Kasim Sulton was...(thought he was an important component of Rundgren's "band")...
.
I want what I want or I will have a fit. I have no words of encouragement or constructive critique & no self control. Next time you see me I will be screaming from the basket of the shopping cart. I was spoiled for years with many treats & I know what I want.
Boo Who ?
I have both encouragement and constructive critique. I would encourage T R not to be the 67 year old man that jumps up and down to Techno. He is like that character the Offspring sang about in the song Pretty Fly For A White Guy except maybe 50 years older. I imagine he is getting ink done an a grill for his teeth so he can look hip on the broadcast. A Goofus, A True Clown.
My review from last night in Pittsburgh. Warning: not favorable.
http://sonofsaf.blogspot.com/2015/04/recollections-of-rundgren-pittsburgh-4.html
Todd can`t even afford to pay for Kaz`s lunch on this tour, much less his professional work. Every dime is going to Chase to save the Cow Eye NeverLand and nearby watering hole.
Worse, he`s only hours away from making of himself an International Fool.
No one should think that I`m taking any pleasure from this. In the musical doldrums that were the `70s, only Todd, John Cale and Paul Simon were of any serious interest and of those only Todd guaranteed a charismatic and memorable performance.
I wish the "hater" haters would remember my many statements to this effect and not just those that apparently insult their teddy bear.
The Pittsburgh Utopian just posted the most entertaining review I've read to date on this Global fiasco. Considering the atrocity he witnessed, I would consider his review measured in tone.
Todd seems to despise his 50-70 year old fan base. He sees them as ready for either Branson shows or a rest home, while he envisions himself as some hipster on a musical journey. He has lost his filter, if not his mind. This fan base is the only thing standing between he and Michelle sleeping under a table at a roadside park. The Pittsburgh man seemed to have the same contempt for TR as TR has for his fans, but provided a good warning for those of us holding tickets for future shows.
I am not feeling very good about holding tickets to this tour. Since the venue is general admission and not sold out I doubt I can pass them off on a greater fool. Next year if he launches yet another techno tour I will know better. Always the cheerful optimist, I hope to see the fab 4 Utopia reunite and TR to make amends for touring with these 3 stooges and no band.
The dude in Pittsburgh seemed to enjoy the show in a 'so bad it's good' way. The videos seem to have an Ed Wood quality as in total lack of rehearsal and professionalism. Good for Jessie and Kasim that they won't be stained by any association with this dismal business. Global has trapped me in a world of atonal techno music that should have never been made.
The disgruntled are by far in the minority. Most will not claim this is in their Top Ten list of tours including myself. Still to say tuneless is to have little experience with the "style". There is more strength in Global's melodies & lyrics than any 5 other
people in this field. That does not mean I am wild about the entire album or concert.
I look foreword to a 75 year old coming to do jumping jacks & drumming for a full house in the fall. Most of Ringo's set-list will be the same as the last 3 years. Wish BB King can get back on the road, but he won't surprise anyone with his song selection.
From my vantage point TR looked very energized & fit last Tuesday. He sang & played in top form. The show was damped slightly by the venue's lack of an open floor up front. Many danced in the aisles or in front of their seats. Todd is always an excellent front man delivering a soulful message & lots of fun. He gave no sign of weariness in Milwaukee. I'd be impressed if those who thought he would keel over could keep up for half the show.
I am great-full that Todd's career is always a work in progress. This album & concert are better for me than STATE. Those who really appreciate him would not be cruel & at the same time pledge allegiance, IF he returns to form (as they perceive it). Nazz? S/A ? Tr's Utopia ?
Healing ? POV? NO World Order?
To suggest Rundgren has distaste for his core audience is beyond ignorance, kuz ya know betta
Or I'm just a silly boy.
I am having a lot of trouble streaming this concert and getting a lot of unintended scratch disking and psychedelic color effects! Normally my Mac streams video well. I am at about the One World mark, which was rescued by some great vocals from the audience, who at least can sing and know the words.
I was ready to give this a good chance. I mean, I love the guy, I am open to him doing whatever weird thing he wants, but I found the Dam-Funk opening a damper on my spirits and then although there are about 3 new songs that have potential here for me (Terra Firma was rushed and weak but pretty but reminded me of another song; Blind was ok, and Skyscraper would have sounded better with Kasim who apparently wrote it) but half the time I just felt bad for TR; he was getting out of breath, the lyrics were not very distinct which is not a good thing for new material; the show seems very truncated with everything going to blackout in between and Dam-Funk is not creating anything exciting up there when he is even visible. It is very much like State only darker, but 50% of the music is from State and Arena.
