TODD RUNDGREN played to a packed house at the NJPAC Theater in Newark, NJ, on Friday May 27, 2016. The set list included many of his most solo hits as well as the hits from his bands NAZZ and UTOPIA. Needless to say, the musicianship of his backing band was top-notch and his voice still sounds perfect after all these years.
Highlights include show opener “I saw the Light”, heartfelt “Can We Still Be Friends” and “Cliché”. On select songs TODD dazzled the audience playing his bright green guitar. For the 1983 classic tune “Bang the Drum All Day” TODD brought out a pair of snare drums. TODD also performed “Fascist Christ” a song influenced by hip-hop and electronica from the 1993 album No World Order which is a curious LP due to the creative way in which it was produced. It has an interactive interface that allows the listener to control various aspects of music playback. He ended the show with “Lucky Me” and finally “Hello It’s Me”.
Backdrop of the stage was inside of the double album cover of TODD RUNDGREN’s third solo album Something/Anything? released in 1972 on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals and acted as his own producer. The certified gold Something/Anything? double LP is the album that catapulted TODD into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to dub him “Rock’s New Wunderkind.”
An Evening with TODD RUNDGREN is all one would hope for with the legendary artist with great music, excellent energy and many of his greatest hits. This is a show no die-hard TODD fan should miss! Creative, brilliant, unique TODD RUNDGREN is the real deal. His creative mark in the music is absolutely incomparable. Check out his dates here!
Philadelphia native TODD RUNDGREN is an American singer-songwriter and producer with a full twenty-five albums to his name. In the 60’s he started with the psychedelic band NAZZ and in the 70’s he formed progressive rock band UTOPIA while still working on solo projects during this time. His solo career started out successfully with such hits as “I Saw the Light” and “Hello It’s Me” (a reworked NAZZ tune). TODD’s myriad of production projects includes albums by PATTI SMITH, CHEAP TRICK and the epic HALL AND OATES album “War Babies” (1974).
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Article and Photographs by Jen Rubino 6/2/2016
