Just in case you haven't heard, we announced the World Premier of the Toddstock DVD which will be held in Muskegon on 9/7 at a venue TBD -- we are hoping for a movie theater but either way we will have a big screen somewhere. Todd will be in attendance! There is also a contest going on for the cover design.
We also announced that on 9/13 in the Glenside/Philly area at a place TBD, Todd will be interviewed in front of a live audience by 7 time Emmy Award Winner Roy Firestone! More info at www.royfirestone.com and here's a clip from when he was in the movie Jerry Maguire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cim0_0XuxBw. Roy happens to be a long time Todd fan and was at the LA AWATS gig.
The "almost" official blog for everything Todd Rundgren Related........................................................................................................................................................................... Please visit the sister facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ma4utopia?ref=hl
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Memphis news Back to the blues
Back to the Blues
Prog and power-pop pioneer Todd Rundgren takes an unexpected detour.
by J.D. Reager
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren has achieved just about all that anyone could imagine in more than 40 years in the music industry. As a musician and songwriter, he's regarded as a pioneer of the power-pop and progressive rock genres and has achieved chart success with numerous singles, including "Hello It's Me," "I Saw the Light," and "Bang the Drum All Day." As a producer/engineer, he's helmed classic albums by the Band, Meat Loaf, XTC, and the New York Dolls, just to name a few. And he's also lauded as a technological innovator in the fields of digital audio recording, videography, and computer-based animation.
Yet, in 2008, when Rundgren was set to unveil his newest collection of songs, the riff-heavy and (eventually) critically acclaimed Arena, the musician found it difficult to secure distribution. And in what became a strange twist of music-business fate, it was this unfortunate, if somewhat unfathomable, situation that ultimately became the impetus behind Rundgren's newest project, an album and live show based around the work of blues singer Robert Johnson cheekily titled Todd Rundgren's Johnson.
"I'm not sure inspiration is quite the word," Rundgren says. "I had some knowledge of Robert Johnson, of course, but he was never a big influence for me directly. Basically, I needed distribution for Arena, and the company I found to do it also administers the publishing for Robert Johnson's catalog but didn't own any of the actual recordings. So they made it a condition of the deal for Arena that I record a collection of Robert Johnson's songs, and that's how it started."
After the success of Arena (Rolling Stone's David Fricke called it "a bright, bullish return to Rundgren's specialties — paisley-mod punch, Who-ish guitar fireworks, and white-soul-boy woe"), Rundgren double-checked with the label to make sure a Robert Johnson covers album was still what it wanted. It was. But Rundgren still wasn't quite convinced:
"I was a bit apprehensive of any comparisons to Eric Clapton, who's made a second career of reworking blues songs and is known for Johnson's material in particular."
Even so, Rundgren eventually set about the task of researching Johnson's career and catalog, in an attempt to find a suitable approach for the project. This search eventually led him back to English blues revivalists, such as Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Jeff Beck, contemporaries of Rundgren's in the late '60s who had served as personal inspiration for him at the time, and more modern blues artists, such as Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Paul Butterfield.
"I just felt that instead of emulating Robert Johnson directly, it would be better for me to focus on more second-hand, indirect influences that were more meaningful to me," Rundgren says. "Which essentially means more recently living, latter-day artists."
The album version of Todd Rundgren's Johnson is slated for release next month, but a three-song preview, Short Johnson, is already available for download on iTunes, Amazon.com, etc.
For the live show, Rundgren also combed through his own vast catalog, selecting old and new songs with a strong blues influence to go with the Johnson material.
"It actually turned out to not be so bizarre," Rundgren says. "If I'd been a strict stylist in my career, it might have been more difficult, but there's a strange plausibility to me doing a blues-themed show. My first real working gig in music was in a blues band [Woody's Truck Stop], so it makes sense."
After the touring and promotion for Todd Rundgren's Johnson is completed, Rundgren will turn his attention back to performing classic material of his own, a project he began late last year with a series of ambitious live re-creations of the influential 1973 psychedelic album A Wizard, A True Star in Europe and the U.S. As decided by a fan vote, Rundgren will stage full live versions of the albums Todd (1974) and Healing (1981) this fall.
"These shows are proposed and promoted by the fans," Rundgren says. "I'm lucky to have a very loyal audience. It seems like some of them will come out for just about anything. But because the album re-creation shows are a much bigger production with a bigger band and more expenses, I can't afford to do them all the time."
That said, don't expect a dull or drab set from Rundgren, a consummate performer who, at age 61, shows no signs of slowing down. He returns to Memphis this week.
"If I didn't feel like the show or my playing was up to a certain level, I wouldn't do it," Rundgren says. "I don't really focus on my level of popularity or success anymore. I'm more focused on maintaining a level of quality, for myself and the fans."