Ok the singer/dancers. Yes, they do sing flat, particularly on Holyland. They also don't sing any notes Daryl or Kasim or Todd couldn't hit. They must be boiling to death in the wigs and all the tights and socks and sweatshirts up to the neck. The harem costumes look weird after the Holyland number like hey, we're out of costumes and these are cooler so we're wearing them for the rest of the show! They hula in two different directions. The hula reminded me of how they teach you in kindergarten: "Now see, this is the water, and here is a palm tree, this is a fish swimming by"...
But anyway to have dancers on the stage is just doing the State show but cutting out the audience from the rave experience because the audience are stuck in their $40 seats. Most of the time in those theaters they will not allow people to stand up, so he should not be admonishing the crowd that they are lazy - they CAN'T stand up.
I think the light show probably photographs worse than it looks at least I hope so. In the still photos it looked like the saving grace. I think that's where the $s went if any were spent. So far he has played guitar one time and that was not up to his usual and I feel really bad to say it.
So how much longer does it go on after One World? or is it all pretty much the same? I want to stick around to hear Soothe but my computer may blow up before then.
Anyway I am not seeing any theme or rhyme or reason to this presentation.
Maybe I will finish watching it when they archive it. I think you can do that.
I feel maybe he must be going through something bad because this is so unlike him to think just "ok" is good enough. He just doesn't seem into it except for his solos but that is also technical expertise.
Where t begin. The pittsburgh show was God awful. Todd seems tired and distracted. Probably afraid Michelle had snuck off to Primanti Brothers. I bet more than half the audience split before the encore.
Pretty bird with feathers falling
Pretty as a lady calling
For her pink and midnight lover
As she stares into the water
And a yellow moon is rising
And there can't be no disguising
That the pretty bird is dying
With a silver arrow lying at its side
Rivers of blood,
Oceans of tears,
Life without death,
And death without reason
To the whole United Nations,
To your greatest expectations
To the moment that you realize
As a dark figure slips from out of the shadow
Pretty bird closes its eyes, pretty bird dies
Another pretty thing dead on the end of the shaft
Of the Zen Archer
A man in parts forgotten
With an outlook that is rotten
And an attitude to match it
Finds relief inside a hatchet
And he halved someone in Boulder
Justifiability is in the hands of the beholder
And you just don't know what people will do next
Mountains of pain,
Valleys of love,
Death without life,
And life without meaning
To the promise kept and broken
To the love that's never spoken
Just as surely as I'm in your ears
A dark figure slips from out of the shadow
Wazzup with quoting Zen Archer? You don't have to camp around.
If a man approaching 70 was seen in public dressed in a disco outfit jumping around gasping for air he would be taken to Bellevue psych for observation. What damn fool came up with this concert tour concept?
LOL it's friggin' true man!!
WTF!!
DISCO, DISCO, TODD!!!
Jeez-Us!
.
Todd is dressing like that bizarre old disco star Sylvester. There is something more at play than just a crappy tour. Maybe he could do an interview with Diane Sawyer to explain his transformation from God to clod.
His guitar is Waaaaaayyyy out of tune on World Wide Epiphany. WTF? He NEVER...where's the guitar tech?
I hope Letterman is better if for no other reason than his mom will probably be watching.
Oh god the backup on International Feel is TERRIBLE. He should keep the mike permanently pointed at the audience in between phrases cause they KNOW this music. They know the harmonies, everything.. if I were one of the dancing gals I'd be ashamed the paying audience sounded better than I did.
OK my computer just flipped out again. I will have to watch this later. I was hoping it would get better...
Yep...it's a staggeringly incompetent show.
I really fear Letterman. Hopefully someone can take Todd aside and talk some sense into him.
.
Mellencamp is performing on Letterman.
Todd's just sitting in with the band.
So you'll hear the first and last few seconds of his songs at commercial breaks.
After all the years of Todd being a friend of the show, one would think that he'd be able to do one more song on Letterman.
I became a fan of Todd in '76 at the ripe ol' age of sixteen.
What a ride it's been.
My first show was the RA tour, to be followed by OOPS!/RA around six months later.
What an intro to the guy who sang Hello It's Me!
Over the years I've been constantly amazed at the sheer imagination of TR's music and the electricity of his performances.
I'm one of those fans who pretty much liked everything (with a couple exceptions here and there).
