That same charisma and magnetic energy remain, 34 years later. Rundgren's been known to make a few bad turns (The New Cars, anyone?), but always manages to get back on his feet.
Even in Boulder, there were some stumbles, including an actual trip and fall that has happened on more than one occasion on this tour, leaving cynics to think the move is calculatingly staged. Who cares?
Near the end of his 90-minute show, Rundgren broke a string on the guitar but barely missed a beat as his toga-clad roadie strapped a light-green replacement around his body. Rundgren got his freak parade on and the loyal members of the Todd Squad loved every minute of it.
A dream goes on forever for this multi-talented performer and incredibly underrated guitarist. Never known to play it safe, he's closing out the summer with an odd collection of musicians (Lou Gramm, Christopher Cross, Denny Laine, Bo Bice) in a series of shows paying tribute to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band called "Forty Years Ago Today," then will return to the Arena tour, this time reuniting with longtime fellow Utopian Kasim Sulton, who will take over for Bolton on keyboards and guitar.
It also was recently reported on Rundgren Radio that the well-rounded musician will soon record an EP with selected Robert Johnson tunes.
While pleasant but predictable performers such as Flo & Eddie and Eric Burdon go through the motions during the waxing nostalgic trip called "Hippiefest" and bassist extraordinaire Jack Bruce wonders who booked him for that gig, Rundgren always keeps them guessing.
And that act will never grow old.
Boulder Theater set list:
Love In Action
Walls Came Down
Black Maria
Open My eyes
Lunatic Fringe
I Saw The Light
From Arena:
Mad
Afraid
Mercenary
Gun
Courage
Weakness
Strike
Pissin
Today
Bardo
Mountaintop
Panic
Manup
Encore
Couldn't I just Tell You
Just One Victory
Todd Rundgren tour dates at Pollstar.
Article comments