Utopia - Live at the Royal Oak

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Todd Rundgren might not be a superstar (granted, the "Todd is Godd" squad would hasten to disagree), but he's had a nice career. He's made lots of records, many of them all by his lonesome (there was even an a cappella album); he's had hits ("Hello It's Me," "I Saw the Light"); he's produced a wide variety of other artists, from Shawn Cassidy to Grand Funk Railroad, from the New York Dolls to Patti Smith; and he has long been on the front lines in the movement to use the Web to deliver his music directly to his audience. Still, some would argue that Rundgren has been at his best in a band context, early on with the Nazz and later (and more famously) with Utopia. If you're one of them, you're sure to be delighted by this 12-song Utopia live set, recorded in Detroit way back in 1981. This is Rundgren and company (here decked out in combat fatigues--a comment on creeping Reagan-era fascism, maybe?) doing what they do best: high-energy, progressive power pop, laden with catchy melodies, soaring group harmonies, and a healthy dollop of Rundgren's Philly white boy soul.

The repertoire comes from both Rundgren's own catalog (including the majestic "Just One Victory") and Utopia's ("The Wheel," "One World"). And while Todd and the boys (Roger Powell on keyboards, Kasim Sulton on bass, and drummer Willie Wilcox) occasionally indulge their prog-rock tendencies (as on "Caravan," where economy gives away to flashy Rundgren guitar solos and swirling keyboard excursions), the emphasis generally is on solid pop craft. The visual presentation, aside from a few trippy effects added in post-production, is also straight-ahead, while the audio quality is excellent (Rundgren himself, a well-known techno geek, oversaw the 5.1 Surround Sound remastering). All in all, Todd fans will find this package to be, well, a little slice of utopia. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

I wore Kasim's pants at my first gig!!.......2003-08-15

Kasim Sulton is a rock god....I am best friends with his brother for years...Alex let me wear Kasim's pants from this tour at my first gig ....my balls still hurt!!

Todd Rundgren's Utopia in Camouflage?!.......2000-10-07

Finally, more Todd on dvd. This comes across more like a Todd show with Time Heals and The Wheel being the centerpieces, but we are still On The Road To Utopia. There's Caravan, One World and Back On The Street to let you know it is Utopia. The boys were playing shorter shows on this tour and the only thing that can disappoint you is that they're too short!

Todd uses one of Eric Clapton old guitars for this for this show, the painted SG, so the guitar sounds a little compressed. He does break out "ricky" for Love In Action though. After all, it IS Utopia. There's plenty of soaring guitar with Rog's adept synth playing backed by Kaz and Willie. Time Heals and The Wheel though are definitely the show grabbers for me.

How come nobody know who these guys are??

One hopes that we will soon see "An Evening With Utopia" on dvd as it is the longest of the live show on video. The only thing that could improve the discs would be...the directors cuts...you know, the rest of the shows...

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