When State came out, I had the same reaction a lot of fans had...some great stuff ( Imagination, Sir Reality, Serious) followed by some average, and unfortunately, below average offerings.
The State tour had good moments, but Todd going back and forth to push buttons on his computer was an annoying distraction, not to mention the "discofied" versions of CWSBF, ISTL, & HIM...quite possibly the low point in my years of fandom.
I heard that Global was going in the EDM/electronica direction...before it's release; I heard the brief samples and was not too impressed.
I can honestly say, now that I've listened a few times, that Global is far from the disaster that some fans have proclaimed.
It does have some elements of State, but it's much more than that.
Even though it's a minor Todd release compared to the legendary stuff, there's much to be enjoyed here.
Let's face it, Todd has used synthesizers and electronic music throughout his career.
Global has a vibrant production and there's a more diverse sound this time around.
I truly feel that if Todd had a five or six piece band performing this album, it would be potentially great!
(Skyscraper seems to be the consensus dud here)
The tour has a cool look, Todd's voice has been occasionally great, occasionally strained...it was worth seeing - no more, no less.
I hope his next effort is either with Utopia, or a more organic album with instruments, not a laptop.
I have a feeling TR will surprise us once again with compelling, innovative, and thought provoking music.
A little more humanity (and guitar), please!
Normally I would be upset to see TR bumped by John Mellancamp, but in this instance I would view it as a chance to retain what scraps our hero may have left of his dignity. I guess Mixmaster Put Your Hands In The Air Like You Just Don't Care and the Talentless Two will have the night off...their act is better suited to the Uncle Floyd Show than Dave to begin with.
Letterman saw the light.
Whew!
So glad Todd will not embarrass himself on national TV.
And yes, the Global CD is much much better than the Tour to support it.
I bought the CD before I saw the show. If I had seen the show first, I probably would _not_ have purchased the CD.
.
On the broadcast on LiveNation..,
At one point fairly early on, they show the audience. I saw an older woman clutching her white purse to her chest, that opened-mouthed "WHAT AM I SEEING" look. Made me laugh. I'm sure she had come to the show to see the Todd Rundgren brand she had come to know and love over the years, and was in shock to see a 67 year old DISCO TODD.
The comment about "Completely Out Of Tune" at the start of "International Feel"...disagree Todd hit some completely wrong notes at the start. Wasn't a "guitar tech" problem.
Anyone know the state of Todd's hearing? I'm surprised any of the widely toured 70-ish year old rock stars, can hear anything...
It wasn't anything shocking to me except for the terrible execution of the technicalities of the performance. That had a definite nightmare quality to it. I can't think of anything worse than getting on stage and not being able to sing in tune or dance, or in Todd's case having my guitar open tuned to the wrong chord. And having to play it anyway. I bet he kicked a few butts afterwards.
I'm happy he will sit in with the band, at least they know what they are doing musically. He can sneak some new stuff in there.
That live broadcast just about broke my heart, I want to forget it as quickly as possible.
Said the girls were out of tune on International Feel, not Todd. They switched his guitar. The one he was using on WWE was out of tune.
Todd says his fan base is dying out, and he is doing his damnedest to accelerate the process by exposing them to this idiocy. DISCO TODD is an abomination and more likely a cry for help. Where are all the youngsters that Todd thought he would attract with this show? Seems like about the same 500 folks per night per town, with about 300 of them headed for the hills half way through the shows.
His voice is shot, he has lost most of his legendary guitar prowess, he has gained a beer belly and double- chin, and just looks like an aging oaf in that cheap outfit Michelle picked out for him.
There appears to be no one in DISCO TODD's inner circle or management camp to try to talk him off this musical ledge.
2 one-way tickets to Cow-eye please. Coach class!
There are MUCH better backup singers in any karaoke bar in the USA. If the girls weren't selected for the tour for their singing or dancing, just exactly what are they doing on the tour? Oh, wait......ok, I get it. The Soother Sisters!
On kauai they have gangs going around beating Caucasians up and taking the tourists' money at night. There are certain parts of the island Caucasians cannot go at all.
While the older/elderly population of Kauai-ans are not like that, the middle aged to teen ones are, plus there are probably only about 10 real Hawaiians living there anymore. They have to work at 2 or more jobs just to make a living or move to SF or Vegas.
Plus it's on top of a live volcano. And the goddess Pele cursed it. Paradise? I don't think so. Maybe back in the 70s.
Todd does not look happy in the photos. He looks like this: :|
It's in his contract to promote the album.
