Customer Reviews

Todd Rundgren - Live in San Francisco

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Something new for Todd fans. First off, all Todd fans will thoroughly enjoy seeing the Power Trio in concert on DVD....with great songs like Open My Eyes, Number One Lowest Common Denominator and the Ikon....great to finally get these songs live! Not that this title was a quicky (well maybe it was), but there are several things that bothered me about it, especially when comparing it to earlier releases. There are no liner notes or anything like that. There is nothing that takes advantage of the DVD format (no special features short of an index and a way to adjust the sound)....this point is a little upsetting because of Todd's love for anything digital. The camera angles are sometimes akward....can't explain it, but with 80% shot from a crane looking down at Todd, it just seems kind of wierd. Shots of Kasim are often fuzzy. As far as the music, sometimes its amazing, sometimes its tentative. There's also no chit-chat from Todd and with a very sparse stage and Kasim often stepping back during Todd's solos, it seems empty. Please understand that these are not complaints, just comments. I love the DVD and am going to watchi it over and over and over. Would I show it to my non-Todd friends (that's what us Todd fanatics do...try to convert people), I might lean towards some of the other titles. OK, so where is the Ringo Tour and the Abbey Road tour...we're all waiting for those!

This video arrived in the mail from Amazon.com 30 years after I first saw Todd on tour (Wizard/original Utopia). Granted, nothing will ever top that event, but thinking back on all of the other times that I have seen Todd through the years, I am really glad that this tour has been preserved on video for posterity. I cannot ever recall seeing him rock this hard as what is presented here! No keyboards, just guitar, bass, and drums. Tood's guitar fans will absolutely love this video! The set list is predominantly the boogie and blues influenced numbers. Songs like Public Servant from Second Wind and Determination from Hermit would also have fit very well into this long set list, to give you an idea. The only slow parts are the ukelele version of Bang The Drum, and the experimental Number One Lowest Common Denominator. As for the quality of the video, I initially did not like the very amateur feel to it, especially since it opens up with some bad sound checks from various cities. Then I realized as usual, Todd is a genius, and this video makes the viewer feel like he/she is actually in that small concert hall. This video will also serve the purpose in helping the Todd fan to decide if it is worth driving 8-12 hours to see him on his next tour (Jan. 2003). Give me the car keys!

Excellent show with the trio. I enjoyed this DVD alot. I really like the song selection and the playing is hot! I hardly ever miss a Todd Rundgren show. I have seen nearly every tour he has done since 1973, but I missed this one because he didn't make it this far south. So I was happy to see it appear on DVD. Always different, always interesting, always exciting and creative!!!! I rarely ever find anything worth critisizing about his work and this is no exception. Todd gives us another meaty chunk!!

I originally bought this out of loyalty and few expectations since it ties in with the very poor One Long Year release. My original feelings were confirmed with the first 2 tracks. However, once Todd gets started on his old classics, the concert and the audience warm up considerably. This has an unusual and inspired mix of tracks. The best aspect is hearing Todd performing so much guitar.
Visually, the dvd does not exploit the dvd medium. As other reviewers have commented, the camera work is not very good, especially when compared with the excellent work on the Utopia Redux video. Howeve, the dolby digital sound mix is superb and you really feel you are right there in the concert. To hs credit, Toddd also includes a 2.0 mix for people who don't have 5.1 sound and a dts mix which I can't comment on. As an extra it would have been nice to see some interviews with some of the audence after the show. When are we going to see Live in London released with a multi-angle feature? That concert was shot on digital synchronsed cameras and was made for puting on dvd

This concert DVD only runs about 81 minutes. Better than zero minutes, of course. The concert is Todd supported by his Utopia bandmate Kasim Sulton on bass and vocals and Trey Sabatelli on drums. The lack of liner notes, insert card, or other materials clues us in that this DVD was assembled on the cheap. The only insert in the DVD case is a catalog of titles available through Image Entertainment, the distributors of this DVD. Perhaps that was the deal - Image would absorb much of the cost of producing and distributing this DVD in exchange for advertising space inside. Since Todd usually records away from the major record labels, perhaps that is the best we can get. Usually only the big corporate labels have the money for a fancy, features-packed DVD release.

But be happy, Todd fans! Another Rundgren concert DVD looms on the horizon! A rare 1990 Japan concert, once available on VHS and now only recently easier to find, is scheduled for DVD release in August 2002. That one runs over 90 minutes and features a relatively large band of Todd regulars and semi-regulars backing him up.

But even with skimpy extras and a lack of insert packaging, there is no such thing as a bad Todd Rundgren release!

