It is to Todd’s credit that he elected to play an intimate 1340 seater music hall, inevitably sold out, to provide his fans with an opportunity to enjoy his show close up

Rundgren bestrides the rock and pop era as a musical polymath, musician, singer, producer and arranger. As that era draws inexorably to a close he finished the show poignantly with “Last Ride” and “Fade Away”

The show was both a testament to why he has been so successful – and why he hasn’t. It featured  bewildering array of great songs in various styles all of which combined both to delight and frustrate as the changes of style and tempo produced a jarring rhythm and vibe.

I am not your typical Todd head. I had only seen him before live once, but had followed his career as a producer and musician since the early 70’s. Apart from “Love is the Answer” I have no particular favourites nor setlist expectations. I could take the evening as Ifound it. By contrast many around me had travelled many miles ( Cornwall, Wales, Ireland and Scandinavia)

The only other time I have seen him live was in 1979 at Knebworth This was the setlist then:

1. Last of the New Wave Riders
2. Back on the Street
3. Abandon City
4. Love of the Common Man(
5. The Last Ride
6. Freedom Fighters
7. The Seven Rays
8. Love Alone
9. Gangrene
10. The Death of Rock and Roll
11. Initiation
12. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere(The Who cover) (tribute to Keith Moon)
13. Couldn’t I Just Tell You
14. Encore:
15. Real Man
16. Just One Victory
17. Love is the Answer

So how did it go? It was an anthology, rather than greatest hits, set, which suited me fine. Individually there were some great songs, but collectively it hung together a little awkwardly. I knew every song, so familiarity was not a problem, but songs sat against each other with little obvious connection. If individually they were your personal favourites, then fine, otherwise it was sometime a challenging listen. the slow funk of “I think you know” is sluggish, and it took the more melodious, if predictable, “Secret Society” to engage the audience. “Weakness” was ponderous. “Stood up ” was lightweight as was “lost Horizon”. It took a blistering “Buffalo Grass” ( with trademark guitar hero guitar solos) to ignite the band before the highlight of the evening, the glorious, smouldering, waltz time ballad, “Beloved infidel”, which is amongst his finest compositions.

In an odd gear change we then slipped into the formulaic “hit me like a train” which sounded like an Aerosmith rocker, over Keith Richard’s “Honky Tonk women” riff. the irony of a Rolling Stones indebted Aerosmith copy was rich. Then another gear change, “Wouldnt You like to know” was pure Doobie bros circa “Black water” with beautiful acoustic guitar and harmonies. Continuing the high, Todd then slipped into “Sweet” which not only sounded like Hall and Oats, it sounded as though they were singing and performing it too! Sublime nonetheless, pure soul, and funk.

Another gear change – the rocker “woman’s world” which sounds as though it should be sung by a woman- Pat Benatar maybe. A little too Ame]rican formulaic for my tastes. Would love to see Ted Nugent perform this- not least because it has a “Cat scratch fever” guitar break. Gear Change. “Afterlife” was delicate, doleful, and wistful and very Steely Dan

Gear change. “Going Down with the ship” is a novelty song in the way that 10cc’s “Dreadlock holiday” is . i hated it on record. But live it is zany, ridiculous and great fun. It is a performance song- Kid Creole and the Coconuts would love it. and we all did the hand movements…

Gear change- an acapella “Honest work” which featured four of the harmonising band members. Outstanding and wonderful in equal measure

Gear Change. “Rock Love” rocked and should have closed the show. “God said” was routine but enjoyable, “Fascist Christ” limped along as a rappy piece of nonsense.

Gear Change. “Hawking” was a ponderous ballad, beautifully arranged as a “Hall and oats” number , complete with sax solo, and completely out of place. “Worldwide epiphany” is another formula rocker, it isn’t an epiphany and was an inadequate set closer.

The greatest his segue encore satisfied those that wanted to hear them- i felt they added little to the evening.

How About a Little Fanfare?

I Think You Know

Secret Society

Weakness

Stood Up

Lost Horizon

Buffalo Grass

Beloved Infidel

Hit Me Like a Train

Wouldn’t You Like to Know

Sweet

Kindness

Woman’s World

Afterlife

Down With the Ship

Honest Work

Rock Love

God Said

Fascist Christ

Hawking

Worldwide Epiphany

Encore:

I Saw the Light / Can We Still Be Friends / Hello It’s Me

The Last Ride

Fade Away