Kauai is gorgeous. Stunning. The real estate is more for hedge fund guys than aging hippies without financial management skills. Crime isn't a problem if you have security and a mean dog or two. This time next year the tiki bar will likely be padlocked, so that distraction will have passed.
TR should return to the states. After a bit of practice on guitar and piano, he could be good to go for new material.
He should throw away the Casio keyboard and put up the MacBook and go into a studio with Kaz, Willie and Roger and see what happens. If not Utopia, hire other real musicians.
And dude, quit wearing those stupid fucking disco threads your old lady picks out. Wake up and smell the coffee, and quit shitting on your faithful fans who have supported you through thick and thin.
He HAS to know how frickin' bad the tour sounds. I just looked at his schedule...it's going to be a LONG and TEDIOUS May and June for the poor boy. UGH...he must absolutely hate it. And realized he would screw himself royal by letting the talentless TWO and DJ-boy be associated with him on National Television...
Talentless but pretty easy on the eyes. If I owned a strip joint they wouldn't have any trouble getting an audition.
Yes, the "Talent-less two" are cuties :-)
Just a technicality, I suppose, but to the Anonymous who encouraged Todd to "return to the states": Hawaii has been one for a while now.
In addition, I doubt that Todd bothered to pay for bringing a guitar tech on a tour that would find him playing one for less than an hour in total by June.
He obviously doesn`t care, doesn`t want to be doing this, and (I hope) has learned his lesson for just taking record label money because it was offered despite his admission that he wasn`t even in "album-writing" mode.
Somewhere along the line, TR became just another pampered "rock star" who wanted everything and now finds that he can`t have it any more.
Boo (fucking) Hoo. Just another peace and love hypocrite (like his near-talent-less idol, Lennon), Todd will either rise (to his proclaimed ideals) or he will fall (like all other greedy wash-ups before him).
I genuinely hope that he takes a few years off to get himself together enough to produce a fitting farewell album but, honestly, I don`t need pop idols at my age. That`s what happens when you get old...and don`t have to make worthless disco albums.
And don`t tell me I`m a "hater" again. I`ve proven time and again I`m not.
TR may have idolized llennon's music, but not Lennon. He told Melody Maker "Lennon's no revolutionary, he's a fucking idiot, man" - Lennon responded with hate mail to Todd. This was back in '73, when Todd was God.
I remember that exchange.
Todd felt snubbed when Lennon insufficiently acknowledged him in a club in New York (Max`s?)
and responded by writing "Rock and Roll Pussy" about him.
Lennon later said that he regretted not having taken a moment to tell Todd that he actually enjoyed his music.
Oh, well...too much water under the bridge.
Todd, how do you sleep after each night of the Global tour? Mr Rundgren, have you no decency, sir?
Baa Baa Baa
Dook
Doooook
DOOOOOOOOK!!!
I betcha he is not happy with nor proud of the effort.
Should have had a money manager back in the days when he was bringing the big bucks in.
Fuck, I shouldn't have knocked three times before I shit all over the Global tour. Now the Babadook is on the Arena blog.
Disaster was avoided last night. TR was reduced to bumper music, but he threw in a driving guitar version of Evrybody that actually sounded like a 3 chord punk rocker. Not bad, backed by Letterman's band. Yes, paid professional musicians. There was no sign of the wig-wearing Talentless Two nor Grandmaster Damn Shame. TR was Himself last night, a refreshing change from his latest Sad Grandpa persona. Baby steps.
Yeah, wondered how it went.
Whew! At least he cares what Letterman thinks.
Think it means a lot that TR knew better than to take the current lineup on Letterman. He isn't stupid. I'm sure he knows what this Global "junk tour" is, and as someone earlier said, this is an obligation that was part of the contract from Cherry Red records, to promote the album. He probably has already had his payday for "Global", but now has this dreaded drudgery to get through.
Ashlee (tall bu singer) has a very good voice, and a couple cd's out. I believe it is Grace (short) that is flat when she sings...but, could be she is listening to the monitor and not singing a bit sharp to it.
I wish there was a Utopia 2016 to look forward to, with new ballads written with pride instead of being rushed to publish by a record contract.
As for costumes, I agree, there are things he would look better in than tight straight leg pants, and sleeveless tops that show his age sag - along with his muscles, and look better on his belly...
TR has always had a slightly swayback. In other words in a side view of any picture or video it seems like he is pushing the guitar foreword with his hips while his shoulders are back. This posture & his well exercised diaphragm are mistaken for paunch. He's not a rail like on Runt cover. but he's not fat. Did you think Arena cover was airbrushed or photo-shopped ?