Prog and power-pop pioneer Todd Rundgren takes an unexpected detour.
by J.D. Reager
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren has achieved just about all that anyone could imagine in more than 40 years in the music industry. As a musician and songwriter, he's regarded as a pioneer of the power-pop and progressive rock genres and has achieved chart success with numerous singles, including "Hello It's Me," "I Saw the Light," and "Bang the Drum All Day." As a producer/engineer, he's helmed classic albums by the Band, Meat Loaf, XTC, and the New York Dolls, just to name a few. And he's also lauded as a technological innovator in the fields of digital audio recording, videography, and computer-based animation.
Yet, in 2008, when Rundgren was set to unveil his newest collection of songs, the riff-heavy and (eventually) critically acclaimed Arena, the musician found it difficult to secure distribution. And in what became a strange twist of music-business fate, it was this unfortunate, if somewhat unfathomable, situation that ultimately became the impetus behind Rundgren's newest project, an album and live show based around the work of blues singer Robert Johnson cheekily titled Todd Rundgren's Johnson.
"I'm not sure inspiration is quite the word," Rundgren says. "I had some knowledge of Robert Johnson, of course, but he was never a big influence for me directly. Basically, I needed distribution for Arena, and the company I found to do it also administers the publishing for Robert Johnson's catalog but didn't own any of the actual recordings. So they made it a condition of the deal for Arena that I record a collection of Robert Johnson's songs, and that's how it started."
After the success of Arena (Rolling Stone's David Fricke called it "a bright, bullish return to Rundgren's specialties — paisley-mod punch, Who-ish guitar fireworks, and white-soul-boy woe"), Rundgren double-checked with the label to make sure a Robert Johnson covers album was still what it wanted. It was. But Rundgren still wasn't quite convinced:
"I was a bit apprehensive of any comparisons to Eric Clapton, who's made a second career of reworking blues songs and is known for Johnson's material in particular."
Even so, Rundgren eventually set about the task of researching Johnson's career and catalog, in an attempt to find a suitable approach for the project. This search eventually led him back to English blues revivalists, such as Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Jeff Beck, contemporaries of Rundgren's in the late '60s who had served as personal inspiration for him at the time, and more modern blues artists, such as Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Paul Butterfield.
"I just felt that instead of emulating Robert Johnson directly, it would be better for me to focus on more second-hand, indirect influences that were more meaningful to me," Rundgren says. "Which essentially means more recently living, latter-day artists."
The album version of Todd Rundgren's Johnson is slated for release next month, but a three-song preview, Short Johnson, is already available for download on iTunes, Amazon.com, etc.
For the live show, Rundgren also combed through his own vast catalog, selecting old and new songs with a strong blues influence to go with the Johnson material.
"It actually turned out to not be so bizarre," Rundgren says. "If I'd been a strict stylist in my career, it might have been more difficult, but there's a strange plausibility to me doing a blues-themed show. My first real working gig in music was in a blues band [Woody's Truck Stop], so it makes sense."
After the touring and promotion for Todd Rundgren's Johnson is completed, Rundgren will turn his attention back to performing classic material of his own, a project he began late last year with a series of ambitious live re-creations of the influential 1973 psychedelic album A Wizard, A True Star in Europe and the U.S. As decided by a fan vote, Rundgren will stage full live versions of the albums Todd (1974) and Healing (1981) this fall.
"These shows are proposed and promoted by the fans," Rundgren says. "I'm lucky to have a very loyal audience. It seems like some of them will come out for just about anything. But because the album re-creation shows are a much bigger production with a bigger band and more expenses, I can't afford to do them all the time."
That said, don't expect a dull or drab set from Rundgren, a consummate performer who, at age 61, shows no signs of slowing down. He returns to Memphis this week.
"If I didn't feel like the show or my playing was up to a certain level, I wouldn't do it," Rundgren says. "I don't really focus on my level of popularity or success anymore. I'm more focused on maintaining a level of quality, for myself and the fans."
More heavenly Rundgren in store
http://www.ohio.com/entertainment/90912469.html
More heavenly Rundgren in store
Singer to reach back to '74, '81 in Civic set. B.E. Mann to celebrate with CD release party
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
Published on Thursday, Apr 15, 2010
If you're a Todd Rundgren fan you probably already know that he will be returning to Akron to perform not one, but TWO of his albums — Todd and Healing, in their entirety on Sept. 5.
Last year, Rundgren premiered his theatricalization of A Wizard, a True Star at the Akron Civic Theatre, and according to the RundgrenRadio.com folks, the show's promoters and the folks who helped convince Todd, fans who came from ''across the world'' to the sold-out AWATS shows enjoyed their time in Akron and Rundgren loved the Civic.
I'm guessing with two albums to perform in one night, Rundgren won't bother with ''theatricalization,'' but since they are among fan faves, I'm sure the music and the man will carry the evening. Neither album was hit-filled, but they both contain long-time set list staples.
1974's Todd has The Last Ride, Don't You Ever Learn? and the pretty ballad A Dream Goes on Forever.
The synthesizer-heavy Healing, from 1981, contains Tiny Demons, Compassion and the R&B-flavored early MTV hit Time Heals. It was a ''hit'' in part because the nascent channel's library in 1981 was pretty darned small.
