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joe jackson/todd rundgren

10 May 2005

Just got back from the Joe Jackson/Todd Rundgren concert at the Ryman, which I got FREE tickets to, thanks to mmmikey. Joe Jackson was awesome. Todd Rundgren was .. well, he was there too. Honestly I thought his set pretty much sucked, but when he came out for the encore, it wasn’t bad. I am not a huge Rundgren fan – most of my exposure to him comes via his producing of XTC’s Skylarking and a “Best Of” CD that I have. I really like his songwriting, but as a raw musical talent he pales in comparison while being on the same stage as Joe Jackson.

I think the opening act really stole the show – a pretty awesome string quartet called Ethel. They came out for the encore to play with both of them, and Joe Jackson performed a pretty glorious rendition of Real Men with the strings. I wish he had played more stuff (or indeed, anything) from Night and Day II, which is my favorite album and would have been well-suited to the solo piano format.

Comments

Tom Smith — May 14, 2005 at 04:11 · reply

I just saw the 5/11 show in St. Paul. I agree, Joe Jackson stole the show. The first encore with Joe and Ethel was the highlight. Todd’s drunken fans were out in force. Thank you Minneapolis!! (only missed it by 9 miles Todd!)

Rachel Spawton — June 07, 2005 at 13:40 · reply

I saw the show in Leicester, England (June 3rd). Having never heard of Todd Rundgren before I was suprised that JJ was playing second fiddle to a bloke who sang so loud I still don’t know what his stuff’s like.

JJ was awesome. The man is a genius! The highlight for me was his rendition of The Other Me with Ethel (also fantastic) - an alltime favourite. I just I was able to see more concerts!!!

lisa marie — July 12, 2005 at 09:37 · reply

i saw todd at the house of blues in las vegas last year….the show was ok for a vegas show…but it definately not the todd i grew up with. i was enjoying the show, knowing it was my favorite artist of all times. but when he played , “my guitar gently weeps”. i had to walk out and contain myself. of all the acoustic songs he could of played, he played that. . i would of expected, “piss aaron” or “you left me sore”…..he did it alright but i wanted more. I even tried to get a cd signed, but he only signed a guys licence plate, it said ‘I@Todd”, I “heart” Todd. but tonight i saw a rerun of conan and he played with joe jackson, i get it now. But still Todd has so much to give, i can feel it even when he talked to the crowd i could see it. He left me sore. I WANT MORE!!!!!

ute — September 01, 2005 at 06:17 · reply

Hi Lisa-marie!

Im rom gemany. Just short. Saw Rundgren in Liverpool with my friend I found over the Rundgrenpage. the rundgrenpage. It was in my bday in the same place on the same seat my daughter got her graduation out of the hands of MC-Chartney. Strange feeling.

Saw Rundgren gettin better and better in Hamburg. I was fun and J.J. too. Rund sighn my LP from 1074, Todd, and I gave him some flowers before he played “Bang the drum all day!

Read the review from San Sebastian??? Very good,intense.

I been with my friend in San Sebastian too at the kurhaus. Rundgren and JJ stii advertised.

See he still is intense and has something to give. But he needs the change aswell.

Peace

Ute

danana — October 28, 2005 at 19:58 · reply

The concert in Kursaal San Sebastian (Spain) is the second for J.J. and the first for T.R in this place. J.J. fabolous, a very big entertainer, a lot of resources alone in the stage. Nobody know T.R. in Spain, and he was very “hard to ear” without J.J.

The first J.J. concert (N&D 2 Tour) was very different. All the people in the stage perfectly syncro, G.Maby and J.J. are big friends and its easy to see. Sue incredible, its a machine. Genial

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