The main course of the Todd Rundgen concert at Paradiso in Amsterdam was a complete run-through of his A Wizard, A True Star album. It is an album filled to overflowing with musical genres and when it was first released in 1973 technology was pushed to the limit to create the sounds that are now built into effect pedals, off-the-shelf software and keyboard gizmos.
Rundgren went throught 12 costume changes - his wardrobe being designed by his wife Michelle. With the band playing on risers, he could move around a bit, although he said after the show that it felt being a bit cramped up there: "My main concern was not to fall of the stage". The other shows of the AWATS tour were performed in larger venues.
There were some mics problems during the first songs, especially with the one he used inside the astronaut's suit for the opener International Feel. Highlights were You Don't Have To Camp Around, with Rundgren staring in mock disbelief at a picture of himself in full Seventies regalia and the jumpy Just Another Onionhead. The doo-wop hit a peak during an extended Cool Jerk. When The Shit Hits The Fan/Sunset Blvd and Le Feel Internationale were moved to the end of the set to reprise the album's start. The enocre was Just One Victory, the final AWATS track, which has been his customary last song for longer that he cares to remember.
Setlist:
- International Feel
- Never Never Land
- Tic Tic Tic
- You Need Your Head
- Rock And Roll Pussy
- Dogfight Giggle
- You Don't Have To Camp
Around
- Flamingo
- Zen Archer
- Just Another Onionhead
- Sometimes I Don´t Know
- Does Anybody Love You
- I'm So Proud
- Ohh Baby Baby
- La La Means I Love You
- Cool Jerk
- Hungry For Love
- I Don't Want To Tie You Down
- Is It My Name
- When The Shit Hits The Fan/Sunset Blvd
- Le Feel Internacionale
- Just One Victory
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The band:
Todd Rundgren: guitar, vocals
Jesse Gress: guitar
Greg Hawkes: keyboards, vocals
Prairie Prince: drums
Ralph Schuckett: keyboards, vocals
Bobby Strickland: saxophone, vocals
Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals |
Rundgren took a risk treating the prog rock loving audience to a ten song set of Robert Johnson first, backed by the core of his live band as Todd Rundgren's Johnson. There were some sound problems, the left side of the PA cut in halfway through the second song, and drummer Praire Prince gave the sound guys many a nasty stare. When they settled into a solid blues groove, the crowd gave in and embraced the basic 12-bar blues.
Setlist:
- Dust My Broom
- Stop Breaking Down
- Walking Blues
- Love In Vain
- Sweet Home Chicago
- Red Hot
- Come In My Kitchen
- Hellhound
- Riverside
- Crossroads
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The band:
Todd Rundgren: guitar, vocals
Jesse Gress: guitar
Prairie Prince: drums
Kasim Sulton: bass |
» todd-rundgren.com
» myspace.com/toddrundgrenmusic
» awatslive.com