The Sacrificial Lamb of Rock returns to his rock and roll roots in this angst filled medley of musically mutated minimalist masterpieces! No Sales brothers here, but tunes from Nazz, Runt, Todd , Faithfull, Todd solo, Utopia, TR-i and some new ones to boot are performed by OH backed by maestro Kasim Sultan (of Utopia, Meatloaf, varying guest spots with Patty Smythe, Patti Smith and Joan Jett to name a few as well as a multi - instrumentalist solo artist and producer- sort of a chip off the old Todd!) on bass and superb background vocals and Trey Sabatelli (Tubes) on drums and background vocals. (Ok, there are some mp3 keys on a couple tunes, but other than that, it's a true triumvirate) Can our beloved Hero, known for his impeccable production skills, carry this off? Read on and find out!

First the snafu's: a little too much glare from the overpowering lights and the stage crew fumbled their way around a bit, amps conking out, monitors dying and a couple of guitar switches flubbed - but hey no broken strings (a rarity for this tour!). The film crew leaves a lot to be desired as the picture can be hazy and the camera angles are odd at times. Packaging also COULD have been better, e.g., a group picture for the cover, Kaz and Trey could have been CREDITED on the cover or any other indication that it was a power TRiO!?

There must have been technical problems at the beginning of I Hate My Frickin' ISP, cuz OH chose to splice together some sound checks of varying quality to begin the song with. Yer Fast rocks pretty hard and Todd appears to be in top form. The guitar playing is so hot that you forget about the problems with ISP! Todd "Faithfully" pulls off a searing version of Black And White that prepares the way for No. 1 LCD, the song is slow and seductive Hendrix style ballad and culminates in a "screaming" guitar solo! Back to a TRiO of rockers, the NAZZ song Open My Eyes, has an almost grunge sound to it but sounds like it was made for a little garage band. Trapped is always a hits you like a mack truck doing 120mph! And segues into Trapped, a great Utopia tune. The opening of Love In Action quickly follow and Todd does a pretty good job of performing the keyboard solo on guitar. Kaz and Try get a break while Todd performs Bang The "Ukulele" Daily Hawaiian style with reference to "Elvis in Hawaii" and some entertaining whooping. Another song reinvented by Our Hero. One of Todd's later compositions, Temporary Sanity follows. It's another musical hybrid with funny lyrics and a great bass line laid down by Kaz. Todd, sensing the end of the show gives his vocal chords a work screaming, literally! Todd does his SRV impersonation in the Mystified/Broke Down And Busted Medley. Despite technical glitches, it's a bluesy ballad that showcases the cohesiveness of the group and a side of Todd we rarely get to see anymore! Buffalo Grass is the only mellow-ish pop tune preserved from the show. Mp3 keyboards are quickly drowned out by the band and the background vocals are superb. One World kicks off immediately and is carried off extremely well. The Ikon - TRi-O version, starts the encores. Great riff, truly awesome solos! This song alone is worth the price of the disc. Hammer In My Heart follows and truly rocks. This song sounds more like a "hit" now than ever! World Wide Epiphany, again Todd's musical mutational foray into new worlds shines brightly! Despite playing to an mp3, the song comes off as raucous, rowdy, funky and very, very much like a perfect "Todd" anthem to finish a show with! They really bring this song to life and much like Temporary Sanity, you'll be humming, singing, playing "air" bass and screaming this song for hours after you've heard it!

Usually, I dislike concerts being edited for release. In this case though less IS more! Most of the songs were NOT meant to be played by a three-piece band. But given their new life, and Todd's refusal to grow old gracefully, the Power TR-iO comes off sounding like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience! Coming in at 81 minutes, it's just a little linger than a CD so it DEMANDS repeated play. In less than a week, I've watched it about 13 times. Record companies rarely put out decent product, especially "live" DVDs and they've bare boned this one as well. The less than stellar picture quality and flawed start of ISP should NOT keep you from buying this disc. Technical problems of the show aside, this is an absolute historical gem of a keeper. They do, after all, add a little flavor to the live act. Hell, if you want to hear the record, PLAY the record!

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this DVD. I was not sure how I would like the power trio, but they sounded great. Todd's voice sounded stronger and more in-tune than in some of the live recordings I have from the 70s and 80s. His guitar playing was also great. I didn't miss Roger Powell (who could never sing very well) or Willie Wilcox. The picture quality is a little fuzzy and the sound needs to be turned up (otherwise I would have rated it 5 stars). This one's a winner.

This is probably the most interesting Todd delivery since 1990's Japan concert. A powerful set of not too common songs as anyone would have expected, backed by a powerful duo on bass and drums in a very intimate enviroment. The results are amazing, proof that time has no effect on Todd's ability to write and perform great music.