Why not get past this nasty ragging & go critique the Stones latest albums & bodies. Is Tom Petty your new hero cause he's more frail than ever. I do not listen to Paul Simon's art & then pick on his hair or lack of suntan. Neal Young is not in GQ &
probably isn't in the shape he was
when he wrote Old Man.
Just get over yourself
Winston is so off base. Clearly Todd was not bumped by Mr. Cougar or Scarlet . The plan was for Todd to sit in with the band. Plain & simple
Did Mellencamp outshine TR or ignore him ? Todd is loved by the entire band & Mellencamp's Guitarist is said to be a huge fan & lent his prized guitar to Todd at Indiana U. gig a while back.
As the Rolling Stone write up says,Letterman is revisiting the best aspects of his run in these final days. Todd filling in is always great. The people who do not know him get a smattering of hits & he is a always great with the banter. The sad part is Dave hardly ever has him sit down & talk. Everybody, everybody, everybody count your gifts!
Anonymous is right, and I was wrong that TR was bumped. My bad.
What is a indisputably right about is that the Global tour is a travesty and a disaster of biblical proportions. Read the Northfield OH ticketmaster reviews, which are the most scathing reviews in the history of popular music. TR fans evidently walked out in droves, dumbstuck at the ghastly goings-on. I wish Todd would cancel the rest of the tour and just let Chase take back the home. His integrity is worth more than continuing this clown act.
Todd needs to hang it up.
Here`s the link to the above-mentioned reviews:
http://reviews.ticketmaster.com/7171/736021/todd-rundgren-reviews/reviews.htm
The "hater" haters can`t blame me and "Winston" any more.
I agree that TR should just cut his losses, get it together and start all over.
Todd is no longer Godd...
Awful awful awful show. Took me days to shake it off! GROSS!
I too, will listen to my records and CD's and not bother with seeing him live, anymore. He is going to have to EARN my concert dollars, next go round.
Ugh, SPIT, one finger salute....
.
Yes it's like he's in this weird "holding pattern" that is affecting his career and where he lives, and everything is sort of stuck in a dark place. He's not coming off well in interviews either.
If he did sell the house now at least he wouldn't have THAT hanging over him. And the lawyer I think is BSing him. And taking his money also.
Well, we'll see I guess.
He cant sell the house, it has been foreclosed upon, and belongs to the bank. He has not been paying his mortg for a long time. He should have bucks stashed, and could go pay cash for something that he can afford. no bank will give him a loan for the next 7 years, that's when the bankruptcy will fall off his record. He needs to be concerned with liquidation of the Tiki Bar/Resturant...before it too, becomes another toilet seat, around his neck.
I hope he has bucks stashed where Madame Toilet Seat can't get her hands on it to sustain his old age retirement. I really do hope he had that much sense.
Reading the admittedly butchered translation of the Norwegian article, it seems like Todd's obsession with Cow Eye is a kind of lunacy. He is trying to keep up with the rich folks, but unlike the high finance guys he and Michelle are bad with money. The lawyer they hired seems like an original character, and the Chase lawyers kicked their asses all over the courtroom. Even smart restaurant people have hell making a dime in that tough business, and one would think a knucklehead like Michelle would be a sure candidate to fail. What kind of idiot would loan the Rundgren's a dime? None of this financial stuff would matter were it not necessitating (in Todd's mind) this low budget (apologies to the Kinks) Global tour.
I went on the Ticketmaster website to read the most recent reviews, and as a long-time TR fan they made me want to vomit.
Under the kind of pressure Todd is experiencing now, no one could be expected to perform well at even a dish-washing job.
I agree with those calling for him to give himself - and his audience - a break and just shut down this travesty now.
He`s a mess, understandably, and it shows and is jeopardising his career.
He did drop an awful lot of names, very unusual for Todd unless he's discussing the work at hand. I don't really care who his neighbors are. And I doubt they give a flying eff at a rolling doughnut who he is.
It's awful he moves all the way out there, they run a restaurant, and he's reduced to eating chili out of a can! He could do that in NYC.
Then when he offers his guests the expensive wine, his old lady complaining about it the next day. It's like hey give 'em the cheap stuff! They only came all the way from NORWAY.
Substances make everything look a lot better, I know, but the effects are only temporary. It isn't REAL. Todd was creating before he ever took a drag or a drink; it's in there.
I believe in you, Todd, but take care.
the chili out of a can is probably better than the food his nutty wife serves at that tiki bar
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