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing the rockin' riffs of Everybody's Going to Heaven/King Kong Reggae in concert and the three-part Healing suite, which I haven't listened to in years, but I'll be blowing the dust off the vinyl and putting on the old analog Victrola real soon.
Tickets for the show go on sale at 11 a.m. April 28 at http://www.tix.com.
More heavenly Rundgren in store
Singer to reach back to '74, '81 in Civic set. B.E. Mann to celebrate with CD release party
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
Published on Thursday, Apr 15, 2010
If you're a Todd Rundgren fan you probably already know that he will be returning to Akron to perform not one, but TWO of his albums — Todd and Healing, in their entirety on Sept. 5.
Last year, Rundgren premiered his theatricalization of A Wizard, a True Star at the Akron Civic Theatre, and according to the RundgrenRadio.com folks, the show's promoters and the folks who helped convince Todd, fans who came from ''across the world'' to the sold-out AWATS shows enjoyed their time in Akron and Rundgren loved the Civic.
I'm guessing with two albums to perform in one night, Rundgren won't bother with ''theatricalization,'' but since they are among fan faves, I'm sure the music and the man will carry the evening. Neither album was hit-filled, but they both contain long-time set list staples.
1974's Todd has The Last Ride, Don't You Ever Learn? and the pretty ballad A Dream Goes on Forever.
The synthesizer-heavy Healing, from 1981, contains Tiny Demons, Compassion and the R&B-flavored early MTV hit Time Heals. It was a ''hit'' in part because the nascent channel's library in 1981 was pretty darned small.
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing the rockin' riffs of Everybody's Going to Heaven/King Kong Reggae in concert and the three-part Healing suite, which I haven't listened to in years, but I'll be blowing the dust off the vinyl and putting on the old analog Victrola real soon.
Tickets for the show go on sale at 11 a.m. April 28 at http://www.tix.com.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Another chance at being part of TODDSTOCK history
Repost from Ed Vigdor...
---------
Gang,
As mentioned last night on Rundgren Radio, the Toddstock Movie is nearing completion and a premier of the movie is being held on September 7th in Michigan, the evening before the "Healing/Todd" show. Todd will be attending the event, hoping as many people as possible can attend as it will be the only opportunity to see this on a large screen.
Additionally, with all the talented people among us, we would like people to submit design ideas for the DVD case and disc. So all of you graphic artists out there, fire up your Photoshop.
If you go to my facebook page, in my profile pictures, you can see a still frame from the main title animation for the movie. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=682731&id=1613746948
However, you should in no way feel limited to this idea. Toddstock, in retrospect was more about the fans and the Utopian community we put together than it was about Todd, while of course he was the central figure. This movie was about all us fans that were there, even those who were not able to attend. So it is fitting that a fan design the cover.
Any design would have to conform to a standard template for a DVD cover and disc, and would need to be submitted ready to print. I am working on getting those specs and will send to anyone who is interested.
Have to discuss and confirm this with Todd and Michele, but the person whose design is used, will be sent an autographed framed copy.
Any question, contact me on Facebook or at digitiki@dslextreme.com
---------
Gang,
As mentioned last night on Rundgren Radio, the Toddstock Movie is nearing completion and a premier of the movie is being held on September 7th in Michigan, the evening before the "Healing/Todd" show. Todd will be attending the event, hoping as many people as possible can attend as it will be the only opportunity to see this on a large screen.
Additionally, with all the talented people among us, we would like people to submit design ideas for the DVD case and disc. So all of you graphic artists out there, fire up your Photoshop.
If you go to my facebook page, in my profile pictures, you can see a still frame from the main title animation for the movie. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=682731&id=1613746948
However, you should in no way feel limited to this idea. Toddstock, in retrospect was more about the fans and the Utopian community we put together than it was about Todd, while of course he was the central figure. This movie was about all us fans that were there, even those who were not able to attend. So it is fitting that a fan design the cover.
Any design would have to conform to a standard template for a DVD cover and disc, and would need to be submitted ready to print. I am working on getting those specs and will send to anyone who is interested.
Have to discuss and confirm this with Todd and Michele, but the person whose design is used, will be sent an autographed framed copy.
Any question, contact me on Facebook or at digitiki@dslextreme.com
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
RundgrenRadio tonight Interview from 4/1 UKBOB and special toddstock dvd announcement
We will be airing the interview UKBOB did with Todd on 4/1 and giving lots of updates about RR gigs and there will be a special announcement about the Toddstock DVD!
www.RundgrenRadio.com - show starts at 8:30pm ET
www.RundgrenRadio.com - show starts at 8:30pm ET
Monday, April 12, 2010
PHOTOS mohegan sun show by mike b
travel over to mike b's photobucket site to see some great shots from te mohegan sun show CT.
http://tinyurl.com/ybdud8b
http://tinyurl.com/ybdud8b
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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
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