About the DVD. Sound quality exceptional, but the video is below average and there are no extra stuff.

At the end of the day, thanks Todd!!....It's good to have you arround !!

This DVD is decent...I saw this set list live and have to admit
that Todd's lead guitar skills are great. If you are a true Todd
fan from the 70's...you might be let down a bit when you look for
acoustic songs, ballads, etc...because they are not here.
Highlight: Bang the Drum on ukelele...its great. Todd is
a genius, no doubt.

The Sacrificial Lamb of Rock returns to his rock and roll roots in this angst filled medley of musically mutated minimalist masterpieces! No Sales brothers here, but tunes from Nazz, Runt, Todd , Faithfull, Todd solo, Utopia, TR-i and some new ones to boot are performed by OH backed by maestro Kasim Sultan (of Utopia, Meatloaf, varying guest spots with Patty Smythe, Patti Smith and Joan Jett to name a few as well as a multi - instrumentalist solo artist and producer- sort of a chip off the old Todd!) on bass and superb background vocals and Trey Sabatelli (Tubes) on drums and background vocals. (Ok, there are some mp3 keys on a couple tunes, but other than that, it's a true triumvirate) Can our beloved Hero, known for his impeccable production skills, carry this off? Read on and find out!

First the snafu's: a little too much glare from the overpowering lights and the stage crew fumbled their way around a bit, amps conking out, monitors dying and a couple of guitar switches flubbed - but hey no broken strings (a rarity for this tour!). The film crew leaves a lot to be desired as the picture can be hazy and the camera angles are odd at times. Packaging also COULD have been better, e.g., a group picture for the cover, Kaz and Trey could have been CREDITED on the cover or any other indication that it was a power TRiO!?

There must have been technical problems at the beginning of I Hate My Frickin' ISP, cuz OH chose to splice together some sound checks of varying quality to begin the song with. Yer Fast rocks pretty hard and Todd appears to be in top form. The guitar playing is so hot that you forget about the problems with ISP! Todd "Faithfully" pulls off a searing version of Black And White that prepares the way for No. 1 LCD, the song is slow and seductive Hendrix style ballad and culminates in a "screaming" guitar solo! Back to a TRiO of rockers, the NAZZ song Open My Eyes, has an almost grunge sound to it but sounds like it was made for a little garage band. Trapped is always a hits you like a mack truck doing 120mph! And segues into Trapped, a great Utopia tune. The opening of Love In Action quickly follow and Todd does a pretty good job of performing the keyboard solo on guitar. Kaz and Try get a break while Todd performs Bang The "Ukulele" Daily Hawaiian style with reference to "Elvis in Hawaii" and some entertaining whooping. Another song reinvented by Our Hero. One of Todd's later compositions, Temporary Sanity follows. It's another musical hybrid with funny lyrics and a great bass line laid down by Kaz. Todd, sensing the end of the show gives his vocal chords a work screaming, literally! Todd does his SRV impersonation in the Mystified/Broke Down And Busted Medley. Despite technical glitches, it's a bluesy ballad that showcases the cohesiveness of the group and a side of Todd we rarely get to see anymore! Buffalo Grass is the only mellow-ish pop tune preserved from the show. Mp3 keyboards are quickly drowned out by the band and the background vocals are superb. One World kicks off immediately and is carried off extremely well. The Ikon - TRi-O version, starts the encores. Great riff, truly awesome solos! This song alone is worth the price of the disc. Hammer In My Heart follows and truly rocks. This song sounds more like a "hit" now than ever! World Wide Epiphany, again Todd's musical mutational foray into new worlds shines brightly! Despite playing to an mp3, the song comes off as raucous, rowdy, funky and very, very much like a perfect "Todd" anthem to finish a show with! They really bring this song to life and much like Temporary Sanity, you'll be humming, singing, playing "air" bass and screaming this song for hours after you've heard it!

Usually, I dislike concerts being edited for release. In this case though less IS more! Most of the songs were NOT meant to be played by a three-piece band. But given their new life, and Todd's refusal to grow old gracefully, the Power TR-iO comes off sounding like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience! Coming in at 81 minutes, it's just a little linger than a CD so it DEMANDS repeated play. In less than a week, I've watched it about 13 times. Record companies rarely put out decent product, especially "live" DVDs and they've bare boned this one as well. The less than stellar picture quality and flawed start of ISP should NOT keep you from buying this disc. Technical problems of the show aside, this is an absolute historical gem of a keeper. They do, after all, add a little flavor to the live act. Hell, if you want to hear the record, PLAY the record!